U.S. patent application number 11/611385 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for baseframe with attachment.
This patent application is currently assigned to CompX International Inc.. Invention is credited to Samuel Jurja.
Application Number | 20080142658 11/611385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39525984 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080142658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jurja; Samuel |
June 19, 2008 |
Baseframe With Attachment
Abstract
An articulating support arm, an articulating support arm and
baseframe in combination and a method of installing an articulating
support arm on a baseframe are described. The baseframe and the
support arm have corresponding interlocks thereon. The interlocks
can be engaged or disengaged by appropriately bringing the support
arm into contact with the baseframe. When the interlocks are
engaged with one another, the support arm is held in position by
the interlocks to allow fasteners to be inserted to lock the
support arm and baseframe together and prevent the interlocks from
disengaging.
Inventors: |
Jurja; Samuel; (Kitchener,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARYL W SCHNURR;MILLER THOMSON LLP
ACCELERATOR BUILDING, 295 HAGEY BLVD., SUITE 300
WATERLOO
ON
N2L 6R5
omitted
|
Assignee: |
CompX International Inc.
|
Family ID: |
39525984 |
Appl. No.: |
11/611385 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/220.21 ;
248/276.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 21/0314 20130101;
F16M 11/10 20130101; F16M 11/2014 20130101; F16M 13/00 20130101;
F16M 13/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/220.21 ;
248/276.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 5/00 20060101
A47B005/00 |
Claims
1. An articulating support arm for adjustably supporting an object
at a workstation, said arm comprising a base connected directly or
indirectly to said workstation, an elongated member and a platform,
said elongated member having an inner end and an outer end, said
inner end of said elongated member being pivotally connected to
said base, said outer end of said elongated member being pivotally
connected to said platform said platform being capable of
supporting said peripheral thereon, said platform being adjustable
to various lockable and releasable positions relative to said base,
said base having an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer
portion having releasable interlocks thereon, said interlocks
corresponding to interlocks on a plate of a baseframe, said
interlocks being engageable and releasable by appropriately moving
said base and said plate into and out of contact with one another,
said support arm having one or more releasable locking mechanisms
to lock said platform in a particular position, to unlock said
platform for movement to a different position relative to said base
and relocking said platform relative to said base, said interlocks
being sufficiently secure to hold said base against said plate
before any fasteners are used in addition to the interlocks, said
base being substantially parallel to said plate when said
interlocks are engaged with one another before any fasteners are
connected in addition to said interlocks.
2. A support arm as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interlocks are
shaped to engage and disengage from one another.
3. A support arm as claimed in claim 2 wherein half of said
interlocks are loops and half of said interlocks are projections
that are sized to fit within said loops.
4. A support arm as claimed in claim 3 wherein said interlocks on
said plate are loops and said interlocks on said base are
projections.
5. A support arm as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interlocks are
located on an outer portion of said plate and base.
6. A support arm as claimed in claim 5 wherein said interlocks are
located at or near an outer edge of each of said plate and
base.
7. A support arm as claimed in claim 3 wherein said interlocks
engage one another when said projections are located within said
loops.
8. A support arm as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fasteners are
screws that affix said base to said plate after said interlocks are
engaged.
9. A support arm as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fasteners are
screws that affix said base to said plate when said interlocks are
engaged, said screws extending through openings located at or near
an inner edge of said base and said plate.
10. A support arm as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two
interlocks on said plate that are shaped to engage with two
corresponding interlocks on said base.
11. An articulating support arm for use with a baseframe having a
movable plate therein, said support arm having a base, said
baseframe comprising an elongated body with channels along each
side, said plate and said base having corresponding interlocks
thereon, said interlocks being shaped to releasably interlock with
one another when said arm is appropriately brought into contact
with said baseframe.
12. A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination, said
baseframe being mounted beneath a working surface at a workstation,
said combination comprising said baseframe having a movable plate
that is sized and shaped to be connected to a base of said support
arm, said support arm having at least one pivotally connected
elongated member with a platform at a free end opposite to said
base, said plate having interlocks thereon corresponding to
interlocks on said base, said interlocks being sized and shaped to
releasably engage one another when said base is moved into contact
with said plate, with one or more fasteners to lock said base to
said plate after said interlocks engage one another.
