Tablet mounting arm systems and methods

Abstract

One embodiment provides a tablet mounting system including a support having a tablet portion located near the first end of the support arm for supporting a tablet, a monitor portion located between the tablet portion and the second end of the support arm for supporting a display monitor, and a support portion located between the first end and the second end of the support arm for attaching the arm to a support object such as a desk, wall, desk stand, or display arm. In some cases, the support portion is located closer to the monitor portion of the support arm than to the tablet portion of the support arm. A tablet mount is configured to support a tablet and to attached to the tablet portion of the support arm. Methods for mounting tablets are also provided.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A tablet mounting system comprising:
 a monitor mount configured to receive and support a monitor;   a tablet mount configured to releasably retain a tablet, the tablet mount comprising a docking station having a connector configured to connect with a port on the tablet; and   an interface for attaching at least the monitor mount to an apparatus that is adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to a support structure, the tablet being in a side-by-side relationship with the monitor upon attaching at least the monitor mount to the apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the tablet mount comprises:
 a support body defining a recessed portion for receiving and storing the tablet;   a first edge portion coupled to and extending from the support body, the first edge portion configured to receive and support a first edge of the retained tablet;   a latching mechanism coupled to the support body opposite from the first edge portion, the latching mechanism configured to engage a second edge of the retained tablet opposite the first edge so as to releasably retain the tablet within the tablet mount; and   at least one ejection member extending from the first edge portion of the tablet mount, the ejection member configured to engage the first edge of the retained tablet and biased to urge the first edge of the retained tablet away from the first edge portion of the tablet mount.   
     
     
         4 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the tablet mount comprises:
 a support body defining a recessed portion for receiving and storing the tablet; and   at least first and second edge retaining members, the first edge retaining member extending from the support body and being configured to retain a first edge of the supported tablet, the second edge retaining member extending from the tablet support body and being configured to retain a second edge of the supported tablet opposite the first edge, movement of one of the first and the second edge retaining members causing synchronous movement of the other of the first and the second edge retaining members relative to the tablet support body to releasably retain the supported tablet.   
     
     
         5 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , further comprising a brace configured to be connected to an edge of the monitor and to the tablet mount. 
     
     
         6 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the brace comprises a first portion and a second portion forming a clamping structure, the clamping structure configured to engage a front portion of the monitor and clamp the brace about a thickness of the monitor. 
     
     
         7 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the docking station is configured to align the tablet such that the port in the tablet aligns with and connects to the connector as the tablet is positioned in the docking station. 
     
     
         8 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein the connector of the docking station comprises a first connector, and wherein the docking station comprises a second connector configured to connect with a port on the monitor. 
     
     
         9 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 8 , wherein the docking station is configured to communicate data from the tablet to the monitor. 
     
     
         10 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the interface attaches one or both of the tablet mount and the monitor mount to a support arm that is adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to the support structure, the support structure comprising a wall mount. 
     
     
         11 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the interface attaches one or both of the tablet mount and the monitor mount to a support arm that is adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to the support structure, the support structure comprising a desk. 
     
     
         12 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the interface attaches one or both of the tablet mount and the monitor mount to a support arm that is adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to the support structure, the support structure comprising a mobile cart. 
     
     
         13 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the interface comprises a support comprising:
 a tablet portion for supporting the tablet mount and the tablet;   a monitor portion for supporting the monitor mount and the monitor; and   a support portion for attaching the support to the apparatus that is adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to the support structure.   
     
     
         14 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 13 , wherein the support further comprises:
 a projection arm configured to be attached to the apparatus that is adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to the support structure, the projection arm comprising at least one of the support portion and the monitor portion; and   an extension arm connected and configured to move relative to the projection arm to extend and retract between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, the extension arm comprising the tablet portion.   
     
     
         15 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the tablet mount and the tablet portion is configured to rotate the tablet relative to the monitor mount and the monitor, the rotation including at least two biased tablet orientations comprising a tablet portrait orientation and a tablet landscape orientation. 
     
     
         16 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 13 , further comprising a weight beam attached to the support, the weight beam supporting a counterweight movable along at least a portion of the length of the weight beam. 
     
     
         17 . A system
 a support arm;   a monitor mount configured to receive and support a monitor;   a tablet mount configured to releasably retain a tablet, the tablet mount comprising a docking station having a connector configured to connect with a port on the tablet; and   an interface for attaching at least the monitor mount to the support arm, the support arm being adapted to position the tablet and the monitor relative to one of a wall mount, a desk, or a mobile cart, and the tablet being in a side-by-side relationship with the monitor upon attaching at least the monitor mount to the support arm via the interface.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tablet mount comprises:
 a support body defining a recessed portion for receiving and storing the tablet;   a first edge portion coupled to and extending from the support body, the first edge portion configured to receive and support a first edge of the retained tablet;   a latching mechanism coupled to the support body opposite from the first edge portion, the latching mechanism configured to engage a second edge of the retained tablet opposite the first edge so as to releasably retain the tablet within the tablet mount; and   at least one ejection member extending from the first edge portion of the tablet mount, the ejection member configured to engage the first edge of the retained tablet and biased to urge the first edge of the retained tablet away from the first edge portion of the tablet mount.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tablet mount comprises:
 a support body defining a recessed portion for receiving and storing the tablet; and   at least first and second edge retaining members, the first edge retaining member extending from the support body and being configured to retain a first edge of the supported tablet, the second edge retaining member extending from the tablet support body and being configured to retain a second edge of the supported tablet opposite the first edge, movement of one of the first and the second edge retaining members causing synchronous movement of the other of the first and the second edge retaining members relative to the tablet support body to releasably retain the supported tablet.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a brace configured to be connected to an edge of the monitor and to the tablet mount. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the brace comprises a first portion and a second portion forming a clamping structure, the clamping structure configured to engage a front portion of the monitor and clamp the brace about a thickness of the monitor. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the docking station is configured to align the tablet such that the port in the tablet aligns with and connects to the connector as the tablet is positioned in the docking station. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the connector of the docking station comprises a first connector, and wherein the docking station comprises a second connector configured to configured to connect with a port on the monitor. 
     
     
         24 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 23 , wherein the docking station is configured to communicate data from the tablet to the monitor. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the interface comprises a support comprising:
 a tablet portion for supporting the tablet mount and the tablet;   a monitor portion for supporting the monitor mount and the monitor; and   a support portion for attaching the support to the support arm.   
     
     
         26 . The tablet mounting system of  claim 25 , wherein the support further comprises:
 a projection arm configured to be attached to the support arm, the projection arm comprising at leak one of the support portion and the monitor portion; and   an extension arm connected and configured to move relative to the projection arm to extend and retract between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, the extension arm comprising the tablet portion.