United States Patent [[191
`Date of Patent:
`[45]
`Sweere
`Jun. 6, 1989
`
`[11]
`
`Patent Number: A
`
`4,836,478
`
`[54] SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL
`COMPUTERS AND MONITORS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Harry C. Sweere, Minneapolis, Minn.
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Ergotron, Inc., Bloomington, Minn.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1510371 12/1967 France .............................. .. 248/124
`1240837
`7/1971 United Kingdom .............. .. 248/325
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Fall 1987 Misco Catalog, pp. 40-41.
`Nov. 1987, Ultimate Computer Supplies catalog, pp.
`38-40.
`
`Summer 1987, Businessland catalog, p. 9.
`1987 (TS#2) Inmac catalog, p. 48.
`
`Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss
`Assistant Examiner—Robert A. Olson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-—Moore & Hansen
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACI‘
`
`A suspension system for a personal computer or moni-
`tor comprising a carriage in which the monitor or com-
`puter is mounted, the carriage being supported from
`above by a frictionally secured swivel and tilt mecha-
`nism in turn attached to a pivotable and rotatable sup-
`port arm. The support arm is balanced by an adjustable
`pneumatic pressure cylinder, and is mounted on a roller
`assembly such that it may be carried along a path de-
`fined by a track assembly, thereby permitting the moni-
`tor or computer to be transported between first and
`second positions, as well as simultaneously being raised
`or lowered vertically, tilted, rotated, or swiveled. The
`track assembly may be attached to the underside of a
`shelving unit and incorporated into a modular partition
`system, or attached to a freestanding frame.
`
`23 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 109,028
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Oct. 15, 1937
`
`Int. Cl.‘ .............................................. A47G 29/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. ............................... .. 248/1 E; 248/ 123.1;
`248/124; 248/279; 248/280.1
`......... .. 248/581, 585, 586, 589,
`[58] Field of Search
`248/646, 648, 660, 661, 662, 122, 123.1, 124,
`125, 278, 279, 280.1, 281.1, 285, 286, 323, 324,
`325,1C,1E,1F,1H,1I
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`507,364 10/1893 Hiler .................................... 248/323
`1,733,107 10/1929 Ahlberg ......
`248/278 X
`2,941,776 6/1960 Lauterbach .
`248/280.1 X
`3,345,461 10/1967 Bunting . .. . .... ...
`. .. .. 248/123.1 X
`3,358,957 12/1967 Lindenmuth
`...... .. 248/1 E
`3,417,953 12/1968 Hillquist
`248/324
`3,433,444
`3/1969 Smith
`. 248/280.1 X
`3,662,981
`5/1972 Hogrebe
`........ 248/278
`4,082,244 4/1978 Groff . ... .. .
`.. ... 248/280.1
`4,166,602 9/1979 Nilsen
`. 248/123.1 X
`4,310,136
`1/1982 Mooney
`...... .. 248/1 F
`4,447,031
`5/1984 Souder ...... ..
`248/ 1 F
`4,453,687
`6/1984 Sweere .............................. .. 248/183
`4,562,987
`1/1986 Leeds .
`4,591,122
`5/1986 Kreuzer ....................... 248/281.1 X
`4,706,919 11/1987 Soberalski ........................ 248/281.1
`
`
`
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`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 6, 1989
`
`Sheet 1 of2
`
`4,836,478
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 6, 1989
`
`Sheet 2 of2
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`4,836,478
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`

`1
`
`SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL
`COMPUTERS AND MONITORS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to stands and sup-
`ports for personal computers and the cathode ray tube
`(CRT) monitors used with those computers, and partic-
`ularly to an apparatus for supporting a variety of per-
`sonal computers and their monitors completely above a
`work surface while permitting the height, tilt angle, or
`rotation of that monitor to be fully adjusted, allowing
`access to the personal computer control panel and disk
`drives, and further allowing that monitor
`to be
`“parked” in a location adjacent to but displaced from
`the work surface.
