U.S. patent application number 10/422954 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-05 for mounting device for a display.
Invention is credited to Chiu, Posen.
Application Number | 20040021051 10/422954 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29247564 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040021051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiu, Posen |
February 5, 2004 |
MOUNTING DEVICE FOR A DISPLAY
Abstract
A mounting device includes a display-supporting mechanism
pivoted to a stationary base. so as to be rotatable relative to the
stationary base. The display-supporting mechanism includes a
bracket, and parallel first and second arm units that extend
between and that are pivoted to the stationary base and the bracket
and that cooperatively define a gap therebetween. An urging unit is
connected to the first and second arm units in such a manner that
downward rotation of the display-supporting mechanism relative to
the stationary base from an upper position to a lower position
results in widening of the gap, which, in turn, results in
deformation of the urging unit, thereby storing a restoring force
in the urging unit to urge the display-supporting mechanism in an
upward direction.
Inventors: |
Chiu, Posen; (Shulin City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
1900 K STREET, N.W.
SUITE 1200
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1109
US
|
Family ID: |
29247564 |
Appl. No.: |
10/422954 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/371 ;
248/284.1; 248/917; 361/679.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/2021 20130101;
F16M 2200/044 20130101; F16M 11/10 20130101; F16M 2200/063
20130101; F16M 11/2092 20130101; F16M 11/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/371 ;
248/284.1; 248/917; 361/681 |
International
Class: |
A47G 029/00; E04G
003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2002 |
TW |
091211834 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A mounting device for a display, comprising: a stationary base;
and a display-supporting mechanism extending upwardly from and
pivoted to said stationary base so as to be rotatable relative to
said stationary base between upper and lower positions, said
display-supporting mechanism including a bracket that is disposed
above said stationary base, and parallel first and second arm units
that extend between and that are pivoted to said stationary base
and said bracket, and that cooperatively define a gap therebetween;
and an urging unit disposed between said stationary base and said
bracket and connected to said first and second arm units in such a
manner that rotation of said display-supporting mechanism relative
to said stationary base from said upper position to said lower
position results in widening of said gap, which, in turn, results
in deformation of said urging member, thereby storing a restoring
force in said urging unit to urge said display-supporting mechanism
in a direction from said lower position to said upper position.
2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said stationary base is
formed with opposite lower left and right pivot plates, said
bracket being formed with opposite upper left and right pivot
plates that are disposed above and that are aligned with said lower
left and right pivot plates respectively, said first arm unit
including parallel left and right arms, each of which extends
between and is pivoted to a respective one of said lower left and
right pivot plates and a respective one of said upper left and
right pivot plates, said second arm unit including parallel left
and right arms, each of which extends between and is pivoted to a
respective one of said lower left and right pivot plates and a
respective one of said upper left and right pivot plates, and each
of which is aligned with and is spaced apart from a respective one
of said left and right arms of said first arm unit by said gap,
said urging unit including at least one torsion spring that has two
opposite ends respectively connected to said left arms of said
first and second arm units.
3. The mounting device of claim 2, wherein each of said left arms
of said first and second arm units has a middle portion that is
formed with an anchoring hole, each of said opposite ends of said
torsion spring being formed with a barb that extends through said
anchoring hole in a respective one of said left arms and that
anchors at a periphery of said anchoring hole in the respective one
of said left arms.
4. The mounting device of claim 2, wherein said urging unit further
includes a second torsion spring that has two opposite ends which
are respectively connected to said right arms of said first and
second arm units.
5. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first arm unit
further includes a first connecting rib that interconnects said
left and right arms of said first arm unit, and an upper mounting
plate that projects from said first connecting rib toward said
second arm unit in a transverse direction transverse to said left
and right arms of said first and second arm units, said second arm
unit further including a second connecting rib that interconnects
said left and right arms of said second arm unit, and a lower
mounting plate that projects from said second connecting rib toward
said first arm unit in said transverse direction, said upper and
lower mounting plates cooperatively defining a spring-mounting
space therebetween, and being respectively formed with upper and
lower studs that project into said spring-mounting space toward
each other, said urging unit including a compression spring that is
sleeved on said upper and lower studs and that abuts against said
upper and lower mounting plates in such a manner that said
compression spring is compressed to store a restoring force when
said display-supporting mechanism is turned to said lower
position.
6. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first arm unit 40
further includes a first connecting rib that interconnects said
left and right arms of said first arm unit, and an upper mounting
plate that projects from said first connecting rib toward said
second arm unit in a transverse direction transverse to said left
and right arms of said first and second arm units, said second arm
unit further including a second connecting rib that interconnects
said left and right arms of said second arm unit, and a lower
mounting plate that projects from said second connecting rib toward
said first arm unit in said transverse direction, said urging unit
including a torsion spring that has two opposite ends secured to
said lower mounting plate, and a middle section extending from said
opposite ends and abutting against said upper mounting plate.
7. The mounting device of claim 6, wherein said urging unit further
includes a second torsion spring that has two opposite ends secured
to said upper mounting plate, and a middle section extending from
said opposite ends of said second torsion spring and abutting
against said lower mounting plate.
8. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first arm unit
further includes a first connecting rib that interconnects said
left and right arms of said first arm unit, and an upper mounting
plate that projects from said first connecting rib toward said
second arm unit in a transverse direction transverse to said left
and right arms of said first and second arm units, said second arm
unit further including a second connecting rib that interconnects
said left and right arms of said second arm unit, and a lower
mounting plate that projects from said second connecting rib toward
said first arm unit in said transverse direction, said urging unit
including a pair of torsion springs, each of which has two opposite
ends that are respectively secured to said upper and lower mounting
plates.
9. The mounting device of claim 8, wherein each of said torsion
springs has a middle section and two opposite end sections that
diverge from said middle section, each of said opposite end
sections of one of said torsion springs intersecting a respective
one of said opposite end sections of the other of said torsion
springs.
10. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first arm unit
further includes a first connecting rib that interconnects said
left and right arms of said first arm unit, said second arm unit
further including a second connecting rib that interconnects said
left and right arms of said second arm unit, said urging unit
including a compression spring that has opposite upper and lower
ends which are respectively secured to said first and second
connecting ribs in such a manner that said compression spring is
compressed to store a restoring force when said display-supporting
mechanism is turned to said lower position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwan Application No.
91211834, filed on Jan. 8, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a mounting device, more
particularly to a mounting device for a display.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a conventional mounting device for a display,
and generally includes a stationary base 91, a display-supporting
mechanism 9, and two torsion springs 94.
[0006] As illustrated, the stationary base 91 is mounted on a
horizontally extending support 90, and is formed with opposite
lower left and right pivot plates 92. The display-supporting
mechanism 9 includes a bracket 99, and parallel first and second
arm units 95, 97. The bracket 99 is disposed above the stationary
base 91 for mounting of a display (not shown) thereon, and is
formed with opposite upper left and right pivot plates 981 that are
disposed above and that are aligned with the lower left and right
pivot plates 92, respectively. The first arm unit 95 includes
parallel left and right arms 95" which are pivoted to the lower
left and right pivot plates 92 about an upper pivot shaft 93", and
the upper left and right pivot plates 981. The second arm unit 97
includes parallel left and right arms 97", which are pivoted to the
lower left and right pivot plates 92 about a lower pivot shaft 93,
and the upper left and right pivot plates 981 in such a manner that
the left and right arms 95", 97" of the first and second arm units
95, 97 are rotatable relative to the stationary base 91 between
upper and lower positions. An adjacent pair of the left arms
95",97" of the first and second arm units 95, 97 is spaced apart
from each other by a gap (G). Each of the two torsion springs 94 is
sleeved around a respective one of the pivot shafts 93,93", and has
an intermediate section 941 biasing against the stationary base 91,
and two opposite ends 942 secured respectively to two
spring-holding elements 70 sleeved firmly on the pivot shafts
93,93".
[0007] Under this condition, rotation of the first and second arm
units 95,97 relative to the stationary base 91 from the upper
position to the lower position results in widening of the gap (G)
between the first and second arm units 95,97, which, in turn,
results in deformation of the torsion springs 94, thereby storing a
restoring force in the torsion springs 94 to urge the first and
second arm units 95,97 in a direction from the lower position to
the upper position.
[0008] The aforesaid conventional mounting device is
disadvantageous in that it requires the upper and lower pivot
shafts 93", 93 and four spring-holding elements 70 for mounting of
the torsion springs 94. In addition, mounting of the torsion
springs 94 and the spring-holding elements 70 on the pivot shafts
93", 93 is relatively inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a
mounting device for a display, which includes less components and
which requires little assembly time so as to overcome the aforesaid
disadvantages of the prior art.