13. A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination, said
baseframe being mounted beneath a working surface at a workstation,
said combination comprising said baseframe having a movable plate
that is sized and shaped to be connected to a base of said support
arm, said support arm having at least two pivotally connected
elongated members with a platform at a free end opposite to said
base, said plate having interlocks thereon corresponding to
interlocks on said base, said interlocks being sized and shaped to
releasably engage one another without fasteners when said base is
appropriately moved into contact with said plate, said base being
substantially parallel to said plate when said interlocks of said
base and said plate engage one another.
14. A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination as
claimed in claim 13 wherein half of said interlocks are loops and
half of said interlocks are projections that are sized to fit in
said loops.
15. A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination as
claimed in claim 14 wherein said interlocks on said plate are loops
and said interlocks on said base are projections.
16. A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination as
claimed in claim 13 wherein said interlocks are located on an outer
portion of said plate and base.
17. A baseframe for use with an articulating support arm, said
baseframe comprising an elongated body with channels along each
side, said channels being shaped to support a plate that is movable
longitudinally along said baseframe, said articulating arm having a
base that is sized and shaped to fit on said plate, said base
having releasable interlocks on an outer portion thereof, said
releasable interlocks on said base corresponding to said interlocks
on said plate, said interlocks being lockable and releasable by
appropriately moving said interlocks into and out of contact with
one another respectively, said interlocks being sufficiently secure
to hold said base against said plate before any fasteners are used
in addition to said interlocks, said base being substantially
parallel to said plate when said interlocks are engaged with one
another before any fasteners are installed.
18. A method of installing an articulating support arm to an
underside of a plate mounted on a baseframe beneath a working
surface of a work station, said support arm having a base, said
plate and said base having corresponding interlocks thereon, said
base and said plate being sized to fit together in contact with one
another, said method comprising commencing with said baseframe
connected to an underside of said working surface, manually moving
said support arm into contact with said plate in such a manner
relative to said baseframe that said interlocks interlock with one
another through said contact, said interlocks being located so that
when said support arm is released after said interlocks are engaged
with one another, said base is parallel to and generally aligned
with said plate and said support arm remains in that position
without any external force being applied to said support arm,
subsequently inserting fasteners between said base and said plate
to fixedly secure said base on said plate and to prevent said
interlocks from disengaging when external forces are applied to
said support arm.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18 including the steps of removing
said fasteners and disengaging said interlocks by moving said
support arm away from said baseframe.
20. A method of connecting an articulating support arm to an
underside of a plate mounted on a baseframe beneath a working
surface of a workstation, said plate having two first interlocks
thereon, said support arm having an attachment surface with two
second interlocks thereon, said second interlocks corresponding to
said first interlocks, there being at least one fastener, said
method comprising manually placing said attachment surface in
contact with said plate in such a manner as to cause said
interlocks to engage with one another, said arm being fully
supported by said plate when said interlocks are engaged with one
another, installing at least one fastener to cause said attachment
surface to be securely mounted on said plate, and installing
fasteners to lock said attachment surface on said plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an articulating support arm that
is attachable to a movable plate of a baseframe. The support arm
has a base and the baseframe has a plate with corresponding
interlocks thereon. This invention further relates to a support arm
and baseframe in combination and to a method of installing the
support arm on the baseframe.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Baseframes with articulating support arms thereon are known.
However, one of the difficulties with the existing baseframes and
support arms is that it can be extremely difficult and somewhat
dangerous to affix a base of the support arm to a plate of a
baseframe. The baseframe is designed to be mounted on an underside
of a work surface. When it is desired to attach a support arm to
the baseframe, the support arm must be manually held in place by an
installer until such time as sufficient fasteners can be inserted
between the base of the support arm and the plate of the baseframe
to securely hold the base against the plate. With previous devices,
bolts or screws are simply inserted between the base and the plate
to hold the base and plate together. Since the support arm is
relatively heavy, it can be a dangerous and difficult task to
install a support arm on a baseframe. Where a user is working
alone, the user must support the support arm with one hand while
attempting to install bolts or screws between the plate and the
base with the other hand. If the support arm slips from the grasp
of the installer, the support arm could fall on the installer and
cause serious injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
and device whereby a base of an articulating support arm can be
easily affixed to a plate on a baseframe without having to manually
hold the support arm in position beneath the baseframe while
fasteners are installed.
[0006] An articulating support arm for use with a baseframe having
a movable plate therein, said support arm having a base, the
baseframe comprising a U-shaped body with channels along each side.
