COMPONENTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for supporting one or more components and, in particular, a modular support system and method for supporting one or more electric devices including, but not limited to, electrical monitors, laptops, tablets and electronic communication devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Traditionally, individuals working at a desk interact with a single computer terminal. However, in recent years, the way in which individuals work at a desk or workstation has changed due to advances in information technology and communication which has resulted in an increase in the number of electronic devices used by persons as part of their daily working routine. For example, as part of their daily working routine, an individual will typically work on their computer/laptop whilst requiring access to their mobile phone, tablet and another electrical monitor (i.e. a second computer screen).

[0003] In order to facilitate the ability to use various devices simultaneously, there are products available that enable the mounting and support of various electrical devices (e.g., laptops, computer screens, tablets etc.,) to a single support structure. The single support structure is intended to facilitate the ease of viewing of, and access to, such electrical devices by persons whilst working at a desk or workstation. Such products are provided to the consumer as a pre-assembled unit and generally include one or more support arms (or members) to which electrical units such as a laptop and monitor screen are able to be temporarily or permanently fixed. As such products are provided to the consumer in an already assembled state, the consumer is afforded little flexibility in arranging their workstation in order to suit their needs or preferences.

[0004] Another means of providing users with a flexible modular support system for supporting various electrical devices is a single support pole from which one or more support arms (or members) are attached. In such systems, a single pole supports one or more arms radiating from the pole to which a user is able to attach various devices. However, such modular systems are limited by the height of the single pole and the number of radiating support arms (members) that are able to be supported by the single pole. Accordingly, such systems have limited flexibility in the configuration of the system and the number of devices that are able to be supported and accommodated by the single support pole.

[0005] In an attempt to increase the flexibility of products that enable the mounting and support of various electrical devices, alternative products have been designed that are modular in structure and that are provided to the consumer in a disassembled state. However such modular products require the use of various tools and locking components to assemble the support structure, and as such, do not offer flexibility and require time and effort whenever a user desires to alter the configuration of their workstation.

[0006] The present invention attempts to address the abovementioned disadvantages associated with conventional support units, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a modular support system adapted to provide an adjustable support for one or more components, wherein the modular support system includes, a first interlocking member that is adapted to be fixed, or be releasably attached, to a workstation surface; a second interlocking member that engages with the first interlocking member such that the first and second interlocking members are releasably manually interlocked.

[0008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a modular support system adapted to provide an adjustable support for one or more components, wherein the modular support system includes, a first interlocking member that is adapted to be fixed, or be releasably attached, to a workstation surface; one or more additional interlocking members including a second interlocking member that engages with the first interlocking member such that the first and second interlocking members are releasably manually interlocked, wherein the first or second interlocking member is adapted to engage with at least one more interlocking member of the one or more interlocking members.

[0009] In an embodiment, the first interlocking member is releasably attached to a workstation surface by means of clamp.

[0010] In an embodiment, each interlocking member includes at least one male interlocking portion, or at least one female interlocking portion, or a dual male/female interlocking portion.

[0011] It will be appreciated that the interlocking members are able to be interlocked manually without the need to use any additional tools (for example, screw drivers or hammers), or fasteners (for example, clips, pins, nuts, bolts or screws). The system is able to be readily assembled in any desired configuration by any person without the need for any specialised skills.

[0012] It will also be appreciated that as the interlocking members are able to "self- interlock" (i.e., manually and without the need for use of any specialised tools or fasteners), the system is less prone to mechanical failure that is synonymous with the use of clips, pins or other fasteners that are typically used to engage two or more members of a modular system. [0013] It will further be appreciated that by avoiding the need to use additional tools and/or fasteners to engage and interlock two or more members as a result of the ability of the members to "self-interlock", the modular system of the present invention is less prone to parts being lost and as a result, is less likely to present an inconvenience to the user in having to replace any lost or misplaced parts.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a system for interlocking a first and second member, the system including: a female locking portion associated with the first member; and a male locking portion associated with the second member, wherein: the male and female locking portions are configured such that the male locking portion is receivable in the female locking portion; and rotation either of the first or second member, or rotation of both the first and second members in opposite directions relative to one another after the male locking portion is received in the female locking portion, causes the first and second members to become interlocked.

