GB2358345A

GB2358345A - Adjustable support arm

Info

Publication number: GB2358345A
Application number: GB0026172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Foued Ghidaoui
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-20
Filing date: 2000-10-25
Publication date: 2001-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-25
Also published as: GB0026172D0; GB0001293D0; GB2358345B

Abstract

An adjustable support arm, eg for a display screen, has an upright rigid support post 1 with a mounting bracket 2 at its base. The post carries a sliding support 12 for an arm 5, the support being pivotable about the post and demountable from the top thereof. The support sits on a collar 14 which can be set at a fixed height by way of a U-shaped pin arrangement 17 (Fig 2) which engages portions 4 of reduced diameter on the post. The arm may have one or more sections 6,7 and is pivotal on at least one vertical axis 8,20. A bracket 19 at the end of the arm has an attachment, eg plate 24, to which a supported item is attached and which is pivotal on a horizontal axis 26. The post and collar may alternatively be threaded (Fig 11) with the collar being adjusted vertically by rotation.

Description

4.

2358345 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING ARM ARRANGEMENT The present invention concerns an adjustable supporting arm arrangement, for example, for a visual display unit 5 and particularly for a flat screen display.

The invention finds particular application to dealer desks for use in dealing or trading floors for stocks and shares and other financial and commodity dealings.

In such an application it is essential that dealers should have rapid and easy access, from a variety of user angles and positions, to information provided on displays, such as flat screen displays. Rapid and easy universal adjustment of screen position and angle is required and it would be advantageous if more than one screen could be provided at a single location. There is also a need for an arrangement which allows rapid replacement of faulty components and which could easily be modified to provide a specific layout.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable supporting arrangement which meets the abovedescribed requirements.

2 According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable supporting arm arrangement comprising: at least one substantially rigid elongate post of substantially circular cross section, adapted to be supported in a substantially vertical orientation by mounting means secured to a lower end thereof; at least one arm means adapted to be supported in a substantially horizontal orientation and having at a first end thereof supporting means slidably demountable on the at least one post from an upper end of the at least one post and arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotable about the at least one post in a substantially horizontal. plane, the at least one arm means having pivotably supported, at a second end thereof, bracket means to which an object to be supported is securable, the bracket means being supported for pivoting about a substantially vertical axis and being provided with adjustment means to permit pivotal adjustment, about a substantially horizontal axis, of the object to be supported when secured thereto; and height adjustment means arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotably securable at desired height positions on the at least one post.

The height adjustment means may be arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotably securable at a 3 plurality of discrete height positions on the at least one post. In such an arrangement, the height adjustment means may cooperate between the at least one post and the supporting means of the at least one arm means and comprises regions of reduced cross section spaced apart along the at least one post and engageable by retaining means such as a pair of spaced- apart legs, or pins, of a substantially U-shaped component. The legs or pins may be slidable, in a substantially horizontal plane, through apertures provided through a collar arrangement slidable on the at least one post and located beneath the supporting means of the at least one arm means.

Alternatively, the height adjustment means may be arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotably securable at a substantially infinitely variable height -position on the at least one post. In such alternative arrangement the at least one post may be externally threaded, an adjustable ring-like member with complementary internal threading being provided thereon, located beneath the supporting means of the at least one arm means.

The at least one arm means and/or the bracket means may incorporate one or more friction bearing means to provide I I __F_ 4 controlled pivotability or adjustment thereof. Such friction bearing means may comprise one or more friction washers and/or may incorporate manually-operated screw clamping means, particularly in the adjustment means permitting pivotal adjustment, about a substantially horizontal axis, of the object to be supported.

The supporting means at the first end of the at least one arm means may be substantially cylindrical, at least 10 internally.

The at least one arm means may comprise a plurality of pivotably interconnected arms, such as two arms, arranged to pivot with respect to one another about a 1S substantially vertical axis.

One or more arms of the at least one arm means comprising a plurality of arms may be removable, whereby the at least one arm means may be reduced to a fewer plurality 20 of arms, or to a single arm.

A plurality of substantially rigid elongate posts may be provided, secured in end-to-end relationship, such as by threaded means. 25 The mounting means for the at least one substantially rigid elongate post may comprise a bracket, which may be secured to the lower end of the at least one post by means of a threaded fixing means. The bracket may be securable to a wall or floor of premises, or to an article of furniture, such as a desk or table.

