초록 ▼

An extension arm including an articulating portion that approximately counterbalances the mass of the articulating portion and any objects connected thereto, for example an electronic device, throughout the positional range of the articulating portion. In some embodiments according to the disclosed

An extension arm including an articulating portion that approximately counterbalances the mass of the articulating portion and any objects connected thereto, for example an electronic device, throughout the positional range of the articulating portion. In some embodiments according to the disclosed inventive concepts a spring coupled to a cable is used, the cable being routed along a bearing surface and then attached within the articulating portion. In some embodiments, the bearing surface may be located on a pivotable member that rotates in correspondence with the articulating portion. In various embodiments, the spring may be located within the articulating arm, a base portion in operative engagement with the articulating portion, or entirely external to the extension arm.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An arm for supporting an electronic device, the arm comprising: a base portion having a support mount that is attachable to a support surface such that the base portion is secured to the support surface when the support mount is attached to the support surface;an articulating portion having a fir

1. An arm for supporting an electronic device, the arm comprising: a base portion having a support mount that is attachable to a support surface such that the base portion is secured to the support surface when the support mount is attached to the support surface;an articulating portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a range of angular positions, the first end being connected to a first endcap and being rotatable about a first pivot axis that corresponds with the first endcap, wherein the first endcap is connected to the base portion, the second end being connected to a second endcap, the range of angular positions comprising a positive range wherein the slope of a line drawn along the top surface from the first end to the second end has a positive value, a horizontal angular position wherein the slope of the line has a value of zero, a negative range wherein the slope of the line has a negative value, a maximum positive angular position, a maximum negative angular position, and a negative rotational direction, the articulating arm being operationally configured to maintain a substantially constant relative rotational position between the first endcap and the second endcap throughout the range of angular positions, the articulating portion further comprising upper and lower channel members that remain parallel to each other as the articulating portion is moved through its range of angular positions;a cable having first and second connection points, the first connection point being located within the articulating portion;a force-supplying component connected to the first or second connection point, the force-supplying component being operationally configured to exert a restorative force through the cable so that a supporting force is exerted on the articulating portion, the supporting force acting to oppose rotation of the second end of the articulating portion in the negative rotational direction; anda pivoting member including a bearing surface having a profile, the bearing surface being located such that it maintains contact with the cable throughout the range of angular positions, the profile being shaped so that the supporting force increases as the articulating portion is rotated from the maximum positive angular position to the horizontal angular position and decreases as the articulating portion is rotated from the horizontal angular position to the maximum negative angular position,wherein the pivoting member rotates with the articulating portion about the first pivot axis andwherein the second connection point of the cable is located external to the articulating portion and not directly on the bearing surface,wherein the pivoting member and the articulating portion are pivotable about a pin having a non-circular cross section. 2. An arm for supporting an electronic device, the arm comprising: a base portion having a support mount that is attachable to a support surface such that the base portion is secured to the support surface when the support mount is attached to the support surface;an articulating portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a range of angular positions, the first end being connected to a first endcap and being rotatable about a first pivot axis that corresponds with the first endcap, wherein the first endcap is connected to the base portion, the second end being connected to a second endcap, the range of angular positions comprising a positive range wherein the slope of a line drawn along the top surface from the first end to the second end has a positive value, a horizontal angular position wherein the slope of the line has a value of zero, a negative range wherein the slope of the line has a negative value, a maximum positive angular position, a maximum negative angular position, and a negative rotational direction, the articulating arm being operationally configured to maintain a substantially constant relative rotational position between the first endcap and the second endcap throughout the range of angular positions, the articulating portion further comprising upper and lower channel members that remain parallel to each other as the articulating portion is moved through its range of angular positions;a cable having first and second connection points, the first connection point being located within the articulating portion;a force-supplying component connected to the first or second connection point, the force-supplying component being operationally configured to exert a restorative force through the cable so that a supporting force is exerted on the articulating portion, the supporting force acting to oppose rotation of the second end of the articulating portion in the negative rotational direction; anda pivoting member including a bearing surface having a profile, the bearing surface being located such that it maintains contact with the cable throughout the range of angular positions, the profile being shaped so that the supporting force increases as the articulating portion is rotated from the maximum positive angular position to the horizontal angular position and decreases as the articulating portion is rotated from the horizontal angular position to the maximum negative angular position,wherein the pivoting member rotates with the articulating portion about the first pivot axis andwherein the second connection point of the cable is located external to the articulating portion and not directly on the bearing surface, wherein the force-supplying component comprises at least one coiled spring, wherein the coiled spring is comprised of a plurality of coils, each of the plurality of coils having a radius, the radii of at least some of the plurality coils being different than others of the plurality of coils. 