Bifocal display positioning apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning items such as an electronic display, a keyboard, and/or a work surface. The apparatus includes a movement mechanism that provides multiple tilt positions for one or more displays supported by the apparatus. In some cases the movement mechanism enables adjustment of the display(s) between a generally horizontal viewing configuration and a generally declining viewing configuration. In some cases the apparatus includes a keyboard tray and a display mount coupled to a riser adapted to support an electronic display. The riser may be movable with respect to an operator or support member between a sitting position and a standing position. Methods for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard are also included.

1 . An apparatus for positioning an electronic display relative to a first work surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a riser comprising a support column and a riser bracket movably coupled together and a first lift mechanism coupled between the support column and the riser bracket, wherein the support column is movable relative to the riser bracket to provide the height adjustment;   an attachment member that fixedly attaches the riser bracket to the first work surface;   a second work surface configured to attach to the support column, wherein relative movement between the riser bracket and the support column adjusts the height of the second work surface; and   a display mount coupled to the support column and adapted to support the electronic display; and   a movement mechanism coupling the display mount to the support column;   wherein relative movement between the riser bracket and the support column provides simultaneous height adjustment of the movement mechanism, the second work surface and the display mount;   wherein, at each height provided by the riser, the display mount is configurable in a first configuration providing a generally horizontal viewing configuration and a second configuration providing a generally declining viewing configuration;   wherein the movement mechanism provides the display mount with a first position relative to the riser, wherein the movement mechanism and the display mount provide a supported electronic display in the first position with a maximum backward tilt to provide the generally horizontal viewing configuration; and   wherein the movement mechanism provides the display mount with a second position relative to the riser, wherein the movement mechanism and the display mount provide a supported electronic display in the second position with a maximum backward tilt to provide the generally declining viewing configuration, wherein the supported electronic display is closer to the second work surface in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum backward tilt in the first position is about 20 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display mount is a greater distance from the riser in the second position than in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display mount is substantially the same distance from the riser in the second position and the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display mount is adapted to support a touchsensitive electronic display of a tablet computer. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the riser comprises a bottom end and a top end and wherein the movement mechanism comprises a pivot attached to the riser proximate the top end of the riser. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the movement mechanism further comprises a display lift mechanism coupled between the pivot and the display mount. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second position is lower relative to the riser than the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second position is higher relative to the riser than the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the riser simultaneously adjusts the height of the movement mechanism and the display mount between a sitting height and a standing height. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for positioning an electronic display relative to a first work surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a riser comprising a support column and a riser bracket movably coupled together and a first lift mechanism coupled between the support column and the riser bracket, wherein the support column is movable relative to the riser bracket to provide the height adjustment;   an attachment member that fixedly attaches the riser bracket to the first work surface;   a second work surface configured to attach to the support column, wherein relative movement between the riser bracket and the support column adjusts the height of the second work surface;   a display mount coupled to the support column and adapted to support the electronic display; and   a movement mechanism coupling the display mount to the support column, the movement mechanism comprising a curved rail and a bracket;   wherein relative movement between the riser bracket and the support column provide simultaneous height adjustment of the movement mechanism, the display mount, the second work surface;   wherein at each height provided by the riser, the movement mechanism provides the display mount with a first position relative to the riser in a first configuration,   wherein the movement mechanism and the display mount provide a supported electronic display in the first position with a maximum backward tilt to provide a generally horizontal viewing configuration;   wherein at each height provided by the riser, the movement mechanism provides the display mount with a second position relative to the riser in a second configuration, and   wherein the movement mechanism and the display mount provide a supported electronic display in the second position with a maximum backward tilt to provide a generally declining viewing configuration, the maximum backward tilt in the second position being greater than the maximum backward tilt in the first position, wherein the supported electronic display is closer to the second work surface in the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the movement mechanism guides the display mount toward the second work surface from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the maximum backward tilt in the second position is at least thirty degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the maximum backward tilt in the first position is less than about twenty degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the movement mechanism tilts the display mount as the display mount is moved between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the movement mechanism includes a pivoting arm. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the curved rail attached to the riser and the bracket of the movement mechanism is coupled between the curved rail and the display mount, the curved rail extending down and away from the riser. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket of the movement mechanism is a mounting bracket coupled to the riser, the movement mechanism further comprising a pivot located at an end of the mounting bracket, and an arm coupled between the pivot and the display mount, wherein the pivot is positioned higher than the display mount in the first position and in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first lift mechanism comprises a balance mechanism comprising a cam and an energy storage member. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard relative to a first work surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a riser comprising a support column and a riser bracket movably coupled together and a first lift mechanism coupled between the support column and the riser bracket, wherein the support column is movable relative to the riser bracket to provide the height adjustment;   an attachment member that fixedly attaches the riser bracket to the first work surface;   a second work surface configured to attach to the riser bracket, wherein the second work surface is a keyboard tray adapted to support a keyboard, and wherein relative movement between the riser bracket and the support column adjusts the height of the second work surface;   a display mount coupled to the support column and adapted to support the electronic display; and   a movement mechanism coupling the display mount to the support column, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a pivot attached to the riser proximate the top end of the riser;   wherein the riser provides simultaneous height adjustment of the movement mechanism, the display mount, and the keyboard tray between a sitting height and a standing height;   wherein, at each of at least two heights provided by the riser, the display mount and the keyboard tray are configurable in a first configuration providing a generally horizontal viewing configuration and a second configuration providing a generally declining viewing configuration;   wherein in the second configuration a vertical distance between the display mount and the keyboard tray is different than in the first configuration;   wherein the movement mechanism provides the display mount with a first position relative to the riser in the first configuration and a second position relative to the riser in the second configuration, and   wherein in the second position the display mount and the supported electronic display are able to tilt back from a vertical orientation to a greater degree than is available in the first position.