Tablet Support Arm Counterbalance for Variable Payload Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting arm structures for screens face challenges in supporting different loads and positioning screens at various heights within work environments, particularly in medical facilities where maintaining a sterile environment is crucial, and they often struggle with rotating or pivoting the screens effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a core arm with a non-adjustable gas spring counterbalance and friction pack elements for up/down resistance, allowing for a range of payloads, along with joint rotation stop structures that include a floating stop key for controlled movement and concealed cable routing for easy installation and maintenance, enabling 360-degree rotation to prevent cable damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mounting arm structures are used to support screens, then screens can be positioned at different heights, but it becomes difficult to support different loads and rotate or pivot the screens at desired positions
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arm structure incorporates a gas spring mechanism that provides dynamic counterbalance force, allowing the arm to support various loads while maintaining position. The friction mechanism enables controlled movement and rotation at different positions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability to different loads
Solution Approach 2:
The gas spring counterbalance mechanism allows adjustment of support force parameters to accommodate different payload weights. The friction elements can be adjusted to provide appropriate resistance for rotation and positioning, enabling the system to adapt to various load conditions while maintaining operational ease
2Ease of manufacture
If cabling is connected to support arms for power supply, then screens can be powered, but it becomes difficult to establish and maintain a sterile environment in medical facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing is nested within the mounting arm structure itself, with cables concealed inside the arm channels. This eliminates exposed cables that could contaminate the sterile environment while maintaining power supply capability, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and sterile environment maintenance
3Reliability
If rotation stop structures are added to control screen movement, then cable damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A floating stop key acts as an intermediary element between the rotation mechanism and the cable routing system. This simple mechanical element prevents over-rotation that could damage cables without requiring a complex control system, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
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
This solution provides stable and controlled movement of screens in various positions, supports a range of payloads, and maintains a clean and sterile environment by allowing easy access and maintenance, while preventing cable damage through controlled rotation and concealed routing.
Implementation Method 1
a non-adjustable gas spring counterbalance
Implementation Method 2
friction pack elements for up/down resistance
Data Source
AI summary
Structures and systems are disclosed for supporting tablets or displays. A core arm extends from a rear end toward a front end, in which the rear end is pivotably mounted either directly to a mount structure, or to an extension arm that is mounted to a mount structure. The front end is pivotably mounted to a front mount structure. The core arm can include a gas spring to provide counterbalance force, and a non-adjustable friction pack element for up/down resistance to support different payloads. The counterbalance can be set within the payload range, while the friction offsets the sink or float that would occur for lighter or heavier payloads. The structures and systems can thus be readily configured for light or heavy configurations, with or without the use of an extension arm, and can conceal cable routing, which is accessible, via snap fit covers, for easy installation and maintenance.