NL1038533C2

NL1038533C2 - Support system for display device.

Info

Publication number: NL1038533C2
Application number: NL1038533A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Antonius Theodorus Smeenk
Original assignee: Teachyou B V
Priority date: 2011-01-22
Filing date: 2011-01-22
Publication date: 2012-07-24

Description

SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR DISPLAY DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a support system for a display device according the preamble of claim 1, more particular to a support system for a touch screen device 5

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pedagogical equipment adaptable to all levels of education using interactive screens with and without the invention of the teacher is known. An example of this kind of equipment is described in US2010/0307382A1 “Computerized school desk”, that describes 10 an apparatus in the form of a desk that can embody the functionalities of a writing desk, drawing board. The apparatus comprises a support structure to which is attached a touch screen unit operated by touch or pointing device. The support structure is provided with a mechanism for tilting the touch screen unit from a completely horizontal position to an approximately vertical position or any intermediate position.

15 A short coming of the support structure is that the height of the touch screen unit in vertical position is fixed and defined by the height of touch screen unit in horizontal position. Consequently the equipment is not suitable for use in front of a classroom as the level of the screen will be lower than the average working level at a white/black board.

Furthermore, the weight of large touch screen unit, which could exceed a 20 weight of 50 kg, will make it hard to tilt the touch screen unit from a horizontal position to vertical position safely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved support system for a 25 display device, which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages mentioned before.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by device support system having the features of Claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further ways of carrying out the invention may be attained by the measure mentioned in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the support system is characterized in that, the 30 system further comprises a scissor type lifting structure disposed between the tilting structure and the base frame, each bar of the scissor type lifting structure forming an X-shaped structure having a plane of movement and the tilting structure is configured to 1 03 85 33 2 move the mounting frame along a rotation axis which is horizontal and parallel to the plane of movement. These features provide a simple and rigid construction to use the touch screen as electronic blackboard with variable height and multi touch table enabling the persons around the table to manipulate the content on the display simultaneously.

5 In an embodiment of the invention, the scissor type lifting structure comprises at least a bottom scissor type lifting segment and a top scissor type lifting segment. This feature enables one to extend the lifting range or to shorten the length of the bars of the lifting structure while retaining the same lifting range.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bars forming X-shaped structures 10 having a similar axis of rotation have a distance between two bars along the rotation axis of at least 5cm. This feature provides a system wherein the persons cannot be hurt by clamping between the moving bars when rising or lowering the support system.

In an embodiment of the invention, the scissor type lifting structure has a first distance between the rotation axis of the X-shape of the bottom segment and the axis 15 of rotation of coupled ends of the bars of the bottom segment and the top segment and a second distance between the rotation axis of the X-shape of the top segment and the axis of rotation of the coupled ends of the bars of the bottom segment and the top segment, wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance. These features ensure that there is always space between bars in vertical direction. Furthermore, this construction 20 reduces the force needed to lift the touch screen unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, in the direction of the rotation axis of the scissor type lifting structure the top segment is smaller than the bottom segment. This feature enables to move the center of gravity of the lifting structure and touch screen unit straight above the footprint of the lifting structure on the base plate. This improves the 25 stability of the support system. In a further embodiment, the rotation axis of the tilting structure is straight above the bottom segment. In another embodiment, in vertical position of the mounting frame the mounting frame is positioned straight above the bottom segment.

In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the tilting structure comprises a 30 swing arm with a free end slidable coupled to the mounting frame, and a member with a variable and minimum length, wherein the member is coupled at one end to the swing arm and another end to the rotation axis of the top segment, to rotate the swing arm in dependence of the height of the lifting structure. These features provide a mechanical 3 coupling mechanism which translates the linear movement of the lifting system into a rotation.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tilting structure further comprises a spring element to act on the swing arm to move the mounting frame into the vertical 5 position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the base frame comprises castors to make to heavy touch screen unit easy to move.

