# US 2019/0376641 A1 · Folding monitor stand > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376641 A1 - Document ID: US20190376641A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/547,840 - Filed: 2019-08-22 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-30 - Assignees: Bloomberg Finance L.P. - Applicants: Bloomberg Finance L.P. - Inventors: Sean Roarty; Chris Brown; Vito Illuzzi; John Harmen; Al Castagna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376641A1 ## CPC - F16M 11/08: around a vertical axis {, e.g. panoramic heads (F16M11/12 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/2014: {around a vertical axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)} - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A monitor stand comprises a first arm for coupling to a first monitor and a second arm for coupling to a second monitor. The first and second arms are coupled to an upper column of the monitor stand. A lower column of the monitor stand supports the upper column. The first arm, the second arm, and the upper column are configured to rotate around a rotation axis offset from a longitudinal center axis of the lower column to fold or unfold the monitor stand between an open and closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A monitor stand comprising: a first arm for coupling to a first monitor; a second arm for coupling to a second monitor; an upper column coupled to the first and second arms; and a lower column supporting the upper column, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the upper column are configured to rotate around a rotation axis offset from a longitudinal center axis of the lower column to fold or unfold the monitor stand between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The monitor stand of claim 1, wherein the second arm is further coupled to a track of a retainer of the lower column, the rotation of the second arm being defined by the track. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The monitor stand of claim 1, the upper column comprising: an upper retainer coupled to the second arm by a top offset bolt; and a lower retainer coupled to the second arm by a bottom offset bolt, wherein the top and bottom offset bolts define the rotation axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The monitor stand of claim 1, wherein the monitor stand comprises a cap configured to be lowered, causing a skirt plate of the upper column to be lowered to a lowered position, to thereby lower a first lock pin into a specific one of a plurality lock holes of a retainer of the lower column and lock the monitor stand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The monitor stand of claim 4, wherein: when the monitor stand is in the open position and the skirt plate is in the lowered position, a second lock pin coupled to the skirt plate is engaged with a particular one of the lock holes of the retainer of the lower column; and when the monitor stand is in the closed position and the skirt plate is in the lowered position, the second lock pin is not engaged with any of the lock holes of the retainer of the lower column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The monitor stand of claim 4, wherein the specific one of the lock holes is different when the monitor stand is in the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The monitor stand of claim 4, wherein the upper column further comprises: a link rod coupled to the cap at a first end and the skirt plate at a second end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The monitor stand of claim 4, wherein the upper column further comprises: a lower retainer coupled to a spring for supporting the skirt plate, wherein the skirt plate is configured to be lowered into the lower retainer by compressing the spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The monitor stand of claim 1, wherein the rotation of the second arm is greater than 90 degrees. ### Claim 10 A monitor stand comprising: a first arm coupled to a first monitor; a second arm coupled to a second monitor; a column coupled to the first and second arms, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the column are configured to rotate around a rotation axis offset from a longitudinal center axis of the column to fold or unfold the monitor stand between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The monitor stand of claim 10, wherein the second arm is further coupled to a track of a retainer, the rotation of the second arm being defined by the track. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The monitor stand of claim 11, wherein the monitor stand comprises a cap configured to be lowered, causing a skirt plate of the column to be lowered, to thereby lower a first lock pin into a specific one of a plurality of lock holes of the retainer and lock the monitor stand. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The monitor stand of claim 12, wherein the specific one of the lock holes is different when the monitor stand is in the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 14 A method for folding or unfolding a monitor stand, comprising: unlocking a monitor stand to allow rotation of the monitor stand; rotating a first arm, a second arm, and a first column of a monitor stand around a rotation axis offset from a longitudinal center axis of the first column; and locking the monitor stand to prevent rotation of the monitor stand. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: the first column is a first upper column, the second arm is coupled to a track of a retainer of a second lower column such that the rotation of the second arm is defined by the track. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein unlocking a monitor stand comprises: raising a cap of the monitor stand thereby causing a skirt plate of the first upper column to raise, thereby causing a first lock pin to raise out of a specific one of a plurality of lock holes of the retainer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein locking the monitor stand comprises: lowering a cap of the monitor stand thereby causing a skirt plate of the first upper column to lower, the skirt plate coupled to a first lock pin, wherein the causing the skirt plate to lower causes the first lock pin to lower into a specific one of a plurality of lock holes of the retainer to prevent rotation of the first arm, the second arm, and the first upper column. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein: when the monitor stand is in an open position, causing the skirt plate to lower further causes a second lock pin coupled to the skirt plate to lower into a particular one of the plurality of lock holes of the retainer; and when the monitor stand is in a closed position, causing the skirt plate to lower does not engage the second lock pin with any of the plurality of lock holes of the retainer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the specific one of the plurality of lock holes is different when the monitor stand is in an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein lowering a cap of the monitor stand thereby causing a skirt plate of the first upper column to lower comprises: lowering the skirt plate into a lower retainer of the first upper column by compressing a spring supporting the skirt plate.