`In very recent years, the power of personal comput-
`ers has increased so dramatically that many personal
`computers now have capabilities possessed only a de-
`cade ago by sophisticated and bulky mainframe com-
`puters. With this increase in power, and the concurrent
`technical advances which have led to a decrease in the
`price of complex electronic components, these personal
`computers have become accessible to a far wider spec-
`trum of users. The diverse applications presently flour-
`ishing include drafting using CAD/CAM or design
`drawing programs, desktop publishing, advertising and
`graphic layouts, and sales promotion and business pre-
`sentations.
`Traditional freestanding workstations, each costing
`tens of thousands of dollars, have similarly been increas-
`ing in capacity and decreasing in price, in an effort to
`stimulate direct competition with the new personal
`computers. As a result, many traditional dedictated
`workstations are no longer being produced as freestand-
`ing units complete with coordinated furnishings.
`Paralleling the above trend, almost all mainframe
`computers have been converted to “on-line” use with
`thousands of independent users able to access the main-
`frame via communications lines and interactive CRT
`units located at the individual work places. Due to the
`increasing use of personal computers, workstations, and
`CRTs in conventional business,
`industrial, and engi-
`neering facilities and the unlimited variety of new set-
`tings to which personal computers are being constantly
`introduced, the need for convenient, efficient, and er-
`gonomically designed working environments for indi-
`viduals using computers has become acute. As a part of
`their daily activities, many people are required to speed
`all or part of their work or free time at a terminal, com-
`puter, or similar user interface.
`It is not uncommon to find a computer or terrriinal
`sitting on an office desk or separate computer stand. As
`wide array of computer furniture designed to accom-
`modate many difference system components and spe-
`cific professional applications have been developed.
`The need for customized furniture for computer users
`has also been dictated by the rapid increase in the num-
`ber and variety of peripheral devices and interfaces
`which each user will have connected to their central
`processing unit (CPU). These peripheral devices in-
`clude extended keyboards,
`large-screen or multiple
`page monitors, a mouse or trackball, joysticks, digitizers
`such —as
`image scanners or drawing pads, printers,
`modems, hard disks and optional format disk drives,
`coprocessors, power supplies, networking interfaces,
`and many other specialized devices such as musical
`keyboards. The average drafting workstation will com-
`
`4,836,478
`
`2
`prise a CPU with built in hard disk, one optional disk
`drive, keyboard, mouse, digitizer pad, and two monitors
`(one large screen). A standard desktop publishing work-
`station might include a CPU, large screen monitor, laser
`printer, image scanner, keyboard, mouse, external hard
`disk, and a disk drive.
`These devices and components must generally be
`placed where easily accessible to the user. At a mini-
`mum, the monitors, keyboard, and mouse must be con-
`veniently located on a top of a horizontal work surface,
`such as a desk at which the user will be seated. For most
`applications,
`the individual using the computer will
`likely be involved in processing information—that is,
`compiling and transforming information from one or
`more sources to produce a distinct product. Particularly
`in a business setting, it is rare that any completely origi-
`nal information is generated. Consequently, the user
`must have sufficient room available on the work surface
`or surrounding area for drawings, preliminary drafts,
`reference materials, artwork, manuals, and the like.
`In those settings in which the personal computer is
`not the main focus of work activities, but is considered
`merely one of the many tools or resources available to
`an individual, the need for making that unit conve-
`niently accessible while preventing it from becoming an
`obstacle to other activities becomes paramount. More-
`over, where the computer is an adjunct to the normal
`daily activities, there will most likely be a wealth of
`available items competing for positions of priority on
`the person’s desk or in their work area.
`Many different apparatuses have been developed to
`assist in alleviating the problem of insufficient work
`space to accommodate the various components and
`peripherals which a person desires to have readily ac-
`cessible. The most cumbersome component, other than
`the CPU itself (which may sometimes be positioned
`adjacent to the work surface) is the monitor. It is almost
`invariably necessary to position the monitor screen
`directly in front of the user, at or near eye level.
`The most common items for achieving this result
`include monitor stands which straddle a computer or
`CPU, with the separate monitor resting on top. Some
`monitors are designed so they may sit directly on the
`computer, or are themselves freestanding and can be
`turned in different directions to provide wide or full
`height viewing.
`Each of the monitor supports or stands presents sev-
`eral common drawbacks when used in a workstation or
`computer intensive environment.