The plate and the base have corresponding interlocks thereon. The
interlocks are shaped to releasably interlock with one another when
the arm is attached to the baseframe.
[0007] A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination has
a baseframe mounted beneath a working surface at a work station.
The combination comprises the baseframe having a movable plate that
is sized and shaped to be connected to a base of the support arm.
The support arm has at least one pivotally connected elongated
member with a platform and a free end opposite to the base. The
plate has interlocks thereon corresponding to interlocks on the
base. The interlocks are sized and shaped to releasably interlock
with one another when the base is moved into contact with the plate
with one or more fasteners to lock the base to the plate after the
interlocks engage one another.
[0008] An articulating support arm adjustably supports an object at
a workstation, the arm comprising a base connected directly or
indirectly to the workstation, an elongated member and a platform.
The elongated member has an inner end and an outer end, the inner
end of the elongated member being pivotally connected to the base.
The outer end of the elongated member is pivotally connected to the
platform, the platform is capable of supporting the peripheral
thereon. The platform is adjustable to various lockable and
releasable positions relative to the base. The base has an inner
portion and an outer portion, the outer portion having releasable
interlocks thereon. The interlocks correspond to interlocks on a
plate of a baseframe. The interlocks are engageable and releasable
by appropriately moving the base and plate into and out of contact
with one another. The support arm has one or more releasable
locking mechanisms to lock the platform in a particular position,
to unlock the platform for movement to a different position
relative to the base and to relock the platform relative to the
base. The interlocks are sufficiently secure to hold the base
against the plate before any fasteners are used in addition to the
interlocks. The base is substantially parallel to the plate when
the interlocks are engaged with one another before any fasteners
are connected in addition to the interlocks.
[0009] A baseframe and articulating support arm in combination has
a baseframe mounted beneath a working surface at a workstation. The
combination comprises the baseframe having a movable plate that is
sized and shaped to be connected to a base of the support arm. The
support arm has at least one pivotally connected elongated member
with a platform at a free end opposite to the base. The plate has
interlocks thereon corresponding to interlocks on the base. The
interlocks are sized and shaped to releasably engage one another
when the base is appropriately moved into contact with the plate.
There are one or more fasteners to lock the base to the plate after
the interlocks engage one another.
[0010] A method of installing an articulating support arm to an
underside of plate mounted on a baseframe beneath a working surface
of a workstation uses a support arm having a base. The plate and
the base have corresponding interlocks thereon on a front portion
of each of the plate and base. The base and the plate are sized to
fit together in contact with one another. The method comprises
commencing with the baseframe connected to an underside of the
working surface, manually placing the support arm in such a manner
relative to the baseframe that the interlocks interlock with one
another through the contact. The interlocks are located so that
when the support arm is released after the interlocks are engaged
with one another, the base is parallel to and generally aligned
with the plate and the support arm remains in that position without
any external force being applied to the support arm. The method
further comprises inserting fasteners between the base and the
plate to fixedly secure the base on the plate and to prevent the
interlocks from disengaging when external forces are applied to the
support arm.
[0011] A method of connecting an articulating support arm to an
underside of a plate mounted on a baseframe beneath a working
surface of a workstation uses a plate having two first interlocks
thereon. The arm has an attachment surface with two second
interlocks thereon. The second interlocks correspond to the first
interlocks, there being at least one fastener. The method comprises
manually placing the attachment surface in contact with the plate
in such a manner as to cause the interlocks to engage with one
another, the arm being fully supported by the plate when the
interlocks are engaged with one another, installing at least one
fastener to cause the attachment surface to be securely mounted on
the plate and installing fasteners to lock the attachment surface
on the plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide plate;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base;
[0014] FIG. 3 is perspective view of a slide plate and base in
close proximity to one another;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the slide plate and
base wherein the base is in close proximity to the slide plate;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a support arm being
nearly mounted on the slide plate; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a different
support arm being located adjacent to a base frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] In FIG. 1, a slide plate 2 has a central opening 4 and two
sides 12 with grooves 9 along each side to receive ball bearings
(not shown) of a baseframe (not shown in FIG. 1). The plate 2 has
an inner end 6 and an outer end 8 with first interlocks 10 located
at or near the outer end 8. There are two first interlocks 10. The
number of interlocks can be more than two or fewer than two, but
two interlocks are preferred. Also, the first interlocks 10 can be
located at a different location on the plate 2 than that shown in
FIG. 1, but the interlocks are preferably located on an outer
portion of the plate 2. It can be seen that the first interlocks 10
are loops that extend upward from the plate 2.