It is a further object of the invention to provides an improved assembly wherein a display unit, which could be a multi touch screen, is attached to a support 10 system capable to hold the screen both horizontally and vertically.

It will be clear that the various aspects mentioned in this patent application may be combined and may each be considered separately for a divisional patent application. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which 15 illustrate, by way of example, various features of preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other aspects, properties and advantages of the invention will be explained hereinafter based on the following description with reference to the drawings, 20 wherein like reference numerals denote like or comparable parts, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention wherein a touch screen unit is in vertical position;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention wherein the touch screen unit is in horizontal position; 25 Figure 3 shows a side-view of the embodiment wherein the touch screen unit is in vertical position;

Figure 4 shows a side-view of the embodiment wherein the touch screen unit is in vertical position;

Figure 5 shows a detailed side-view of the tilting structure when the touch 30 screen unit is in vertical position;

Figure 6 shows a detailed side-view of the tilting structure when the touch screen unit is in horizontal position; and,

Figure 7 shows a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

4

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a support system 1 according to the invention wherein a touch screen unit 2 is attached to the support structure 5 and positioned vertically. In this position the touch screen unit 2 could be used as white/black board in front of a class room or meeting room. The touch screen unit 2 is preferably a multi-touch screen. Multi-touch refers to the ability to simultaneously register three or more distinct positions of input touches. Multi-touch has been implemented in several different ways, depending on the size and type of interface, which is known to the 10 person skilled in the art. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 wherein the touch screen unit 2 is positioned in a horizontal position. In this position, the touch screen unit could be used as a table with a display device wherein users around the table are able to manipulate simultaneously the content shown on the display device. Such a device could be used in classrooms and meetings.

15 The support system 1 comprises a mounting frame 3, a base frame 4 and a scissor type lifting structure 5. The mounting frame 3 is configured for mounting the touch screen 2 to the support system 1. The base frame 4 is configured for positioning the support system on a floor. In the embodiment shown, the base frame is provided with castors 6 to make the touch screen unit 2 to make the touch screen unit movable. The 20 scissor type lifting structure 5 is disposed between the mounting frame 3 and the base frame 4.

The support system 1 further comprises a tilting structure 7 disposed on the scissor type lifting structure 5 to which the mounting frame 3 is mounted. The tilting structure 7 is configured for moving the mounting frame 3 between a vertical position, as 25 shown in Fig. 1 and a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The base frame is further provided with a structure to position a computer system 8 to control the touch screen unit 2.

A scissor type lifting structure consists of a plurality of bars jointed together by axis at their midpoint or somewhere else in the middle of the bar. Such joints creates an 30 X-shaped structure. Multiple of these X-shaped structures are then rotatable coupled together at their respective ends to form the scissor type lifting structure. The more X-shaped structures included in the scissor type lifting structure, the greater the extension to 5 be achievable by the scissor type lifting structure. However, the greater the extension of the scissor type lifting structure, the lower the stability thereof.

The scissor type lifting structure 5 comprises a bottom scissor type lifting segment 5 A and a top scissor type lifting segment 5B. It might be clear that the scissor 5 type lifting structure is not limited to two segments but could comprise more segments.

The bottom scissor type segment 5A comprises three bars. The three bars have the same rotation axis 5A1. According to the invention, the three bars are spaced at distance from each other along the rotation axis 5A. Preferably, the distance between two neighbouring bars of a segment has a predefined minimum to ensure that people will not be harmed 10 when the support system is lowered. The minimum predefined distance is larger than 5 cm, preferably larger the 7 cm, more preferably larger than 10 cm.

The top scissor type segment 5B of the present embodiment comprises two bars. The two bars have the same rotation axis 5B1. According to the invention, the two bars are spaced at distance from each other along the rotation axis 5B1. The distance 15 between two neighbouring bars of a segment has a predefined minimum to ensure that people will not be harmed when the support system is lowered. The minimum predefined distance is larger than 5 cm, preferably larger than 7 cm, more preferably larger than 10 cm.