`Most use valuable space on the work surface, and
`permanently occupy that space even when the com-
`puter is not in use. The most versatile of such stands
`only permit a very limited degree of adjustment in the
`height, tilt angle, or rotation of the monitor, and adjust-
`ments will require loosening hardward fittings or physi-
`cally lifting and moving the monitor. With monitors
`weighing anywhere between 15 and 120 lbs., such an
`alternative cannot be considered a convenient or practi-
`cal solution.
`One improvement on the standard monitor stand,
`permitting the greatest degree of flexibility and ease in
`making adjustments to the monitor position is the Swi-
`vel/Tilt Mounting Device for a Cathode Ray Tube
`disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,687. This Swivel/Tilt
`device has been adapted for use in supporting various
`personal computer systems in which the monitor, CPU,
`and disk drives are combined in a common housing,
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`4,836,478 ,
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`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`with the keyboard and mouse being attached by cables.
`Representative examples of such a device are currently
`marketed by Ergotron, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn.,
`under the name “MacTilt.”
`Some monitor supports have extensible, cantilevered
`arms to support the monitor and permit it to be rotated,
`tilted, swiveled, raised and lowered to various positions.
`Representative examples of such extensible monitor
`supports include the “PC Float System” marketed by
`Global Computer Supplies, the “CRT Valet” marketed
`by Businessland of San Jose, Calif., and the “CRT Shut-
`tle” also marketed by Global Computer Supplies and
`disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,987.
`The PC Float System has a pivotable arm which
`clamps to the lip of a desk and is supported by a pressur-
`ized pneumatic cylinder. The monitor platform is sup-
`ported on a hemispherical globe resting within a basin.
`The globe, and thus the monitor platform and monitor,
`may be rotated within the torus to adjust the position of
`the monitor. The CRT Shuttle similarly clamps to a 2
`work surface and comprises a pair of jointed arms
`which permit an individual to manually raise or lower
`the monitor, or rotate it in several directions. Finally,
`the CRT Valet uses a cable biased cantilevered arm
`configuration which permits vertical and rotational
`movement of the monitor, as well as manual adjustment
`of the monitor position.
`Each of these extensible arm systems provides some
`advantages over conventional monitor stands. They
`permit the user some degree of immediate movement of
`the monitor without having to lift the monitor or unlock
`hardware fittings. Each permits the monitor to be
`parked in a position away from the normal viewing
`position, and allow multiple users to share a monitor if
`their desks are situated accordingly. Finally, they in-
`clude such options as gripping handles, an electrical
`power outlet, and options to support other equipment.
`There are, however, several common disadvantages
`associated with these extensible arm systems. First, each
`requires that the main support arm be clamped to the lip
`of a desk with a mounting bracket or permanently at-
`tached to the desk if no lip is present. Each arm extends
`over the desk between the mounting bracket and the
`monitor, thus preventing the user from placing items in
`the area bounded by the sweep of the arm. While the
`CRT Valet arm is jointed in the vertical direction, the
`CRT Shuttle is jointed horizontally and the PC Float
`System is unjointed,
`thereby limiting any clearance
`between the work surface and arm, and consequently
`consuming more work area than the monitor alone. The
`ability to share a monitor is constrained by the extent to
`which the support arm will reach. Further, while each
`of the above extensible arm units allows the monitor to
`be parked when using a desk in an open area, it becomes
`impractical to park the monitor when the desk or work
`surface is bounded by walls or partitions.
`A distinct solution to the problem of limited work-
`space is a desk unit having a clear or transparent work
`surface, the monitor being positioned beneath the work
`surface and tilted upward to that the screen may be
`viewed through the work surface by a user seated at the
`desk. Such a design, while conserving the entire work
`surface, is not ergonomically sound since it places the
`screen a greater distance from the user and requires that
`they must constantly look downward. This design also
`results in the user’s view being obscured by items scat-
`tered on or about the work surface.
`
`It is therefore one object of this invention to design a
`suspension system in which a personal computer or
`monitor may be supported from above the computer of
`monitor, such that the suspension system permits com-
`plete access to all area of the underlying work surface,
`and does not require utilization of the work surface for
`mounting.
