US 2,004,011,932 · Filed 2003-06-02
The Adjustable TV Stand Patent That Solved the Flat-Screen Mounting Problem
This patent describes a rotating TV stand where you can smoothly adjust the height and angle of your flat-screen monitor or television. A clever spring system lets you unlock a knob, slide the screen up or down without it dropping, lock it back in place, and even flip the mounting arm for extra fine-tuning—all without tools.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a stand assembly with a rotating base, a vertical post that slides up and down inside a channel, and a spring-damping system that keeps the post in place when locked. What's protected is the specific combination of the unlockable carriage mechanism, the constant-force spring arrangement (coil springs, elastic cords, or gas springs) that provides smooth balanced movement, and the pivotable fixture at the top that holds the display. The flip-over adjustment feature on the mounting arm is also part of the protected design.
Why it matters
When flat-screen TVs and monitors first became common in the early 2000s, people needed stands that could position them comfortably at eye level—unlike the fixed positions of older tube televisions. This patent protects the engineering that makes that adjustment effortless and safe. The constant-force spring system is the key innovation: it prevents the display from crashing down if you accidentally let go, and it lets you position the screen at any height without muscular effort. This kind of smooth, intuitive adjustment became standard in professional monitor arms and high-end TV stands.
Real-world use
Every time you tilt or raise a flat-screen monitor in an office, or adjust a TV on an adjustable stand in a living room, you're using principles this patent locked down—smooth gliding motion held safely in place by an invisible spring doing all the work.
Original USPTO abstract
A stand 10 has a base 20 with upstanding portion 20 stationary therewith. The base 20 can rotate. A post 30 is attached to upstanding portion 20 by carriage 38 and knob 26. When knob 26 is in an unlocked position the carriage 38 slides in channel 44 of post 30. When knob 26 is in a locked position the post 30 remains stationary with respect to upstanding means 22. Carriage 38 is connected to post 30 by a constant force arrangement which can include coil spring(s), elastic cord(s) or a gas spring to provide balanced damped movement of post 30 when knob 26 is unlocked. At top end of post 30, a fixture 34, pivotable on adjustable pivot bolt 35, can hold a flat panel display on arms 99. Fixture 34 can be flipped over to provide a 15-20 mm height adjustment.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,004,011,932
- Filing date
- 2003-06-02
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Simon Duff
- Inventor(s)
- DUFF SIMON
- CPC class
- F16M11/10
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