The bars of the bottom segment 5 A and the top segment 5B are coupled 20 such that when the support structure 1 is in its lowest position, i.e. when the mounting frame is in horizontal position, there is space between the bars. Therefore, an end of a bar of the bottom segment 5 A which is coupled to an end of a bar of the top segment 5B is provided with a structure 5A2 to position the pivot joint next to the body of the bar. The pivot joint has a corresponding axis of rotation.

25 There is a first distance between the rotation axis 5A1 of the X-shape of the bottom segment and the axis of rotation of the coupled ends of the bars of the bottom segment 5A and the top segment 5B and a second distance between the rotation axis 5B1 of the X-shape of the top segment 5B and the axis of rotation of the coupled ends of the bars of the bottom segment 5A and the top segment 5B. In the embodiment shown, the 30 first distance is smaller than the second distance. In this way it has been found possible to lift the heavy weight of the touch screen unit with a linear actuator mechanically coupled between the base frame 4 and the X-shaped joint between the bars of the bottom section 5 A. By changing the distance between the base frame 4 and said X-shaped joint the height 6 of the scissor type lifting structure 5 is changed. Figure 3 shows that the linear actuator 10 is positioned between two bars of the lower segment 5 A and crosses the rotation axis 5A1.

Figures 3 and 4 show a side-view of the embodiment wherein the touch screen unit is in vertical position and horizontal position respectively. It shows that the 5 bars of the bottom segment and the bars of the top section which are coupled are placed in a line. It further shows that in the direction of the rotation axis of the scissor type lifting structure 5 the top segment 5B is smaller than the bottom segment 5A. It can be seen that the rotation axis 7A of the tilting structure 7 is straight above the bottom segment 5A.

When the mounting frame 3 is in vertical position, the mounting frame 3 is also positioned 10 straight above the bottom segment 5 A. Depending on the depth of the touch screen unit 2, the touch screen unit 2 is partially or entirely straight above the width of the bottom segment 5A. In this way, the center of gravity of the combination of lifting structure 5, tilting structure 7, mounting frame 3 and touch screen unit 2 is straight above the footprint of the bottom segment 5 A. These features improve the stability of the structure 5.

15 The bars of the top segment 5B is strengthened by cross bar 5B2 and angled cross bars 5B3 at ends of the bars forming the X-shape of the top segment 5B. In an embodiment, not shown, wherein the top segment 5B has the same number of pivoting bars as the bottom segment, the angled cross bars 5B3 are not necessary. However in this embodiment when the touch screen unit is in vertical position, the mounting frame and 20 touch screen unit could not be straight above the bottom segment. Consequently, the center of gravity of the combination will not be above the footprint of the bottom segment, which requires a more rigid coupling between the base frame 4 and scissor type lifting structure 5.

Figures 5 and 6 show a detailed side-view of the tilting structure 7 when the 25 mounting frame is in vertical position and horizontal position respectively. Some elements of the support system, such as the angled cross bar 5B1 have been removed to visualize the internal of the tilting structure.