[0015] In another aspect, the present invention provides a modular support system adapted to provide a support for one or more components, the modular support system including at least two releasably interlocking members, wherein: a first member of the at least two releasably interlocking members includes at least one female locking portion and a second member of the at least two releasably interlocking members includes at least one male locking portion; the female and male locking portions of the respective first and second members are configured to interlock; said interlock achieved through a twist lock motion, wherein the female locking portion of the first member receives the male locking portion of the second member and either the first or second member is twisted, or both the first and second members are twisted, in opposite directions relative to one another.

[0016] In an embodiment, the female and male locking portions are disengageable by twisting one or more of the first and second members in opposite directions relative to one another and in an opposite direction to the direction of twisting when interlocking the first and second members, to thereby unlock the first and second members.

[0017] In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second releasably interlocking members includes an elongate body portion and at least one female locking portion and/or at least one male locking portion, wherein the body portion and the female and/or male locking portions form a monolithic support member. In the context of the present invention, the word "monolithic" is intended to mean constructed from a single piece of material.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the first and second releasably interlocking members includes a elongate body portion and at least one female locking portion and/or at least one male locking portion, wherein the female and/or male locking portions are connected to the body portion. Accordingly, connection of the male and/or female locking portions to the body portion may be by any means known to the skilled person, however, in one embodiment, the means of connection is by the use of a hinge. In an embodiment, the hinge is a swivel hinge thereby allowing movement of a component (e.g., a computer monitor) mounted to the member in at least a vertical direction through about 90 degrees. In an embodiment, the hinge is a ball hinge thereby allowing rotational movement of a mounted component (e.g., a computer monitor) in any direction.

[0019] In an embodiment, at least one of the two releasably interlocking members is a primary member capable of supporting a heavy component such as a computer monitor.

[0020] In embodiments, at least one of the two interlocking members is a secondary member capable of supporting a light component such as a laptop mount, a mobile phone mount, a monitor mount, a clamp, a pen holder, speakers, a microphone, or an LED light.

[0021] It will be appreciated that each of the primary and secondary support members will have at least one male or female locking portion thereby enabling the member to engage and interlock at least another member having a corresponding male or female locking portion.

[0022] In an embodiment, at least one of the releasably interlocking members includes a dynamic arm capable of supporting heavier components including, but not limited to, computer monitors and laptops. In this embodiment, the dynamic arm includes an adjustable spring mechanism wherein the tension of the spring is able to be adjusted to thereby enable components such as monitors and laptops of different weights to be supported. [0023] In an embodiment, the releasably interlocking member with dynamic arm is an elongate member and includes at its one end a male locking portion connected to the interlocking member by means of a swivel hinge and at its other end a female locking portion connected to the interlocking member by means of another swivel hinge.

[0024] In an embodiment, at least one of the releasably interlocking members includes a clamp adapted to attach to a desk or any planar working surface such as a table or bench, to thereby stabilize the modular support system to the planar surface.

[0025] In an embodiment, the male locking portion includes a tapered locking pin that is able to be inserted into a cavity of the female locking portion. In an embodiment, the cavity of the female locking portion is correspondingly tapered to facilitate ease of insertion of the male locking pin of the male locking portion within the female cavity of the female locking portion.

[0026] In an embodiment, the tapered locking pin of the male locking portion includes an annular collar along its shaft (or in alternative arrangements a disc at its end) which extends radially outwardly with respect to an outer surface of the tapered locking pin, whereby a segment of the collar or disc is notched or otherwise cut out. In this embodiment, the cavity of the female locking portion includes an inwardly directed projection (or rib) on an inner wall that is at least partially correspondingly shaped with the notch located on the annular collar or disc such that when the notch and projection are aligned during insertion of the male locking portion, the notch and projection are dimensioned such that the projection is received inside the notched segment of the collar or disc, and upon further insertion of the male locking portion, the collar passes beyond the projection.

[0027] In an embodiment, the radial dimension of a male locking portion is substantially the same as the radial dimension of a female locking portion.

[0028] In an embodiment, the male and female locking portions are substantially co-axial along a longitudinal axis. To engage and releasably interlock first and second members of a modular support system, the tapered locking pin of the male locking portion on the first member is inserted within the cavity of the female locking portion on the second member in a manner so as to substantially align the notch located on the collar or disc of the tapered locking pin of the male locking portion with the projection (or rib) located in the cavity of the female locking portion. Once the collar or disc is inserted within cavity such that the notch in the collar (or disc) is urged past rib, the first member is rotated relative to the second member such that the collar or disc, now located below the rib, prevents the male locking portion from being drawn out of the female locking portion in a longitudinal direction.

