Ergonomic equipment arm

Claim 2

An ergonomic movable equipment arm having multiple degrees of freedom, on one end, the free end, of which is mounted equipment (11), in particular such as a video display or monitor in a computer system, and the other end of which is attachable to a support structure (10), in particular to a desk or table, said arm comprising means (12) for detachably mounting the movable arm to the support structure (10), a base (13) pivotally fastened to the mounting means (12), an arm member (14) pivotally fastened to the base (13), a helical spring (28) having a first and a second hook end (48, 49) mounted between the base (13) and the arm member (14) and functioning as a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the equipment (11) on the free end of the arm member (14), the second hook end (49) being held in a fixed position against the base (13), means for providing a friction coupling between the base (13) and the arm member (14) and a friction joint connected to the free end of the arm to which said equipment (11) is attached, characterized by adjustment means (54) operatively attached to the mounting means (12) and engaging the first hook end (48), the adjustment means (54) being operable to either wind the helical spring (28) to increase tension and thereby compensate for heavier equipment on the end of the arm member (14), or to unwind the helical spring (28) to decrease tension and thereby compensate for lighter equipment on the free end of the arms, and a friction ball joint (15) connected to the free end of the arm member (14) allowing the equipment to be tilted in any direction with respect to the arm member (14) and remain in the position in which it is placed.

Claim 3

The arm in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said friction ball joint (15) comprises a first friction ball joint member (38) having a first concave spherical surface, a second friction ball joint member (39) having a first convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature equal to that of the first concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint is assembled, and means for fastening (43, 44, 45, 46) the first and the second friction ball joint members (38, 39) together with their spherical surfaces mating, the fastening means forcing the two members together to create a friction coupling therebetween so that as one of said two members is moved with respect to the other they will remain in the position they are moved to, despite a force being applied to one of them due to the weight of the equipment.

Claim 4

The arm in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the second friction ball joint member (39) is fastened to the free end of the arm member (14) and has a second concave spherical surface, the first friction ball joint member (38) is attached to said equipment (11), and that the friction ball joint (15) further comprises a third friction ball joint member (42) having a second convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature equal to that of the second concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint is assembled, the fastening means (43, 44, 45, 46) fastening the first, second and third friction ball joint members (38, 39, 42) together with their spherical surfaces mating to create said friction coupling therebetween so that as the equipment (11) is tilted in any direction the first and third friction ball joint members (38, 42) move in unison against the second member (39) and the equipment (11) remains in the position in which it is placed.

Claim 5

The arm in accordance with claim 3 characterized in that each of the first, second and third friction ball joint members (38, 39, 42) have an aperture (61) through their spherical surfaces with the apertures through the first and third members (38, 42) being of a first diameter and the aperture (61) through the second member (39) being larger than the first diameter, and that said fastening means comprises a bolt (45) passing through the apertures of the first, second and third members (38, 39, 42), and a nut (46) on the end of the bolt (45), the nut being turned onto the bolt to apply a force to the first, second and third member (38, 39, 42) to create said friction coupling therebetween.

Claim 6

The arm in accordance with any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said friction coupling means comprises a friction screw (17) having a wide head (32) and a screw shaft (34) which passes through the one end of the arm member (-14) and screws into the base (13) to hold the arm member to the base and at least one friction washer (16, 31, 31') between the head (32) of the friction screw (17) and the arm member (14), the friction washer creating friction against the movement of the arm member (14) , the friction washer cooperating with the helical spring (28) to allow said equipment (11) on the free end of the arm member (14) to be moved to some position and remain in that position, the amount of friction being dependent upon the position of the friction screw (17).

Claim 7

The arm in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the mounting means (12) has a plurality of holes (24) located on the surface thereof against which the base (13) is mounted, the base (13) has a plurality of circular grooves (50, 51, 52) of defined arcuate length on the side thereof that is in contact with the mounting means (12), with the radius of the circles on the circumference of which the grooves are located being of different radii, and at least one of the grooves being located over each one of the holes in the mounting means when the base (13) is rotatably fastened to said mounting means (12), and a peg (25) is placed in one of the holes (24) prior to assembling the base (13) to the mounting means and the peg rides in the groove associated with the hole without interfrence when the base (13) is fastened to the mounting means, the peg (25) functioning to limit the travel of the base (13) as it rotates on the mounting means.