[0010] A mounting device for a display according to the present
invention includes a stationary base, a display-supporting
mechanism, and an urging unit. The display-supporting mechanism
extends upwardly from and is pivoted to the stationary base so as
to be rotatable relative to the stationary base between upper and
lower positions. The display-supporting mechanism includes a
bracket that is disposed above the stationary base, and parallel
first and second arm units that extend between and that are pivoted
to the stationary base and the bracket and that cooperatively
define a gap therebetween. The urging unit is disposed between the
stationary base and the bracket, and is connected to the first and
second arm units in such a manner that rotation of the
display-supporting mechanism relative to the stationary base from
the upper position to the lower position results in widening of the
gap between the first and second arm units, which, in turn, results
in deformation of the urging member, thereby storing a restoring
force in the urging unit to urge the display-supporting mechanism
in a direction from the lower position to the upper position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other features and advantages of this invention will become
more apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional mounting
device for a display;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment
of a mounting device for a display according to the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an urging unit employed
in the first preferred embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the first preferred
embodiment, illustrating how first and second arm units of the
first preferred embodiment are moved from an upper position to a
lower position;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the second preferred
embodiment of a mounting device for a display according to the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the second preferred
embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the second preferred
embodiment, illustrating how the first and second arm units of the
second preferred embodiment are moved from an upper position to a
lower position;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the third preferred
embodiment of a mounting device for a display according to the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the third preferred
embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the third preferred
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of the fourth preferred
embodiment of a mounting device for a display according to the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the fourth preferred
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a schematic front view of a modification of the
fourth preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 13;
[0027] FIG. 16 illustrates two torsion springs for interconnecting
the first and second arm units in the embodiments of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary front view of the fifth preferred
embodiment of a mounting device for a display according to the
present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of the fifth preferred
embodiment shown in FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Before the present invention is described in greater detail
with reference to the following embodiments, it should be noted
that same reference numerals have been used to denote similar
elements throughout the specification.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of
a mounting device 100 for a display according to the present
invention is shown to include a stationary base 3, a
display-supporting mechanism (4,5), and an urging unit 49.
[0032] As illustrated, the display-supporting mechanism (4,5)
includes a bracket 6 and parallel first and second arm units 40,50
(see FIGS. 2 and 4). The bracket 6 is disposed above the stationary
base 3. The parallel first and second arm units 40,50 extend
between and are pivoted to the stationary base 3 and the bracket 6
in such a manner that the first and second arm units 40, 50
cooperatively define a gap (G) therebetween. The display-supporting
mechanism (4,5) is rotatable relative to the stationary base 3
between upper and lower positions, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and
6.
[0033] The urging unit 49 is disposed between the stationary base 3
and the bracket 6, and is connected to the first and second arm
units 40, 50 in such a manner that rotation of the
display-supporting mechanism (4, 5) relative to the stationary base
3 from the upper position to the lower position results in widening
of the gap (G), which, in turn, results in deformation of the
urging unit 49, thereby storing a restoring force in the urging
unit 49 to urge the display-supporting mechanism (4,5) in a
direction from the lower position to the upper position.
[0034] In the first preferred embodiment, the stationary base 3 is
mounted on a horizontally extending U-shaped support 1 via a
mounting seat 2 by the use of fastener screws 13 and 38, and is
formed with opposite lower left and right pivot plates 32. The
bracket 6 is preferably formed with opposite upper left and right
pivot plates 62 that are disposed above and that are aligned with
the lower left and right pivot plates 32, respectively. The first
arm unit 40 includes parallel left and right arms 41, 42. The
second arm unit 50 includes parallel left and right arms 51,5. Each
of the left arms 41, 51 extends between the left pivot plates 32,62
and is pivoted to the left pivot plates 32,62 by means of screw
units 39(37), 63(64). Each of the right arms 42, 52 extends between
and is pivoted to the right pivot plates 32,62 by means of screw
units 39(37), 63(64). The left arms 41,51 of the first and second
arm units 40,50 are aligned with and are spaced apart from each
other by the gap (G). Engagement between the screw units 39(37),63
(64) and the left and right arms (41,42), (51,52) provides a
frictional force which permits positioning of the left and right
arms (41,42),(51,52) at a desired angle relative to the stationary
base 3. Since the feature of the present invention does not reside
therein, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the
sake of brevity. In this embodiment, the urging unit 49 includes
two torsion springs 49K, each having two opposite ends 48 (see FIG.
