Computer system with monitor for accommodating a user

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention pertains generally to methods and systems for selectively positioning a computer monitor. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an adjustable mount for selectively positioning a computer monitor. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as a system and method for anatomically accommodating the task of typing on a keyboard while simultaneously facilitating the act of viewing a monitor at a predetermined location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002The task of typing on a computer keyboard while simultaneously viewing a computer monitor requires that the keyboard be at a location within the user's reach, and that the monitor be at a location in the user's effective field of vision. To achieve both of these conditions, the user must be able to move the keyboard and the monitor to respective predetermined points in space. Insofar as a user's field of vision is concerned, once the keyboard has been properly positioned, some users may have a desire or need to view a monitor that is located as close as possible to the face of the user.

0003Typically, a desktop computer system will include a monitor with a base which the user can place on a flat surface such as a desk. These conventional computer systems do not normally permit the monitor to move in the horizontal or vertical planes between the user and the base of the monitor. In addition, these systems do not permit the monitor to be tilted through a wide angular range. Consequently, such computer systems may not always provide the user with an opportunity to move the monitor to a predetermined location that will accommodate his or her individual set of requirements or desires.

0004In light of the above, an object of this invention is to provide the user with a computer system for positioning a monitor so that the user is anatomically accommodated when they are typing and viewing a monitor. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system having a monitor that the user may rotate and tilt to a predetermined location relative to the keyboard and the user. It is a further object of this invention to provide a system that permits a monitor to be moved to a predetermined location in a horizontal plane. Another object of this invention is to provide a system that permits a monitor to be moved to a predetermined location in a vertical plane. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system which is easy to implement, simple to use and comparatively cost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0005The present invention pertains to a system for selectively positioning a computer monitor at a predetermined point in space to anatomically accommodate a user while typing on a keyboard and viewing a computer monitor. In overview, the system includes a base member, a keyboard and an adjustable mount for mounting a monitor on the base member. In detail, the base member acts as a surface for supporting the keyboard and provides a point for securing a first end of the adjustable mount to the base member. Additionally, the computer monitor is attached to the adjustable mount at its second end and is electronically connected to the computer keyboard.

0006For reference purposes, the adjustable mount defines three axes of rotation for the selective rotation of the monitor relative to the keyboard and base member. With this in mind, the adjustable mount includes a pole that has its first end attached to the base member. When so attached, the pole defines a first axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the base member. The adjustable mount also includes a first extension arm which has a first end that is slidingly mounted on the pole. When so mounted, the first extension arm is substantially perpendicular to the pole. Within this arrangement, the user may adjust the height of the monitor by sliding the extension arm upwardly or downwardly along the pole. Also, the first extension arm is able to rotate freely in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the first axis of the system. The height of the monitor is thereby substantially limited to the height of the pole. A collar and a set screw are provided at the first end of the first extension arm to secure the arm to the pole after a position has been selected.

0007A first end of a second extension arm is attached to the second end of the first extension arm. More specifically, this connector between the first and second extension arms defines the second axis of rotation and positions it with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the first axis. The second arm then extends substantially perpendicular to the second axis and it rotates freely in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the second axis. Thus, in combination, the second axis and the first axis allow the user to position the free (second) end of the second extension arm at a desired distance from the first axis. This combination of axes also allow for an angle of rotation that is measured about the first axis. Together, the desired distance from the first axis and the angle rotating about the first axis establish a desired predetermined spatial orientation for the monitor.

0008In addition to its other rotations mentioned above, the monitor is also rotatably connected to the second end of the second arm to define the third axis of rotation. Specifically, this third axis has an orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes. Thus, the user may tilt the monitor at an angle β about the third axis to further refine the desired spatial orientation. In the operation of the present invention, the adjustable mount permits the user to selectively move the monitor in rotation about the three axes to a predetermined point in space. The purpose, of course, is to anatomically accommodate the user's viewing of the monitor while typing on the keyboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0009The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of the monitor positioning system of the present invention while being used by a user;

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a top view of the monitor positioning system of the present invention;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3A</figref> is a schematic view showing the relationship between the three axes of the present invention;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3B</figref> is a coordinate system describing a preselected distance (d) from the monitor to a point on the base member of the system, the angle of rotation (α) of the system, and the tilt angle (β) of the system; and

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the monitor positioning system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0015Referring initially to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a system in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated <b>10</b>. In detail, the system <b>10</b> is shown to include a base member <b>12</b>. Resting on top of the base member <b>12</b> is a keyboard <b>16</b> for generating data. The keyboard <b>16</b> is electronically connected to a monitor <b>14</b>. As specifically envisioned for the present invention, the monitor <b>14</b> is connected to an adjustable mount <b>18</b>.