Claim 8

The arm in accordance with any of claims 1 and 6 characterized in that the mounting means comprises an adjustable clamp (12) having two jaws, one jaw gripping either side of the support structure (10) to attach the arm member (14) to the surface, one of the jaws (21) having at least one protruberation (21, 21') therefrom to engage the support structure to prevent the arm from being loosened from the support structure.

Claim 9

The arm in accordance with any of claim 5 to 7 characterized in that said friction coupling means comprises a friction screw (17) having a wide head (32) and a screw shaft (34) which passed through the one end of the arm member (14) and screws into the base (13) to hold the arm member (14) to the base (13), and at least one friction washer (16, 31, 31') between the head (32) of the friction screw (17) and the arm member (14), the friction washer creating-friction against the movement of the arm member, the friction washer cooperating with the helical spring (28) to allow the equipment (11) on the free end of the arm member (14) to be moved to some position and remain in that position, and the amount of friction being dependent upon how much the friction screw is screwed in.

Claim 10

The arm in accordance with any of claims 5 to 8 characterized in that said friction washers comprise a plastic washer (31) and a cork. washer (31') on either side of a wave washer (16).

Claim 11

A swivel joint for an arm movable with multiple degrees of freedom, on one end, the free end, of which is mounted equipment (11), such as a video display or a monitor in a computer system, and the other end of which is attachable to a support structure (10), the swivel joint (13) including a rotating joint having a first and a second swivel member fastened together by a fastening means (17, 35) so that they may rotate with respect to each other, and a helical spring (28) having a first and a second hook end (48, 49) mounted between the swivel members and functioning as a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the equipment (11), characterized by adjustment means (54) associated with the first swivel member and engaging the first hook end (48) while the second hook end (49) is held in a fixed position against the second swivel member, the adjustment means being operable to either wind the helical spring (28) to increase tension and thereby compensate for heavier equipment or to unwind the helical spring to decrease tension and thereby compensate for lighter equipment on the end of the arm.

Claim 12

A swivel joint for an arm movable with multiple degrees of freedom, on one end, the free end, of which is mounted equipment (11), such as a video display or a monitor in a computer system, and the other end of which is attachable to a support structure (10), the swivel joint (13) including a rotating joint having a first and a second swivel member fastened together by a fastening means (17, 35) so that they may rotate with respect to each other, and a helical spring (28) having a first and a second hook end (48, 49) mounted between the swivel members and functioning as a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the equipment (11), characterized by adjustment means (54) associated with the first swivel member and engaging the first hook end (48) while the second hook end (49) is held in a fixed position against the second swivel member, the adjustment means being operable to either wind the helical spring (28) to increase tension and thereby compensate for heavier equipment or to unwind the helical spring to decrease tension and thereby compensate for lighter equipment on the end of the arm.

Claim 13

The swivel joint in accordance with claim 10 characterized in that the adjustment means comprises a screw (54) mounted in a threaded hole (30) through the first swivel member with one end of the screw (54) touching the first hook end (48) and as the screw means is turned in one direction it applies pressure against the first hook end and winds said helical spring (28) to increase tension and as said screw (54) is turned in the . opposite direction it removes pressure from the first hook end (48) to unwind the helical spring and decrease tension.

Claim 14

A swivel joint for an arm movable with multiple degrees of freedom, on one end of which is mounted equipment (11), such as a video display or a monitor in a computer system, and the other end of the arm is attachable to a support structure (10), in particular for an arm in accordance with claim 1 or 2 characterized by a first friction ball joint member (38) having a first concave spherical surface, a second friction ball joint member (39) having a first convex shperical surface with a radius of curvature equal to that of the first concave spherical surface with which it mates when said'friction ball joint is assembled, and means for fastening (43, 44, 45, 46) the first and the second friction ball joint members (38, 39) together with their spherical surfaces mating, the fastening means forcing the two members (38, 39) together to create a friction coupling therebetween so that as one of the two members is moved with respect to the other they will remain in the position they are moved to, despite a force being applied to one of said two members due to the weight of said equipment on the end of the arm.

