Abstract:
Described herein is a support system for electronic displays having a support column and a bowed support arm having at least two docking stations. Each docking station is capable of supporting one display. The display supported therefrom can angle independently.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Incorporated by reference herein are U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/165,047, filed Nov. 12, 1999 and International Application No. PCT/IB00/01646, filed Nov. 13, 2000, which application was published in the English language. Priority is claimed from both of these applications. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to display systems for computers, and more particularly to a multi-screen display system for use with a computer system, where the multi-screen display system includes three independent liquid crystal display screens disposed adjacently to one another on a common arm extending along a horizontal plane. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Multi-screen displays are becoming more and more popular for use in various businesses, such as in financial institutions, stock market brokerage firms, engineering companies and the like. These displays are commonly coupled to a single computer and capable of displaying various graphs, charts and other important information simultaneously. Thus, a large amount of data or information can be displayed to the user at any given time, and without the user having to partially cover portions of the information in a “windowed” or layered arrangement, as would be necessary with only a single display screen. 
     Up until the present, most multi-screen display systems have been limited to two independent display screens positioned side-by-side. The angle of the screens relative to each other has usually not been adjustable, and often the displays have been required to be set directly on a table or desk, thereby using a significant amount of space. To date, there has not been a convenient and efficient means to provide three independent display screens and to support the three screens in a manner which minimizes the footprint area of the system, and which still allows one or more of the screens to be adjusted slightly such that at least two of the screens can be angled or “booked” toward each other to further enhance the ease with which information can be viewed on the three screens. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display system for use with a computer system, where the display system incorporates three independent display screens supported on a common horizontal support arm, and elevated by a support column so as significantly reduce the footprint area required by the display system. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a display system for use with a computer system, where the display system incorporates three independent liquid crystal display (LCD) screens mounted on a common, horizontally disposed arm. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a display system for use with a computer system, where the display system incorporates three independent LCD screens, and wherein at least two of the screens are capable of being angled or “booked” toward each other to optimize the viewing angle of the screens relative to the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects are provided by a multi-screen display system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. In one preferred embodiment the display system comprises a base, a support column extending vertically from the base, a horizontally disposed support arm supported on the column, and three independent liquid crystal display (LCD) screens supported on the support arm. In one preferred embodiment each of the LCD screens is coupled to the support arm by a suitable ball joint which allows the viewing angle of each screen to be adjusted to optimize the viewing angle of each screen. 
     The base is substantially smaller in width than the horizontal support arm, thus freeing up a significant amount of desk space. Since LCD screens are employed, the entire display system is much more compact and able to be placed much closer to a wall or other vertical partition than would be possible with conventional cathode ray tube display systems. The horizontal support column, in one preferred form, is slightly bowed such that the three LCD screens are presented in a slight arc to the user when the user is seated in front of the display system. This further eases the manner in which information can be viewed on the two outer LCD screens. 
     The display system thus provides a compact yet convenient means for displaying a large amount of information simultaneously on three LCD screens in a manner allowing the user to easily view any one of the screens from a seated or standing position in front of the display system. The display system is sufficiently compact such that it can be used in work areas where three conventional cathode ray tube screens would be too bulky to employ. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and subjoined claims and by referencing the following drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is front view of a display system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of just the support system with the LCD screens removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of just the support system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the support system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of just the support system illustrating the slightly bowed configuration of the horizontal support arm; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the horizontal support arm showing the mounting member, and a perspective view of a portion of the vertical support column illustrating the mounting member thereof, and a perspective view of the cover; 
         FIG. 7  is perspective, enlarged view of a portion of the horizontal support arm showing the recess formed in the neck portion thereof; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a portion of the horizontal support arm positioned for attachment to the vertical support column; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a portion of the horizontal support arm showing this arm ready for attachment, with the cover positioned thereover, to the vertical support column. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a three panel liquid crystal display (LCD) display system  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system  10  includes a support system  12  and three independent LCD screens  14 ,  16  and  18  which are supported above a work surface  20 . The system  10  forms a means for presenting a large amount of information to a user seated or standing in front of the system  10 . While not shown, it will be appreciated that each LCD screen  14 ,  16 , and  18  includes its own video controller card which receives information from a computer system (not shown) associated with the display system  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the support system  12  can be seen in greater detail with the LCD screens  14 ,  16  and  18  removed. The support system  12  comprises a base  22 , a vertical support column  24  fixedly secured to the base  22 , and a slightly bowed or arched horizontal support arm  26 . The base  22  includes a pair of feet  28  which provide even further stability in supporting the LCD screens  14 ,  16  and  18 . Preferably, the base  22  includes a weighted structure, such as a lead plate, which is insert molded with the base to provide a suitably heavy structure for supporting the LCD screens  14 ,  16  and  18  in a manner that resists tipping of the screens  14 ,  16  and  18  if same are inadvertently bumped. 