3. An arm for supporting an electronic device, the arm comprising: a base portion having a support mount that is attachable to a support surface such that the base portion is secured to the support surface when the support mount is attached to the support surface;an articulating portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a range of angular positions, the first end being connected to a first endcap and being rotatable about a first pivot axis that corresponds with the first endcap, wherein the first endcap is connected to the base portion, the second end being connected to a second endcap, the range of angular positions comprising a positive range wherein the slope of a line drawn along the top surface from the first end to the second end has a positive value, a horizontal angular position wherein the slope of the line has a value of zero, a negative range wherein the slope of the line has a negative value, a maximum positive angular position, a maximum negative angular position, and a negative rotational direction, the articulating arm being operationally configured to maintain a substantially constant relative rotational position between the first endcap and the second endcap throughout the range of angular positions, the articulating portion further comprising upper and lower channel members that remain parallel to each other as the articulating portion is moved through its range of angular positions;a cable having first and second connection points, the first connection point being located within the articulating portion;a force-supplying component connected to the first or second connection point, the force-supplying component being operationally configured to exert a restorative force through the cable so that a supporting force is exerted on the articulating portion, the supporting force acting to oppose rotation of the second end of the articulating portion in the negative rotational direction; anda pivoting member including a bearing surface having a profile, the bearing surface being located such that it maintains contact with the cable throughout the range of angular positions, the profile being shaped so that the supporting force increases as the articulating portion is rotated from the maximum positive angular position to the horizontal angular position and decreases as the articulating portion is rotated from the horizontal angular position to the maximum negative angular position,wherein the pivoting member rotates with the articulating portion about the first pivot axis andwherein the second connection point of the cable is located external to the articulating portion and not directly on the bearing surface, wherein the force-supplying component is located within the base portion. 4. An arm for supporting an electronic device, the arm comprising: a base portion having a support mount that is attachable to a support surface such that the base portion is secured to the support surface when the support mount is attached to the support surface;an articulating portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a range of angular positions, the first end being connected to a first endcap and being rotatable about a first pivot axis that corresponds with the first endcap, wherein the first endcap is connected to the base portion, the second end being connected to a second endcap, the range of angular positions comprising a positive range wherein the slope of a line drawn along the top surface from the first end to the second end has a positive value, a horizontal angular position wherein the slope of the line has a value of zero, a negative range wherein the slope of the line has a negative value, a maximum positive angular position, a maximum negative angular position, and a negative rotational direction, the articulating arm being operationally configured to maintain a substantially constant relative rotational position between the first endcap and the second endcap throughout the range of angular positions, the articulating portion further comprising upper and lower channel members that remain parallel to each other as the articulating portion is moved through its range of angular positions;a cable having first and second connection points, the first connection point being located within the articulating portion;a force-supplying component connected to the first or second connection point, the force-supplying component being operationally configured to exert a restorative force through the cable so that a supporting force is exerted on the articulating portion, the supporting force acting to oppose rotation of the second end of the articulating portion in the negative rotational direction; anda pivoting member including a bearing surface having a profile, the bearing surface being located such that it maintains contact with the cable throughout the range of angular positions;wherein the cable is operationally configured to move a unit pull, wherein the unit pull is defined as the distance that the cable moves relative to the force-supplying component when the articulating portion is rotated from the maximum positive angular position to the maximum negative angular position;wherein the profile is shaped so that less than half of the unit pull occurs when the articulating portion is rotated from the maximum positive angular position to the horizontal angular position and more than half of the unit pull occurs when the articulating portion is rotated from the horizontal angular position to the maximum negative angular position,wherein the pivoting member rotates with the articulating portion about the first pivot axis andwherein the second connection point of the cable is located external to the articulating portion and not directly on the bearing surface. 5. An arm for supporting an electronic device, the arm comprising: a base portion having a support mount that is attachable to a support surface such that the base portion is secured to the support surface when the support mount is attached to the support surface;an articulating portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a range of angular positions, the first end being connected to a first endcap and being rotatable about a first pivot axis that corresponds with the first endcap, wherein the first endcap is connected to the base portion, the second end being connected to a second endcap, the range of angular positions comprising a positive range wherein the slope of a line drawn along the top surface from the first end to the second end has a positive value, a horizontal angular position wherein the slope of the line has a value of zero, a negative range wherein the slope of the line has a negative value, a maximum positive angular position, a maximum negative angular position, and a negative rotational direction, the articulating arm being operationally configured to maintain a substantially constant relative rotational position between the first endcap and the second endcap throughout the range of angular positions, the articulating portion further comprising upper and lower channel members that remain parallel to each other as the articulating portion is moved through its range of angular positions;a cable having first and second connection points, the first connection point being located within the articulating portion;a pivoting member including a force-supplying component connected to the first or second connection point, the force-supplying component being operationally configured to exert a restorative force through the cable so that a supporting force is exerted on the articulating portion, the supporting force acting to oppose rotation of the second end of the articulating portion in the negative rotational direction;a bearing surface having a profile, the bearing surface being positioned such that it maintains contact with the cable throughout the range of angular positions, the bearing surface being part of a pivoting member that rotates with the articulating portion and about the first pivot axis, the profile being shaped so that the supporting force increases as the articulating portion is rotated from the maximum positive angular position to the horizontal angular position and decreases as the articulating portion is rotated from the horizontal angular position to the maximum negative angular position; andan adjustable clevis that is operationally configured to be adjustable in order to change the range of values of the supporting force that is exerted on the articulating portion by the cable throughout the range of angular positions,wherein the pivoting member rotates with the articulating portion about the first pivot axis andwherein the second connection point of the cable is located external to the articulating portion and not directly on the bearing surface,wherein the force-supplying component is located within the base portion. 6. The arm of claim 4, wherein the force-supplying component is located within the base portion.