U.S. patent application number 10/008165 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-08 for computer monitor support.
Invention is credited to Ming-Hwa, Shou.
Application Number | 20030085639 10/008165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21730118 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030085639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ming-Hwa, Shou |
May 8, 2003 |
Computer monitor support
Abstract
A computer monitor support includes a first support immovably
connected to a lower side of a desktop, and a second support
pivotally connected to the first support via an upper and a lower
link to movably located in front of the first support for
supporting a computer monitor thereon. The first and the second
support, and the upper and the lower link together form a four-bar
linkage. A lifting mechanism is connected to the four-bar linkage
to lift or lower the second support and to incline the second
support downward or upward, respectively, at the same time, so that
any user may set the computer monitor on the second support to a
vertical position and an angle of elevation most suitable for the
user to look at a display on the monitor comfortably and
clearly.
Inventors: |
Ming-Hwa, Shou; (Hsin Tien
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF LIAUH & ASSOC.
4224 WAIALAE AVE
STE 5-388
HONOLULU
HI
96816
|
Family ID: |
21730118 |
Appl. No.: |
10/008165 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/24 20130101;
F16M 13/00 20130101; F16M 11/18 20130101; F16M 2200/044 20130101;
F16M 11/2092 20130101; F16M 2200/063 20130101; F16M 13/02 20130101;
A47B 21/0073 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 097/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A computer monitor support, comprising: a first support
including a first top plate immovably connected to a lower side of
a desktop, and a first upright bracket fixedly connected to a
bottom of said first top plate; said first upright bracket having a
U-shaped cross section to include two sidewalls and a sideward
opening that is oriented forward, and being provided on said two
sidewalls with a first pair of upper connection holes and a first
pair of lower connection holes; a second support being located in
front of said first support, and including a second top plate on
which a computer monitor is seated, and a second upright bracket
fixedly connected to a bottom of said second top plate; said second
upright bracket having a U-shaped cross section to include two
sidewalls and a sideward opening that is oriented toward said first
support, and being provided on said two sidewalls with a second
pair of upper connection holes and a second pair of lower
connection holes; a first link having a U-shaped cross section to
include two sidewalls and a sideward opening that is oriented
downward; said first link being provided on said two sidewalls near
two ends thereof with a first pair of rear connection holes and a
first pair of front connection holes; a second link being located
below said first link, and having a U-shaped cross section to
include two sidewalls and a sideward opening that is oriented
upward; said second link being provided on said two sidewalls near
two ends thereof with a second pair of rear connection holes and a
second pair of front connection holes; and a lifting mechanism
including an extension tube being driven by a motor and a lead
screw of said lifting mechanism to extend forward or retreat; said
first link being pivotally connected at a rear end to said first
upright bracket by extending a first upper pivot shaft through said
first pair of upper connection holes on said first upright bracket
and said first pair of rear connection holes on said first link,
and at a front end to said second upright bracket by extending a
second upper pivot shaft through said second pair of upper
connection holes on said second upright bracket and said first pair
of front connection holes on said first link; said second link
being pivotally connected at a rear end to said first upright
bracket by extending a first lower pivot shaft through said first
pair of lower connection holes on said first upright bracket and
said second pair of rear connection holes on said second link, and
at a front end to said second upright bracket by extending a second
lower pivot shaft through said second pair of lower connection
holes on said second upright bracket and said second pair of front
connection holes on said second link; and said first lower pivot
shaft connecting said first upright bracket to said rear end of
said second link also extending through a rear locating block of
said lifting mechanism, and said second upper pivot shaft
connecting said second upright bracket to said front end of said
first link also extending through an outer end of said extension
tube.
2. The computer monitor support as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
distance between said second pair of rear connection holes and said
second pair of front connection holes on said second link is
slightly larger than a distance between said first pair of rear
connection holes and said first pair of front connection holes on
said first link.
3. The computer monitor support as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
distance between said second pair of upper connection holes and
said second pair of lower connection holes on said second upright
bracket is slightly larger than a distance between said first pair
of upper connection holes and said first pair of lower connection
holes on said first upright bracket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a computer monitor support
that enables adjustment of vertical position and angle of elevation
of a computer monitor at the same time, so that a user may look at
the monitor at a most comfortable angle of view.
[0002] With the highly developed electronic and information
technologies, computers have become a prerequisite tool for most
people in working, doing leisure activities, playing games,
reading, and handling many general affairs. Computers and related
apparatuses could be found in almost every family, office, and
business place.
[0003] To enable users having different heights to look at the
display on the computer monitor at an angle of view most suitable
for them, the computer monitor usually has a base enabling
adjustment of the monitor to different angles of elevation.
However, a vertical position of the monitor relative to a desktop
on which the monitor is positioned is also very important for users
to look at the display comfortably.
