Keyboard comfort aid

• US 5,478,034 A
• Filed: 06/04/1993
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Betty L. Hobbs, Exa E. Cunningham, John G. Hobbs, Kenneth W. Cunningham
• Original Assignee: Betty L. Hobbs, Exa E. Cunningham, John G. Hobbs, Kenneth W. Cunningham
• Inventors: Cunningham, Exa E., Hobbs, John G., Cunningham, Kenneth W., Hobbs, Betty L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Blair M.
• Application Number:
  US08/071,058
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 226/180, 226/194, 297/411.35
• US Class Current: 248/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 16/00 Stand-alone rests or supports for feet, legs, arms, back or head associated with chairs A47C7/00; associated with beds or sofas A47C20/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/00 Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A wrist support device for alleviating repetition-induced limb soreness and agitation consisting of an adjustable position roller assembly secured adjacent a manipulable control panel for the purpose of supporting the operator'"'"'s wrists and/or forearms in a natural but operative position. The device uses a slide rod and linear bearings to provide the support element.

Claims

1. A wrist rest device for use adjacent a keyboard, comprising:

an elongated, cylindrical slide rod;

means supporting said slide rod in a horizontal attitude and generally in parallel along the front of said keyboard; and

at least one roller slidably supported on said slide rod and having capability of both rotative and longitudinal movement while giving wrist support.

2. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one roller comprises:

first and second roller members each including respective first and second linear bearings which are received on said slide rod.

3. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means supporting said slide rod comprises:

first and second spaced support members; and

a base member of generally rectangular shape having said first and second support member secured on opposite sides.

4. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means supporting said slide rod comprises:

first and second spaced support member; and

a base member of generally rectangular shape having said first and second support member secured on opposite sides.

5. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said support members comprises:

a support block rigidly secured to said base member; and

a rotatable bracket secured to said support block and adjustably supporting said slide rod at a selected height above said base member.

6. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said support members comprises:

a support block rigidly secured to said base member; and

a rotatable bracket secured to said support block and adjustably supporting said slide rod at a preselected height above said base member.

7. A wrist rest device for use with an operator'"'"'s keyboard, comprising:

a base member for rigid positioning relative to said keyboard;

at least one block rotatable about a vertical axis while secured on said base member and supporting a slide rod extending generally parallel to said base member; and

a roller positioned on said slide rod for slidable and rotatable movement while giving wrist support.

8. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one rotatable block and roller comprises:

first and second rotatable blocks each secured in spaced relationship on said base member in support of respective first and second slide rods; and

first and second rollers positioned on respective first and second slide rods.

9. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second rotatable blocks each comprise:

a lower block secured in selected position on said base member; and

an upper block rotatively secured to said lower block and supporting a respective slide rod in generally horizontal attitude.

10. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

each of said first and second rollers is formed around a linear bearing having slidable and rotative motion.

11. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

each of said first and second rotatable blocks is extendable and retractable in height.

12. A wrist rest device as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

each of said first and second rotatable blocks is telescopically adjustable in height.

13. A limb support device for use with a tactically operated machine, comprising:

an elongated, round slide rod;

first and second rollers slidably and rotatably retained on said slide rod in adjacent relationship, said rollers each presenting a relatively soft outer surface; and

support means for adjustably positioning said slide rod rigidly relative to said machine.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13 which is further characterized to include:

first and second linear bearing members axially supporting each of said first and second rollers.

15. A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said support means comprises:

first and second support members each rigidly secured relative to said machine and supporting opposite ends of said slide rod.

16. A device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said support means comprises:

first and second support members each rigidly secured relative to said machine and supporting opposite ends of said slide rod.