Magnetic attachment mechanism with safety latch for a desktop display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020084902-A1
Application number	US-201916557486-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Sep 7, 2018
Publication date	Mar 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

This application relates to a magnetic attachment mechanism attached to a stand for a display unit. The display unit includes a housing enclosing a display panel. The housing has a recess formed on a rear surface of the housing to accept the magnetic attachment mechanism. The magnetic attachment mechanism includes a magnetic element that is magnetically coupled to a corresponding magnetic element in the housing of the desktop display device when the magnetic attachment mechanism is inserted into the recess. The magnetic attachment mechanism also includes a latch mechanism that locks the display unit to the stand when the latch mechanism is engaged with a surface feature of the recess. The latch mechanism can be disengaged to allow for mobility of the display unit as separated from the stand.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic attachment mechanism to secure a display unit to a stand, the magnetic attachment mechanism comprising:
a housing; a magnetic element attached to the housing, the magnetic element capable of magnetically coupling with a corresponding magnetic element carried by the display unit; a latch mechanism attached to the housing, the latch mechanism configured to engage a surface feature defined by a recess of the display unit when the housing is inserted into the recess; and an actuating mechanism coupled to the latch mechanism, the actuating mechanism configured to actuate the latch mechanism beyond the housing such that the latch mechanism engages the surface feature.

2 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism automatically locks the housing to the display unit when the housing is fully inserted into the recess.

3 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises a movable component that moves in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the housing.

4 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 3 , wherein:
a first position comprises the movable component extending beyond the housing, and a second position comprises the movable component within the housing.

5 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 4 , further comprising a biasing mechanism that biases the movable component to the first position.

6 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises:
a protrusion; and a spring compressed between the movable component and the protrusion.

7 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the surface feature defines an undercut region, and wherein the movable component, in the first position while the magnetic attachment mechanism is inserted in the recess, extends into the undercut region.

8 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises:
a slot; and a protrusion positioned in the slot, wherein the protrusion moves relative to the slot during movement of the movable component moving from the first position to the second position.

9 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a motor configured to rotate the actuating mechanism.

10 . The magnetic attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
a front housing component; and a rear housing component coupled with the front housing component, wherein the front housing component and the rear housing component at least partially surround the actuating mechanism, the latch mechanism, and the magnetic element.

11 . A stand for a display unit that includes a housing with a recess herein, the stand comprising:
a frame; a magnetic attachment mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to be inserted into the recess, the magnetic attachment mechanism comprising:
a first housing component;
a second housing component secured to the first housing component;
a magnet disposed between the first housing component and the second housing component; and
a latch mechanism disposed between the first housing component and the second housing component, the latch mechanism comprising:
a movable component, and
a spring that biases the movable component, thereby causing the movable component to extend beyond an edge of the first housing component.

12 . The stand of claim 11 , further comprising a cam mechanism movable between a first position and a second position different from the first position, wherein the movable component is locked in an extended position when the cam mechanism is in the first position.

13 . The stand of claim 12 , wherein the movable component of the latch mechanism is free to move between the extended position and a retracted position when the cam mechanism is in the second position.

14 . The stand of claim 13 , wherein the movable component is positioned within the edge in the retracted position.

15 . The stand of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic attachment mechanism further comprises a set of contacts to couple a signal or a power supply from the stand to the display unit.

16 . A modular display system, comprising:
a display unit; a housing that carries the display unit, the housing defining an internal volume and a recess; a magnetic element located in the internal volume and positioned along a surface defined by the recess; a stand that supports the housing; and a magnetic attachment mechanism secured to the stand, the magnetic attachment mechanism comprising:
an attachment mechanism housing,
a magnet carried by the attachment mechanism housing, and
a latch mechanism coupled to the attachment mechanism housing, wherein when the attachment mechanism is inserted into the recess, i) the magnet magnetically couples with the magnetic element and ii) the latch mechanism engages the housing.

17 . The modular display system of claim 16 , wherein the recess comprises a cylindrical recess, and wherein the attachment mechanism housing comprises a cylindrical housing.

18 . The modular display system of claim 17 , wherein the latch mechanism includes at least two movable components spaced around a cylindrical surface defined by the cylindrical housing.

19 . The modular display system of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic attachment mechanism further comprises an actuating mechanism that drives the latch mechanism between a first position and a second position different from the first position, wherein the actuating mechanism locks the latch mechanism in the first position.

20 . The modular display system of claim 19 , wherein the magnetic mechanism system further comprises:
a slot; and a protrusion that extends through the slot, wherein a first movement of the protrusion in a first radial direction forces the slot in the first position, and wherein a second movement of the protrusion in a second radial direction forces the slot in the second position.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Venkatesh Sunita
• Narajowski David H
• Farrell Lauren M

Classifications

• G06F1/1601 Primary

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title

• G06F2200/1612

  Flat panel monitor · CPC title

• H01F7/0252

  PM holding devices (H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title

• F16M11/16

  Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof · CPC title