[0004] For a high user or a user who stands before the monitor to
look at a display on the monitor in an attempt to soften the
stiffened legs and back muscles due to sitting before the computer
over a prolonged time, the monitor might not be at a suitable
height and angle of elevation for the user to clearly read
information shown on the display. In a worse condition, the user
might even misread the information to result in serious
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a computer monitor support that enables adjustment of
vertical position and angle of elevation of the monitor at the same
time to meet the needs of different users.
[0006] The computer monitor support of the present invention mainly
includes a first support immovably connected to a lower side of a
desktop, and a second support pivotally connected to the first
support via an upper and a lower link to movably located in front
of the first support for supporting a computer monitor thereon. The
first and the second support, and the upper and the lower link
together form a four-bar linkage. A lifting mechanism is pivotally
connected at a rear locating block to a pivot shaft connecting the
first support to the lower link, and at an outer end of an
extension tube thereof to a pivot shaft connecting the second
support to the upper link, so that the extension tube lifts or
lowers the second support when it is driven to extend forward or to
retreat.
[0007] In the computer monitor support of the present invention, a
distance between two connection holes at two ends of the lower link
is slightly larger than a distance between two connection holes at
two ends of the upper link, and a distance between two connection
holes on the second support is slightly larger than a distance
between two connection holes on the first support, allowing the
extension tube to incline the second support downward or upward
while lifting or lowering, respectively, the second support.
[0008] Therefore, any user may set the computer monitor on the
second support to a vertical position and an angle of elevation
most suitable for the user to look at the display on the monitor
comfortably and clearly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present
invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings,
wherein
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a computer monitor
support according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the computer
monitor support according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectioned side view of a lifting
mechanism forming a part of the computer monitor support of the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the computer monitor support
of the present invention in a lifted state; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is another vertical section of the computer monitor
support of the present invention in a lowered state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are exploded and
assembled perspective views, respectively, of a computer monitor
support of the present invention. As shown, the computer monitor
support mainly includes a first support 10 having a first top plate
11 and a first upright bracket 12 fixedly connected to a lower
surface of the first top plate 11; a second support 20 having a
second top plate 21 and a second upright bracket 22 fixedly
connected to a lower surface of the second top plate 21; a first
link 30; a second link 40; and a lifting mechanism 50. All of the
first and the second upright brackets 12, 22 and the first and the
second links 30, 40 have a U-shaped cross section and include two
sidewalls and a sideward opening.
[0016] The first support 10 is immovably connected at the first top
plate 11 to a lower side of a desktop 60 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) with
the sideward opening of the first upright bracket 12 facing forward
as viewed from a user sitting before the desktop 60. The first
upright bracket 12 is provided at the two sidewalls with a first
pair of upper connection holes 15 and a first pair of lower
connection holes 16.
[0017] The second support 20 is pivotally connected to the first
support 10 via the links 30, 40 to locate in front of the first
support 10, and has a resting plate 27 connected to a top of the
second top plate 21 for a computer monitor 61 to seat thereon (see
FIGS. 4 and 5). The second upright bracket 22 is provided at the
two sidewalls with a second pair of upper connection holes 25 and a
second pair of lower connection holes 26. And, the sideward opening
of the second upright bracket 22 is oriented to face toward the
sideward opening of the first upright bracket 12.
[0018] The first link 30 is vertically located above the second
link 40, so that their sideward openings face toward each other.
The first link 30 is provided on its two sidewalls near a rear and
a front end with a first pair of rear connection holes 31 and a
first pair of front connection holes 32, respectively, so that the
first link 30 is pivotally connected at two ends to the first and
the second upright bracket 11, 21 by extending a first upper pivot
shaft 13 and a second upper pivot shaft 23 through the first pair
of upper connection holes 15 on the first upright bracket 12 and
the first pair of rear connection holes 31 on the first link 30,
and the second pair of upper connection holes 25 on the second
upright bracket 22 and the first pair of front connection holes 32
on the first link 30, respectively. Similarly, the second link 40
is provided on its two sidewalls near a rear and a front end with a
second rear connection holes 41 and a second pair of front
connection holes 42, respectively, so that the second link 40 is
pivotally connected at two ends to the first and the second upright
bracket 11, 21 by extending a first lower pivot shaft 14 and a
second lower pivot shaft 24 through the first pair of lower
connection holes 16 on the first upright bracket 12 and the second
pair of rear connection holes 41 on the second link 40, and the
second pair of lower connection holes 26 on the second upright
bracket 22 and the second pair of front connection holes 42 on the
second link 40, respectively. Therefore, the first and the second
link 30, 40 and the first and the second upright bracket 12, 22
together form a four-bar linkage.