4) that are respectively connected to the left arms 41,51 of the
first and second arm units 40,50. Each of the left arms 41,51 of
the first and second arm units 40,50 has a middle portion 410,510
that is formed with an anchoring hole 415,515. Each of the opposite
ends 48 of the torsion springs 49K is formed with a barb that
extends through the anchoring hole 415(515) in a respective one of
the left arms 41(51) and that anchors at a periphery of the
anchoring hole 415(515) in the respective left arms 41(51) (see
FIG. 3). The bracket 6 includes a display-holding frame 65 attached
to the upper left and right pivot plates 62 through screw units 63
(64) for mounting of a display member (not shown) thereon.
[0035] It is noted that, the pivot shafts and spring-holding
elements of the prior art are not required in the preferred
embodiment to mount the torsion springs 49k on the left and right
arms (41,42), (51,52) of the first and second arm units 40,50. The
opposite ends 48 of each of the torsion springs 49K can be easily
compressed to move toward each other so as to be inserted into the
anchoring holes 415 in the left and right arms (41,42) (51,52),
thereby facilitating the spring mounting operation.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the second preferred embodiment
of a mounting device according to the present invention is shown to
have a construction similar to that of the previous embodiment. The
main difference resides in that the first arm unit 40 further
includes a first connecting rib 45 that interconnects the left and
right arms 41,42 of the first arm unit 40, and an upper mounting
plate 43 that projects from the first connecting rib 45 toward the
second arm unit 50 in a transverse direction transverse to the left
and right arms 41 (51), 42 (52) of the first and second arm units
40,50. The second arm unit 50 further includes a second connecting
rib 55 that interconnects the left and right arms 51,52 of the
second arm unit 50, and a lower mounting plate 53 that projects
from the second connecting rib 55 toward the first arm unit 40 in
the transverse direction. The upper and lower mounting plates 43,53
of the first and second arm unit 40,50 cooperatively define a
spring-mounting space therebetween, and are respectively formed
with upper and lower studs 44, 54 that project into the
spring-mounting space toward each other. In this embodiment, the
urging unit 49 includes a compression spring 49P (see FIG. 8) that
is sleeved on the upper and lower studs 44,54 and that abuts
against the upper and lower mounting plates 43,53 in such a manner
that the compression spring 49P is compressed to store a restoring
force when the first and second arm units 40,50 are turned to the
lower position (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 9).
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the third preferred embodiment
of a mounting device according to the present invention is shown to
have a construction similar to that of the second preferred
embodiment. The main difference resides in that the urging unit 49
includes a torsion spring 49a that has two opposite ends 48 secured
to two engaging holes 57 in the lower mounting plate 53, and a
middle section 47 extending from the opposite ends 48 and abutting
against the upper mounting plate 43 of the first arm unit 40, as
best shown in FIG. 11. The urging unit 49 may further include a
second torsion spring 49c that has two opposite ends 48 secured to
two engaging holes in the upper mounting plate 43, and a middle
section extending from the opposite ends 48 of the second torsion
spring 49c and abutting against the lower mounting plate 53 of the
second arm unit 50, as best shown in FIG. 12.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the fourth preferred
embodiment of a mounting device according to the present invent is
shown to have a construction similar to that of the third preferred
embodiment. The main difference resides in that the urging unit 49
includes a pair of torsion springs (49d,49e), each of which has two
opposite ends 48 that respectively extend through and that are
respectively secured to engaging holes 57 in the upper and lower
mounting plates 43,53. Preferably, each of the torsion springs
49d,49e has a middle section 490 and two opposite end sections 491
that diverge from the middle section 490 (see FIGS. 13 and 15).
More preferably, each of the opposite end sections 491 of one of
the torsion springs 49d intersects a respective one of the opposite
end sections 491 of the other of the torsion springs 49e (see FIG.
13).
[0039] FIG. 16 shows two torsion springs 49f of another
configuration for interconnecting the upper and lower mounting
plates 43,53 of the first and second arm units 40,50 in the
embodiments of the present invention.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the fifth preferred embodiment
of a mounting device for a display according to the present
invention is shown to have a construction similar to that of the
first preferred embodiment. The main difference resides in that the
urging unit 49 includes a compression spring 49n that has opposite
upper and lower ends which respectively extend through and which
are respectively secured to the first and second connecting ribs
45, 55 of the first and second arm units 40,50 in such a manner
that the compression spring 49n is compressed to store a restoring
force when the display-supporting mechanism (4,5) (see FIG. 2) is
turned to the lower position.
[0041] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore
intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the
appended claims.
* * * * *