[0019] In FIG. 2, there is shown a base 14 that forms part of an
articulating support arm (not shown in FIG. 2). The base 14 has an
inner end 16, an outer end 18 and two sides 20 with a central
opening 22. The outer end 18 has two second interlocks 24 thereon.
The second interlocks 24 are prongs that are sized and shaped to
fit within the loops of the first interlocks 10. The second
interlocks 24 are located at or near the outer edge 18. The second
interlocks 24 correspond to the first interlocks 10 and there can
be more or fewer interlocks than the four shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
Also, as with the first interlocks 10, the second interlocks can be
located at a different location on the base as long as the location
corresponds to the location of the first interlocks 10 on the plate
2. When the interlocks 10, 24 are engaged, the plate and base are
aligned with one another. Preferably, the first interlocks 10 and
the second interlocks 24 are located on the outer portions of the
plate 2 and base 14 respectively. The base 14 can be connected to a
remainder of an articulating support arm (not shown in FIG. 2) so
that the remainder of the support arm rotates relative to the base
14 in a plane parallel to said base.
[0020] In FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of a base being
placed on a slide plate. In FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective
view of a base being placed on a slide plate when the slide plate
is mounted in a baseframe. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the same reference
numerals are used as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2 for those
components that are identical. In FIG. 4, there is shown a partial
perspective view of a baseframe 26 having the slide plate 2 movably
mounted therein. The baseframe 26 is described in pending U.S.
Patent Application No. 60/635,955 and has channels 28 along each
side with ball bearing retainers 30 therein. The slide plate 2
moves longitudinally along the baseframe and has side edges that
fit within the ballbearing retainers 30. While a particular model
of baseframe is shown in FIG. 4, the present invention can be used
with virtually any type of baseframe, many of which are
conventional, having a slide plate that moves in ballbearing
retainers or is slidable in channels 28 that do not have
ballbearing retainers. Also, the orientation of the channels 28 can
vary. For example, the channels 28 can be horizontal or vertical.
The baseframe has a plastic cap 32, which is also conventional. In
FIG. 3, the base 14 and the second interlocks 24 are some distance
away from the first interlocks 10. However, it can be seen that the
second interlocks 24 will fit within the first interlocks 10 when
the base 14 is moved in the direction of the arrows until the
prongs of the second interlocks 24 enter the loops of the first
interlocks 10. When the interlocks 10, 24 are engaged with one
another (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), the base 14 will be parallel
to the plate 2. There are two screws, which are fasteners 34, that
connect the base 14 to the plate 2. When the interlocks are engaged
with one another, the fasteners are inserted to lock the interlocks
together, to prevent the interlocks from disengaging and to affix
the base 14 to the plate 2. The fasteners are removable and the
method just described can be reversed to move the base 14 out of
contact with the plate 2 by removing the screw and disengaging the
interlocks. While the loops of the interlocks 10 are shown as being
located on the plate 2 and the prongs of the interlocks 24 are
shown as being located on the base 14, the interlocks can be
reversed with loops located on the base 14 and prongs sized and
located on the plate to be inserted into the loops when the base
and plate come together in an appropriate manner as will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art. The interlocks engage one
another when they are brought into appropriate contact. The
fasteners are distinct from the interlocks. The fasteners are
screws that are inserted into appropriate openings to hold the base
and plate together after the interlocks are engaged. The fasteners
prevent the interlocks form disengaging when the arm is manipulated
during use.
[0021] In FIG. 5, an articulating support arm 40 has a first
elongated member 42 with the base 14 pivotally connected at an
inner end 44 through a bracket 46 and a platform 48 pivotally
connected to an outer end 50 through a bracket 52. A second
elongated member 53 is pivotally connected to the bracket 46. The
same reference numerals are used in FIG. 5 as those used in FIGS. 1
to 4 to describe those components that are identical. The second
elongated member is located beneath the first elongated member and
is connected to different pivot axes from the first elongated
member. The platform can be used to support any object of
appropriate size and weight, but is usually used to support a
keyboard (not shown) or other computer peripheral.
