Monitor Swivel Lock Mechanism for Accurate Center Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monitor stands lack a reliable mechanism to easily determine and lock the center position, leading to inefficiencies in user experience and manufacturing processes due to potential misalignment and increased cycle time.
Innovation Solution
A swivel lock mechanism that includes a base with a first plate and a swivel plate, allowing the monitor stand to rotate, and a lock mechanism that travels along a circular guided cam profile to lock the swivel plate at the center position, providing tactile feedback and ensuring accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a swivel mechanism is provided to allow monitor rotation, then user adjustability is improved, but the ability to accurately determine and maintain center position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cam profile is designed to automatically guide the lock plunger to the center position during rotation, eliminating the need for manual center position determination. The mechanism self-aligns through the geometric properties of the cam profile, providing tactile feedback when centered without requiring user intervention or external tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam profile provides tactile feedback to the user during rotation, creating a detectable sensation when the monitor reaches the center position. This feedback mechanism allows users to accurately identify the center position through touch alone, improving measurement precision without adding complex sensing systems.
2Device complexity
If manual trial and error adjustment is used to find center position, then no additional mechanism is needed, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam profile is pre-configured with the center position geometry built into its design. When rotation occurs, the lock plunger automatically follows the cam profile and reaches the centered position without requiring the user to perform trial and error adjustments. The centering action is performed automatically as part of the rotation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism performs its own centering function through the cam profile geometry, eliminating the need for external tools, manual measurement, or iterative adjustment by the user. The system serves itself by automatically returning to and locking at the center position through the mechanical guidance of the cam profile.
3Reliability
If the lock plunger engages the cam profile during rotation, then center position locking is achieved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function and the centering function are merged into a single mechanical action. The cam profile simultaneously guides the lock plunger to the center position and engages it to lock the monitor in place. This combination eliminates the need for separate locking and centering mechanisms, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam profile uses a curved geometric design that naturally guides the lock plunger through rotational motion. The curvature of the cam profile provides the mechanical guidance needed to achieve precise centering and reliable locking through a simple rotational engagement, avoiding the need for complex multi-component locking systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A monitor stand provides a self-aligning and self-orientating swivel lock mechanism for desktop monitors so the monitor stand can be easily locked at the center position to provide better user experience and easier manufacturing. A base of a monitor stand has a die cast plate and a swivel plate attached thereto to allow the monitor stand to rotate from the center position. A lock plunger of a swivel lock mechanism travels along a circular guided cam profile on the swivel plate when the swivel lock mechanism is engaged and the monitor stand is rotated. When the swivel lock mechanism rotates to the center position, a recessed portion of the circular guided cam profile receives the lock plunger of the swivel lock mechanism to thereby lock the swivel plate at the center position. The user engages/disengages the swivel lock mechanism by pushing an engagement button that extends from the base.