`It is a further object of this invention to design the
`above suspension system such that it may accommodate
`a variety of sizes and weights of monitors or computers,
`allowing for vertical height adjustment, rotation of the
`monitor around its vertical axis, pivoting the monitor to
`various positions, and tilting the monitor forward or
`backward to adjust the viewing angle without having to
`loosen and tighten locking knobs or other hardware,
`and with such movements or adjustments being aided
`by mechanical means so as to substantially reduce any
`0 effort otherwise required.
`It is yet another object of this invention to design the
`above suspension system such that the monitor may be
`moved laterally, or displaced from the normal viewing
`position in a linear manner, the extent and direction of
`that linear movement being independent of the length of
`any support arm or pivot assembly.
`It is a related object of this invention to design the
`above suspension system such that it may be transported
`between various displaced but predetermined locations
`along either a linear or a non-linear path.
`It is also a related object of this invention to design
`the above suspension system such that the monitor or
`personal computer being supported may be shared be-
`tween individuals having work spaces which are dis-
`placed a significant distance apart, or are not positioned
`adjacent or proximate to one another.
`It is similarly an object of the invention to design the
`above suspension system such that the linear movement
`of the suspension system is independent of the vertical,
`rotational, tilt or swiveling motion of the monitor or
`computer, so that these movements and adjustments
`may be accomplished simultaneously.
`It is an additional object of this invention to design
`the above suspension system such that the monitor may
`be parked in a position displaced from the normal view-
`ing position, without interference from adjoining walls,
`partitions, or work spaces.
`It is a related object of this invention to design the
`above suspension system such that it may be incorpo-
`rated into the design of various items of modular office
`furniture settings, such as wall partitions, or may alter-
`nately be made as a freestanding unit for use with desks
`and tables in an open area.
`It is yet another object of this invention to design the
`above suspension system such that, when used with
`systems having separate monitor and CPU components,
`the CPU may be additionally supported in a position
`near the monitor and work surface, thereby allowing
`accessibility for cables and the operation of peripheral
`devices.
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`It is a distinct object of this invention to design the
`above suspension system such that it may be adjusted by
`the user to account for variations in monitor weight, as
`well as to compensate for the normal aging and wear on
`load bearing components.
`Briefly described, the suspension system of this inven-
`tion comprises a carriage in which the monitor is
`mounted, the carriage being supported from above by a
`
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`4,836,478
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`5
`frictionally secured swivel and tilt mechanism attached
`to a pivotable and rotatable support arm balanced by an
`adjustable pneumatic cylinder. The support arm is
`mounted on a roller assembly such that it may be car-
`ried along a path defined by a track assembly, thereby
`permitting the monitor or computer to be transported
`between distinct and isolated positions, as well as simul-
`taneously being raised or lowered vertically,
`tilted,
`rotated, or swiveled. The track assembly may be at-
`tached to the underside of a shelving unit and incorpo-
`rated into a modular partition system, or attached to a
`freestanding frame.
`BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of
`the suspension system of this invention incorporated
`into a modular partition unit;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the roller and
`track assembly and pivoting mechanism of the suspen-
`sion system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the roller and track
`assembly taken through line 3’3 of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is an partially cut away view of the pneumatic
`cylinder adjustment mechanism of the suspension sys-
`tem of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodi-
`ment of the monitor carriage of the suspension system
`of this invention;
`FIG. 6 is a cross sectioal view of the monitor carriage
`taken through line 6-6 in FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the suspension system
`of this invention mounted on a freestanding frame mem-
`ber.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The suspension system for personal computers and
`monitors of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-7 and
`referenced generally therein by the numeral 10.
`A personal computer system may comprise any num-
`ber of various components, including most notably a
`central processing unit (CPU) keyboard, and a display
`device 12 such as a monitor.
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, a monitor 12 may be seen sup-
`ported by the suspension system 10 of this invention
`above a generally horizontal, planar work surface 14,
`which is bounded on two sides by a modular partition
`system 16.
