Body support apparatus

• US 5,050,826 A
• Filed: 07/03/1990
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ability Center of Greater Toledo
• Original Assignee: Ability Center of Greater Toledo
• Inventors: Johnston, Keith M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US07/547,676
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118, 248/118.5, 211/123, 193/35 R, 193/35 MD, 193/37, 400/715
• US Class Current: 248/118.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/0011 Hooks and loops as in hook and look-type fastener

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting the hands, wrists, or arms of a keyboard operator. The apparatus includes horizontally mounted support members disposed adjacent a computer keyboard. The support members are preferably padded and are adapted to rotate about and shift along the axis of the shaft to provide continuous support to the operator during keyboard function.

Claims

1. A body supporting apparatus comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis body support means; and

means for mounting said body support means to said shaft for permitting rotation of said body support means to said shaft and about the axis of said shaft and for axial movement relative to said shaft along the axis of said shaft.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, including:

means for mounting said shaft in spaced relation above a supporting surface.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said means for mounting said shaft includes:

a base; and

shaft retainer means mounted on said base.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 including:

means attached to an undersurface of said base adapted to militate against motion of said base relative to the supporting surface.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 including:

means disposed on said shaft for preventing dislodgement of said shaft from said shaft retainer means.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said means for mounting said shaft includes:

means for adjusting the height of said shaft above the supporting surface.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including:

a base;

at least one lever arm having a first end pivotally connected to said base;

means for mounting said shaft to said lever arm in spaced relation from the first end of said lever arm;

spacer means; and

means for separably fastening said spacer means to said base wherein said spacer means effectively supports said lever arm.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said lever arm is pivotally attached to said base by a clevis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said body support means includes:

bushing means encircling said shaft; and

cushion means mounted on said bushing means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 including:

means disposed on said shaft for preventing dislodgment of said shaft from said lever arm.