0016As shown, the adjustable mount <b>18</b> has a first end <b>20</b> and a second end <b>22</b>. The adjustable mount <b>18</b> includes a pole <b>24</b> having a first end <b>26</b> and a second end <b>28</b>. As indicated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the pole <b>24</b> connects to a pole housing <b>29</b> which secures the pole <b>24</b> to the base member <b>12</b> by means of a set screw <b>30</b>. The system <b>10</b> has a first extension arm <b>31</b> that is slidingly connected to the pole <b>24</b> and which has a first end <b>32</b> and a second end <b>34</b>. The first extension arm <b>31</b> rests upon a collar <b>35</b> that is fastened to the pole <b>24</b> by means of a thumbscrew <b>36</b> which is located on the collar <b>35</b>. The system <b>10</b> also has a second extension arm <b>37</b> which has a first end <b>38</b> and a second end <b>40</b>. It is to be appreciated that the first extension arm <b>31</b> and the second extension arm <b>37</b> are connected at the second end <b>34</b> of the first extension arm <b>31</b> and the first end <b>38</b> of the second extension arm <b>37</b>. In addition, the second extension arm <b>37</b> attaches to a tilter mechanism <b>42</b> at the second end <b>40</b> of the second extension arm <b>37</b> and the first end <b>44</b> of the tilter mechanism <b>42</b>. The second end <b>46</b> of the titter mechanism <b>42</b> connects to the monitor <b>14</b>.

0017Turning now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the system <b>10</b> is shown in a top view. There it may be appreciated that the monitor <b>14</b> may be placed in many locations relative to the keyboard <b>16</b>. In this particular view, the first extension arm <b>31</b> and the second extension arm <b>37</b> are only partially extended away from the first end <b>20</b> of the adjustable mount <b>18</b>.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3A</figref> shows a schematic view of the relationship between the three axes of rotation that are created by the mount <b>18</b> of the present invention. The first axis <b>58</b> is substantially perpendicular to the base member <b>12</b>. This first axis <b>58</b> provides an axis for rotating the monitor <b>14</b> at a preselected angle of rotation <b>60</b> within a range of 360 degrees. The first axis <b>58</b> remains stationary during the rotation of the monitor <b>14</b> and is defined by the pole <b>24</b>. The connection between the first extension arm <b>31</b> and the second extension arm <b>37</b> define the second axis <b>62</b> that is parallel to the first axis <b>58</b>. The second axis <b>62</b> provides an additional angle of rotation <b>64</b> for positioning the monitor <b>14</b> at a preselected point.

0019Still referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3A</figref>, it can be seen that the user may tilt the monitor <b>14</b> about the third axis <b>66</b> at an angle of tilt (β) <b>68</b>. The third axis <b>66</b> structure is defined by the tilter mechanism <b>42</b> that is fixedly attached to the second end <b>40</b> of the second extension arm <b>37</b>. This third axis <b>66</b> is substantially perpendicular to both the first axis <b>58</b> and the second axis <b>62</b>.

0020The positioning of the monitor <b>14</b> is perhaps best shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3B</figref>. As shown, the desired position of the monitor <b>14</b> is depicted in terms of a preselected distance (d) from the monitor <b>14</b> to a point on the base member <b>12</b> of the system <b>10</b>, in combination with the angle of rotation (α) and the tilt angle (β) of the system <b>10</b>. More specifically, the distance “d” is established by rotation of the first extension arm <b>31</b> about the first axis <b>58</b> through the angle <b>60</b> and the rotation of the second extension arm <b>37</b> about the second axis <b>62</b> through an angle <b>64</b>.

0021While there are many alternative embodiments contemplated for this invention by this disclosure, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows one alternative embodiment of the positioning system <b>10</b> wherein the user may view and predetermine the position for two separate monitors, shown as <b>14</b><i>a </i>and <b>14</b><i>b</i>, relative to one keyboard <b>16</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates that both monitors, <b>14</b><i>a </i>and <b>14</b><i>b </i>may have the same tilt angle (β) and each monitor <b>14</b><i>a </i>and <b>14</b><i>b </i>may be positioned at a unique angle of rotation (α).

0022While this particular system as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of the construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.