Spring cam mechanism for stowing a monitor
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsJohn Portman, James Schoen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is described which includes a frame, a video monitor display mounted to the frame, a torque shaft coupled to the frame such that rotation of the torque shaft causes the frame to pivot along a predetermined arc. The apparatus further involves engaging to the torque shaft to impart rotational motion to the torque shaft, a releasable cam follower slidably disposed on the cam shaft and a spring mounted on the cam shaft exerting a spring bias force directed toward the cam so as to cause rotational motion of the cam.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a video monitor display mounted to the frame;
- a torque shaft coupled to the frame such that rotation of the torque shaft causes the frame to pivot along a predetermined arc;
- a cam having a cam shaft with a first end and a second end, the cam operatively coupled to the torque shaft for imparting rotational motion to the torque shaft;
- a releasable cam follower slidably disposed on the cam shaft first end such that upon rotation of the cam the cam follower moves along the cam shaft toward the second end;
- a spring mounted on the cam shaft second end having a spring bias force directed toward the cam shaft first end, the spring operatively coupled to the cam so as to cause rotational motion of the cam.
A display unit having a video monitor, the display unit attached to a structure comprising:
- a torque shaft coupled to the display unit;
- a power source coupled to the torque shaft imparting rotational motion to the display unit;
- a cam shaft coupled to the power source;
- a cam coupled to the cam shaft operatively engaging the display unit such that when the cam is rotated the display unit is moved from a first position where it is stowed to a second position where the unit can be viewed by a viewer;
- a releasable cam follower mounted on the cam shaft and engaging the cam such that rotation of the cam displaces the cam follower along the cam shaft in a first direction away from the cam;
- a spring mounted on the cam shaft and engaging the cam follower such that upon rotation of the cam to move the display unit from the first to the second position the cam follower compresses the spring and the bias force of the compressed spring rotates the cam so as to move the display unit from the second position to the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.