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US 6,461,002 B1Granted
Projector tilt adjust system comprising a latching mechanism for a height-adjusting system
AssigneePrimax Electronics Ltd.
InventorCheng-Min Su
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latching mechanism includes an aperture surface through which a threaded rod may pass. Half of the surface of the aperture is smooth and fixed in place relative to a housing. The other half is threaded and formed from an internal module that is slidable within the housing. The internal module is biased by a spring towards the fixed portion of the aperture surface. Flaring tabs on either side of the internal module support the internal module within the housing to ensure that a minimum of contact is established between the housing and the internal module so as to present a smooth latching/unlatching action.
Claims18
A latching mechanism for a height-adjusting system, the latching mechanism comprising:
- a first housing comprising:
- a bottom surface with a central opening for accepting a height-adjusting rod;
- a brace mounted on the bottom surface adjacent to the central opening, the brace having a bracing surface substantially aligned with an edge of the central opening, the bracing surface adapted to brace the height-adjusting rod;
- first and second surfaces disposed on first and second sides of the first housing, respectively;
- and
- a third surface disposed on a third side of the first housing;
- an internal module slidably disposed within the first housing, the internal module comprising:
- a central portion having a first opening, the brace disposed within the first opening, the bracing surface of the brace facing towards a contact surface on the first opening;
- first and second tabs extending from first and second sides of the central portion, respectively, the first and second tabs disposed over the first and second surfaces, respectively;
- and
- a third tab extending from a third side of the central portion, the third tab disposed over the third surface;
- and
- a second housing capable of locking onto the first housing and at least partially covering the central portion, the second housing having a central opening corresponding to the central opening of the bottom surface of the first housing;
- wherein when the central portion is in a first position, the contact surface of the first opening is capable of pressing the height-adjusting rod against the bracing surface to latch the height-adjusting rod into position, and when the central portion is in a second position, the contact surface of the first opening is sufficiently spaced from the bracing surface to enable the height-adjusting rod to slide between the bracing surface and the contact surface.
11 more elements
A height-adjusting system comprising:
- a height-adjusting rod for supporting a device;
- a first housing comprising:
- a bottom surface with a central opening, the height-adjusting rod passing through the central opening;
- a brace mounted on the bottom surface adjacent to the central opening, the brace having a bracing surface substantially aligned with an edge of the central opening, the bracing surface corresponding to the height-adjusting rod to brace the height-adjusting rod;
- first and second surfaces disposed on first and second sides of the first housing, respectively;
- and
- a third surface disposed on a third side of the first housing;
- an internal module slidably disposed within the first housing, the internal module comprising:
- a central portion having a first opening, the brace disposed within the first opening, the bracing surface of the brace facing towards a contact surface on the first opening, the height-adjusting rod disposed between the bracing surface and the contact surface;
- first and second tabs extending from first and second sides of the central portion, respectively, the first and second tabs disposed over the first and second surfaces, respectively;
- and
- a third tab extending from a third side of the central portion, the third tab disposed over the third surface;
- and
- a second housing capable of locking onto the first housing to at least partially cover the central portion, the second housing having a central opening corresponding to the central opening of the bottom surface of the first housing, the height-adjusting rod passing through the central opening of the second housing;
- wherein when the central portion is in a first position, the contact surface of the first opening presses the height-adjusting rod against the bracing surface to latch the height-adjusting rod into position, and when the central portion is in a second position, the contact surface is sufficiently spaced from the bracing surface to enable the height-adjusting rod to slide between the bracing surface and the contact surface.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.