WO2002042681A1

WO2002042681A1 - A support for an interface unit such as a display unit or a keyboard for a computer and an arm for such a unit

Info

Publication number: WO2002042681A1
Application number: PCT/DK2001/000772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristian Krøyer GUNDERSEN; Søren NISSEN
Original assignee: Eyegonomic Aps
Priority date: 2000-11-21
Filing date: 2001-11-20
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Also published as: AU2002223513A1; EP1343997A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a support for an interface such as a computer display. The invention consists of a hinge (7), which is attached to a basis (3). A sliding member (2) is attached to the hinge (7) and a translational member (1) is attached to the sliding member (2). A rotational member (14) is attached to the translational member (1). By means of these elements of the support, it is possible within certain boundaries to adjust the vertical height, the lateral placement, the orientation and the inclination of the interface to suit any users needs or demands.

Description

A SUPPORT FOR AN INTERFACE UNIT SUCH AS A DISPLAY UNIT OR A KEYBOARD FOR A COMPUTER AND AN ARM SUPPORTING SUCH A UNIT .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support for an interface unit such as a display unit or a keyboard for a computer screen, said support comprising a basis and an arm which are mutually displaceable and where the mutual displacement takes place by a sliding movement of the arm with relation to the basis, where the basis is provided with means intended for placing at a base and where the arm has means for mounting the interface unit on the arm.

It is known to have supports for computer screens comprising a foot to be placed on top of a table and a sliding part attached to the computer screen, said sliding part being provided with a curved sliding surface being slideable along corresponding sliding surfaces of the foot in order to tilt the computer screen. The computer screen may also be rotateable around a substantially vertical axis. However, the possibility for the user to position the screen individually is nevertheless limited, the limitations being that the tilting is limited in such a way that the screen only can be used when viewing the screen in certain preferably substantial horizontal directions.

Other supports for a computer screen are known where the support consists of a foot to be placed on top of a table and where a link is established between the foot and the screen. The link is hinged at the foot and at the screen so that an independently tilting of the screen may take place either at the foot and/or at the screen. This type of support increases the possibilities for the user to individually position the screen. However, there are no limitations as such of how much the screen may be tilted in relation to the viewing distance and the viewing direction of the user. Accordingly, there is a great risk of the screen being tilted to an angle and being positioned at a distance in relation to the user which are not ergonomically correct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for a computer screen, but also for other interface units such as keyboards, which not only offers a lot of possibilities for 02/42681

the user to alter the tilting and the position of the interface unit in relation to the user, but which also ensures that the tilting and the position is ergonomically correct.

This object is obtained by a support where the arm comprises a sliding part with a surface being curved, and where the basis comprises a corresponding sliding part with a corresponding surface being curved and where the basis, alternatively the arm, furthermore comprises a hinge being provided between the interface unit and the means for placing the basis at a base.

By providing a hinged member in connection with a sliding surface it is assured that the mutual correlation between the sliding part and the hinged member ensures not only a satisfactory tilting of the interface in order to please the user but also an ergonomically correct tilting of the interface in order not to accidentally apply incorrect working conditions to the user. The sliding surfaces make sure that the interface is tilted in such a way that the centre of the interface is in substantially the one and same distance from the user. The hinged member ensures that the interface may be tilted in relation to the satisfaction of the user depending on the physical height of the user when standing and/or being seated and depending on any possible nuisance caused by light, reflections or other unpleasant influences from the surroundings of the interface.

The invention has the great advantage that the user always will have the correct ergonomic viewing distance to the interface without having to change the bodily position of the user and irrespective of whether the interface is displaced to an upright position or to a substantially horizontal position, (t is possible for the user to individually adjust whether the interface should be in an upright position, a substantially horizontal position or any other position in between these two positions and also whether the interface should be tilted more or less in any of the positions.

The interface may be mounted on the basis which again is supported by a base such as a tabletop, a wall, a ceiling or other further support means. Alternatively to the interface being mounted on an arm having a sliding surface and the sliding surface being mounted to a hinged member constituting a part of the basis, then the interface may be mounted to a hinged member constituting part of the arm and the hinged member of the arm being mounted on a sliding surface constituting a part of the basis. Preferably, the sliding surface is dimensioned so that the interface can be displaced from an upright substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position. The upright position is an advantage if the user is sitting at a table and viewing the interface such as a display unit of a computer or if the interface is mounted on a wall in a height corresponding to the height of the user. The horizontal position is an advantage if the user is standing at a table and is using the interface for drawing, reading or the like or if the interface constitutes as example a keyboard of a computer. Intermediate positions of the interface may be an advantage if the interface as example is a public information stand or if the support is intended for supporting both a display unit and a keyboard of the computer where the intermediate position may be a position where the display unit is being upright and the keyboard is being horizontal when mounted to the arm of the support.

