IP Library Granted Patent US 9,968,188
Granted Patent B1
US 9,968,188 · App. 15/206,375 · Granted May 15, 2018

Locking base for tablet stand

Inventors: Peter J. Floersch (Lakeville, MN); Stephen A. Nistler (Eagan, MN); Aaron Z. Mclaughlin (Saint Paul, MN); Paul M. Smith (Apple Valley, MN)
Assignee: Engineered Network Systems, LLC
A47B23/04F16B3/06F16M11/08F16M11/10F16M11/2014F16M13/02F16B21/16F16C2226/16F16M11/041F16M11/28F16M13/00F16M2200/022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,968,188
App. No.
15/206,375
Granted
May 15, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

A lockable electronic tablet stand is described that allows rotation and fixes the tablet stand in a locked relation. The stand includes a base that allows the tablet stand to rotate about the base while cords extend through a center of the base.

Claims (33)

1. An apparatus to support a holder for an electronic tablet, said apparatus comprising:

a base having a column extending upward from the base, said column having an annular bevel formed on an outer surface of the column;

a rotatable intermediate plate having a top and bottom surface and an aperture extending through the plate from the top to bottom surface, wherein said column of the base extends through said aperture and a portion of said base is below the bottom surface of said intermediate plate;

an expandable and contractible annular collar sized to encompass and engage at least a portion of said column above the top surface of said intermediate plate, wherein said collar includes an annular chamfer formed on an inner top edge of said annular collar;

said annular chamfer and said annular bevel sized to engage together when said collar is contracted and a diameter of said collar is reduced, and wherein reducing the diameter of said annular collar forces said collar downward towards the top surface of said intermediate plate and forces the base upward towards the bottom surface of said intermediate plate.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including a mating key and keyway, the key being formed on one of said collar and column, wherein engaging the mating key and keyway locks said collar from rotating about said column.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including spacer rings positioned between said intermediate plate.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said spacer rings reduce friction between said intermediate plate and said collar.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said annular collar includes a tensioning member to reduce an inner diameter of the annular collar.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base further includes an annular slot formed in said based and said intermediate plate includes a tab extending downward from said bottom surface of said intermediate plate, wherein said tab is sized and positioned to slide in said slot of said been when said intermediate plate is rotated about said column.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including a cover to conceal said annular collar.

8. An apparatus to support a holder for an electronic tablet, said apparatus comprising:

a base having a column extending upward from the base, said column having an annular bevel formed on an outer surface of the column;

a rotatable intermediate plate having a top and bottom surface and an aperture extending through the plate from the top to bottom surface, wherein said column of the base extends through said aperture and a portion of said base is below the bottom surface of said intermediate plate;

an expandable and contractible annular collar sized to encompass and engage at least a portion of said column above the top surface of said intermediate plate, wherein said collar includes an annular chamfer formed on an inner top edge of said annular collar; and

a tablet stand attached to said intermediate plate;

wherein said annular chamfer and said annular bevel sized to engage together when said collar is contracted and a diameter of said collar is reduced, and wherein reducing the diameter of said annular collar forces said collar downward towards the top surface of said intermediate plate and forces said base towards the bottom surface of said intermediate plate.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further including a mating key and keyway, the keyway being formed on said collar and the key being formed on the column, wherein engaging the mating key and keyway locks said collar from rotating about said column.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further including spacer rings positioned between said intermediate plate and said collar.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said spacer rings reduce friction between said intermediate plate and said collar.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein said annular collar includes a tensioning member to reduce an inner diameter of the annular collar.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein said base further includes an annular slot formed in said based and said intermediate plate includes a tab extending downward from said bottom surface of said intermediate plate, wherein said tab is sized and positioned to slide in said slot of said been when said intermediate plate is rotated about said column.

14. An apparatus to support a holder for an electronic tablet, said apparatus comprising:

a base having a column extending upward from the base, said column having an annular bevel formed on an outer surface of the column;

an intermediate plate having a top and bottom surface and an aperture extending through the plate from the top to bottom surface, wherein said column of the base extends through said aperture and a portion of said base is below the bottom surface of said intermediate plate;

an expandable and contractible annular collar sized to encompass and engage at least a portion of said column above the top surface of said intermediate plate, wherein said collar includes an annular chamfer formed on an inner top edge of said annular collar, and wherein said annular collar includes a tensioning member to reduce an inner diameter of the annular collar;

a mating key and keyway, wherein engaging the mating key and keyway locks said collar from rotating about said column;

wherein said base further includes an annular slot formed in said based and said intermediate plate includes a tab extending downward from said bottom surface of said intermediate plate, wherein said tab is sized and positioned to slide in said slot of said been when said intermediate plate is rotated about said column; and

wherein said annular chamfer and said annular bevel sized to engage together when said collar is contracted and a diameter of said collar is reduced, and wherein reducing the diameter of said annular collar forces said collar downward towards the top surface of said intermediate plate and forces the base upwards towards the bottom surface of said intermediate plate.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , further including spacer rings positioned between said intermediate plate.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein said spacer rings reduce friction between said intermediate plate and said collar.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , further including a tablet stand attached to said intermediate plate.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , further including a cover to conceal said annular collar.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2024
From: CIBC BANK USA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068149/0735 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2024
From: HAVIS, INC.; VANNER, INC.; ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068132/0552 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 23, 2024
From: ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: HAVIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068058/0763 →
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 1, 2021
From: ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 057988/0279 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2021
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 058670/0312 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2018
From: ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 046355/0539 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2016
From: FLOERSCH, PETER; SMITH, PAUL; MCLAUGHLIN, AARON; NISTLER, STEPHEN
To: ENGINEERED NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 039117/0517 →