     The vertical support column  24  is of a suitable height such that when the LCD screens  14 ,  16  and  18  are attached to the horizontal support arm  26 , the screens are all disposed above the work surface  20 . This places the screens  14 ,  16 , and  18  at a convenient viewing height for the user while also freeing up space under the two outer screens  14  and  18  for papers or other items which the user requires access to. 
     The horizontal support arm  26  is preferably formed (i.e., cast) as a single piece component and has three docking stations  26   a ,  26   b  and  26   c  where a suitable ball joint is attached at each station. One such ball joint  30  is shown in simplified form in  FIG. 5  attached to docking station  26   c . The ball joints  30  allow each LCD screen  14 ,  16  and  18  to be precisely angled or “booked” toward the other screens to optimize the viewing angle of each screen relative to the user. The slightly bowed configuration of the horizontal support arm further helps to place the LCD screens  14 ,  16  and  18  in a manner such that the screens “wrap around” the user and further enhance the ease with which each screen may be viewed. The radius of curvature is preferably within a range of about 24″-36″, and more preferably about 30″, which has been found to ergonomically maximize the convenience to the user in viewing the LCD screens. 
     The horizontal support arm  26  further includes a channel  32 , visible in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , which forms an area within which power and/or video cables can be positioned to help keep same off of the work surface  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the horizontal support arm  26  includes a neck portion  34  having a mounting member or portion  36  protruding therefrom and a recess  38 . The recess  38  can be seen in greater detail in the drawing of  FIG. 8 . The mounting member  36  includes an aperture  40  and an aperture  41 . The neck portion also  34  includes an aperture  35 . 
     The vertical support column  24  similarly includes a mounting member or portion  42  and a hollowed out area  44 . Mounting member  42  includes an aperture  43 . A first boss portion  46  has a threaded bore  48  and a second boss portion  50  has a threaded bore  52 . A separate cover  54  is adapted to be secured to the vertical support column  24  by a plurality of external fastening elements (not shown) placed in apertures  56 , which extend into bores  58  formed in bosses  60 , and into bore  52 , within the hollowed out area  44 . The cover  54  is shaped to cover the hollowed area  44  and to provide the appearance of an integrally formed portion of the vertical support column  24  when secured thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the mounting member  36  of the horizontal support arm  26  can be seen positioned for securing to the vertical support column  24 . The mounting member  42  is inserted within the recess  38 , and the mounting member  36  lays over the two boss portions  46  and  50  with apertures  40  and  41  aligned with apertures  48  and  52 , respectively. An external fastening element (not shown) can then be inserted through aperture  40  and into bore  48 , and a separate external fastening element (not shown) inserted into aperture  35  to engage in aperture  43 . Further external fastening elements (not shown) can be inserted through apertures  56  and into bores  58  and  52  to secure the cover  54  to the vertical support column  24 . The cover  54  is shown positioned on the support column  24  in  FIG. 9  ready to be secured thereto by external fastening elements. 
     It will be appreciated that the above-described arrangement permits the horizontal support arm  26  to be removed and an even longer horizontal support arm, possibly long enough to support four LCD screens, could be attached to column  24 . Alternatively, a horizontal support arm adapted to support only two screens could just as easily be secured to the column  24 . This construction thus lends itself very well to providing a modularly expandable display system. 
     It will be appreciated then that the display system  10  of the present invention provides a convenient, user friendly means for supporting three screens along an elevated, common horizontal support arm. This not only frees up workspace on the desk or table on which the display system  10  is disposed, but also presents the display screens at a height above the work surface that makes the display system comfortable to view. 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.