In a preferred embodiment the arm or the basis is provided with a rotational member and the interface unit is mounted to the rotational member so that the interface unit may rotate around an axis which at least at one point is perpendicular to the curved sliding surface.

In an embodiment where the support is provided with a rotational member onto which the interface is mounted and which rotational member is mounted between the interface and the arm of the support, then apart from the enhanced possibilities of tilting the interface in order to comply with not only the demands of user but also the inherent ergonomically need of the user, then a rotation of the interface may be an advantage for further enhancing the possibilities of adjusting the position of the interface. If the interface is a display unit for a computer, then it may be an advantage having the possibility to rotate the display unit 90°, one direction if the display unit is used to view a document in the portrait orientation, and another direction if the display unit is used to view a document in the landscape orientation.

In a further preferred embodiment the arm is provided with a translational part and the interface unit is mounted to the translational part so that the interface unit may be displaced translational along an axis which at least at one point is parallel with the curved sliding surface.

Providing a translational element onto which the interface is mounted further enhances the possibilities for the user to adjust the interface to the needs of the user. Sliding of the interface along the arm provides possibilities for the user to either slide the interface upwards and downwards when the interface is in an upright position or to slide the interface forwards and backwards when the interface is in a horizontal position.

The interface may be spring biased in order to ease the sliding of the interface, especially when sliding the interface upwards when the interface is in an upright position. However, also sliding of the interface backwards and forwards when the interface is in horizontal position is eased if the interface is biased in both sliding directions of the sliding shoe. The spring biasing may be dimensioned so that the spring force is adjusted to maintain the interface in any selected position. Alternatively locking means may be provided which either automatically or manually may be activated in order to lock the interface in a selected position.

An example of a manually locking means is a bolt having and en surface that is intended for engaging with a wheel of the a biasing member, preferably an outer circumference of the wheel, and said bolt being releasable from a locking state where the end surface of the bolt is abutting the wheel and to a released state where the end surface is pulled away from the abutment with the wheel.

An example of automatic locking means is a number of leaf springs provided with a pawl and where corresponding slots are provided in the sliding part and/or the translational part. The leaf springs is biasing the pawls into engagement with a slot when the pawl is situated in front of a slot and the leaf spring makes is possible for the pawl by overcoming the biasing force form the leaf spring to disengage form the slot when the pawl is moved away form the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will hereafter be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing where

fig. 1 is a side view of an interface being a display unit mounted to a support according to the invention and being positioned in an upright position fig. 2 is a side view of the interface being the display unit mounted to a support according to the invention and being positioned in a substantially horizontal position fig. 3 is a rear view of the interface being the display unit mounted to a support according to the invention and being positioned in a substantially upright position fig. 4 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of an arm together with a hinged member and a rotational member for the support according to the invention, and fig. 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an arm together with a hinged member and a rotational member for the support according to the invention, fig. 6 is an exploded view of a third and preferred embodiment of an arm together with a hinged member and a rotational member for the support according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 and fig. 2 show an interface 1 mounted on an arm 2 and a basis 3 of a support according to the invention. The basis 3 comprises a U-shaped brace 4 with one branch 5 of the U intended for being supported on a horizontal plane surface such as a table top and the other branch 6 of the U extending parallel to the one branch and being provided with a hinged member 7 at the end 6 of the other branch. The hinged member 7 is attached to the basis 4 by means of a hinge connection 8. The hinged member 7 comprises a sliding surface 9. The arm 2 comprises a sliding part 10 and a translational part 11. The sliding part 10 is attached to the sliding surface 9 of the hinged member 7. The translational part 11 extends vertical between an upper end 12 and a lower end 13 of the arm 2. The interface 1 is mounted to the arm 2 by means of a rotational member 14 attached to the translational part 11 of arm 2. For the sake of clarity, in the following the hinged member 7 will just be called the hinge 7.

As shown with different arrows the support has different possibilities of adjusting the interface in relation to the base of the basis. Firstly, the sliding part of the arm can be displaced along the sliding surface of the hinge. Secondly, the hinge can rotate round an axis through the hinge, perpendicular to the plane of the figure. Thirdly, the rotational member can be displaced along the translational part of the arm in a direction parallel with the plane of the figure. Fourthly, the interface can be rotated in relation to the translational part around an axis parallel with the plane of the paper.

In fig. 1 the sliding part 10 is displaced so that the lower part 13 of the arm 2 is situated by the hinge, the hinge 7 being tilted to an upright position, and the rotational member 14 being situated approximately in the middle of the translational part 11. Thus, the interface 1 is in an upright position with a surface of the interface being vertical. In fig. 2 the sliding part 10 is displaced so that the upper part 12 of the arm 2 is situated by the hinge 7, the hinge 7 being tilted to a tilt back position, and the rotational member 14 being situated partly down the translational part 11. Thus, the interface 1 is in a substantially horizontal position with a surface of the interface being almost horizontal.

