Stand system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of a stand are provided with continuous adjustability within a range of travel. In one embodiment, a stand includes a movement mechanism adapted to allow a tray to move along a range of travel relative to a stand base. The movement mechanism is in some embodiments further adapted to position the tray at an infinite number of locations along the range of travel.

1 . A stand for supporting an object, comprising: 
 a base;    a support member coupled to the base;    a tray coupled to the support member, the tray having a generally planar tray surface for supporting an object on the tray; and    a movement mechanism adapted to allow the tray to move along a range of travel relative to the base, and further adapted to position the tray at an infinite number of locations along the range of travel.    
   
   
       2 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises a pivot mechanism for allowing the tray to pivot along the range of travel, the pivot mechanism comprising at least one torsion spring exerting a force between the base and the support member.  
   
   
       3 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot mechanism further comprises an axle mounted on the base, and wherein the at least one torsion spring is partially wound around the axle.  
   
   
       4 . The stand of  claim 3 , wherein one end of the at least one torsion spring is mounted within an adjustment block, and further comprising an adjustment screw for adjusting the tension of the at least one spring.  
   
   
       5 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the support member comprises a bar linkage coupling the tray with the base, the bar linkage allowing the tray to pivot up and down along the range of travel with respect to the base.  
   
   
       6 . The stand of  claim 5 , further comprising a pivot, wherein the tray is coupled to the bar linkage with the pivot so that the tray is substantially parallel with the base along the range of travel.  
   
   
       7 . The stand of  claim 5 , further comprising a locking mechanism, for locking the position of the tray along the range of travel with respect to the base.  
   
   
       8 . The stand of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism locks the position of the tray against the weight of an object placed on the tray.  
   
   
       9 . The stand of  claim 8 , wherein the locking mechanism locks the position of the tray against a force greater than the weight of an object.  
   
   
       10 . The stand of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a slider bar including a slot, the slider bar functionally coupled to the bar linkage and the base so as to prevent the bar linkage from collapsing when the slider bar is locked, and further comprising a removable fastener coupled to the base through the slot, for locking the slider bar to the base.  
   
   
       11 . The stand of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a rotating bracket including a curved slot, wherein the rotating bracket is attached to the bar linkage so that the rotating bracket rotates with respect to the base as the bar linkage pivots the tray along the range of motion, and further comprising a removable fastener coupled to the base through the curved slot, for locking the rotating bracket to the base.  
   
   
       12 . The stand of  claim 11 , wherein the removable fastener comprises a levered cam clamp.  
   
   
       13 . The stand of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger assembly including a plunger, an outer mandrel, an inner mandrel, and a cooperating torsion spring wound around at least a portion of both the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel, wherein the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel are mounted to the bar linkage so that the outer mandrel rotates opposite the inner mandrel as the bar linkage pivots, and wherein the plunger cooperates with the torsion spring to lock the rotation of the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel.  
   
   
       14 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot mechanism is adapted to allow the tray to move along a range of travel from a first position with the tray being substantially horizontal to a second position with the tray being substantially vertical.  
   
   
       15 . The stand of  claim 14 , wherein the base is mounted on a vertical support surface, and the tray is substantially parallel to the vertical support surface in the second position.  
   
   
       16 . The stand of  claim 15 , further comprising a link for coupling the tray with the vertical support surface.  
   
   
       17 . The stand of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one track for moving the tray from a first horizontal position to a second horizontal position.  
   
   
       18 . The stand of  claim 17 , further comprising a guiding arm for guiding the tray from the first horizontal position to the second horizontal position.  
   
   
       19 . The stand of  claim 1 , further comprising a docking station proximate the tray, for docking a notebook placed on the tray.  
   
   
       20 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a back portion and a front portion, the back portion including a pad for providing frictional resistance between the base and a support surface on which the base is placed.  
   
   
       21 . The stand of  claim 20 , wherein the front portion includes at least two wheels, for rotating the base about the pad.  
   
   
       22 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises an adjustable retention slide for retaining an object on the tray.  
   
   
       23 . The stand of  claim 22 , wherein the tray further comprises an adjustable extension slide for extending the size of the tray for supporting objects of varying sizes.  
   
   
       24 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises at least two side extensions adapted to extend from respective sides of the tray, for increasing the size of the tray for supporting objects of varying sizes.  
   
   
       25 . The stand of  claim 24 , wherein the tray further comprises a gear, and wherein the at least two side extensions cooperate with the gear such that all of the at least two extension arms extend and retract simultaneously.  
   
   
       26 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises a lift mechanism for providing the tray with height adjustability along the range of travel.  
   
   
       27 . The stand of  claim 26 , wherein the base is mountable upon a vertical support surface and the range of travel is substantially parallel with the vertical support surface.  
   
   
       28 . The stand of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one additional lift mechanism.  
   
   
       29 . The stand of  claim 26 , further comprising a connector for coupling an output device with the stand.  
   
   
       30 . The stand of  claim 29 , wherein the lift mechanism is further adapted to allow the connector to move along a range of travel.  
   
   
       31 . The stand of  claim 30 , wherein the lift mechanism is further adapted to allow the connector and the tray to move simultaneously.  
   
   
       32 . The stand of  claim 26 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a frame and a truck, the frame and the truck in sliding engagement.  
   
   
       33 . The stand of  claim 32 , wherein the lift mechanism further comprises a balance mechanism for providing a balancing force between the frame and the truck.  
   
   
       34 . The stand of  claim 33 , wherein the balance mechanism comprises a wheel, a cam member, and a spring, and wherein the spring provides a force counterbalancing the truck.  
   
   
       35 . The stand of  claim 34 , wherein the frame comprises a midline and the wheel comprises a longitudinal axis, and further wherein the longitudinal axis is offset from the midline.  
   
   
       36 . The stand of  claim 32 , further comprising a cross support coupled between the truck and the tray.  
   
   
       37 . The stand of  claim 36 , further comprising at least one additional cross support coupled to the truck.  
   
   
       38 . The stand of  claim 1 , further comprising a notebook supported by the tray.  
   
   
       39 . The stand of  claim 1 , further comprising a projector supported by the tray.  
   
   
       40 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the tray tilts less than 90 degrees along the range of travel with respect to a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       41 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the generally planar tray surface supports an object with a generally planar object surface.  
   
   
       42 . A method of positioning a stand, comprising: 
 providing a stand including a tray having a generally planar tray surface coupled to a base with a movement mechanism;    moving the tray at least partially through a range of travel relative to the base; and    positioning the tray at one of an infinite number of locations along the range of travel.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising locking the stand to retain the tray at one of the infinite number of locations.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising placing a notebook on the tray and moving the tray using a force less than the weight of the notebook.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising placing a projector on the tray and moving the tray using a force less than the weight of the projector.