Monitor Lift Mechanism With Pulley Assist for Hidden Desk Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing convertible tables for instructional environments require substantial and expensive mechanisms to lift monitors, which are cumbersome, require regular maintenance, and obstruct the view of presenters and the use area.
Innovation Solution
A monitor lift mechanism that attaches to a desk, featuring a steel housing with a lift cylinder, roller bracket, and block and tackle pulley system, allowing for easy storage and quick elevation of monitors and peripherals, along with a latch mechanism for secure positioning and wire management through a corrugated tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a substantial mechanical mechanism is used to lift the monitor, then the monitor can be raised from beneath the table surface, but the mechanism becomes expensive, requires regular maintenance, and significantly impairs the user's ability to see the presenter and use area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitor and keyboard from the cluttered workspace by providing a storage compartment beneath the table surface. The monitor is removed from the visible workspace and stored in a dedicated compartment, eliminating visual clutter and improving visibility of the presenter and use area while maintaining easy access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing the keyboard tray inside the monitor storage compartment. The keyboard tray is nested within the same space that houses the monitor, maximizing space utilization and allowing both devices to be stored together in a compact manner beneath the table surface.
2Ease of operation
If a substantial mechanical mechanism is used to lift the monitor, then the monitor can be raised from beneath the table surface, but the mechanism becomes expensive and requires regular maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical lifting mechanisms with a simpler spring-assisted system. Instead of using substantial motors or hydraulic systems, the invention employs springs to provide the lifting force, dramatically reducing maintenance requirements and cost while maintaining the ability to raise and lower the monitor easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is designed to be self-contained and requires no external power source or complex control systems. The spring automatically provides the lifting force when the monitor is inserted, and the system self-regulates without requiring user intervention or maintenance, improving reliability and reducing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the monitor is stored below the work surface, then the work surface remains unobstructed for writing or drafting, but the monitor must be quickly and easily raised when needed for computer-based activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system where the monitor storage compartment can quickly transition between closed and open states. The spring mechanism allows the monitor to be rapidly deployed from storage to viewing position, enabling fast conversion between lecture mode and computer-based activities without time-consuming manual lifting procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitor and keyboard are pre-positioned in the storage compartment beneath the table, ready for immediate deployment. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need to manually retrieve and set up equipment during transitions, allowing rapid switching between different room functions by simply opening or closing the storage compartment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient conversion of spaces between computer lab and lecture hall settings without obstructing views, reduces maintenance needs, and provides a cost-effective solution for multi-purpose room usage.
Implementation Method 1
A monitor lift mechanism includes a steel housing that acts as a storage compartment for a lift cylinder mounted to the work surface
Implementation Method 2
A block and tackle pulley arrangement attached to the housing and the lift bar provide the lifting power to move the monitor from a retracted, storage position to an extended, viewing position
Implementation Method 3
A block and tackle pulley arrangement attached to the housing and the lift bar provide the lifting power
Implementation Method 4
A roller bracket weldment is mounted to the bottom surface of the work surface and includes four rollers that provide the guide and bearing surface for a steel lifting bar
Data Source
AI summary
A monitor lift mechanism that can be utilized in connection with a desk having a stationary work surface. The monitor lift mechanism is movable between a retracted position in which a monitor is positioned beneath the work surface, and an extended position in which the monitor is positioned above the work surface for viewing. The monitor lift mechanism includes a lift bar that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position through the use of a block and tackle pulley and lift cylinder arrangement. A latch mechanism holds the lift bar in the retracted position and can be released upon depression of a monitor door coupled to the lift bar.