Variable height arm structures, systems, and methods

摘要

Enhanced variable-height mounting arms comprise structures that allow any of improved cleanability and/or improved adjustment of height or counterbalancing. An exemplary enhanced variable-height arm comprises an upper shell structure that substantially extends over the upper and side regions of the mounting arm, forming a four-bar linkage. A lower cover is mounted to the upper cover across the bottom side of the arm, and defines holes therethrough for extension of the opposing ends of the arm. The variable-height arm further comprises a bias element, wherein one end of the bias element is adjustably fixable in relation to a defined curve, non-linear path or slot, such as within a curved slot. The variable-height arm may preferably further comprise a mechanism for adjusting any of the height or counterbalance for the structure.

主权项

1. An arm structure, comprising:
a mount arm comprising
an arm pivot structure having a defined axis,a strut arm mount hole defined through the mount arm that is perpendicular to the axis of the arm pivot structure, anda bias element pivot hole defined through the mount arm that is perpendicular to the axis of the arm pivot structure and collinear to the strut arm mount hole; an adjuster box comprising
a pivot structure having a defined axis,a strut mount hole that is perpendicular to the axis of the pivot structure,an inner hole defined through the adjuster box, wherein the inner hole is perpendicular to the axis of the pivot structure and collinear to the strut mount hole, anda slot defined through the adjuster box, wherein the slot comprises any of a curved slot or a non-linear slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot axes corresponding to a plurality of positions within the slot, and wherein the slot axes are perpendicular to the axis of the pivot structure and collinear to the strut mount hole and to the inner hole; a pivot adjustment screw having threads, wherein the pivot adjustment screw extends through the pivot structure along the pivot structure's defined axis; an adjuster block having a threaded hole that is threadably engaged to the pivot adjustment screw; a bias mount pin that is generally confined through the slot and through the adjuster block; a strut element that is pivotably attached between the strut arm mount hole and the strut mount hole; a bias element having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the bias element pivot hole, and wherein the second end is pivotably attached to the bias mount pin at one of the plurality of positions; a continuous outer shell that is pivotably attached between the strut arm mount hole of the mount arm and the inner hole of the adjuster box, wherein the outer shell extends from an inner end to an outer end, and wherein the continuous outer shell has a first opening at the inner end through which the mount arm protrudes and a second opening at the outer end through which the adjuster box protrudes; an inner cover situated within an interior region of the continuous outer shell that surrounds the mount arm and shields at least some of the interior region exposed by the first opening; and an outer cover situated within the interior region of the continuous outer shell that surrounds the adjuster box and shields at least some of the interior region exposed by the second opening; wherein the strut element and the bias element are located within the interior region of the continuous outer shell.