Computer keyboard support with padded wrist support

• US 5,183,230 A
• Filed: 01/21/1992
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fox Bay Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fox Bay Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Wayne E., Walker, Grant A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US07/824,912
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/633, 248/918, 248/346, 108/27
• US Class Current: 248/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0093 Wrist pad cover

Abstract

A keyboard support is provided for use with computer keyboards. The keyboard support includes a foam covered baseplate that securely positions and cushions the keyboard. A wrist support is attached to the baseplate along the front edge of the baseplate. The wrist support includes a neoprene foam core covered by a friction resistive fabric. The padded feature of the wrist support cushions the operator'"'"'s wrists which can help in preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). A first version of the keyboard support includes a wrist support of a fixed height to positoin the wrists at a level and horizontal plane when the fingers are positioned over the keys of the keyboard. The level positioning of the wrists is also important in preventing CTS. A second version of the keyboard support includes a vertically adjustable wrist support which may be adjusted in height to adapt the support to any sized keyboard. The second version also includes an overhang that positively positions the support at the edge of a table or desktop surface.

Claims

1. A support for supporting a keyboard on an external surface, said external surface including an edge, said support further supporting a keyboard operator'"'"'s hands over the keyboard so that a keyboard operator'"'"'s wrists are supported in a generally nonflexed horizontal position, said support comprising:

a keyboard support portion including a top supporting surface for holding the keyboard in a stationary position relative to said support, said keyboard support portion including a bottom surface for resting on the external surface;

an overhang portion extending from said keyboard support portion along a front edge of said keyboard support portion, said overhang portion having a vertically descending member having an outer surface facing toward the keyboard operator, said outer surface defining a vertical depth extending vertically below said top supporting surface and said bottom surface of said keyboard support portion, said vertically descending member having an inner surface for abutting the edge of the external surface;

a wrist support portion connected to said overhang portion, said wrist support portion having a top surface, said top surface positionable at a height to support the keyboard operator'"'"'s hands over the keyboard so that the keyboard operator'"'"'s wrists are supported in a generally nonflexed horizontal position during typing; and

means for adjusting said wrist support portion vertically along said vertical depth defined by said outer surface of said vertically descending member of said overhang portion wherein said wrist support portion is adjustable for keyboards of different vertical heights to permit support of the wrists in the generally nonflexed horizontal position during typing.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said overhang portion further comprises:

a second substantially vertical member extending parallel to said vertically descending member; and

a substantially horizontal member extending outwardly away from the external surface and connecting said vertically descending member to said second vertical member, said horizontal member disposed vertically lower than said bottom surface of said keyboard support portion.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting includes:

connecting means for movably mounting said wrist support portion to said overhang portion, said connecting means including a rotatable handle assembly, said connecting means further including means for converting rotational movement of said handle assembly to vertical movement of said wrist support portion, wherein said connecting means permits the keyboard operator to manually move said wrist support portion relative to said overhang portion to vertically adjust said wrist support portion along said vertical depth defined by said vertically descending member.

4. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wrist support portion includes a cushioning pad.

5. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said keyboard support portion includes a weight mounted to said keyboard support portion for counterbalancing the weight of said overhang portion, said wrist support portion, and the keyboard operator'"'"'s hands and wrists supported by said wrist support portion, said counterweight preventing said keyboard support portion from tipping up off of the external surface while the operator exerts pressure upon said wrist support portion during typing.

6. A support for supporting a keyboard on an external surface, said external surface including an edge, said support further supporting a keyboard operator'"'"'s hands over the keyboard so that a keyboard operator'"'"'s wrists are supported in a generally nonflexed horizontal position, said support comprising:

a keyboard support portion including a foam pad having a top supporting surface for holding the keyboard in a stationary position relative to said support, said keyboard support portion including a base plate having a bottom surface for resting on the external surface, said foam pad mounted to said base plate and overlying said base plate;

an overhang portion extending from said keyboard support portion along a front edge of said keyboard support, said overhang portion extending horizontally outward beyond the edge of the external surface;

a wrist support portion connected to said overhang portion, said wrist support portion having a top surface, said top surface positioned at a height to support the keyboard operator'"'"'s hands over the keyboard so that the keyboard operator'"'"'s wrists are supported in a generally nonflexed horizontal position during typing; and

a counterweight mounted to said keyboard support portion between said base plate and said foam pad, said counterweight in combination with said keyboard support portion sufficient to counterbalance the weight of said overhang portion, said wrist support portion, and at least some pressure applied by the operator to said wrist support portion during typing, to prevent said support from tipping up off of the external surface.

7. A support as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wrist support portion includes a cushioning pad.

8. A support as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for adjusting said wrist support portion vertically relative to said overhang portion.

9. A support as claimed in claim 6, wherein said overhang portion has a vertically descending member defining a vertical depth extending vertically below said top supporting surface and said bottom surface of said keyboard support portion, said vertically descending member having an inner surface for abutting an edge of the external surface.

10. A support for supporting a keyboard operator'"'"'s hands over a keyboard and further supporting the keyboard operator'"'"'s wrists in a generally nonflexed horizontal position when the keyboard operator operates the keyboard, the keyboard being used in combination with a work station keyboard support for positioning the keyboard at a convenient height above the ground, the work station keyboard support having an external vertical surface facing toward the operator, said support comprising:

a support portion including a first substantially vertical member having an outer surface, said outer surface defining a vertical depth;

a wrist support portion connected to said support portion, said wrist support portion having a top surface, said top surface positionable at a height to allow the keyboard operator'"'"'s hands to be positioned over the keys of the keyboard during typing so that the keyboard operator'"'"'s wrists are supported in a generally nonflexed horizontal position;

means for adjusting said wrist support portion vertically wherein said wrist support portion moves adjacent to and along said outer surface of said first vertical member of said support portion; and

means for positioning said support portion adjacent the keyboard wherein said first vertical member abuts the external vertical surface of the work station keyboard support and said outer surface faces the keyboard operator wherein said wrist support portion is adjustable relative to the work station keyboard support along said vertical depth to permit support of the operator'"'"'s wrists in the generally nonflexed position during typing.

11. A wrist support as claimed in claim 10, wherein said support portion includes a second substantially vertical member extending parallel to said first vertical member and spaced apart from said first vertical member, and a third member connecting said first vertical member to said second vertical member, said wrist support portion mounted to said second vertical member, and said second vertical member being positioned between said first vertical member and the operator in the horizontal direction.

12. A support as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting includes:

a linkage mounted to said second vertical member, said linkage further mounted to said wrist support portion to connect said wrist support portion to said support portion;

rotatable handle means for permitting the keyboard operator to move said wrist support portion and said linkage to vertically position said wrist support portion along said vertical depth defined by said first vertical member.

13. A support as claimed in claim 12, wherein said wrist support portion includes a cushioning pad disposed vertically beneath said top surface of said wrist support portion.