Patent ID: 12247693

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

As used herein, the terms “a” or “an” are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. The terms “including,” “having,” or “featuring,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” applies to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. Where a numerical limitation is used, unless indicated otherwise by the context, “about” or “approximately” means the numerical value can vary by +/−5%, +/−10%, or in certain embodiments +/−15%, or possibly as much as +/−20%. Similarly, the term “substantially” will typically mean at least 85% to 99% of the characteristic modified by the term. For example, “substantially all” will mean at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%, etc. Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, right and left, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

Described now are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG.2illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, tilt adjustable monitor crossbar assembly1, sometimes referred to simply as monitor mounting system1. In this embodiment, the monitor mounting assembly1most generally includes a crossbar5, a support arm15, and a pivot assembly or pivot link25connected between crossbar5and support arm15. In theFIG.2embodiment, crossbar5includes three crossbar segments6a,6b, and6c, with hinges7connecting the interior ends of crossbar segments6aand6cto crossbar segment6band allowing for crossbar segments6aand6cto swing inward toward one another as suggested inFIG.2. Typically, each crossbar segment6will have a monitor mounting bracket10attached thereto. InFIG.2, the monitor mounting brackets include a mounting face11for attachment to the monitor and a hinged connection or tilt connector12allowing for altering of the tilt position of the monitor with respect to its crossbar segment6. AlthoughFIG.2illustrates a crossbar5formed of multiple hinged segments, other embodiments could employ a single segment crossbar.

FIG.2further shows the support arm15which is connected to the support surface90(e.g., a work desk) and suspends crossbar5via pivot assembly25above support surface90. Although support arm15could be almost any conventional or future developed support mechanism, theFIG.2embodiment illustrates a support arm available from Humanscale Corporation under the tradenames M8.1 and M10. Although not shown inFIG.2, another arm may be positioned between the support surface and the base swivel connection16of support arm15. The base swivel connection16will allow the support arm to rotate in the swivel direction and also an upper swivel fork17will operate in conjunction with the pivot assembly25to create a second swivel point. In the example of M8.1 or M10 support arms, the support arms include a weight compensating spring system which allows for change of the vertical position of support arm15(i.e., change of the vertical height of crossbar5) while the user experiences little or no change in the force needed to adjust the height of the monitors mounted on crossbar5. The construction and operation of the illustrated support arm15is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,480,709 which is incorporated by reference herein.

As suggested above, pivot assembly25provides the connection between crossbar5and support arm15.FIGS.3A to4Billustrate one embodiment of pivot assembly25. This embodiment of pivot assembly25will generally include pivot housing26which is integrally formed on one end with swivel ring50and is engaged on the opposite end by pivot core35. Swivel ring50will include two bearing inserts51(best seen inFIG.4B). Bearing inserts51may be formed of a low friction material such as polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal, or polyformaldehyde. A pin (not shown) with an alignment key will extend through the upper swivel fork17of support arm15(seeFIG.2) and complete the swivel connection between swivel fork17and swivel ring50. The bearing flexures52allow for a controlled precision fit between a rotation pin (not shown) and the contact surface of bearing inserts51.

As best seen inFIG.4B, pivot housing26is mainly a hollow body with internal threads27formed on the inner surface of pivot housing26. A threaded set screw aperture29extends through the housing wall to accommodate set screw30which has sufficient length to extend into internal rotation surface of pivot core35. The face of pivot housing26to which swivel ring50attaches (seeFIG.3B) includes the limit screw apertures28extending through this face, into the interior of pivot housing26, and then into a controlled rotary slots (or “pivot slots”)37in pivot core35.

The internal threads27of pivot housing26will be engaged by the external threads36of pivot core35with set screw30able to engage external threads36in order to selectively lock the relative rotative positions between pivot housing26and pivot core35. As seen inFIG.3B, pivot core35includes the controlled rotary slots37formed on the inner face of pivot core35. Pivot core35also includes friction pin aperture38extending through pivot core35and a series of crossbar mounting lug apertures39(better seen inFIG.4B) formed in the external face of pivot core35. As best seen viewingFIGS.3B and4A, the motion control plate (sometimes called an “anti-rotation plate”)40and the compression plate43are positioned between the inner faces of pivot housing26and pivot core35.FIG.4Ashows how the elliptically shaped motion control plate40will include opposing circumferential cutouts41and a plate groove or plate inset44, which does not extend completely through motion control plate40and is shaped to accommodate compression plate43.FIG.3Bbest shows how motion control plate40and compression plate43are sandwiched between the inner faces of pivot housing26and pivot core35. The plate inset44will ensure there is no relative movement between motion control plate40and compression plate43. In one preferred embodiment, motion control plate40is formed of polyurethane foam and compression plate43is formed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Angle limit screws47will extend through pivot housing26, the circumferential cutouts41in motion control plate40, and into the controlled rotary slots37of pivot core35.

ViewingFIG.4A, it can be envisioned how angle limit screws47will allow a limited relative rotation between pivot housing26and pivot core35based on the angular width of controlled rotary slots37and circumferential cutouts41(at least when set screw30in not engaging external threads36of pivot core35). The resulting degree of pivot imparted to crossbar5is suggested by the angle θ seen inFIG.2. The angle θ represents the degree of tilt (in one direction) of crossbar5relative to the swivel ring50fixed against tilt by upper swivel fork17of support arm15. The maximum pivot of crossbar5(pivot in both directions) would be 2θ. In certain embodiments, the width of controlled rotary slots37and circumferential cutouts41are only wide enough to allow a maximum pivot of less than 15 degrees (θ=7.5 degrees or less), and more preferably a maximum pivot of 8 degrees (θ=4 degrees or less), between pivot housing26and pivot core35. Returning toFIG.3B, it may also be envisioned how the compression screw45engages motion control plate40and will tend to compress compression plate43against the inner face of pivot housing26. It will be understood that advancing compression screw45into motion control plate40will increase the amount of torque necessary to cause rotation between pivot housing26and pivot core35. In addition to enhancing friction within the system, motion control plate40provides a locating feature for assembly of the system.

ViewingFIG.2, with compression screw45applying moderate force to compression plate43, a user will be allowed to finely adjust the pivot position of crossbar5by applying moderate force to the outer monitors and overcoming the friction generated by compression plate43and motion control plate40. However, when the user ceases applying force to the monitors, the friction is sufficient to resist the weight of the monitors correcting the user induced pivot. Thereafter, set screw30may be tightened to engage external threads36on pivot core35in order to more firmly lock the pivot position of crossbar5. The use of compression screw45may be particularly useful when heavier monitors are being mounted, but there could be alternative embodiments which do not employ a compression screw45. Similarly, while many embodiments employ motion control plate40and compression plate43to enhance the friction resisting free pivot motion of the crossbar, there could be alternative embodiments which eliminate motion control plate40and compression plate43.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Many modifications of the embodiments described herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.