Adjustable mount with position lock

What is this patent about?

’933 is related to the field of heavy-duty adjustable mounts, specifically those designed to support large-format displays or touch-sensitive interfaces. In high-stakes environments like air traffic control or medical theaters, mounts must not only support significant weight but also remain perfectly rigid when subjected to external pressure, such as a user pressing on a touch screen. Traditional friction-based joints often fail under these conditions, either drooping over time due to surface wear or requiring excessive force to adjust.

The underlying idea behind ’933 is the replacement of unreliable friction joints with a positive, mechanical locking cylinder that acts as a rigid internal brace. By connecting a movable linkage between the fixed base and the pivoting display plate, the system can effectively 'freeze' the tilt angle at any point in its range. This allows the mount to behave like a solid, non-adjustable bracket when locked, while still offering smooth, effortless movement when the user manually disengages the lock via a remote trigger.

The claims of ’933 focus on a mount assembly featuring a base, a tilt plate, and a position locking mechanism that utilizes a linkage member and a locking cylinder. The linkage is anchored to the tilt plate and passes through the cylinder, which is pivotally mounted to the base. The independent claims specifically protect the transition between an unlocked state, where the linkage slides freely through the cylinder's hollow interior, and a locked state, where the cylinder grips the linkage to prevent any pivoting of the display.

In practice, the invention incorporates a counterbalance mechanism, such as gas springs, mounted to the sides of the assembly to offset the gravitational load of the display. This ensures that when the locking cylinder is released, the display does not suddenly drop, allowing the operator to reposition the screen with minimal physical effort. The system is further enhanced by a quick-release device plate that uses a top-mounted hanger and rear-facing hooks to allow a heavy monitor to be 'hung' onto the tilt plate and secured without tools.

This approach differentiates itself from prior art by moving away from the 'tighten-to-hold' philosophy of friction hinges, which inevitably degrade. By using a dedicated locking cylinder to handle the holding force and separate gas springs to handle the weight, the mount achieves a level of stability required for touch-screen use that spring-only or friction-only mounts cannot match. The integration of a remote paddle trigger further improves ergonomics, allowing users to unlock, tilt, and re-lock the display without reaching behind the equipment to fumble with knobs or levers.