Apart from the positions shown, the interface may be positioned in any position intermediate of the two positions shown. Also, the interface may be even further displaced, and the displacement may take place by displacing all four mutual possibilities of displacement, the displacements taking place individually and independently of each other in response to the demands and the needs of the user. Besides the many different possibilities for the user to adjust and position the interface to the demands and the needs of the user, there is always a mutual relationship between the different displaceable parts and members which ensures that a non-ergonomical position is prevented.

The positioning of the interface as shown in fig. 1 is advantageous if the interface as example is a display unit and the user is a person sitting by a table on the top of which the basis is placed and the user is only viewing the display unit such as a common computer screen. The positioning of the interface as shown in fig. 2 is advantageous if the interface is for example a display unit and the user is a person standing by a table on the top of which the basis is placed and the user is both viewing and handling the display unit such as an interactive display unit for drawing or for use as a finger touch screen. Also, the positioning of the interface as shown in fig. 2 is advantageous if the interface is for example a keyboard and the user is a person sitting or standing by a table on the top of which the basis is placed. The examples mentioned are not limiting the possible types of interfaces and the possible applications of the types of interfaces.

Fig. 3 shows the support from behind in the upright position of the interface. The figure shows the basis 3 and the arm 2 and the hinge 7 between the basis and the arm. The figure also shows a groove 15 established in the arm 2 and intended for co-operating with a bolt 16 extending through the hinge 7 and through the groove 15, said bolt 16 securing the arm 2 to the hinge 7 and serving as guide for the sliding displacement of the arm in relation to the hinge. The basis comprises a foot 17 extending sideways in relation to the rear and front of the basis and stabilising the basis and the entire support in a sideways direction. Also, a part of the rotational member 14 is shown comprising a circular base plate 18 that the interface is mounted to. As shown with arrows, the interface may be rotated 90° around an axis 5 perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of an arm 2 according to the invention, said arm being part of a support according to the invention. The arm comprises the sliding part 10 and the translational part 11. The sliding part is attached to the hinge 7 by means

10 of the bolt 16 extending through the groove 15 in the sliding part. The bolt 16 secures the arm 2 to the hinge 7 and guides the sliding displacement between the arm and the hinge. Furthermore the hinge 7 is provided with rails 19 extending upwards and downwards and being intended for running in the groove 15 as a supplementary guide of the sliding part and the arm in relation to the hinge.

15

The rotational member 14 constitutes a displaceable means and comprises a circular base plate 18 onto which the interface (not shown) is to be secured by means of a number of fastening means such as six bolts 20 as shown. The rotational member furthermore comprises a circular guide plate 21. The guide plate 21 is provided with rails

20 22 extending from a rear surface 23 of the guide plate. The 22 rails are intended for guiding the guide plate in relation to a groove 24 in the translational part 11. The guide plate 21 is provided with an oblong hole 25 in the middle of the plate. This hole 25 is intended for taking up a central plug 28 (see later description).

25 The base plate 18 is provided with semicircular tracks 26 extending circumferentially along a quarter of a circle, i.e. 90°, and the guide plate 21 is provided with pawls 27 extending sideways and forwards and being intended for co-operating with the tracks 26 in the base plate 18. Rotating of the interface, which is secured to the base plate, will result in the tracks of the base plate being rotated in relation to the pawls of the guide

30 plate. In the embodiment shown, this allows the interface to be rotated 90° around a longitudinal axis as shown in fig. 3. In alternative embodiments, the circumferential extension of the tracks in the base plate may be smaller or greater than 90°, thus allowing the interface to rotate less or more than 90°. The translational part 11 and the sliding part 10 are both provided with biasing means for biasing the rotational member towards an upper position in relation to the translational part and for biasing the sliding part towards an upper position in relation to the hinge. In the embodiment shown, the biasing means are not only capable of biasing the rotational 5 member and the hinge, but are also capable of locking these elements infinitely in relation to the translational element and the sliding element, respectively. The biasing means for the rotational member and for the hinge are basically similar.

The biasing means consist of a spiral spring 30, one end 31 of which, preferably the inner 10 end, is fastened to a rear cover 29 and another end 32 of which, preferably the outer end, is fastened to a wheel 33. The spiral spring 30 and the wheel 33 are enclosed in the rear cover 29. The rear cover 29 of the sliding part 10 and thus also the wheel 33 and the spiral spring 30 contained in the rear cover 29 are secured to the hinge 7 by the bolt 16 extending through the hinge 7 and engaging with a nut (not shown) in a central plug 34 of 15 the rear cover 29, said plug 34 extending through a hole 35 in the wheel 33. The rear cover 29 of the translational part 11 and thus also the wheel 33 and the spiral spring 30 contained in the rear cover are secured to the interface (not shown) by a specially designed bolt 29 being provided with an external thread and extending through a hole 36 in the rear cover 29, through the hole 35 in the wheel 33, through the groove 24 in the 20 translational part 11 and through the guide plate 21 and the base plate 18 of the rotational member 14 to a back of the interface and engaging with a corresponding internal thread in the back of the interface.

