U.S. patent application number 10/292698 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for lift for lcd.
Invention is credited to Chang, Chun-Chung.
Application Number | 20040090154 10/292698 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32229508 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040090154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Chun-Chung |
May 13, 2004 |
Lift for LCD
Abstract
A parallelepiped lifting device mounted under a computer desk in
a storage position is disclosed. Prior to using a computer, the
device is activated by starting a motor in a clockwise rotation to
lift an LCD of the computer from under the desk by means of a
mechanism comprising chains, sprockets, and a bar. A lowering of
the device into the desk is performed by starting the motor in a
counterclockwise rotation by means of the same mechanism. The
invention can save desk space for other purposes in the storage
position.
Inventors: |
Chang, Chun-Chung;
(Changhua, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RABIN & BERDO, P.C.
Suite 500
1101 14th Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
32229508 |
Appl. No.: |
10/292698 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.3 ;
348/E5.128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 2200/0073 20130101;
A47B 21/0073 20130101; A47B 2200/0069 20130101; H04N 5/64
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 081/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A parallelepiped lifting device mounted under an element in a
storage position, comprising: four first sprocket wheels at four
corners respectively; two second sprocket wheels at two bottom
corners respectively wherein each of the second sprocket wheels is
formed integrally with the corresponding first sprocket wheel
through a shaft so as to be capable of rotating in synchronism; an
electric motor capable of rotating clockwise or counterclockwise,
the motor being rotatably coupled to one of the second sprocket
wheels; two vertically disposed first chains each fitted over two
of the first sprocket wheels at the same side; a horizontally
disposed second chain fitted over the second sprocket wheels; a
transverse bar interconnecting the first chains, the transverse bar
being moveable along the first chains as they advance; a
ball-and-socket joint at about the center of the transverse bar; an
LCD coupled to the ball-and-socket joint, the LCD being covered in
the storage position; a post behind the LCD; an upper dust cover
pivotably coupled to the top of the post; and a lower L-shaped foot
pivotably coupled to the bottom of the post, wherein in a lifting
operation of the LCD, the motor is started in the clockwise
rotation for rotating the coupled second sprocket wheel in order to
simultaneously advance the second chain and one of the first chains
both coupled to the second sprocket wheel, the other first chain is
driven by the conveying second chain in synchronism, the
synchronous advances of the first chains are then converted into an
upward movement of the transverse bar for lifting the LCD from the
lifting device until a predetermined maximum lifting distance is
reached, and in a lowering operation of the LCD, the motor is
started in the counterclockwise rotation for rotating the coupled
second sprocket wheel in order to simultaneously advance the second
chain and one of the first chains, the other first chain is driven
by the conveying second chain in synchronism, the synchronous
advances of the first chains are converted into a downward movement
of the transverse bar for lowering the LCD into the lifting device
until a predetermined maximum lowering distance is reached.
2. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the element is a computer
desk, the computer desk having an access cover which is removed
prior to the lifting operation of the LCD.
3. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the LCD is an LCD of a
computer.
4. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the LCD is an LCD of a
television.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to arrangement of LCD (liquid
crystal display) and more particularly to a device for lifting an
LCD from under, for example, a computer desk for use or lowering
the same to be covered under the desk in a storage position for
saving desk space for other purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is understood that space left on a computer desk is
limited since computer, monitor, keyboard, and one or more
peripherals have already occupied a substantial portion of the
desk. This is particularly true for a CRT (cathode ray tube)
monitor. For decreasing size of the bulky CRT monitor, LCDs have
been developed. The LCD is advantageous over the CRT monitor in
many fields such as lightweight, compact, less power consumption,
etc. It is envisaged that the CRT monitors will be phased out
gradually as more people like the LCDs.
[0003] However, both the prior art suffered from a disadvantage. In
detailed, the CRT monitor or the LCD is still placed on the desk
when the computer is not in use. Hence, precious desk space is
still wasted. Hence, a need exists for a device for lifting the LCD
from under a desk for use or lowering the same to be covered under
the desk in a storage position for saving desk space for other
purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a parallelepiped lifting device mounted under an element in
a storage position, comprising four first sprocket wheels at four
corners respectively; two second sprocket wheels at two bottom
corners respectively wherein each of the second sprocket wheels is
formed integrally with the corresponding first sprocket wheel
through a shaft so as to be capable of rotating in synchronism; an
electric motor capable of rotating clockwise or counterclockwise,
the motor being rotatably coupled to one of the second sprocket
wheels; two vertically disposed first chains each fitted over two
of the first sprocket wheels at the same side; a horizontally
disposed second chain fitted over the second sprocket wheels; a
transverse bar interconnecting the first chains, the transverse bar
being moveable along the first chains as they advance; a
ball-and-socket joint at about the center of the transverse bar; an
LCD coupled to the ball-and-socket joint, the LCD being covered in
the storage position; a post behind the LCD; an upper dust cover
pivotably coupled to the top of the post; and a lower L-shaped foot
pivotably coupled to the bottom of the post, wherein in a lifting
operation of the LCD, the motor is started in the clockwise
rotation for rotating the coupled second sprocket wheel in order to
simultaneously advance the second chain and one of the first chains
both coupled to the second sprocket wheel, the other first chain is
driven by the conveying second chain in synchronism, the
synchronous advances of the first chains are then converted into an
upward movement of the transverse bar for lifting the LCD from the
lifting device until a predetermined maximum lifting distance is
reached, and in a lowering operation of the LCD, the motor is
started in the counterclockwise rotation for rotating the coupled
second sprocket wheel in order to simultaneously advance the second
chain and one of the first chains, the other first chain is driven
by the conveying second chain in synchronism, the synchronous
advances of the first chains are converted into a downward movement
of the transverse bar for lowering the LCD into the lifting device
until a predetermined maximum lowering distance is reached.