A plurality of arm means may be provided, supported in stacked arrangement on the at least one post, each arm means being arranged to securably receive an object to be supported, at a second end thereof. Such plurality of arm means may be adapted and arranged whereby objects to be supported are arrangeable in relation to one another in a plurality of positions which may include side-by- side, back-to-back and stacked relationships.

The bracket means, to which an object to be supported is securable, may be supported either on top of or beneath the second end of the arm means, for pivoting about the substantially vertical axis.

The bracket means may comprise a plate, such as a visa plate, to which the object to be supported is securable.

6 One or more clips may be provided for securing one or more electrical cables of the object to be supported to the at least one elongate post and/or to the at least one arm means. 5 The object to be supported may comprise a visual display unit, such as a flat screen display.

The supporting arm arrangement of the invention is universally adjustable and particularly applicable for use with dealer desks in dealing or trading floors. It provides quick and easy height adjustment on the supporting post and also easy horizontal adjustment of the display screen, or other object, towards and away from a user by virtue of the arm means, an arm means comprising two or more arms being particularly effective.

-Up and down tilting and lateral pivoting of the display screen on the bracket means enables optimisation of viewing angle.

Provision of frictional bearings ensures that the arrangement remains secure in any set position.

- 7 The arrangement may be readily dismantled for relocation, storage, or repair, or for reduction of the number of arms in the arm means, for example from two to one.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of adjustable supporting arm arrangement according to the invention; Figure 2 is a detailed view of a height adjustment means for the arrangement of Figure 1; is Figures 3A and 3B are schematic plan views showing retracted and extended positions of the arms in the arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of a stacked configuration of two arm arrangements of Figure 1; Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side views of alternative constructions of supporting arm arrangements according to 25 the invention; 8 Figure 8 is a side view of an alternative stacked configuration of two arm arrangements; Figures 9 and 10 are schematic plan views of two specific positional layouts of the configuration of Figure 8; and.

Figure 11 is a side view of an embodiment of adjustable supporting arm arrangement according to the invention provided with an alternative height adjustment means.

Referring to Figure 1, a universal adjustable supporting I arm arrangement is provided for a visual display unit and particularly a flat screen display. The arrangement is particularly applicable for use with dealer desks in dealing or trading floors.

The arrangement comprises a substantially rigid elongate metal post 1, of substantially circular cross section. The post 1 is arranged to be supported substantially vertically by means of a metal bracket 2 which is secured to a lower end of the post by threaded fixing means 3. The bracket 2 is adapted to be secured to a floor, wall, desk, table or the like, in premises where the arrangement is to be used.

- 9 The post 1 has regions 4 of reduced cross section discretely spaced apart along the length thereof and provided, for example, by machining the post 1.

Arm means 5 is provided, comprising two arms 6 and 7 arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and interconnected in such a way as to be pivotable about a substantially vertical axis 8. A pivotal coupling between the arms 6 and 7 is formed by a bearing component 9, secured at the end of the arm 7, and which overlies a similar bearing component 10, secured at the end of the arm 6. Components 9 and 10 are rotatable with respect to one another about the axis 8 and such that the arms 6 and 7 are pivotable in a substantially horizontal plane.

A degree of frictional restraint is provided in the pivotal coupling by providing a friction washer 11, such as of nylon or acetal material.

The arm means 5 is arranged to be mounted on the post 1 by means of a supporting component 12 secured to the end of the arm 6. The component 12 has a cylindrical bore provided with a sleeve 13, suitably of nylon or acetal material and is arranged to be slidably demountable on the post 1 from the upper end of the post. The arm means - 10 5 is thereby supported substantially horizontally on the post 1 and is pivotable about a vertical axis 18 in a substantially horizontal plane, on the supporting component 12. The sleeve 13 in the component 12 provides a degree of frictional resistance to pivoting of the arm means 5 about the post 1.