[0029] In addition, as the annular collar substantially extends the full circumference of the tapered locking pin (with the exception of the notch located on the collar), there is a limited location through which the annular collar is able to be moved past projection (or rib). In this regard, projection (or rib) is located within the cavity of the female locking portion at a location that facilitates the greatest lateral movement of the first member in relation to the second member without disengaging first and second members. Accordingly, the first member is able to be laterally rotated with respect to the second member whilst avoiding disengagement of the first and second members.

[0030] Accordingly, the at least two releasably interlocking members are able to be manually engaged and interlocked without requiring any fasteners (e.g., screws, pins, latches etc.) or additional tools (e.g., screwdrivers, hammers, alien keys etc.). As a result, the modular support system is not only easier to assemble, but is also less prone to failure through any potential loss of additional tools and/or fasteners.

[0031] The ability to readily engage and disengage two or more members of the modular support system without the requirement to use any tools enables users to support various components and also allows a user to arrange the modular support system in any desired configuration.

[0032] In an embodiment, when a user prefers that the modular system be fixed and not able to be readily disassembled, two or more members, once interlocked, may be fixed using fixing means including, but not limited to, bolts, screws, pins, such that the two or more interlocked members are not able to be disengaged whilst the fixing means are in place. In this embodiment, two or more members may be unlocked and disengaged by firstly removing the fixing means and then twisting the first and second members in respective opposite directions relative to one another to thereby unlock and disengage the first and second members. [0033] The members of the modular support system may be fabricated from a lightweight material, for example, nylon, and may be die cast or injection moulded into various shapes.

[0034] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of engaging two or more members of a modular support system, the system including a female locking portion associated with the first member; and a male locking portion associated with the second member, wherein either of the first or second member is rotated, or both the first and second members are rotated in opposite directions, after the male locking portion is received in the female locking portion, to thereby cause the first and second members to become interlocked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Embodiment(s) of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying figure(s) in which:

[0036] Figure 1 shows different types of locking portions used to interlock various supporting members according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0037] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the modular support system of the invention in which various interlocking members are shown in a disengaged state.

[0038] Figure 3 shows a section of the modular support system in side view showing, in particular, the different swing states of the dynamic arm.

[0039] Figure 4 shows the section of the modular support system shown in Figure 3 in perspective view, showing, in particular, lateral movement of the interlocking parts with respect to one another.

[0040] Figure 5 is of a male locking portion of one member and a female locking portion of another member according to an embodiment of the invention showing, in particular, the twist lock mechanism used to engage and interlock the two members.

[0041] Figure 6 shows how a main arm is able to be secured to a base with the use of a bolt to thereby prevent disengagement of the member from the base whist the bolt is in place.

[0042] Figure 7 shows how a dynamic arm is able to be secured to a main arm with the use of a bolt to thereby prevent disengagement of the dynamic and main arms whilst the bolt is in place. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

[0043] For convenience, the invention will be described with respect to a particular embodiment, however it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment.

[0044] In an embodiment, the present invention includes various types of locking portions as shown in Figure 1 . The first locking portion (1 ) is a dual male/female locking portion which includes long female barrel with cavity (2) and a long male pin (3). It will be appreciated that long female barrel and cavity (2) is configured to receive and secure a long male pin of another interlocking portion.

[0045] The second locking portion (4) includes short female barrel and cavity (5) and long male pin (3). Long male pin (3) is configured to be received by a long female cavity of another interlocking portion whilst short female barrel (with cavity) (5) is configured to receive and engage a short male pin of another interlocking portion, such as the short male pin (6) of interlocking portion (7).

[0046] The fourth locking portion (8) is a female locking portion capable of receiving a long male pin of another interlocking portion, whilst the last locking portion (9) is a female locking portion adapted to receive and engage a long male pin such as long male pin (3) of interlocking portions (1 ) and (4).

[0047] It will be understood that long male pins and long female barrels (with cavities) are generally used with interlocking members that are adapted to support heavy loads or heavier components such as computer monitors and laptops, whilst shorter male pins and shorter female barrels (with cavities) are generally used with interlocking members that are adapted to support lighter loads and components such as tablets, mobile phones, LED lights, pen holders etc.