The tilting structure 7 comprises a swing arm element 13, a spring element 11, a damping element 12, a roller 13A and a guiding element 14. The mounting frame 3 30 is rotatable coupled with the scissor type lift structure with a axis of rotation 7 A. The axis of rotation is horizontal and parallel to a plane in which the bars of the scissor type lift structure move. The swing arm element has an axis of rotation 7B which is parallel to the axis of rotation 7A. At an free end of the swing arm element an roller is provided which is 7 mechanically coupled with guiding element 14, which is attached to the mounting frame 3. The guiding element 14 could be in the form of a rail, bracket or any other suitable construction to guide the roller 13 A. A roller is used to reduce the friction between the swing arm element 13 and the mounting frame 3 when the orientation of the mounting 5 frame is changed. In the present embodiment the spring element is a gas spring. However other spring elements with a similar function could be used, for example in the form of a spiral. The gas spring element 11 is provided between a top frame 15 of the scissor type lifting structure and the swing arm element 13. Reference 11A indicates the coupling point between gas spring 11 and the swing arm element 13. The gas spring element 11 forces 10 the swing arm element 13 to rotate in a direction such that the mounting frame is in the vertical position. Ends of the bars of the top segment 5B are coupled to the top frame 15 by means of a sliding structure known to the skilled person. The damping element 12 is coupled between the swing arm element 13 and the rotation axis 5B1 of the top segment 5B. Reference 12A indicates the coupling point between damping element 12 and the 15 swing arm element 13. The damping elements 12 is the present embodiment is a commonly known damper, which could be a pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorber. A damper could be regarded as an elongated member with a variable length between a minimum length and a maximum length.

The working of the tilting structure 7 is as follows. Starting from the 20 situation shown in Figure 5. After receiving a command to move the touch screen unit from the vertical position to the horizontal position, the scissor type lifting structure will move down. By moving down, the distance between the top frame 15 and the axis of rotation will be gradually shortened. Consequently, the length of the damping element will be shortened. At the moment, the damping element will be pushed in and have its shortest 25 length, the damping element 12 will force the swing arm to rotate and as a consequence the roller 13A at the free end of the swing arm 13 will pull the mounting frame 14 to rotated along rotation axis 7A. From said moment, the mounting frame 3 rotates simultaneously with the lowering of the scissor type lifting structure until the mounting frame is in its horizontal position. When the mounting frame is in its horizontal position, the scissor type 30 lifting structure could not be lowered further by means of the rigid coupling provided by the squeezed damping element 12 between the top frame 15 and axis of rotation 5B1. This feature allows to use a linear actuator 10 which is only capable to push up and not capable 8 to pull down. The weight of the touch screen unit will force the support structure to go down. After going down, the support system will be in the state as shown in Fig. 6.

When the swing arm 13 rotates to move the mounting frame to the horizontal position, the gas spring 11 will be compressed. The pressure in the gas spring 5 will force the swing arm 13 to move the mounting feme back into the vertical position.

The gas spring further prevents the touch screen unit to fall down in the horizontal position when rotated from vertical to horizontal position. The force of the gas spring due to the pressure in the gas spring is larger than the force acting on the gas spring due to the weight of the touch screen unit and the mounting frame when they are in horizontal position.

10 After receiving a command to move the touch screen unit from the horizontal to the vertical position, the actuator 10 will push the rotation axis 5A1 of the bottom segment up and consequently the distance between the top frame 15 and rotation axis 5B1 of the top segment will increase. The gas spring 11 will force the mounting frame 3 to rotate from horizontal position to vertical position. The damping element 12, 15 which is fully pushed in, ensures that rotation of the mounting frame is coupled to the increase of distance between the top frame 15 and rotation axis 5B1 of the top segment of the scissor type lifting structure. After the mounting frame is in the vertical position, an increase in distance between the top frame 15 and the rotation axis 5B1 results in an corresponding lengthening of the damping element 12. The stroke of the damping element 20 12 determines the maximum distance between the top frame 15 and rotation axis 5B1 and consequently the maximum length of the scissor type lifting structure. In practice, the maximum height of the scissor type lifting structure is defined by the stoke of the actuator 10.