The way of fastening the one end and the other end of the spiral spring to the rear cover 25 and to the wheel, respectively, is not shown, but may be effected in any suitable manner. One way is by providing slits in a central part of the rear cover and in an inner circumference of the wheel for fastening the ends of the spiral spring to these elements. A wire 37 is also partly enclosed in the rear cover 29 and extends from one end 38 being attached to an upper part of the translational part 11 or a lower part of the sliding part 10, 30 respectively, and another end 39 being attached to the wheel 33. The way of fastening the one end and the other end of the wire to the translational part 11 or to the sliding part 10, respectively, and to the wheel 33, is not shown, but may be effected in any suitable manner. One way is by providing slots in the translational part and the sliding part and in an outer circumference of the wheel for fastening seals 40 in the ends 38,39 of the wire 35 37 to these elements. A ring 41 is provided along an inner circumference of the rear cover 29. The ring is provided with a slit 42 to allow the wire 37 to pass from the wheel 33, which is enclosed in the rear cover 29, out of the rear cover to the upper end of the translational part 11 or the lower end of sliding part 10, respectively. The ring 41 is also provided with small protrusions 43 functioning as guides for the ring in relation to the grooves 24,25 in the translational part 11 and the sliding part 10, respectively. Furthermore the ring 41 is provided with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is for fastening the wheel 33 in a selected rotational position and thereby maintaining the rotational member 14 or the sliding part 10, respectively, in a selected position in relation to the translational part 11 or the hinge 7, respectively.

The locking mechanism consists of a bolt 44 having a threaded end fitted to a threaded bore 45 in the ring and with an end 46 which is intended for abutting with a certain force on the outer circumference of the wheel, said certain force being sufficient to prevent the wheel from turning in response to the spring force from the spiral spring. When the bolt 44 is rotated the end of the bolt is forced against the outer circumference of the wheel. The bolt also has an elongated head 47 to be used as finger grip for rotating the bolt in order to either tighten or release the certain force towards the outer circumference of the wheel.

In an alternative embodiment the bolt is spring loaded but still having an end which is intended for abutting with a certain force on the outer circumference of the wheel, said certain force being sufficient to prevent the wheel from turning in response to the spring force from the spiral spring. The spring load of the bolt is intended for supplying the certain force by forcing the entire bolt and thus also the end of the bolt against the outer circumference of the wheel. In the alternative embodiment, the bolt also has an elongated head to be used as finger grip, but not for rotating the bolt, but for pulling the end of the bolt away from the outer circumference of the wheel in order to release the certain force applied by the spring towards the outer circumference of the wheel.

In the embodiment shown, both the rotational member and the sliding part are biased towards an upper position of the translational part and an upper position in relation to the hinge, respectively. In alternative embodiments either only the rotational member or the hinge may be provided with biasing means for biasing only one of these members towards an upper position of the translational part or the sliding part, respectively. In still an alternative embodiment, neither the rotational member nor the hinge is provided with biasing means.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an arm according to the invention 5 for a support according to the invention. As mentioned, the arm 2 comprises the sliding part 10 and the translational part 11. The sliding part 10 is attached to the hinge 7 by means of a bolt 16 extending through the groove 15 in the sliding part. The bolt 16 secures the arm 2 to the hinge 7 and guides the sliding displacement between the arm and the hinge. Furthermore, the hinge, like the hinge shown in fig. 4, is provided with rails 10 19 extending upwards and downwards and being intended for running in the groove 15 as a supplementary guide of the sliding part and the arm in relation to the hinge.

Furthermore, and unlike the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the arm is provided with a handgrip 48 for locking the sliding part 10 in an upright position in relation to the hinge 7.

15 The handgrip 48 is kept in place in relation to the hinge 7 by pawls 49 engaging with slots (not shown) provided in the hinge. When the sliding part 10 is displaced in relation to the hinge 7, the handgrip 48 will slide along an outer surface of the sliding part 10. When the sliding part is in its most upright position, pointed ends 50 of the handgrip 48 will engage with slots 51 provided in the sliding part so that the pointed ends 50 of the handgrip

20 function as stops for displacing the sliding part from the most upright position. The handgrip 48 must be activated and the pointed ends 50 of the handgrip being released from the slots 51 if the sliding part is to be displaced from the most upright position.

