Lift mechanism systems and methods

Abstract

The invention includes a display positioning assembly comprising a support, a display supported by the support, and a balance mechanism carried by the display and operatively connected to the support. The invention also includes an article for selectively exposing a display comprising a generally planar support surface having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A balance mechanism operatively connected to a display may be positionable between a storage position proximate the first side of the generally planar support surface and an exposed position proximate the second side of the generally planar support surface. The invention also includes an assembly for arresting the free fall of an object. The assembly may comprise an outer slide in sliding or rolling engagement with an inner slide, and a brake comprising at least one pivot member may be coupled to the inner slide.

1 . A display positioning assembly comprising: 
 a support;    a display supported by the support; and    a balance mechanism carried by the display and operatively connected to the support, the balance mechanism balancing forces between the support and the display to provide vertical adjustment of the display relative to the support.    
   
   
       2 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the balance mechanism comprises: 
 a wheel comprising a pulley member and a cam member,    a first cable coupling an energy source to the cam member; and    a second cable functionally coupling the pulley member to the display so that the wheel rotates when the display is vertically adjusted.    
   
   
       3 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the energy source is a spring.  
   
   
       4 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first cable is coupled to the spring by a bullet mechanism that is configured to contact the inner surface of the spring.  
   
   
       5 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a first surface able to display an image and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the balance mechanism is coupled to the second surface.  
   
   
       6 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface of the display defines a cavity and wherein the balance mechanism is substantially received within the cavity.  
   
   
       7 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a cover configured to cover the cavity when the balance mechanism is housed therein.  
   
   
       8 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a coupler configured to couple the balance mechanism to the support, wherein the cover defines one or more slots through which the coupler may extend.  
   
   
       9 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the balance mechanism is carried on an exterior surface of the display.  
   
   
       10 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of a wall mount and stand.  
   
   
       11 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the stand is curved.  
   
   
       12 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises an article with a substantially planar support surface.  
   
   
       13 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , the support further comprising a tilt mechanism, the tilt mechanism providing for tilting of the display.  
   
   
       14 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a computer monitor.  
   
   
       15 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 2 , wherein either the first cable or the second cable comprises tensile polymer.  
   
   
       16 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cam member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, aluminum, and a glass filled polymer.  
   
   
       17 . The display positioning assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a brake useful for arresting downward movement of the display.  
   
   
       18 . An article for selectively exposing a display comprising: 
 a generally planar support surface having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;    a balance mechanism operatively connected to a display positionable between a storage position proximate the first side of the generally planar support surface and an exposed position proximate the second side of the generally planar support surface, the balance mechanism balancing forces between the support surface and the display to provide adjustment of the display relative to the support surface,    the balance mechanism having an outer slide functionally coupled to the generally planar support surface and an inner slide functionally coupled to the display, the outer and inner slides being disposed in sliding or rolling engagement with one another.    
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the balance mechanism further comprises: 
 a wheel pivotally supported by one of the outer or inners slides, the wheel comprising a pulley member and a cam member,    a first cable coupling an energy source to the cam member; and    a second cable coupling the pulley member to the display so that the wheel rotates when the inner slide is moved relative to the outer slide.    
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the generally planar support surface is a horizontal generally planar support surface and the display is positionable between a storage position under the horizontal generally planar support surface and an exposed position above the generally planar support surface.  
   
   
       21 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the energy source is a spring.  
   
   
       22 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the first cable is coupled to the spring by a bullet mechanism that is configured to contact the inner surface of the spring.  
   
   
       23 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein either the first cable or the second cable comprises a tensile polymer.  
   
   
       24 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the cam member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, aluminum, and a glass filled polymer.  
   
   
       25 . The article of  claim 18 , further comprising a brake useful for arresting downward movement of the display.  
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the display comprises a television.  
   
   
       27 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the article is piece of furniture selected from the group consisting of a cabinet and table.  
   
   
       28 . The article of  claim 18 , further comprising a closable portion configured to substantially conceal the display when the display is in the storage position, the closable portion being positionable between a closed position and an open position.  
   
   
       29 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the closable portion is hingedly attached to the generally planar support surface, allowing the closable portion to swing between the closed position and the open position.  
   
   
       30 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the closable portion is configured to exert a downward force on the display when in the closed position and wherein the balance mechanism automatically positions the display in the exposed position when the closable portion is in the open position and the downward force is removed.  
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the closable portion is attached to a top surface of the display and maintains a parallel relationship with the generally planar support surface.  
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the closable portion comprises the same material as the generally planar support surface.  
   
   
       33 . A method for storing a display comprising: 
 activating a balance mechanism being configured to lower a display from an exposed position proximate a second surface of a generally planar support surface to a stored position proximate a first surface of the generally planar support surface, the generally planar surface having a closable portion; and    positioning the closable portion in a closed position.    
   
   
       34 . An assembly for arresting the free fall of an object comprising: 
 an outer slide in sliding or rolling engagement with an inner slide;    a brake coupled to the inner slide, the brake comprising at least one pivot member and an energy storage member, the energy storage member normally held in expansion by a force, where upon removal of the force the energy storage member biases the pivot member outward to engage the outer slide to prevent the free fall of an object coupled to the inner slide.    
   
   
       35 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the object is a display coupled to the inner slide.  
   
   
       36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the display weighs more than one hundred pounds.  
   
   
       37 . The assembly of  claim 34 , further comprising a wheel pivotally supported by one of the outer or inner slides, the wheel comprising a pulley member and a cam member, 
 a first cable coupling an energy source to the cam member; and    a second cable coupling the pulley member to the inner slide so that the wheel rotates when the inner slide is moved relative to the outer slide.    
   
   
       38 . The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the second cable supplies the force.  
   
   
       39 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the pivot member engages the outer slide by friction forces.  
   
   
       40 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the pivot member comprising a harder material than the outer slide.  
   
   
       41 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the pivot member comprises teeth positioned to engage the outer slide.  
   
   
       42 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the spring is held about a shaft with an eye, the second cable being connected to the eye.