`The suspension system 10 consists of a monitor car-
`riage 18 comprised of a number of wire members 20
`bent into rectangular hoops and attached to form a
`generally box-shaped cage. Each wire member 20, as
`well as other components of the monitor carriage 18,
`may be coated with a plastic resin or rubber compound
`to prevent scratching or abrasion of the monitor 12. The
`wire members 20 are fastened to a support plate 22 at
`the top 24 of the monitor carriage 18 using welding or
`other similar fastening means. The wire members 20 are
`attached along the bottom 26 of the monitor carriage 18
`by a monitor platform 23 (shown in FIG. 7) of any size
`or type known to the art and used for supporting a
`monitor 12 or other personal computer component.
`The monitor carriage 18 may be sized and propor-
`tioned to accommodate any standard sizes of monitors
`12 or personal computers, as well as any custom size
`suited for particular applications or systems. The moni-
`tor carriage 18 may include a gripping handle 28 formed
`from one of the wire members 20 and positioned to
`
`6
`depend from the monitor carriage 18 and extend out-
`wardly in front of the monitor 12.
`Attached to the support plate 22 is a frictional swivel
`and tilt mechanism 30 of the type disclosed in the previ-
`ously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,687. The swivel
`and tilt mechanism 30 is attached to the support plate 22
`in an inverted position using any suitable fastening
`means such as welding. Although any of a variety of
`known mechanisms providing for rotation, tilting, swiv-
`eling, or other movement may be employed,
`it has
`proven particularly desirable to use the swivel and tilt
`mechanism 30 disclosed in the ’687 patent, since con-
`ventional ball-and-socket mechanisms do not operate
`satisfactorily when inverted, and to obviate the need for
`complex locking or securing attachments.
`The spindle or post 32 of the swivel and tilt mecha-
`nism 30 is received within and securely fastened to a
`post collar 34 using a locking pin or similar suitable
`fastening means, the post collar 34 in turn being at-
`tached to an extension arm 36. The extension arm 36
`includes a pair of spaced apart mounting plates 38
`which receive and engagingly bracket a pair of parallel
`support arms 40. Each support arm 40 is pivotably fas-
`tened between the mounting plates 38 by a securing pin
`42 which extends entirely through the surfaces thereof.
`The arms 40, plates 38, arm 36 and collar 34, assembled
`as shown, collectively comprise one type of parallelo-
`gram linkage system usable for support of the tilt and
`swivel mechanism 30.
`
`The support arms 40 each comprise a section of
`straight channel having a U-shaped cross section, as
`shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the oppos-
`ing ends of the support arms 40 are similarly received
`between and bracketed by the opposing sides 44 of a
`pivot housing 46, the support arms 40 being pivotably
`fastened to the pivot housing by a pair of securing pins
`42. The pivot housing 46 may be of any shape or dimen-
`sions which allow the parallel support arms 40 to pivot
`downward relative to the pivot housing 46, thereby
`requiring a portion of the bottom section 48 of the pivot
`housing 46 to be cut away or exposed.
`The pivot housing 46 similarly brackets and receives
`one end of a pneumatic pressure cylinder 50. The pneu-
`matic pressure cylinder 50 may be any one of a type
`known to the art for assisting in the movement of or
`counterbalancing weighted objects. It has proven satis-
`factory to utilize a pneumatic cylinder 50 providing 160
`lbs. of pressure to accommodate monitors weighting
`between 20 and 50.lbs., while a pneumatic cylinder 50 of
`215 lbs. has proven satisfactory for monitors of 50-80
`lbs.
`The pneumatic cylinder 50 is attached at the distal
`end 52 of the top support arm 40 using the securing pin
`42 and a standard single blade coupling yoke 54 of the
`type commonly used with similar cylinders and shown
`in FIG. 3. The pneumatic cylinder 50 extends diago-
`nally between the support arms 40 to the proximal end
`56 of the lower support arm 40. Referring again to
`FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be seen that the pneumatic cylin-
`der 50 is fastened through yoke 55 to an adjustment
`mechanism 58 which permits the counterbalancing
`pressure exerted by the pneumatic cylinder 50 to be
`adjusted to accommodate different weight monitors 12,
`and to compensate for the gradual decrease in pneu-
`matic pressure encountered over the usual
`like of a
`pneumatic cylinder 50.