[0005] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a computer desk where both
an LCD and a lifting device therefor according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention are covered by an access cover;
[0007] FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the computer desk
and the lifting device where the access cover is removed;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lifting device;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the LCD,
ball-and-socket joint, and transverse bar;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view in part section showing different tilt
angles of the LCD about the transverse bar;
[0011] FIG. 5A is a side view where the LCD is covered by the
access cover under the desk;
[0012] FIG. 5B is a front view of FIG. 5A;
[0013] FIG. 6A is a side view where the LCD is about to rise as the
access cover is pivoted to an upright position;
[0014] FIG. 6B is a front view of the lifting device where the LCD
has been fully lifted;
[0015] FIG. 6C is a perspective view showing the fully lifted LCD
on the desk;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view where the LCD is about to lower to be
covered by the access cover; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is an environmental view of the invention which is
associated with a liquid crystal TV screen shown in phantom lines
in a living room.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, there is shown a lifting device 2
in accordance with the invention. The lifting device 2 is
associated with a computer A and is installed under a computer desk
1. In a storage position, the lifting device 2 is covered by an
access cover 11 A which is releasably positioned on a rectangular
opening 11 on the desk 1. The lifting device 2 is a parallelepiped
frame and comprises four first sprocket wheels 21 at four corners
respectively, two second sprocket wheels 23 at two bottom corners
respectively in which each of the second sprocket wheels 23 is
formed integrally with the corresponding first sprocket wheel 21
through a shaft so as to be capable of rotating in synchronism, and
one of the second sprocket wheels 23 is further rotatably coupled
to an electric motor 231, two vertically disposed first chains 22
each fitted over two first sprocket wheels 21 at the same side, a
horizontally disposed second chain 24 fitted over the second
sprocket wheels 23, a transverse bar 25 interconnecting the first
chains 22, the transverse bar 25 being moveable along the first
chains 22 as they advance, a ball-and-socket joint 26 at about the
center of the transverse bar 25, an LCD 3 of the computer A coupled
to the ball-and-socket joint 26, a post 28 behind the LCD 3, an
upper dust cover 29 pivotably coupled to the top of the post 28,
and a lower L-shaped foot 27 pivotably coupled to the bottom of the
post 28.
[0019] Operations of the invention will now be described in detail
below. For using the computer A, a user first has to remove the
access cover 11A from the desk 1. Next, starts the electric motor
231 in a clockwise rotation for rotating the coupled second
sprocket wheel 23 in order to advance both of the coupled second
chain 24 and one of the first chains 22 simultaneously. And in
turn, the other first-chain 22 is driven by the conveying second
chain 24. Advances of both first chains 22 are thus in synchronism.
The advances are then converted into an upward movement of the
transverse bar 25. At the same time, the L-shaped foot 27 is
pivoted to lower the post 28. In response, the dust cover 29 is
pivoted upward about the post 28 for exposing the LCD 3. Hence, the
LCD 3 is slowly lifting from the lifting device 2 as the dust cover
29 is fully opened. The lifting will stop if the LCD 3 has fully
projected above the surface of the desk 1 with the transverse bar
25 stopped by a limit switch (not shown).
[0020] When the user does not want to use the computer A for a
relatively long period of time for saving desk space for other
purposes, the user may first start the motor 231 in a
counterclockwise rotation for rotating the coupled second sprocket
wheel 23 in order to advance both of the coupled second chain 24
and one of the first chains 22 simultaneously. And in turn, the
other first chain 22 is driven by the conveying second chain 24.
Advances of both first chains 22 are thus in synchronism. The
advances are then converted into a downward movement of the
transverse bar 25. Hence, the LCD 3 is slowly lowering into the
lifting device 2 as the dust cover 29 is fully closed. The lowering
will stop if the LCD 3 has been fully covered under the surface of
the desk 1 with the transverse bar 25 stopped by the limit
switch.
[0021] For obtaining a better viewing angle, the user can tilt the
LCD 3 about the ball-and-socket joint 26 a limited angle (see FIG.
4). Referring to FIG. 8, in another preferred embodiment the
lifting device is associated with a liquid crystal TV screen 4 in a
living room. The operations of the lifting device in this
embodiment are the same as above. Thus a detailed description
thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
[0022] While the invention has been described by means of specific
embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made
thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
* * * * *