US 6,015,120 · Granted 2000-01-18
The Gas-Spring Arm That Made Monitor Stands Adjustable
Imagine a robotic arm that holds your computer monitor and lets you swivel it around, tilt it up and down, and move it closer or farther away—all without it flopping over. This patent describes the mechanical backbone of those flexible monitor stands you see on office desks, using springs and friction disks to keep everything locked in place once you position it.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a desktop display support system built from a weighted base, a pivot bracket assembly that rotates on a vertical axis, and a support arm with a gas spring inside. What's protected is the specific combination of components: the frictional assembly (made of metal plates sandwiching a polymer disk) and the brake assembly that work together to hold the monitor steady once you've moved it to your preferred angle. The tension created by a nut, bolt, and spring washer keeps the friction disk squeezed between the metal surfaces, preventing unwanted movement.
Why it matters
This patent matters because it solved a real workplace problem: workers needed to adjust their monitors throughout the day for comfort and to reduce neck strain, but existing stands either didn't move at all or collapsed under the weight. By combining a gas spring with a friction-based locking mechanism, Ergotron created a reliable system that gave people the freedom to customize their workspace. This became foundational to the ergonomic furniture industry, helping establish monitor arms as standard equipment in modern offices.
Real-world use
Every time you grab the arm of an office monitor stand and smoothly reposition your screen—then release it and find it stays exactly where you left it—you're using this patent's friction-lock-and-spring design.
Original USPTO abstract
Desktop flat panel display support system includes a base, a pivot support bracket assembly, and a support arm, with gas spring, leads to a single axis pivot where a flat panel display may be connected. The pivot support bracket assembly rotates about a vertical axis to provide azimuthil rotation of the support arm. The pivoting bracket assembly includes a frictional assembly and a brake assembly. The frictional assembly includes at least two planar metal surfaces and an easy breakaway frictional polymer disk between the metal surfaces. A nut, bolt and spring washer provide tension to the assembly.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,015,120
- Filing date
- 1998-02-12
- Grant date
- 2000-01-18
- Assignee
- Ergotron, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- SWEERE; HARRY C., GONNERMAN; MICHAEL D., VOELLER; DONALD M.
- CPC class
- F16M11/2064
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