`Referring to FIG. 4 it may be seen that the adjust-
`ment mechanism 58 consists of a block 60 defining a
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`4,836,478
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`guide channel 62 which extends through the total
`length of block 60. Block 60 in turn is mounted within
`the confines of the pivot housing 46 at an angle of 35" of
`vertical using the securing pin 42 which passes through
`the transverse bore 43 and has a central axis 45. Block
`60 incorporates a recessed portion or “nest” 59 wherein
`rotates a commonly available set screw 61 which incor-
`porates an Allen hex drive wrench access groove 65. A
`movable adjustment slide 63 is connected to the pneu-
`matic cylinder coupling yoke 54 by means of a pin 64
`inserted therethrough. The movable adjustment slide 63
`is inserted into the guide channel 62 of block 60. The
`threaded channel 66 in movable adjustment slide 63
`engages the set screw 61. When the set screw 61 is
`rotated by a standard Allen hex wrench (not shown) via
`the Allen wrench access groove 65, movable adjust-
`ment slide 63 moves up and down along the fixed block
`60 to provide a movable anchor point or carrier mem-
`ber for the pneumatic cylinder 50, thereby increasing or
`decreasing the overall height or length of pneumatic
`cylinder 50 and thus the pressure exerted by the pneu-
`matic cylinder 50.
`Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be seen that the
`pivot housing 46 is mounted to a U-shaped truck mem-
`ber 94 which is positioned between a pair of parallel
`opposing track members 96, each track member 96
`having a generally C-shaped cross section. These track
`members collectively define a tracking means unable
`with the invention. The pivot housing 46 is rotatably
`fastened to the truck member 94 by a centrally located
`bolt 98 which extends entirely through apertures in the
`top surface 100 of the pivot housing 46 and bottom
`surface 102 of the truck member 94, and is secured
`thereto by a pair of corresponding threaded fasteners
`104. While the pivot housing 46 is supported by and
`suspended from the truck member 94 and is free to
`rotate relative to the truck member 94, the pivot hous-
`ing 46 should be mounted to the truck member 94 such
`that the pivot housing 46 and the support arms 40 ex-
`tending from the pivot housing 46 will not tilt down-
`ward or from side to side. To prevent such tilting, the
`facing surfaces 100, 102 of the pivot housing 46 and
`truck member 94 must be maintained generally parallel
`and proximate to one another in close confronting
`contact, and may be separated by a teflon pad or other
`suitable friction reducing element to ensure that the
`pivot housing 46 may be easily rotated. The pivot hous-
`ing 46 and truck member 94 may additionally include
`any known type of collar or bearing assembly deisgned
`to maintain the pivot housing 46 in position beneath the
`truck member 94 and permit freedom of rotation.
`Extending through the upstanding side walls 106 of
`the truck member 94 are a pair of axles 108, each axle
`108 having a roller wheel 110 rotatably attached to the
`opposing ends thereof, with opposing pairs of the roller
`wheels 110 being received within the interior region of
`the track members 96. Each roller wheel 110 may be
`securely mounted to the axle 108 using any convention-
`ally known method, such as by inserting the end of the
`axle 108 within a centrally located aperture defined by
`each of the the roller wheels 110, and fastening the
`roller wheels 110 to the ends of the axles 108 using a
`threaded fastener 112 having reverse threads.
`As each of the roller wheels 110 and axles 108 are free
`to rotate, the truck member 94 may be carried back and
`forth along the track members 96 between various
`points. The track members 96 may each be substantially
`linear, as shown in FIG. 2, or may conform to any
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`predetermined pattern or path having curves and turns
`of sufficient radius to permit the truck member 94 to be
`carried on the roller wheels 110 over the entire length
`of the track members 96.
`°
`
`The track members 96 are then attached to a support
`frame member 114 such as a shelving unit using welding
`or rivets 116 such that the track members 96 are sus-
`pended beneath the generally horizontal planar upper
`surface 118 of the shelving unit 144. Alternately, the
`track members 96 may be attached at each end to
`mounting brackets 120 extending inwardly from side
`plates 122 to support the track members 96 below the
`upper surface 118 of the shelving unit 114, particularly
`if the upper surface 118 is to be removable from the
`shelving unit 114.