[0048] Figure 2 provides a modular support system (10) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in which various interlocking members are shown in a disengaged state. Figure 2 shows, in particular, main arm (13) having a dual male/female locking portion (15) with long female cavity (16) and long male pin (19). Long male pin (19) of dual male/female locking portion (15) is receivable by female locking portion (21 ) of base (23). Base (23) also includes clamp (25) which is adapted, in use, to engage a workstation surface such as a desk (not shown) and thereby secure the modular support system to a workstation. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, base (23) may be secured to a workstation or plane surface by means other than a clamp. In yet alternative embodiments, the base may be built into a workstation.

[0049] As can also be seen from Figure 2, a general purpose outlet (GPO) (26) (power cord not shown) is also located on the modular support system between male portion (19) located on main arm (13) and female locking portion (21 ) located on base (23). In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, GPO (26) is fixed to modular system (10) by inserting male locking portion (19) through aperture (28) located in the body of GPO (26). Male locking portion (19) is subsequently inserted into, and received by, female locking portion (21 ) located on base (23) to thereby lock and fix into place GPO (26). Thus, a user will have the convenience of being able to plug other devices such as charging devices for mobile phones and tablets directly into GPO (26).

[0050] Main arm (13) further includes two clips (27) which are adapted, in use, to secure and hold in place any electrical cords or wiring thereby facilitating functionality and organisation of the workspace. Female cavity (16) of dual male/female locking portion (15) on main arm (13), is able to receive male pin (29) of dual male/female locking portion (30) of additional main arm (31 ). Additional main arm (31 ) also has dual male/female locking portion (29) with female cavity (33) and also female locking portion (35), both of which are capable of receiving male pins of other interlocking members.

[0051] Notably, dual male/female locking portions (15) and (30) on main arms (13) and (31 ) are identical and are capable of receiving male pins (19) and (29) which are also identical. Dual male/female locking portions (49) and (61 ) on dynamic arms (37 and (39) are also identical and are capable of receiving male pin (65).

[0052] It will be appreciated that by having identical male and female locking portions on different members enables different supporting members (e.g., main arms, dynamic arms and secondary arms) to be interlocked in a variety of configurations thereby increasing the usefulness and adaptability of the modular support system of the invention.

[0053] Additional main arm (31 ) in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 also receives dynamic arm (37) which is spring loaded, and thereby capable of supporting heavier components such as laptops and computer monitors. In this regard, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, dynamic arms (37) and (39) each support laptop mount (41 ) and monitor mount (43). Also shown in Figure 2 are laptop (45) mounted and supported by laptop mount (41 ) and also monitor (47) mounted and supported by monitor mount (43).

[0054] Additional main arm (31 ) also includes female locking portion (20) that is adapted to receive a male locking portion of any other member, for example, an additional main arm. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, it can be seen that there is no member engaged with female locking portion (20) and therefore cavity (33) is able to receive and interlock a male interlocking portion located on another member. Additional main arm (31 ) further includes two clips (27) which are adapted, in use, to secure and hold in place any electrical cords or wiring thereby facilitating functionality and organisation of the workspace.

[0055] Dynamic arm (37) interlocked with additional main arm (31 ) also includes dual male/female locking portion (49) and female locking portion (51 ). Dual male/female locking portion (49) and female locking portion (51 ) are also adapted to engage and interlock dynamic arm (37) to, respectively, additional main arm (31 ) and laptop mount (41 ). In this regard, male pin (57) of dual male/female locking portion (49) is interlocked with female locking portion (35) of additional main arm (31 ). Laptop mount (41 ) is shown in an engaged state with dynamic arm (37) and therefore only a section of the male locking portion of laptop mount (41 ) is able to be seen in Figure 2. Dynamic arm (37) also includes cap (53) which is positioned on dual male/female locking portion (49) for aesthetic purposes when female cavity (55) of dual male/female locking portion (49) is in an unengaged (i.e., unlocked) state. Dynamic arm (37) also includes swivel hinges (34) and (36) that allows movement of the arm in a vertical direction to suit a user's preference during use.

[0056] Dynamic arm (37) further includes two clips (27) which are adapted, in use, to secure and hold in place any electrical cords or wiring thereby facilitating functionality and organisation of the workspace.

[0057] Dynamic arm (39) is identical to dynamic arm (37), where female cavity (59) of dual male/female locking portion (61 ) is interlocked with male locking portion (65) of secondary arm (67). It will be seen that secondary arm (67) includes elongate section (69) that is of a smaller cross-sectional diameter compared to the cross-sectional diameter of elongate sections (71 ) and (73) of respective main arm (13) and additional main arm (31 ). Accordingly, secondary arm (67) is thereby adapted to support lightweight components such as mobile phones and tablets. In this embodiment, secondary arm (67) engages tablet mount (75) by ball hinge (77) to thereby support tablet (79). The use of ball hinge (77) allows the orientation of tablet mount (75), and thereby tablet (79), to be adjusted to suit the user during use.