The rotational member 14 constitutes a displaceable means and comprises a circular 5 base plate 18 onto which the interface (not shown) is to be secured by means of a number of fastening means such as six bolts 20 as shown, and the rotational member 14 furthermore comprises a circular guide plate. Both the base plate 18 and the guide plate 21 are exactly similar to the ones shown in fig. 4, and fig. 4 is hereby incorporated by reference in order to describe these elements and their function. 30

For the second embodiment as shown, the translational part 11 and the sliding part 10 are not provided with biasing means for biasing the rotational member towards an upper position in relation to the translational part and for biasing the hinge towards an upper position in relation to the sliding part. In stead, both the translational part 11 and the 5 sliding part 10 are provided with fastening means which is capable of only locking the rotational element and the hinge in selected stepwise positions along the translational element and the sliding element, respectively. The locking means for the rotational member and for the hinge are basically similar.

The fastening means consists of a specially designed leaf spring 52, the middle of which is provided with a pawl 53 intended for engaging with one of more corresponding slots 54 in the translational part 11 and the sliding part 10, respectively. In the figure, only the slots 54 in the translational part 11 are shown. Because the slots are provided at the inner surfaces of the translational part and the sliding part, respectively, and are not extending all the way through the parts, the slots of the sliding part cannot be seen in the figure.

The leaf springs 52 are located in a guide plate 55 and a rear cover 56. The rear cover 56 of the sliding part 10 and also the guide plate 55 and the leaf spring 52 for the sliding part 10 are secured to the hinge 7 by a bolt 16 extending through the hinge 7 and through the groove 15 in the sliding part 10 to a nut (not shown) in a central plug 57 extending through a rectangular hole 58 in the rear cover 56 and through a rectangular hole 59 in the guide plate 55. The rear cover 56 of the translational part 11 and also the guide plate 55 and the leaf spring 52 are secured to the interface (not shown) by a specially designed bolt 28 being provided with an external thread and extending through a ring-shaped hole 60 in the rear cover 29, through a rectangular hole 61 in the guide plate 55, through the groove 24 in the translational part 11 and through the rotational member 14 to a back of the interface and engaging with a corresponding internal thread in the back of the interface.

The guide plate 55 is provided with rails 62 intended for running in the groove 24,15 of the translational part 11 and the sliding part 10, respectively. The guide plate 55 is furthermore provided with an aperture 63 in which the leaf spring 52 is embedded. The aperture 63 has a width and a length substantially the same as a width and a length of the leaf spring 52 so that the leaf spring will follow the guide plate 55 closely when the guide plate is displaced along the translational part and the sliding part, respectively. The rear cover 56 is provided with a recess 64 having the same dimensions as the aperture 63 of the guide plate and the leaf spring 52 is also embedded in this recess 64 and kept enclosed between the rear cover 56 and the translational part 11 and the sliding part 10, respectively. When the interface is displaced upwards or downwards along the translational part, then the rotational member 14 and the guide plate 55 and the rear cover 56 will follow the interface and thus also be displaced in relation to the translational part 11. As the leaf spring 52 is embedded in the aperture 63 in the guide plate 55 and in the recess 64 in the rear cover 56, then also the leaf spring 52 will be displaced in relation to the translational part 11. Accordingly, the pawl 53 provided in the middle of the leaf spring 52 will successively engage with the slots 54 at the inner surface of the translational part or the sliding part, respectively. When a desired position of the interface in relation to the translational part 11 has been found, then the engagement between the pawl 53 of the leaf spring 52 and the corresponding slots 54 in the translational part will maintain the interface in the desired position. Similarly, when a desired position of the sliding part 10 in relation to the hinge 7, or visa versa, has been found, then the engagement between the pawl 53 of the leaf spring 52 and the corresponding slot 54 in the sliding part 10 will maintain the sliding part 10 in the desired position.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a third and preferred embodiment of an arm according to the invention for a support according to the invention. The arm 2 comprises the sliding part 10 and the translational part 11. The sliding part 10 is attached to the hinge 7 by means of a two bolts 65 extending through holes 66 in the hinge 7 and through the groove 15 in the sliding part 10. The bolts 65 secure the arm 2 to the hinge 7 and guides the sliding displacement between the arm 2 and the hinge 7. The hinge, unlike the hinge shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5, is provided with rollers 67, which are equipped around the bolts 65 and extend along the bolts 65 through the groove 15. The rollers 67 constitute guides for the sliding part 10 in relation to the hinge 7. The bolts 65 are secured to threaded holes (not shown) in a front plate 68 provided oppositely the hinge 7 in relation to the sliding part 10.

Similarly, the guide plate 21 is attached to the translational part 11 by means of two bolts 69 extending through holes 70 in a rear plate 71 and through the groove 24 in the translational part 10. The bolts 69 secure the interface (not shown) and thus the guide plate 21 to the translational part 11 and guides the sliding displacement between the guide plate 21 and the translational part 11. The guide plate 21 , unlike the guide plate shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5, is provided with rollers 72, which are equipped around the bolts 69 and extend along the bolts 69 through the groove 24. The rollers 72 constitute guides for the guide plate 21 in relation to the translational part 11. The bolts 69 are secured to threaded holes (not shown) in the guide plate 21 , which in relation to the rear plate is provided oppositely the translational part 11.

