Compound lift device
View Patent ↗The present invention is a compound motorized lift device facilitating the uninterrupted and nearly noiseless movement of a low-profile television. The invention is comprised of a base unit, an intermediate unit, and a support unit slidably disposed in a telescoping fashion in the described order. A pair of linearly extensible slides are fastened between base and intermediate units and between intermediate and support units. The intermediate unit is extended and retracted with respect to the base unit in a linear fashion via a motor driven screw. The support unit is extended and retracted in a linear fashion via a cable-pulley arrangement that couples motion by the intermediate unit in a likewise direction to the support unit.
1. A compound lift device for controlled movement of a low-profile display comprising:
(a) a base unit of planar extent having a first pair of linearly extensible slides separately disposed and parallel, one each of said first pair of linearly extensible slides fastened to a flange along the length of said base unit;
(b) a support unit of planar extent having a second pair of linearly extensible slides separately disposed and parallel, one each of said second pair of linearly extensible slides fastened to a flange along the length of said support unit, said support unit having at least two support elements adjustably fastened thereto so as to facilitate secured attachment of said low-profile display;
(c) an intermediate unit of planar extent having a first pair of pulleys attached at one end and a second pair of pulleys attached at another end, said first pair of linearly extensible slides and said second pair of linearly extensible slides separately fastened to said intermediate unit so as to allow movement between said intermediate unit and said base unit and between said support unit and said intermediate unit, said intermediate unit sufficiently stiff so as to resist deflection of said intermediate unit during extension and retraction;
(d) a reversible motor fastened to said base unit and directly coupled to a drive screw, said drive screw secured to said base unit so as to allow its rotation, said drive screw contacting said intermediate unit thereby communicating linear movement to said intermediate unit via rotation of said drive screw, said intermediate unit extending and retracting with respect to said base unit, said intermediate unit disposed between said base unit and said support unit when said compound lift device is retracted; and
(e) two cables separately disposed about and parallel to said drive screw, said two cables each having two cable ends fastened to said base unit, said two cables fastened along its length to said support unit, said two cables slidably disposed about said intermediate unit via said first pair of pulleys and said second pair of pulleys, said two cables imparting likewise movement to said support unit when said intermediate unit is extended and retracted.
2. The compound lift device of claim 1 , further comprising:
(f) a limit switch fastened to said base unit, said limit switch electrically connected to said reversible motor or a controller so as to control function, said limit switch having a rod extending along said base unit, parallel to said drive screw, and attached to said base unit in a movable fashion, said rod having a lower stop to stop and reverse said motor when said compound lift device is retracted and an upper stop to stop and reverse said motor when said compound lift device is extended.
3. The compound lift device of claim 1 , further comprising:
(f) a rotary motion sensor adjacent to said drive screw and communicating with said controller so as to stop and reverse said motor based on rotational history of said drive screw.