The arm means 5 is adjustable for height on the post 1 iri discrete steps. As shown in detail in Figure 2, a metal collar 14 is arranged for sliding on the post 1 beneath the supporting component 12 of the arm means 5. The collar 14 is provided with two parallel bore-holes 15 into which are slid legs or pins 16 of a substantially Ushaped component 17. The legs or pins 16 are arranged to engage a selected region 4 of reduced cross section on the post 1 and to secure the collar 14, and hence the supporting component 12 and the arm means 5, at a selected height on the post 1. The arm means 5 can be secured at a desired height by withdrawing the U-shaped component 17, moving the collar to any desired region 4 of reduced cross section and reinserting the U-shaped component 17.

A bracket arrangement 19 is located at the end of the arm means 5 remote from the post 1. The bracket arrangement 19 is mounted on the end of the arm 7 and is arranged to pivot about a substantially vertical axis 20. A pivotal coupling between the bracket 19 and the arm 7 is formed by a bearing component 21, secured at the end of the arm 7, and which overlies a similar bearing component 22 secured to the bracket arrangement 19. Components 21 and 22 are rotatable with respect to one another, such that the bracket arrangement 19 is pivotable about the end of the arm 7 in a substantially horizontal plane. A degree of frictional restraint in this pivotal coupling is achieved by means of a friction washer 23, such as of nylon or acetal material.

The bracket arrangement 19 includes a metal plate 24, sometimes referred to as a visa plate, to which a visual display unit 25, particularly a flat screen display, is arranged to be secured. The plate 24 is arranged for pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis 26 to permit upwards and downwards tilting of the visual display unit 25, to achieve a desired viewing angle. Such tilting is frictionally restrained by means of a clamping arrangement operated by a lever 27.

The resulting supporting arm arrangement of the invention provides universal adjustment of the position of the 12 visual display unit 25, namely height adjustment on the post 1, fore and aft adjustment by pivoting of the arm 1 means 5 and the bracket arrangement 19 about the vertical. axes 8, 18, 20, and lateral and up and down tilting of 5 the visual display unit 25 about the axes 20 and 26.

Figures 3A and 3B are plan view representations of the supporting arm arrangement illustrating the bracket arrangement 19 in its fully extended position from the post 1 on the arms 5 and 6 (Figure 3A), and in its fully retracted position towards the post 1 on the arms 5 and 6 (Figure 3B).

If desired, two or more assemblies of supporting component 12, arm means 5, bracket arrangement 19, and visual display unit 25, can be stacked on a common supporting post 1, as illustrated in Figure 4. In this i case it may be necessary to extend the post 1 and two such posts could be screwed together in end-to-end relationship by providing a suitable threaded stud 28 cooperating with threaded bores (such as bore 29 in Figure 1) in interfacing ends of posts 1. 1 1 1 i i 1 j j - 13 The supporting arm arrangement of the invention is readily disassembleable for relocation, storage or repair.

Various alternative constructional arrangements can be readily provided.

The arrangement shown in Figure 5 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the bracket arrangement 19 is pivotably mounted above the end of the arm 7, rather than beneath the end of the arm 7.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 6, the arm 7 of Figure 1 has been removed or omitted and the bracket arrangement 19 is pivotably mounted beneath the end of the arm 6.

The arrangement of Figure 7 differs from that shown in Figure 6 in that the bracket arrangement 19 is pivotably mounted above the end of the arm 6.

Figure 8 shows an arrangement of two assemblies 33, 34 of supporting component 12, arms 6, 7, bracket arrangement 19 and visual display unit 25, stacked on a common supporting post 1. This arrangement differs from that shown in Figure 4 in that in one assembly 33, the arm 7 14 and bracket means 19 are mounted below the end of the arm 6, whereas in the other assembly 34, the corresponding arm 7 with bracket means 19 is inverted and mounted above the end of the corresponding arm 6. This enables a back--- to-back arrangement of visual display units 25 to be obtained, as shown Jin Figure 9, or a side-by-side arrangement of visual display units 25 to be obtained, as, shown in Figure 10.

As shown in Figure 1, in order to secure one or more electrical cables leading to the visual display unit 25, one or more clips 32 can be provided, which can be suitably located at one or more regions 4 of reduced cross section on the post 1, or at one or more regions 1 30, 31 similarly provided on arms 6 and 7.