The hinge 7 is provided with recesses 73 intended for receiving pads 74. The pads 74 abut the rear surface (not shown) of the sliding part 10, when the hinge 7 by means of the bolts 65 is secured to the sliding part 10. The pads 74 have an extension out of the recesses 73 ensuring establishment of a small distance between the hinge 7 and the rear surface of the sliding part 10. The pads 74 are made of a material also ensuring sufficiently low friction for the person performing mutual displacement of the two parts 7,10, when sliding the sliding part 10 in relation to the hinge 7.

The rotational member 14 constitutes a displaceable means and comprises a circular base plate (not shown) similar or identical to the base plate 18 shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5, and onto which the interface (not shown) is to be secured by means of a number of fastening means such as six bolts 20 as shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5. The rotational member 14 furthermore comprises the circular guide plate 21. The base plate (not shown) is preferably exactly similar to the one shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5, and fig. 4 and fig. 5 is hereby incorporated by reference in order to describe this element and its function. The guide plate 21 is almost identical to the guide plate 21 shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5. The only difference is that the guide plate 21 shown in fig. 6 is provided with an axle 75 embedded in a bearing 76. The axle 75 and the bearing 76 establish a distance between a front surface of the translational part 11 and a rear surface (not shown) of the guide plate 21.

As for the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and contrary to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, neither the third embodiment as shown has a translational part 11 and a sliding part 10 provided with biasing means for biasing the rotational member towards an upper position in relation to the translational part and for biasing the hinge towards an upper position in relation to the sliding part. In stead, both the translational part 11 and the sliding part 10 are provided with fastening means, which is capable of only locking the guide plate 21 and thus the rotational element (not shown) and the hinge 7 in selected stepwise positions along the translational element 11 and the sliding element 10, respectively. The locking means for the rotational member and for the hinge are identical and will be described commonly. The fastening means consists of specially designed pawls 77 biased towards front surfaces of the sliding part 10 and the translational part 11 , respectively. The pawls 77 are intended for engaging with one of more corresponding slots 78 provided along the grooves 15,24 of the sliding part 11 and the translational part 10, respectively. In the 5 figure, both the slots 78 in the translational part 11 and in the sliding part 10 are shown. The slots 78 are provided at the front surfaces of the sliding part 10 and the translational part 11 , respectively, and are not extending all the way through the parts 10,11. Thus, the pawls 77 cannot extend all the way through the parts 10,11 , although biased towards the slots 72.

10

Biasing of the pawls 77 towards the slots 78 in the sliding part 10 and the translational part 11 , respectively, may take place by any suitable biasing means (not shown) such as a spiral spring, a rubber spring member or any other resilient member. When viewing the sliding part 10, the resilient member (not shown) is provided between a rear surface of the

15 front plate 68 and a recess 79 of the pawl 77, said recess being directed towards the front plate 68. When viewing the translational part 11 , the resilient member (not shown) is provided between the rear surface (not shown) of the guide plate 21 and a recess 79 in the pawl 77, said recess being directed towards the guide plate 21. The pawl is provided with an exteriorly threaded tenon 80 extending through the groove 15,24 and a fingerknob

20 81 is provided with an internally threaded hole intended for engagement with the threaded tenon 80 of the pawls 77. Thus, the fingerknob 81 and the pawls 77 are intended for mutual engagement by screwing the fingerknob 81 onto the tenon 80 of the pawl 77. Thereby, the biasing of the pawls 77 towards the slots 78 may be overcome by pushing the fingerknob 81 , and thus the pawl 77, against the resilient member.

25

The front plate 68 is provided with recesses (not shown) similar to the recesses 73 shown in the hinge 7. The recesses of the front plate 68 are directed towards the sliding part 10, which is why they are not shown. The recesses of the front plate 68 are intended for receiving pads 82. The pads 82 abut the front surface of the sliding part 10, when the

30 hinge 7 is attached to the sliding part 10. As mentioned, attachment of the hinge 7 to the sliding part takes place by means of the bolts 65 extending through the holes 66 in the hinge 7, further on through the groove 15 and into threaded holes (not shown) in the front plate 68. The pads 82 have an extension out of the recesses of the front plate 68 ensuring establishment of a small distance between the front plate 68 and the front surface of the

35 sliding part 10. The pads 82 are made of a material also ensuring sufficiently low friction for the person performing mutual displacement of the two parts 7,10, when sliding the sliding part 10 in relation to the hinge 7.

