Tablet arm mechanism
AssigneeDSA International, Inc.
InventorTod Babick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a dual axis of rotation tablet arm storage mechanism. The mechanism includes a first rotor block rotationally secured to a second rotor block. Both rotor blocks travel within a dual walled track of the mechanism. In the use configuration, the walls of the track are adjacent to the second rotor and restrict the rotation of the second rotor to help stabilize the writing surface. While the disclosed tablet arm maintains the benefits of other tablet arm mechanisms, many other benefits are achieved such as a mechanism that is free of pinch points during operation. The disclosed mechanism includes a dual access rotation mechanism that also allows the elevational alignment of the tablet top surface to be adjusted while the table top is in use.
Claims19
A dual rotation tablet mechanism for securing a tablet arm to a furniture piece, the dual rotation tablet mechanism comprising:
- a base securable to the furniture piece, the base having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall separated from the second wall by a first distance;
- a first rotor rotationally secured to the base between the first wall and the second wall, the first rotor having a first axis of rotation;
- a second rotor
- rotationally secured to the base and having a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation,
- the second rotor having a first width and a second width,
- the first width perpendicular to the second axis of rotation,
- the second width perpendicular to both the second axis of rotation and the first width,
- the first width being substantially equal to the first distance, and the second width being greater than the first distance;
- the second rotor having a first height on the second axis of rotation,
- a tablet connection plate secured to the second rotor;
- and
- the tablet connection plate separated from the first rotor by the first height.
A dual rotation tablet mechanism for securing a tablet arm to a furniture piece, the dual rotation tablet mechanism comprising:
- a base securable to the furniture piece, the base having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall separated from the second wall by a first distance;
- a first rotor rotationally secured to the base between the first wall and the second wall, the first rotor having a first axis of rotation;
- a second rotor
- rotationally secured to the base and having a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation,
- the second rotor having a first width and a second width,
- the first width perpendicular to the second axis of rotation,
- the second width perpendicular to both the second axis of rotation and the first width,
- the first width being substantially equal to the first distance, and the second width being greater than the first distance;
- and
- the dual rotation tablet mechanism transforms from a use configuration to a storage configuration,
- wherein the use configuration
- the second rotor has a first flat surface adjacent to the first wall and a second flat surface adjacent to the second wall that prevent rotation of the second rotor about the second axis of rotation.
A tablet arm system for attachment to a furniture piece, the tablet arm system comprising:
- a planar tablet,
- a dual axis rotation mechanism connecting to the planar tablet and adapted for attachment to the furniture piece, the dual axis rotation mechanism having a storage configuration and a use configuration wherein the planar tablet is horizontal above the dual axis rotation mechanism, the dual axis rotation mechanism having:
- a base with a first side piece, a second side piece, and a connector piece rigidly secured to both the first side piece and the second side piece;
- a first rotor block adjacent to and rotationally secured directly between the first side piece and the second side piece, the first rotor block having a first axis of rotation relative to the base;
- a second rotor block distant from the first axis of rotation and rotationally secured to the first rotor block, the second rotor block having
- a second axis of rotation relative to the first rotor block and
- a first planar side parallel to a second planar side;
- in the use configuration
- the first side piece extends away from the first axis of rotation beyond the first rotor to the second rotor block, a first side portion of the first side piece located directly adjacent to the first planar side,
- the second side piece extends from the first axis of rotation beyond the first rotor to the second rotor block, a second side portion of the second piece located directly adjacent to the second planar side, and
- the first side portion and the second side portion of the second piece rotationally lock the second rotor about the second axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.