[0022] It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the support arm 40 is in the
process of being connected to the baseframe 26 by moving the base
14 into contact with the slide plate 2 so that the interlocks 10,
24 will engage one another. When the interlocks 10, 24 are engaged
with one another, the plate 2 and base 14 will be parallel to one
another. Since the interlocks are located in the outer portion of
the plate 2 and the support arm 40 has a center of gravity that is
located outwardly from the interlocks 10, 24, the downward force on
the outer portion of the support arm 40 will force that portion of
the base 14 that is located toward an inner end of the base 14
upward into a parallel relationship with the plate 2. Since the
baseframe is already connected to an underside of a workstation
(not shown in FIG. 5), an installer can grasp the support arm 40
with both hands and move the base relative to the plate on the
baseframe until the interlocks are engaged. Then, the installer can
release the support arm and can use both hands to install the
fasteners. The interlocks themselves will prevent the support arm
from falling away from the baseframe even before the fasteners 34
are inserted through the base 14 and into the plate 2 to more
permanently attach the base to the plate and to prevent the
interlocks from disengaging. The base 14 is usually pivotally
attached to the remainder of the support arm 40 so that the
platform 48 can pivot from side to side relative to the base 14 in
addition to moving up and down.
[0023] In FIG. 6, there is shown an exploded view of the baseframe
26 located just beneath an underside 56 of a workstation 58. The
workstation 58 is shown schematically by one line only. An
articulating support arm 60 is also shown. To advance from the
position shown in FIG. 6 to a position where the base is engaged
with the plate (not shown), the support arm is moved into contact
with the plate and then moved outward relative to the baseframe.
The fasteners 34, being screws, are not yet inserted to hold the
base in contact with the plate. The baseframe 26 has a stop 59 to
prevent the plate 2 from sliding out the inner end.
[0024] During installation, the support arm is held against the
baseframe by the interlocks before any fasteners are inserted. If
one were to lift upward on an outer end of the support arm, the
support arm would pivot about the interlocks and the inner end of
the support arm would move downward. When the outer portion of the
support arm is raised by a sufficient distance, the interlocks will
become disengaged and the base and support arm can be removed from
the plate. The interlocks allow the support arm to pivot slightly.
Since the pivot point is at the interlocks and since the weight of
the support arm to the outside of the interlocks is greater than
the weight of the support arm to the inside of the interlocks the
base rests against the plate even though the fasteners 34 are not
inserted. When the fasteners 34 are inserted, the base will no
longer pivot relative to the plate and the prongs will be secured
within the loops and will not disengage, thereby preventing the
support arm from separating from the baseframe. The same reference
numerals are used in FIG. 6 as those used in FIGS. 1 to 5 to
describe those components that are identical or similar.
[0025] The support arm 60 is slightly different from the support
arm 40, but many of the components of the two support arms 14, 60
are identical or at least similar to one another. The operation of
the support arms are not described in detail as the support arms
are known and the manner in which the support arm operates is not
particularly relevant to the present invention. When the interlocks
of the support arm and baseframe are engaged with one another, the
support arm is held against the baseframe to allow the fasteners to
be inserted to lock the support arm to the baseframe and to prevent
the interlocks from disengaging. Before the fasteners are inserted,
the interlocks can be engaged or disengaged simply by moving the
support arm in an appropriate direction relative to the baseframe.
The baseframe is installed to the underside of the workstation
before the support arm is brought into contact with the baseframe.
The base can be connected directly or indirectly to the slider
plate.
[0026] In a method of installing the support arm on the baseframe,
which has already been installed at an underside of a workplace,
the support arm is moved into contact with the baseframe. More
accurately, the base of the support arm is in contact with the
plate of the baseframe. The interlocks engage one another. When the
interlocks are engaged, the weight of the support arm forces the
base to be parallel to and in contact with the plate. The support
arm will hang on the baseframe with the interlocks engaged without
any external support. An installer therefore can have both hands
free to install the fasteners. When the fasteners are installed,
the interlocks are prevented from disengaging. To remove the
support arm from the slide plate, the fasteners are removed first.
Then the interlock can be manually disengaged by moving the support
arm in an appropriate direction to disengage the interlocks from
one another. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the
interlocks are engaged by mobbing the base outward relative t the
plate when the base and plate are aligned and the interlocks are
disengaged by moving the base inward relative to the plate.
Fasteners are deemed not to be interlocks.
* * * * *