Supports – Resilient support – Including load sustaining bearing or guide
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-01
2004-05-18
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Resilient support
Including load sustaining bearing or guide
C248S284100, C248S278100, C248S281110, C248S919000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06736364
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to an apparatus for mounting devices, and more specifically, to a modular articulating extension arm for mounting electronic peripheral devices in a statically balanced adjustable position.
Articulated extension arms for mounting electronic peripheral devices, such as computer monitors, notebook computers, internet computers, video cassette recorders, cameras, computer keyboards, televisions, and the like are well known in prior art. For example, there is known from O'Neill, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,842; Greene, U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,596; and Voeller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,503 various mechanical support arms.
Due to recent advances in flat-screen technology, there is a demand for adjustable extension arms particularly suited for use with flat-screen devices, such as flat-screen computer monitors and televisions. One such example is described in Applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/405,628 filed Sep. 24, 1999 entitled “Arm Apparatus For Mounting Electronic Devices.” Another example is described in Applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/406,006 filed Sep. 24, 1999 entitled “Arm Apparatus for Mounting Electronic Devices with Cable Management System.” The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIGS. 1 through 7
, including their respective sub-figures, disclose an extension arm for mounting an electronic peripheral device in accordance with Applicant's prior extension arms. The main elements of the extension arm are a first endcap
100
, upper channel
200
, lower channel
300
, suspension device
400
, second endcap
500
and forearm extension
600
. The extension arm is capable of supporting an electronic device attached to a mounting device, such as a tilter
700
, and also provides an internal cable management system for a cable
900
.
The first endcap
100
has an endcap shaft
101
that may contain a plurality of concentric circumferential grooves
114
. The endcap shaft
101
may be pivotably attached to a rigid support mount (not shown), such as an orifice sized to accept the endcap shaft
101
or a track configured and sized to slidably engage the grooves
114
provided, or both.
The first endcap
100
contains two pairs of holes
113
(see
FIG. 2
) therethrough such that pins
102
may pivotally couple the upper channel
200
and lower channel
300
to the first endcap
100
. Similarly, the second endcap
500
contains two pair of holes
513
(see
FIG. 2
) disposed therethrough such that pins
550
pivotally couple the opposite ends of the upper channel
200
and the lower channel
300
to the second endcap.
The combination of the upper and lower channels
200
,
300
and the first and second endcaps
100
,
500
form an adjustable parallelogram that permits a device coupled to the forearm extension
600
to be raised and lowered to a desirable height. The parallelogram retains its position by employing a suspension device
400
, which is pivotally and adjustably attached to the first endcap
100
and the upper channel
200
, as will be further described below. Generally, the suspension device
400
is sized so as to have a fixed length until an upward or downward force is exerted at the second endcap
500
that exceeds the suspension device's designed resistance. One suitable suspension device
400
is a gas filled piston known for this purpose and commercially available from a variety of manufacturers. Typically, such a gas filled piston will have an adjustable resistance with a range suitable for use in accordance with the weight of the electronic peripheral device specified. Thus, the suspension device
400
causes the parallelogram to retain its position when the only force exerted at the second endcap
500
is the weight of the device, but permits the parallelogram to be adjusted when a user pushes the electronic peripheral device up or down.
A first female coupling
602
couples the second endcap
500
to the forearm extension
600
while a second female coupling
603
couples the opposite end of the forearm extension
600
to the mounting device, such as the tilter
700
. Thereafter, the mounting device may be coupled to the electrical peripheral device. The electrical peripheral device may in turn have a cable
900
of sufficient length and diameter as to permit its placement through the forearm extension
600
, second endcap
500
, and lower channel
300
, so as not to be visible in those areas.
FIGS. 3A through 3E
illustrate the first endcap
100
, having the endcap shaft
101
disposed on a first end
103
of the first endcap
100
. In accordance with one embodiment as shown in
FIG. 3A
, the endcap shaft
101
has an endwall
181
with a hole
104
formed at its first end
103
. The first endcap
100
also has a second end
105
with an endwall
151
having a hole
106
disposed therethrough. Within the holes
104
,
106
and between a pair of trough walls
158
, is a threaded rod
107
. A first end
108
of the threaded rod
107
is inserted into the hole
104
at the base of the endcap shaft
101
. A second end
109
of the threaded rod
107
is aligned with the hole
106
and held in place with a clip
110
. The clip
110
is fastened to an inner surface of the first endcap
100
by screws
111
.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment as shown in
FIG. 3B
, the first endcap
100
further includes a sidewall
152
between the endwalls
151
forming a partially enclosed housing
150
. The endcap shaft
101
is typically integrally molded to the endwall
151
of the first endcap
100
. Preferably, the entire first endcap
100
(the partially enclosed housing
150
and the endcap shaft
101
) is molded from zinc. Within the partially enclosed housing
150
and integrally molded on the sidewall
152
are a plurality of stops
153
disposed in proximity to the endwalls
151
. Also within the partially enclosed housing
150
are the trough walls
158
, disposed longitudinally along the inner surface of the sidewall
152
between the endwalls
151
so as to define a trough
159
therebetween.
The stops
153
serve to provide limits of upward or downward movement of the upper channel
200
and lower channel
300
when the ends of the upper channel
200
and lower channel
300
, respectively, meet the stops
153
when one moves the electronic peripheral device in extended or contracted positions. The trough
159
disposed between the trough walls
158
allows a clevis
120
to be moved therein. As discussed in more detail later, the clevis provides connection and adjustment means for one end of the suspension device
400
.
FIG. 3C
illustrates a variation of the first endcap
100
in accordance with the preferred embodiment, wherein shelves
160
define co-planar faces separated by a groove
161
. The shelves
160
have a connection means, such as self-tapping screw holes
162
disposed therein. The co-planar faces of the shelves
160
are configured to engage a retainer clip
163
, which is fastened in place, for example, by a pair of screws
164
. When the retainer clip is fastened in place, the groove
161
defines a space for accepting one end
108
of the threaded rod
107
.
The threaded rod
107
is employed within the first endcap
100
so as to adjustably support the clevis
120
.
FIG. 3D
illustrates the threaded rod
107
, the second end
109
of which has a circular cross-section within which is axially disposed a shaped opening
165
, for example, a hex-shaped opening for accepting a shaped key (not shown), such as a hex-shaped key. The cross-sectional diameter of the second end
109
is smaller than a cross-sectional diameter of the hole
106
, so as to be inserted therein. Adjacent the second end
109
is a shoulder
166
. The shoulder
166
has a circular cross-section of a diameter larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the hole
106
. Thus, the shoulder
166
abuts an inner surface of the endwall
151
and retains the second end
109
within the hole
106
.
The first end
108
of the threaded rod
Innovative Office Products, Inc.
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Ramirez Ramon O.
Sterling Amy J.
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