Claim 15

The swivel joint in accordance with claim 12 characterized in that the second friction ball joint member (39) is fastened to the free end of said arm member (14) and has a second concave spherical surface, the first friction ball joint member (38) is attached to the equipment (11), and the friction ball joint (15) further comprises a third friction ball joint member (42) having a second convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the second concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint is assembled, said fastening means (43, 44, 45, 46) fastening the first, second and third friction ball joint members (38, 39, 42) together with their spherical surfaces mating to create said friction coupling therebetween so that as the equipment (11) is tilted in any direction the first and third friction ball joint members (38, 42) move in unison against the second member (339) and the equipment (11) remains in the position in which it is placed.

Claim 16

The swivel joint in accordance with claim 13 characterized in that each of the first, second and third friction ball joint members (38, 39, 42) have an aperture (61) through their spherical surfaces with the apertures through said first and third members (38, 42) being of a first diameter and the aperture (61) through the second member (39) being larger than the first diameter, and the fastening means comprises a bolt (45) passing through the appertures of the first, second and third member (38, 39, 42) and a nut (46) on the end of the bolt (45) the nut being turned onto the bolt to apply a force to the first, second and third members (38, 39, 42) to create the friction coupling therebetween.

Claim 17

In a computer system, a movable equipment arm having multiple degrees of freedom, on one end, the free end, of which is mounted equipment (11), in particular such as a video display (monitor) in a computer system, and the other end of which is attachable to a support structure (10), in particular to a desk or table, said arm comprising means (12) for detachably mounting the movable arm to the support structure (10), a base (13) pivotally fastened to the mounting means (12), an arm member pivotally fastened to the base (13), a helical spring (28) having a first and a second hook end (48, 49) mounted between the base (13) and the arm member (14) and functioning as a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the equipment (11) on the free end of the arm member (14), the second hook end (49) being held in a fixed position against the base (13), means for providing a friction coupling between the base (13) and the arm member (14) and a friction joint connected to the free end of the arm to which said equipment (11) is attached, characterized by adjustment means (54) operatively attached to the mounting means (12) and engaging the first hook end (48), the adjustment means (54) being operable to either wind the helical spring (28) to increase tension and thereby compensate for heavier equipment on the end of the arm member (14), or to unwind the helical spring (28) to decrease tension and thereby compensate for lighter equipment on the free end of the arms, and a friction ball joint (15) connected to the free end of the arm member (14) allowing the equipment to be tilted in any direction with respect to the arm member (14) and remain in the position in which it is placed.

Claim 18

In a computer system, a movable equipment arm having multiple degrees of freedom, on one end, the free end, of which is mounted equipment (11), in particular such as a video display (monitor) in a computer system, and the other end of which is attachable to a support structure (10), in particular to a desk or table, said arm comprising means (12) for detachably mounting the movable arm to the support structure (10), a base (13) pivotally fastened to the mounting means (12), an arm member pivotally fastened to the base (13), a helical spring (28) having a first and a second hook end (48, 49) mounted between the base (13) and the arm member (14) and functioning as a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the equipment (11) on the free end of the arm member (14), the second hook end (49) being held in a fixed position against the base (13), means for providing a friction coupling between the base (13) and the arm member (14) and a friction joint connected to the free end of the arm to which said equipment (11) is attached, characterized by adjustment means (54) operatively attached to the mounting means (12) and engaging the first hook end (48), the adjustment means (54) being operable to either wind the helical spring (28) to increase tension and thereby compensate for heavier equipment on the end of the arm member (14), or to unwind the helical spring (28) to decrease tension and thereby compensate for lighter equipment on the free end of the arms, and a friction ball joint (15) connected to the free end of the arm member (14) allowing the equipment to be tilted in any direction with respect to the arm member (14) and remain in the position in which it is placed.

Claim 19

The arm in accordance with claim 15 characterized in that said friction ball joint (15) comprises a first friction ball joint member (38) having a first concave spherical surface, a second friction ball joint member (39) having a first convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature equal to that of the first concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint is assembled, and means for fastening (43, 44, 45, 46) the first and the second friction ball joint members (38, 39) together with their spherical surfaces mating, the fastening means forcing the two members together to create a friction coupling therebetween so that as one of said two members is moved with respect to the other they will remain in the position they are moved to, despite a force being applied to one of them due to the weight of the equipment.

