Pivoting keyboard and mouse tray

• US 20050247830A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred P. Rossini
• Original Assignee: Alfred P. Rossini
• Inventors: Rossini, Alfred P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/118.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/035 having double articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment

Abstract

A pivoting keyboard and mouse tray for attachment to a support structure such as a mobile computer cart. The device includes a keyboard tray adapted to hold a keyboard, a mechanical structure for coupling the keyboard tray to the support structure, one or more hinges between the keyboard tray and the mechanical structure to allow the keyboard tray to be pivoted relative to the support structure and maintain the keyboard tray in the pivoted position, and one or more mouse trays integral with or coupled to the keyboard tray.

Claims

1. A pivoting keyboard and mouse tray for attachment to a support structure, comprising:

a keyboard tray adapted to hold a keyboard;

a mechanical structure for coupling the keyboard tray to the support structure;

one or more hinges between the keyboard tray and such mechanical structure to allow the keyboard tray to be pivoted relative to the support structure and maintain the keyboard tray in the pivoted position; and

one or more mouse trays integral with or coupled to the keyboard tray.

2. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 1 wherein the hinges comprise torque hinges.

3. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of collinear torque hinges.

4. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 1 wherein the mechanical structure for coupling the keyboard tray to the support structure comprises an arm.

5. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 4 wherein the arm comprises flanges on one end for coupling the arm to the support structure.

6. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 5 wherein the arm is generally “

L”

shaped, with a surface for coupling to the keyboard tray at the distal end of the arm opposite the flanges.

7. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 6 wherein the one or more hinges are mounted to the distal end of the arm.

8. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 1 wherein at least one mouse tray is pivotably coupled to the keyboard tray.

9. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 8 further comprising mechanical structure for guiding the mouse tray in a pivoting path relative to the keyboard tray.

10. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 9 wherein the mechanical structure comprises an arc-shaped slot in one of the keyboard tray and the mouse tray, and a pin that passes through the slot on the other of the keyboard tray and the mouse tray.

11. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 10 wherein there are two mouse trays, one coupled to each end of the keyboard tray, and both coupled in the same pivoting manner.

12. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 1 wherein the mouse tray comprises a mechanical structure that assists in maintaining a mouse on the mouse tray as the keyboard tray is pivoted.

13. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 12 wherein the mechanical structure that assists in maintaining a mouse on the mouse tray as the keyboard tray is pivoted comprises an arm proximate the back of the tray.

14. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 13 wherein the mechanical structure that assists in maintaining a mouse on the mouse tray as the keyboard tray is pivoted further comprises a tab projecting up from the back of the mouse tray proximate the arm.

15. A pivoting keyboard and mouse tray for attachment to a support structure, comprising:

a keyboard tray adapted to hold a keyboard;

an arm coupled at one end to the support structure at the other end to the keyboard tray;

a plurality of torque hinges between the keyboard tray the arm to allow the keyboard tray to be pivoted relative to the arm, and maintain the keyboard tray in the pivoted position; and

one or more mouse trays pivotably coupled to the keyboard tray.

16. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 15 wherein the arm is generally “

L”

shaped, with a surface for coupling to the keyboard tray at the distal end of the arm opposite the flanges.

17. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 15 further comprising mechanical structure for guiding each mouse tray in a pivoting path relative to the keyboard tray.

18. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 17 wherein the mechanical structure comprises an arc-shaped slot in one of the keyboard tray and the mouse tray, and a pin that passes through the slot on the other of the keyboard tray and the mouse tray.

19. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 15 wherein the mouse trays each comprise a mechanical structure that assists in maintaining a mouse on the mouse tray as the keyboard tray is pivoted.

20. The pivoting keyboard and mouse tray of claim 19 wherein the mechanical structure that assists in maintaining a mouse on the mouse tray as the keyboard tray is pivoted comprises an arm proximate the back of the tray.