Telescoping extension arm for supporting a monitor

#This application relates to extension arms for supporting equipment, and specifically to an arm for supporting a monitor in a dental or medical setting.

#In today's dental practices, there is increasing demand for display of information on computer monitors or other similar display devices. Some information, such as a patient's digital radiographs and proposed treatment plans for the patient, may be shared with the patient on a monitor visible to the patient to facilitate explaining what treatment is recommended and how it will be administered. The monitor visible to the patient may also be used to show video entertainment to the patient. More important, a separate monitor, primarily configured for use by the dentist, surgeon or dental assistant for use in treatment, is also provided. This treatment monitor can be used to display digital radiographs, other test results, reference information and live video feed from an intraoral camera or other device, as just several examples, to assist the caregivers.

#Conventional monitor mounts do not allow the monitor to be positioned in as wide of a range of positions as is desired. The positioning of the treatment monitor needs to be flexible to allow for effective viewing in different situations, such as by one care giver or by two care givers simultaneously. The monitor must be quickly repositionable to allow for its use in different treatments, as well as to allow it to be moved to allow access by personnel to other equipment and nearby areas.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an arm for supporting a monitor.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the arm similar to FIG. 1, except with the monitor removed to show a monitor mounting bracket.

#FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the arm showing a monitor from its rear side and the monitor's cables being routed through the arm.

#Described below are embodiments of an arm for supporting a piece of equipment, such as a monitor, particularly for use in a dental or medical operatory.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an arm 10 according to one embodiment. As shown, the arm 10 has a telescoping arm assembly 12 with a distal end 14 to which a monitor M is attached. Power and/or data cords from the monitor M are routed through internal spaces in the telescoping arm assembly 12 and an attached support member 16 from which the telescoping arm assembly is suspended. A cord storage device 20, which is not visible in FIG. 1 but is described below in greater detail, allows the cord or cords to be stored and manages them as the arm 10 is moved through its full range of motion. The telescoping arm assembly 12 is typically positioned vertically, and is pivotably connected to a distal end of the support member 16. The support member 16 is in turn connected to a support surface S. In the illustrated implementation, a proximal end of the support member 16 is slidably connected to the support surface S via a track assembly 40. In other embodiments, the track assembly 40 may be omitted and the support member 16 may be pivotably connected directly to the support surface S.

#In the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the monitor M may be moved vertically along an axis B of the telescoping arm assembly 12, pivoted about the axis B and pivoted about the axis A at the connection between the support member 16 and the support surface S. As provided, the monitor M may also be translated laterally along the length of the track assembly 40. As will be described in further detail below, the monitor M may be provided with additional adjustability.