[0058] Dynamic arm (39) is also capable of engaging monitor mount (43) by the use of male pin (81 ) of dual male/female locking portion (83) received by female locking portion (60) located on dynamic arm (39). Monitor mount (43) engages and supports monitor (47) by use of screw pins (44) located on monitor mount (43). Monitor mount (43) also includes female cavity (85) of dual male/female locking portion (83) which is adapted to receive male locking portion (87) of light (89). Dynamic arm (39) also includes swivel hinges (38) and (40) that allows movement of the arm in a vertical direction to suit a user's preference during use. Vertical movement of monitor mount (43) and hence monitor (not shown) is also possible through use of swivel hinge (81 ) located on monitor mount (43).

[0059] Dynamic arm (39) is also capable of engaging main arm (13) through female locking portion (17) receiving male pin (63) of dual male/female locking portion (61 ). Dynamic arm (39) further includes two clips (27) which are adapted, in use, to secure and hold in place any electrical cords or wiring thereby facilitating functionality and organisation of the workspace.

[0060] Dynamic arms (37) and (39) are capable of supporting heavier components including, but not limited to, computer monitors and laptops by the inclusion of an adjustable spring mechanism in the elongate section of dynamic arms (37) and (39) that enables adjustment of the spring tension as required depending on the weight of the component to be supported.

[0061] Figure 2 also effectively demonstrates the "tree effect" of the modular system of the invention. In this regard, as the members are able to be interlocked or engaged in various configurations by virtue of the male, female or dual male/female locking portions on respective members, the modular system is "organic" in its configuration as it is able to be arranged in various "branch-like" configurations which facilitates adaptability and the usefulness of the system. [0062] A section of the of the modular support system (1 ) shown in Figure 2 is shown in side view in Figure 3, that shows, in particular the various vertical swing states that monitor mount (43) can adopt with respect to fixed main arm (13). Various vertical swing states may be adopted by virtue of swivel hinges (38 and 40) located dynamic arm (39) and also swivel hinge (81 ) located on monitor mount (43).

[0063] A section of the modular support system (10) shown in Figure 2 is also shown in perspective view in Figure 4 that includes base (23) interlocked with main arm (13) through use of dual male/female locking portion (15). Main arm (13) is also interlocked with dynamic arm (39) through use of dual male/female locking portion (61 ). Dynamic arm (39) is also interlocked with monitor mount (43) by the use of dual male/female locking portion. Base (23) includes hex socket (24) that enables clamp (shown in Figure 1 ) to be tightened (by the use of a hex Allen key) so as to secure base (23) to a planar surface such as a desk, table or any workstation surface.

[0064] Main arm (13) further includes clips (27) which are adapted, in use, to secure and hold in place any electrical cords or wiring thereby facilitating functionality and organisation of the workspace. Also shown in Figure 4 are mounting holes (46) located on monitor mount (43) that are adapted to receive threaded screws (44) (shown in Figure 2) for securing monitor (not shown) to monitor mount (43).

[0065] As may also be seen from Figure 4, lateral rotation (movement) of one interlocking member relative to another interlocking member is possible due to the configuration of the twist-lock mechanism that is used to engage and disengage various interlocking members from one another. This ability to achieve lateral rotation of interlocking yet avoid disengagement is more easily described with reference to Figure 5.

[0066] Figure 5 shows a section of the modular support system (10) of Figure 2 in exploded and perspective view that focuses on the twist lock mechanism between dual male/female locking portion of dynamic arm (39) wherein male locking pin (63) is received by cavity (16) of female receiving portion (17) located on main arm (13). Cavity (16) of female locking portion (17) has a profile that is correspondingly tapered to the profile of male locking pin (63) to thereby more readily facilitate the entry of male locking pin (63) into cavity (16). Cavity (16) also houses projection (95) which is configured such that it extends radially inwardly from an inner wall of cavity (16) towards defined longitudinal axis (97) of cavity (16).