`The shelving unit 114 may be mounted to a modular
`partition system 16 using any conventional‘ mounting
`system, such as tabs 124 which extend from the shelving
`unit 114 and are engagingly received within vertical
`brackets 126 having slots 128 corresponding to those
`tabs 124. The shelving unit 114 may be placed along a
`partition member 130 along with other accessory items
`such as shelves or bookcases 132.
`In order to ensure that the top edge of the monitor 12
`will be suspended substantially parallel to the work
`surface 14, the front edge 134 of the shelving unit 114 is
`canted upwardly approximately 1/ 16th of an inch rela-
`tive to horizontal, as are the mounting plates 38 relative
`to the distal end 52 of the support arms 40.
`In operation, the shelving unit 114 may be attached to
`a modular partition system 16 at a height permitting the
`suspension system 10 to depend thereunder with the
`monitor carriage 18 suspended over the work surface
`14. The monitor 12 is placed within the monitor car-
`riage 18, and the adjustment screw 78 within the block
`60 is adjusted to accommodate the particular weight of
`the monitor 12. The CPU or other items may be placed
`on the shelving unit 114, with the keyboard, mouse, or
`other items placed on the work surface 14 and the com-
`ponents connected to the monitor 12 or CPU using
`cables.
`
`A user seated at the work surface 14 may then grasp
`the gripping handle 28 at the front of the monitor car-
`riage 18, and position the monitor screen at any appro-
`priate height, angle, degree of rotation, and pivot the
`monitor carriage 18 toward or away from the front
`edge of the work surface 14. Similarly, the user may roll
`the truck member 94 along the track members 96 and
`thereby carry the entire suspension system 10 back and
`forth along the full extent of the track members 96. It is
`envisioned that the track members 96 may be placed
`along a path between two distinct points such as sepa-
`rate work stations such that a single monitor 12 may be
`shared or used at both points, or that the track members
`96 may be curved to cooperate with various office set-
`tings and work station configurations.
`The user, when desiring to place the monitor 12 away
`from the work surface 14, may lift the monitor carriage
`18 to a position just below the shelving unit, rotate the
`monitor carriage 18 such that the front edge of the
`monitor 12 is generally parallel with the front edge 134
`of the shelving unit 114, and pivot the support arms 40
`and suspension system 10 to a position beneath the
`shelving unit 114 and displaced from the work surface.
`It is also anticipated that various other configurations
`and embodiments of the suspension system 10 of this
`invention may be adapted for particular uses. One such
`embodiment of a saddle-shaped monitor carriage 136,
`
`

`

`4,836,478
`
`10
`
`15
`
`9
`shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises a pair of curved
`tubular metal brace members 138, 14-0, with the up-
`standing leg portions 142 of the lower brace member
`138 being received within the depending leg portions
`144 of the upper brace member 140. The brace members 5
`138, 140 may be fastened together as shown in FIG. 6
`using threaded or push-type fasteners 146 which extend
`entirely through aligned apertures 148 in the leg por-
`tions 142, 144 of the corresponding brace members 138,
`140. In this manner, the overall height of the monitor
`carriage 136 may be adjusted to fit a particular monitor
`12 or personal computer, and to maximize the clearance
`between the work surface 14 and the monitor carriage
`136. Thus, the saddle-shaped carriage 136 presents two
`pair of generally horizontal frame members 147, 149
`spaced apart a variable distance by the vertical leg por-
`tions 142, 144 a support plate 22 may be fixed to the
`frame members 147 in any known manner and attaches
`to the tilt and swivel mechanism 30, here shown in
`phantom. A platform member 23 is fixed to the lower
`frame members 149 to support the monitor 12.
`Another embodiment of the suspension system 10 for
`use with desks and other work surfaces 14 not bounded
`by partitions 16 is shown in FIG. 7. In this freestanding
`embodiment, the suspension system 10 is similarly sup-
`ported beneath a shelving unit 150 which is attached to
`a pair of vertical frame members 152 and a support base
`member 154 or pedestal which may extend under at
`least a portion of the desk 156 and suspension arms 40 to
`provide the leverage necessary to support a personal
`computer or monitor 12 along with the suspension sys-
`tem 10 itself.