It should be noted that the damping element could be replaced by a pipe and 25 a bar wherein the bar could slide in the pipe. The length of the bar has to correspond to the minimal length of the damping element.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of a support system according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that both the spring element 11 and damping element 12 are coupled at one end to the swing arm 13 and 30 another end to the rotation axis (5B1) of the top segment 5B. This embodiment is based on the principle that the stroke of the spring element 11 to move the mounting frame from horizontal position to vertical position is larger than the stroke of the damping element 12. An advantage of this embodiment is that the spring element 11 provides a force to push the 9 lifting structure 5 in upward direction. This allows to use a less powerful linear actuator 10 to lift the touch screen unit 2. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, a gas spring and damper is used with a similar stroke. To reduce the stroke of the damper a spacer 16 is positioned around the rod of the damper 12. Another difference is that both the bottom 5 lifting segment 5 A and top lifting segment 5B have the same number of bars, i.e. three, to form the X-shape of a lifting segment.

It should be noted that the mechanical tilting structure 7 as disclosed above could be replaced with a motorized tilting structure 7. A disadvantage of this embodiment is that two actuators are needed and have to be controlled independently. This requires a 10 control unit, not shown, capable to control the actuator 10 of the scissor type lifting structure 5 to move up and down and an additionally to control the actuator of the tilting structure to move the mounting frame between horizontal and vertical position. The embodiment illustrated in the figures requires at least one switch to control the support system.

15 The measures described hereinbefore for embodying the invention can obviously be carried out separately or in parallel or in a different combination or if appropriate be supplemented with further measures; it will in this case be desirable for the implementation to depend on the field of application of the support system. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Changes can be made without departing 20 from the idea of the invention.

$$ $ a|e j|c 4c ♦ 1 03 85 33

Claims

A support system (1) for supporting a touch screen (2), the system comprising: - a mounting frame (3) configured for mounting the touch screen on the support system; - a base frame (4) configured to position the support system on a floor, and - a tilt structure (7) placed between the mounting frame and the base frame, and configured to move the mounting frame between a vertical position and a horizontal position, characterized in that, the system further comprises a lifting structure of the type of scissor structure (5) disposed between the tilt structure and the base frame, each beam of the lifting structure of the type of scissor structure (5) forming an X-shaped structure and the tilt structure is configured to move the mounting frame about an axis of rotation that is horizontal and parallel to the plane of movement.

2. Carrying system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting structure of the type scissor construction comprises at least a lower lifting segment with scissor construction 20 and an upper lifting segment with scissor construction.

Support system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the beams that form an X-shaped structure and have the same axis of rotation have a distance between two bars along the axis of rotation that is at least 5 cm. 25

Support system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lifting structure of the type scissor construction has a first distance between the axis of rotation (5A1) of the X-shape of the lower lifting segment (5A) and the rotation axis (9) of the coupled ends of the beams of the lower lifting segment (5A) and the upper lifting segment (5B) and has a second distance between the axis of rotation (5B1) of the X-shape of the upper lifting segment ( 5B) and the axis of rotation (9) of the coupled ends of the beams of the lower lifting segment (5A) and the upper lifting segment (5B), the first distance being smaller than the second distance.

Support system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the direction 5 of the axis of rotation of the lifting structure of the type of scissor structure (5), the upper segment (5B) is narrower than the lower segment (5A).

Support system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the axis of rotation (7A) of the tilting structure (7) is directly above the lower segment (5A). 10

Support system (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the mounting frame (3) is positioned vertically above the lower segment (5A).

Carrying system (1) according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the tilting structure (7) comprises a pivotal arm with a free end that is slidably coupled to the mounting frame, and an elongated component with a variable and minimum length wherein the end-piece component is coupled to the pivot arm and another end is coupled to the axis of rotation (5B1) of the upper segment to rotate the pivot arm depending on the height of the lifting structure.

Support system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the component is a damper.

Support system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the tilting structure (7) further comprises a spring element to act on the pivot arm to move the mounting frame in the vertical position.

11. Carrying system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The spring element (11) is coupled at one end to the swivel arm (13) and another end is coupled to an upper frame (15) of the lifting structure or to the axis of rotation (5B1) of the upper segment (5B).

A carrying system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base frame comprises castors.

An assembly comprising a support system according to any of the preceding claims and a display unit attached to the support system. * * * * * * * 1 03 8533