Linkage system

• US 5,707,034 A
• Filed: 06/29/1995
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FJP Manufacturing Proprietary Limited
• Original Assignee: Michael John Cotterill
• Inventors: Cotterill, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/492,024
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 248/276.1, 248/284.1, 248/286.1, 248/291.1, 248/292.12, 248/292.14, 248/299.1, 248/918, 74/99 A, 74/102
• US Class Current: 248/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0328 of the pantograph type
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment

Abstract

A linkage system (1) for connecting a first element (2) and a second element (3) includes a linkage arm (4) respectively connected at a first end and a second end (5, 6) respectively to the first and second elements. Arm (4) includes at end (5) two spaced apart engagement formations, pin (7) and pin (8). These pins slidably inter-engage on the first element a guide slot (9) and a control slot (10) respectively. Relative movement between pins (7, 8) and the guide and control slot (9, 10) respectively provides predetermined non-arcuate relative movement between elements (2, 3).

Claims

1. A linkage system comprising:

a first element defining a guide slot and a control slot;

a second element;

a linkage arm respectively connected at a first end and a second end to the first and second elements, the linkage arm including at the first end a first hinge pin for slidably inter-engaging the guide slot and spaced apart from said first hinge pin, a second hinge pin for slidably inter-engaging the control slot, whereby relative movement between the hinge pins and the guide slot and the control slot respectively provides for predetermined non-arcuate relative movement between the first and second elements; and

locking formations for selectively engaging one of the hinge pins for maintaining the first and second elements in one of a number of relative positions, said locking formations extending into at least one of the control slot and the guide slot.

2. A linkage system according to claim 1 wherein one of the first and second elements comprises a fixed support bracket for attachment to a desk surface and the other one of the first and second elements comprises a keyboard support bracket for attachment to a keyboard support, whereby, in use, the keyboard support is movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration with respect to the desk surface.

3. A linkage system according to claim 1 further comprising a second linkage arm extending between the first and second elements.

4. A linkage system according to claim 3 wherein the second linkage arm is rotatably connected at respective ends to the first and second elements.

5. A linkage system according to claim 3 wherein the second linkage arm is hingedly and slidably connected at an end to one of the first and second elements.

6. A linkage system according to claim 5 wherein the linkage arm and the second linkage arm are spaced apart at one of the first and second elements.

7. A linkage system according to claim 5 wherein the linkage arm and the second linkage arm are spaced apart at the first element and at the second element, the spacing between the linkage arm and the second linkage arm being greater at the first element than at the second element.

8. A linkage system according to claim 1 wherein said hinge pins are fixedly spaced apart.

9. A keyboard support apparatus comprising:

a first element having a guide formation and a control formation;

a second element;

a linkage arm respectively connected at a first end and a second end to the first and second elements, the linkage arm including at the first end a first engagement formation for slidably interengaging the guide formation and spaced apart from said first engagement formation, a second engagement formation for slidably engaging the control formation, whereby relative movement between the engagement formations and the guide formation and the control formation respectively provides for predetermined non-arcuate relative movement between the first and second elements; and

wherein one of the first and second elements comprises a support bracket for attachment to a desk surface, and the other one of the first and second elements comprises a keyboard support bracket for attachment to a keyboard support, whereby, in use, the keyboard support is movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration with respect to the desk surface.

10. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the engagement formations are comprised of hinge pins;

and

wherein the guide formation is comprised of a guide slot formed in the first element, and the control formation is comprised of a control slot formed in the first element, the guide slot and the control slot being adapted to receive the hinge pins.

11. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising locking formations for selectively engaging one of the hinge pins so as to maintain the fixed support bracket and the keyboard support bracket in one of a number of relative dispositions, said locking formations extending into at least one of the guide slot and the control slot.

12. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a second linkage arm extending between the fixed support bracket and the keyboard support bracket.

13. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second linkage arm is rotatably connected at respective ends to the fixed support bracket and the keyboard support bracket.

14. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second linkage arm is hingedly and slidably connected at an end to one of the fixed support bracket and the keyboard support bracket.

15. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the linkage arm and the second linkage arm are spaced apart at one of the fixed support bracket and the keyboard support bracket.

16. A keyboard support apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the linkage arm and the second linkage arm are spaced apart at the fixed support bracket and at the keyboard support bracket, the spacing between the linkage arm and the second linkage arm being greater at the fixed support bracket than at the keyboard support bracket.

17. A keyboard support bracket according to claim 9 wherein said engagement formations are fixedly spaced apart.