Instead of the height adjustment means shown in Figures 1. and 2, which enables the arm means 5 to be pivotably securable at a plurality of discrete height positions on the post 1, an alternative adjustment means may be preferred in which the arm means 5 is pivotably securable at a substantially infinitely variable height position on the post 1. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 11. 1 The post 1 is externally threaded as denoted by reference numeral 35. An adjustable ring-like member 36, such as - is - of acetal material, having complementary internal threading, is screwed onto the post 1, beneath the supporting means 12 of the arm means 5. The ring-like member 36 is screwed up or down on the post 1, as required, to provide any desired height location of the arm means 5 on the post 1.

Claims

16 CLAIMS

1. An adjustable supporting arm arrangement comprising: at least one substantially rigid elongate post of substantially circular cross section, adapted to be supported in a substantially vertical orientation by mounting means secured to a lower end thereof; at least one arm means adapted to be supported in a substantially horizontal orientation and having at a first end thereof supporting means slidably demountable on the at least one post from an upper end of the at least one post and arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotable about the at least one post in a substantially horizonta.1 plane, the at least one arm means having pivotably supported, at a second end thereof, bracket means to which an object to be supported is securable, the bracket: means being supported for pivoting about a substantially vertical axis and being provided with adjustment means ta, permit pivotal adjustment, about a substantially horizontal axis, of the object to be supported when secured thereto; and height adjustment means arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotably securablE! at desired height positions on the at least one post.

- 17

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height adjustment means is arranged whereby the at least one arm means is pivotably securable at a plurality of discrete height positions on the at least one post. 5

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the height adjustment means cooperates between the at least one post and the supporting means of the at least one arm means and comprises regions of reduced cross section spaced apart along the at least one post and engageable by retaining means,

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of spaced-apart legs, or pins, of a substantially U-shaped component.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the legs or pins are slidable, in a substantially horizontal plane, through apertures provided through a collar arrangement slidable on the at least one post and located beneath the supporting means of the at least one arm means.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height adjustment means is arranged whereby the at least - 18 one arm means is pivotably securable at a substantially infinitely variable height position on the at least one post.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at. least one post is externally threaded, an adjustable ring-like member with complementary internal threading being provided thereon, located beneath the supporting means of the at least one arm means.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one arm means and/or the bracket means incorporate(s) one or more friction bearing means to provide controlled pivotability or adjustment thereof.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the -friction bearing means comprise(s) one or more friction washers.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the one or more friction bearing means incorporate(s) manually-operated screw clamping means.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the 25 manuallyoperated screw clamping means is incorporated iri - 19 the adjustment means permitting pivotal adjustment, about a substantially horizontal axis, of the object to be supported.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the supporting means at the first end of the at least one arm means is substantially cylindrical, at least internally.

13. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one arm means comprise(s) a plurality of pivotably interconnected arms, arranged to pivot with respect to one another about a substantially vertical axis.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein two pivotably interconnected arms are provided.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein one or more arms of the at least one arm means comprising a plurality of arms is or are removable, whereby the at least one arm means is or are reduced to a fewer plurality of arms, or to a single arm.

16. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of substantially rigid elongate posts are provided, secured in end-to-end relationship.

17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of posts are secured in end-to-end relationship by threaded means.

18. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means for the at least one substantially rigid elongate post comprises a bracket.

19. An arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein the bracket is secured to the lower end of the at least one post by means of a threaded fixing means.

20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the bracket is securable to a wall or floor of premises, or to an article of furniture.

21. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of arm means are provided, supported in stacked arrangement on the at least one post, each arm means being arranged to securably receive an object to be supported, at a second end thereof.

- 21

22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein the plurality of arm means are adapted and arranged whereby objects to be supported are arrangeable in relation to one another in a plurality of positions. 5

23. An arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the plurality of positions include side-by-side, back-to-back and stacked relationships of the objects to be supported.

24. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket means, to which an object to be supported is securable, is supported either on top of or beneath the second end of the arm means, for pivoting about the substantially vertical axis.

is

25. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket means comprises a plate to which the object to be supported is securable.

26. An arrangement as claimed in claim 25, wherein the plate comprises a visa plate.

27. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more clips is or are provided for securing 25 one or more electrical cables of the object to be - 22 supported to the at least one elongate post and/or to the at least one arm means.

28. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the object to be supported comprises a visual display unit.

29. An arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein the visual display unit comprises a flat screen display. 10

30. An adjustable supporting arm arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.