Resilient members such as disc springs 73 as shown or the like resilient members are 5 embedded in the recesses of the front plate 68. These disc springs or other resilient members bias the pads 82 towards the front surface of the sliding part 10. Due to the mutual engagement between the front plate 68 and the hinge 7 along the bolts 65, the disc springs 83 or other resilient member also bias the pads 82 towards the front surface of the sliding part 10. The biasing force of the pads 74,83 towards the rear surface and 10 the front surface, respectively, of the sliding part 10 is adjusted by adjusting the tightening of the bolts 65.

The rear plate 71 related to the translational part 11 is also provided with recesses 84 similar to the recesses (not shown) of the front plate 68 and similar to the recesses 73

15 shown in the hinge 7. The recesses 84 the rear plate 71 are directed towards the translational part 11. The recesses 84 of the rear plate 71 are intended for receiving pads 85. The pads 85 abut the rear surface of the translational part 11 , when the guide plate 21 is attached to the translational part 11. As mentioned, attachment of the guide plate 21 to the translational part 11 takes place by means of the bolts 69 extending through the holes

20 70 in the rear plate 71 , further on through the groove 24 and into threaded holes (not shown) in the guide plate 21. The pads 85 have an extension out of the recesses 84 of the rear plate 71 ensuring establishment of a small distance between the rear plate 71 and the rear surface (not shown) of the translational part 11. The pads 85 are made of a material also ensuring sufficiently low friction for the person performing mutual

25 displacement of the two parts 14,21 , when sliding the guide plate 21 and thus the rear plate 71 in relation to the translational part 11.

Resilient members such as disc springs 86 as shown or the like resilient members are embedded in recesses (not shown) in the guide plate 21. These disc springs 86 or other

30 resilient members bias the pads 87 towards the front surface of the translational part 11. Due to the mutual engagement between the guide plate 21 and the rear plate 71 along the bolts 69, the disc springs 86 or other resilient members also bias the pads 85 towards the rear surface of the translational part 11. The biasing force of the pads 85,87 towards the rear surface and the front surface, respectively, of the translational part 11 is adjusted

35 by adjusting the tightening of the bolts 69. When the interface is displaced upwards or downwards along the translational part 1 , then the rotational member (not shown) and the guide plate and the rear plate will follow the interface and thus also be displaced in relation to the translational part. Initial and maintained pushing of the fingerknob in order to release the pawl from engagement with the slot is however necessary. When a desired position of the interface in relation to the translational part has been found, then the pushing of the fingerknob is released and the pawl engage with a slot in the desired position of the interface. Similarly, when a desired position of the sliding part in relation to the hinge, or visa versa, is to be established, then an initial and maintained pushing of the fingerknob in order to release the pawl from engagement with the slot is necessary. When a desired position of the sliding part in relation to the hinge has been found, then the pushing of the fingerknob is released and the pawl engage with a slot in the desired position of the interface.

Claims

1. A support for an interface unit such as a display unit or a keyboard for a computer, said support comprising a basis and an arm which are mutually displaceable and where the mutual displacement takes place by a sliding movement of the arm with relation to the basis, where the basis is provided with means intended for placing the basis at a base and where the arm has means for mounting the interface unit on the arm, and where the arm comprises a sliding part with a surface being curved, and where the basis comprises a corresponding sliding part with a corresponding surface being curved and where the basis, alternatively the arm, furthermore comprises a hinged member being provided between the interface unit and the means for placing the basis at a base.

2. A support for an interface unit such as a display unit or a keyboard for a computer, said support comprising a basis and an arm which are mutually displaceable and where the mutual displacement takes place by a sliding movement of the arm with relation to the basis, where the basis is provided with means intended for placing the arm at a base and where the basis has means for mounting the interface unit on the basis, and where the basis comprises a sliding part with a surface being curved, and where the arm comprises a corresponding sliding part with a corresponding surface being curved and where the arm, alternatively the basis, furthermore comprises a hinged member being provided between the interface unit and the means for placing the arm at a base.

3. A support according to claim 1 or claim 2, where the sliding part of the basis or of the arm and the hinged member is the one and same member, alternatively that the sliding part of the arm or of the basis and the hinged member is the one and same member.

4. A support according to any of the claims 1-3, where the sliding surface of the interface unit, alternatively the sliding surface of the basis or of the arm, has a curvature and extends along a length being sufficient for the interface unit to slide from an upright preferably vertical position along a curve to a substantially horizontal position.

5. A support according to any of the preceding claims where the arm or the basis is provided with a rotational member and where the interface unit is mounted to the rotational member so that the interface unit may rotate around an axis which at least at one point is perpendicular to the curved sliding surface.

6. A support according to any of the preceding claims where the arm is provided with a translational part and where the interface unit is mounted to the translational part so that the interface unit may be displaced translationally along an axis which at least at one point

5 is parallel with the curved sliding surface.

