US 6,019,332 · Granted 2000-02-01

The Pivot System That Made Computer Monitors Actually Adjustable

Ergotron patented a clever system of joints, friction washers, and gas springs that lets you move a flat-screen monitor or keyboard tray up, down, and around smoothly without it flopping around or requiring constant muscle effort to hold in place.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a multi-jointed mounting assembly with pivot points that rotate around both vertical and horizontal axes, combined with friction washers and gas springs that control how much force you need to move the monitor or tray and hold it in position. What's protected here is the specific combination of these mechanical elements working together to create adjustable, stable positioning.

Why it matters

Before smart monitor arms became ubiquitous in offices, most displays were bolted in one position or sat in heavy, awkward mounts. This patent helped establish the category of ergonomic adjustable display systems that let workers customize their workspace for comfort and posture. Ergotron built a major business around this technology and related innovations in workplace ergonomics.

Real-world use

Every time you pull your monitor closer to your face or lift a keyboard tray to the perfect angle at a modern office desk, you're using the type of pivot-and-spring system this patent describes.

Original USPTO abstract

Multi-jointed and pivoted mounting systems for support of a flat panel video display and/or keyboard tray, incorporating a plurality of pivot points providing for pivotal motion of one or more components about a plurality of vertical and horizontal axes. Support arms having elevational pivot assemblies, including plastic friction washers and gas springs, offer elevational arm control requiring constant and predetermined positioning effort on the part of the video display operator and keyboard operator.

Patent details

Publication number: US 6,019,332
Filing date: 1997-06-02
Grant date: 2000-02-01
Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
Inventor(s): SWEERE; HARRY C., NISTLER; STEVE A., VOELLER; DONALD M., SCHELLER; DENNIS M.
CPC class: F16M11/2064

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