[0019] The lifting mechanism 50 is known in the art. FIG. 3 is an
enlarged, sectioned side view of the lifting mechanism 50, showing
the same includes a motor 53, a lead screw 54 driven by the motor
53 to rotate, an extension tube 52 screwed at an inner end to the
lead screw 54, and a locating block 51 provided at a position
corresponding to a rear end of the lead screw 54. When the motor 53
drives the lead screw 54 to rotate, the extension tube 52 is caused
to extend forward or to retreat, depending on a direction in which
the lead screw 54 rotates.
[0020] The lifting mechanism 50 is located between the first and
the second link 30, 40 with the locating block 51 facing toward the
first support 10 and the extension tube 52 pointing toward the
second support 20. The first lower pivot shaft 14 that pivotally
connects the first upright bracket 12 to the second link 40 also
extends through the locating block 51, and the second upper pivot
shaft 23 that pivotally connects the second upright bracket 22 to
the first link 30 also extends through an outer end of the
extension tube 52. Two first C-clamps 55 may be clamped on the
first lower pivot shaft 14 to confine the locating block 51 of the
lifting mechanism 50 to the shaft 14 between the two first C-clamps
55. Similarly, two second C-clamps 56 may be clamped on the second
upper pivot shaft 23 to confine the outer end of the extension tube
52 of the lifting mechanism 50 to the shaft 23 between the two
second C-clamps 56.
[0021] Please refer to FIG. 4. The first support 10 is immovably
fixed to the lower side of the desktop 60, and the second support
20 is supported by the first and the second link 30, 40 and the
lifting mechanism 50 to movably locate in front of the first
support 10. When the lifting mechanism 50 is actuated and the
extension tube 52 is driven to extend forward, the second support
20 connected at the second upright bracket 22 to the lifting
mechanism 50 via the second upper pivot shaft 23 is lifted by the
extended extension tube 52 to move the monitor 61 to a higher
position relative to the desktop 60. On the contrary, when the
lifting mechanism 50 is actuated and the extension tube 52 is
driven to retreat, the second support 20 is lowered by the
retreated extension tube 52 to descend the monitor 61, as shown in
FIG. 5. In brief, the second support 20 and the monitor 61 seated
thereon are lifted or lowered by extending or retreating,
respectively, the extension tube 52 of the lifting mechanism
50.
[0022] The lifting mechanism 50 is controlled to operate via a
lifting push button 57 and a lowering push button 58, depressing of
lifting and lowering push buttons 57 and 58 enables the extension
tube 52 to lift and lower, respectively, the second support 20.
Thus, the computer monitor support of the present invention can be
very easily operated. Moreover, the lifting and the lowering push
button 57, 58 enable stepless fine adjustment in lifting and
lowering the second support 20.
[0023] It is to be noted that the first link 30 has an inner width
at the sideward opening slightly larger than an outer width at the
sideward opening of the second link 40, so that the second link 40
may upward extend its two sidewalls into the sideward opening of
the first link 30 without frictionally contacting with the two
sidewalls of the first link 30.
[0024] It is also to be noted that a distance between the rear and
the front connection holes 41, 42 on the second link 40 is slightly
larger than that between the rear and the front connection holes
31, 32 on the first link 30, and a distance between the second pair
of upper connection holes 25 and the second pair of lower
connection holes 26 on the second upright bracket 22 is slightly
larger than that between the first pair of upper connection holes
15 and the first pair of lower connection holes 16 on the first
upright bracket 12, such that the first upper pivot shaft 13, the
first lower pivot shaft 14, the second upper pivot shaft 23, and
the second lower pivot shaft 24 form four vertexes of a
quadrilateral having two groups of unequal opposite sides, as can
be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0025] With the above arrangements, when the extension tube 52 of
the lifting mechanism 50 is extended forward, it not only lifts the
second support 20 but also causes the second support 20 to slightly
incline downward toward the first support 10 at the same time, as
shown in FIG. 4, so that a short user may comfortably look at a
display on the monitor 61 at an upward angle of view. For a high
user or a user standing before the monitor 61, the lifting
mechanism 50 may be actuated to retreat the extension tube 52 and
thereby lowers the second support 20 and causes the same to
slightly incline away from the first support 10 at the same time,
as shown in FIG. 5, so that the display of the monitor 61 is
slightly turned upward to face the user's eyes looking
downward.
[0026] The purpose of providing U-shaped upright brackets 12, 22
and first and second links 30, 40 is to facilitate forming of
laterally symmetrical connection hole pairs 15, 16, 25, 26, 31, 32,
41 and 42 on the two sidewalls of these brackets and links for the
pivot shafts 13, 14, 23 and 24 to extend therethrough.
[0027] The computer monitor support of the present invention
enables stepless adjustment of the vertical position and the angle
of elevation of the computer monitor 61 on the second support 20
relative to the first support 10 that is immovably fixed to the
lower side of the desktop 60, so that any user could look at the
display on the monitor 61 at an angle of view most suitable for the
user. The present invention is therefore ideal and practical for
use.
* * * * *