7. A support according to claim 5 and claim 6 where the interface unit is mounted to the rotational member so that the interface unit may rotate around an axis which at least at one point is perpendicular to the curved sliding surface and where the rotational member

10 is mounted to the translational part so that the interface unit also may be displaced translationally along an axis which at least at one point is parallel with the curved sliding surface.

8. An arm for supporting an interface unit such as a display unit or computer screen said 15 arm comprising an elongate member, and where the arm comprises a sliding part with a surface being curved and a translational part with a surface being plane, and where the interface screen is intended for being mounted to the translational part and where the translational part is provided with means for a translational movement of the interface unit along the plane surface. 20

9. An arm according to claim 8, where the guiding means consists of a groove provided in the translational part, and where a displaceable means is in engagement with the groove and the interface unit is mounted to the displaceable means.

25 10. An arm according to claim 9 wherein the displaceable means is spring suspended with a suspension biasing the displaceable means towards at least an upper part of the translational part and where the displaceable means is provided with means for maintaining the displaceable means at a chosen location along the groove between an uppermost location and a lowermost location.

30

11. An arm according to claim 10 where the spring suspension is provided by means of a number of spiral springs, and where a wire or other cord-like means is provided with one end attached to an end of the spiral spring and another end attached to the upper part of the translational part.

35

12. An arm according to claim 10 and claim 11 where the displaceable means is spring suspended with a suspension furthermore biasing the displaceable means towards a lower part of the translational part.

13. An arm according to any of the claims 10-12 where the spring suspension is provided by means of a number of spiral springs, and where a wire or other cord-like means is provided with one end attached to an end of the spiral spring and another end attached to the lower part of the translational part.

14. An arm according to any of the claims 10-13 where the wire or other cord-like means is wound on a wheel provided with a groove along the circumference for taking up the cord-like means and where the wheel may be partly or fully braked in relation to the translational part in order to limit or inhibit the translational movement of the displaceable means and thus the translational movement of the interface unit.

15. An arm according to claim 9 wherein the sliding part is spring suspended with a suspension biasing the sliding part towards at least an upper position in relation to the hinged member and where the sliding part is provided with means for maintaining the sliding part in a chosen position in relation to the hinged member between an uppermost position and a lowermost position.

16. An arm according to claim 15 where the spring suspension is provided by means of a number of spiral springs, and where a wire or other cord-like means is provided with one end attached to an end of the spiral spring and another end attached to the lower part of the sliding part.

17. An arm according to claim 15 and claim 16, where the sliding part is spring suspended with a suspension furthermore biasing the sliding part towards a lower position in relation to the hinge.

18. An arm according to any of claims 15-17 where the spring suspension is provided by means of a number of spiral springs, and where a wire or other cord-like means is provided with one end attached to an end of the spiral spring and another end attached to the higher part of the sliding part.

19. An arm according to any of claims 15-18 where the wire or other cord-like means is wound on a wheel provided with a groove along the circumference for taking up the cordlike means and where the wheel may be partly or fully braked in relation to the sliding part in order to limit or inhibit the displacement of the sliding part and thus the sliding

5 movement of the interface unit.

20. An arm according to any of claims 10-19 where locking means are provided, said locking means consisting of a bolt having an end surface that is intended for engaging with the wheel, preferably an outer circumference of the wheel, and said bolt being

10 releasable from a locking state where the end surface of the bolt is abutting the wheel and to a released state where the end surface is pulled away from the abutment with the wheel.

21. An arm according to claim 8 or claim 9 where locking means are provided, said 15 locking means consisting of a number of leaf springs, and where the leaf springs are provided with releasable locking means intended for engaging with corresponding locking means provided along the translational part in order to lock the displaceable means in relation to the translational part.

20 22. An arm according to claim 8 or claim 9 where locking means are connected to the hinged member and consists of a number of leaf springs, and where the leaf springs are provided with releasable locking means intended for engaging with corresponding locking means provided along the sliding part in order to lock the hinged member in relation to the sliding part.

25

23. An arm according to claim 21 or claim 22, where the locking means of the leaf spring is a pawl and where the corresponding locking means of the sliding part and/or the translational part are a number of slots.

30 24. An arm according to claim 8 or claim 9 where biasing means are provided at the translational member, said biasing means consisting of a number of resilient members, and where the biasing means are intended for biasing releasable locking means, said locking means intended for engaging with corresponding locking means provided along the translational part in order to lock the displaceable means in relation to the translational

35 part.

25. An arm according to claim 8 or claim 9 where biasing means are provided at the sliding part and consists of a number of resilient members, and where the resilient members are intended for biasing releasable locking means, said locking means intended for engaging with corresponding locking means provided along the sliding part in order to lock the sliding part in relation to the hinged member.

26. An arm according to claim 14 or claim 15, where the locking means of the leaf spring is a pawl and where the corresponding locking means of the sliding part and/or the translational part are a number of slots.