[0067] As male locking pin (63) is urged towards and within cavity (16), projection (95) is aligned with and received by notch (91 ) of collar (93) located on the end of male locking pin (63). In order to releasably interlock dynamic arm (39) with main arm (13), male locking pin (63) is urged towards and within cavity (16) of female locking portion (17) until projection (95) moves through and past notch (91 ) of collar (93) and reaches channel (99) defined between collar (93) and the upper portion of male locking pin (63). Once male locking pin (63) is urged towards and within cavity (16) to the point where projection (95) reaches channel (99), dynamic arm (39) is twisted relative to main arm (13) to thereby cause projection (95) to prevent male locking pin (63) from being drawn out of cavity (16) of female locking portion (17). In other words, once collar (93) is urged beyond the projection (95) and then twisted, the collar (93) and projection (95) are no longer co- aligned and therefore the collar (93) will abut against protection (95) when one attempts to retrieve the male locking pin (63) from inside the female locking portion (17).

[0068] In addition, as collar (93) substantially extends the full circumference of tapered male pin (91 ) (with the exception of notch (91 )), dynamic arm (39) is able to be laterally rotated with respect to main arm (13) whilst avoiding disengagement of dynamic arm (39) from the main arm (13). In this regard, rib (95) is located within cavity (16) of female locking portion (17) at a position that facilitates the greatest lateral movement of dynamic arm (39) in relation to main arm (13) without disengaging dynamic arm (39) and main arm (13).

[0069] In embodiments, where it is preferred to prevent disengagement of members once they have been manually interlocked, the system provides the use of a fixing means, such as bolt, screw or pin, which are capable of fixing any two members together after the members have been manually interlocked through a twist lock motion. Figures 6 and 7 show, as examples, how a main arm and dynamic arm (Figure 6) and base and main arm (Figure 7) are able to be fixed so as to prevent relative rotation and hence disengagement once interlocked.

[0070] Figure 6 shows, in exploded front (Figure 6a), perspective (Figure 6b) and sectional (Figure 6c) views, the way in which female locking portion (17) of main arm (13) is interlocked with male pin (63) of dynamic arm (39) by the use of collar (93) which, when in an engaged state, causes projection (95) to abut collar (93) located on male pin (63) thereby preventing male locking pin (63) from being drawn out of cavity 16 (as shown in Figure 5) of female locking portion (17).

[0071] Figure 6 also shows female locking portion (17) that receives bolt (101 ) through aperture (103 - see Figure 6(b)). Bolt (101 ) is also received by aperture (104 - see Figure 6(b)) located on the end of male pin (63) of dual male/female locking portion (61 ). Notably, main arm (17) is still able to rotated with respect to dynamic arm (39) when bolt (101 ) is in place, however, male pin (63) is prevented from being drawn out of the cavity of female locking portion (17) as a result of the engagement of bolt (101 ) with main arm (13) and male locking pin (63) of dynamic arm (39).

[0072] Similarly to Figure 6, the way in which bolt (105) may be used to fix main arm (13) to base (23) (once these members are self-interlocked) is shown in exploded front (Figure 7a), perspective (Figure 7b) and sectional (Figure 7c) views. As can most clearly be seen from Figure 7b, bolt (105) is received by aperture (107) of base (23) and engages aperture (108) located on the bottom of male pin (19) of dual male/female locking portion (15). Notably, main arm (13) is still able to be rotated with respect to base (23) when bolt (105) is in place, however, male pin (19) is prevented from being drawn out of the cavity of female locking portion (21 ) as a result of the engagement of bolt (105) with base (23) and male locking pin (19) of main arm (13).

[0073] Figure 7 also shows the way in which female locking portion (21 ) of base (23) is interlocked with male pin (19) of main arm (13) by the use of collar (109) which, when in an engaged state, causes projection (11 1 ) to abut collar (109) located on male pin (19) thereby preventing male locking pin (19) from being drawn out of cavity (21 ).

[0074] Accordingly, the system of the invention in various embodiments provides a means for readily engaging and disengaging one or more members which are adapted to support a variety of components including, but not limited to, computer screens, laptops, tablets and mobile phones to thereby provide a flexible workstation and workspace that may be easily re-configured and adapted to suit the requirements of a user. As the members of the modular support are able to self-interlock (i.e., through manual engagement and in the absence of any additional tools), the modular support system is easy to assemble and less prone to failure through any potential loss of additional tools and/or fasteners

[0075] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form or suggestion, that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0076] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to mean the inclusion of a stated feature or step, or group of features or steps, but not the exclusion of any other feature or step or group of features or steps.