Claim 20

The arm in accordance with claim 16 characterized in that said second friction ball joint member (39) has a second concave spherical surface and that the friction ball joint (15) further comprises a third friction ball joint member (42) having a second convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the second concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint is assembled, the fastening means (43, 44, 45, 46) forcing the two members together to create a friction coupling therebetween so that as one of the two members is moved with respect to the other of the members by moving the equipment (11) the equipment will remain in the position it is placed in despite of its weight.

Claim 21

A data entry and display terminal comprising a monitor for displaying information represented in the display terminal by digital data, a keyboard for generating digital data for creating the information displayed on the display terminal, means for eletrically connecting the keyboard means and the display terminal, and a movable arm connected to and supporting the display terminal, on one end, the free end, thereof for viewing said terminal at multiple positions of orientation, characterized by means (12) on the other end of the arm used by the operator of the data entry and display terminal detachably mounting the other end of the arm to a support structure (10).

Claim 22

A data entry and display terminal comprising a monitor for displaying information represented in the display terminal by digital data, a keyboard for generating digital data for creating the information displayed on the display terminal, means for eletrically connecting the keyboard means and the display terminal, and a movable arm connected to and supporting the display terminal, on one end, the free end, thereof for viewing said terminal at multiple positions of orientation, characterized by means (12) on the other end of the arm used by the operator of the data entry and display terminal detachably mounting the other end of the arm to a support structure (10).

Claim 23

The terminal in accordance with claim 18 characterized in that said arm member (14) further comprises a swivel joint connected to the mounting means (12), and a rotating joint connected to and cooperating with the swivel joint to allow the arm member (14) to be moved with multiple degrees of freedom, the rotating joint including a first and a second rotating member fastened together by a fastening means (17) so that they may rotate with respect to each other, and a spring (28) having a first and a second end (48, 49) mounted between the rotating members and functioning as a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the display terminal, and adjustments means (54) engaging one of the spring ends while the other of the spring ends is held in a fixed position, the adjustment means being operable to either increase tension in the spring (28) and thereby compensate for a heavier display terminal, or to decrease tension in the spring and thereby compensate for a ligther display terminal.

Claim 24

The terminal in accordance with claim 19 characterized in that said spring is a helical spring (28) and the adjustment means comprises a screw (54) through the the first rotating member with one end of the screw touching the one end (48) of the spring (28) and as the screw (54) is turned in one direction it applies pressure against the one end and winds the helical spring to increase tension and as the screw is turned in the opposite direction it removes pressure from the one end to unwind the helical spring and decrease tension.

Claim 25

The terminal in accordance-with claim 18 characterized in that the movable arm further comprises a first pivotal joint fastened to the mounting means (12) the arm having its other end fastened to the first pivotal joint, a second pivotal joint fastened to the free end of the arm with the display terminal (11) fastened to the second pivotal joint, the movable arm permitting the operator to move the display terminal to any position to allow ease of viewing.

Claim 26

The terminal in accordance with claim 21 characterized in that the second pivotal joint comprises a first friction ball joint member (38) having a first concave spherical surface, a second friction ball joint member (39) having a first convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the first concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint (15) is assembled, means for fastening (43, 44, 45, 46) the first and the second friction ball joint members (38, 39) together with their spherical surfaces mating, the fastening means forcing the two members together to create a friction coupling therebetween so that as one of the two members is moved with respect to the other they will remain in the position they are moved to, despite a force being applied to one of them due to the weight of said display terminal.

Claim 27

The terminal in accordance with claim 22 characterized in that the second frictional ball joint member (39) is fastened to the free end of the arm member (14) and has a second concave spherical surface, said first friction ball joint member (38) is attached to said display terminal (11), and the friction ball joint (15) further comprises a third friction ball joint member (42) having a second convex spherical surface with a radius of curvature equal to that of the second concave spherical surface with which it mates when the friction ball joint is assembled, the fastening means (43, 44, 45, 46) fastening the first, second and third friction ball joint members (38, 39, 42) together with their spherical surfaces mating to create the friction coupling therebetween so that as the display terminal (11) is tilted in any direction, the first and third friction ball joint members (38, 42) move in unison against the second member (38) and the display terminal (11) remains in the position in which it is placed.