Sliding pointing device tray

• US 5,746,402 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flex-Rest LLC (Flex-Rest)
• Original Assignee: Flex-Rest LLC (Flex-Rest)
• Inventors: Hawley, David, Ambrose, Frederic C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US08/613,857
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 248/918, 400/715, 400/717, 108/102, 108/143
• US Class Current: 248/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/009 Keyboards associated with mousepads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for positioning a computer mouse relative to a computer keyboard. The system comprises a keyboard support tray having a support surface and a rear wall. The support surface has a front portion and a rear portion and is adapted to support the keyboard. The keyboard support tray further comprises a slot disposed in the rear wall. The system further comprises a palm rest connected to the front portion of the keyboard support tray. The system further comprises a pointing device positioning member having a support surface, a first end, and a second end. The first end of the pointing device positioning member is slidably disposed upon the palm rest while the second end is slidably engaged within the slot of the keyboard support tray. In operation, an operator may slide the pointing device positioning member to any one of a variety positions above the computer keyboard.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a pointing device relative to a computer keyboard having a cable, the system comprising:

(a) a keyboard support tray having a support surface and a rear wall, said support surface having a front portion and a rear portion and being adapted to support the keyboard, said keyboard support tray further comprising a slot disposed in said rear wall;

(b) a palm rest engaged with said front portion of said keyboard support tray; and

(c) a pointing device positioning member adapted to support the pointing device and having a support surface, a first end, and a second end, said first end being slidably disposed upon said palm rest and said second end being slidably engaged with said slot,

whereby said pointing device positioning member may be moved about said palm rest and said slot to thereby position the pointing device to a variety of positions above the keyboard.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said keyboard support tray further comprises at least one opening adapted to allow the cable to pass therethrough.