Ergonomic data entry device

• US 5,788,195 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gregory H. Rice
• Original Assignee: Gregory H. Rice
• Inventors: Rice, Gregory H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US08/503,457
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 248/918, 400/715, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 248/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0385 combined with pointing device, e.g. mouse
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/009 Keyboards associated with mousepads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• 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 palm rest (220) for use with a computer data entry devices such as a computer keyboard (222) that minimizes an alleviated posture- and stress-related disorders associated with use of computer devices. The palm rest includes a hand-support section (226) that is substantially rectangular-shaped to allow the fingers of a user to readily access the computer keyboard, a base (224), and a curvilinear section (226) that couples the hand-support section to the base. The curvilinear section allows a user to adjust the height of the hand-support section according to user preference and the heights of individual data entry devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for minimizing posture- and stress-related disorders associated with the use of computer data entry devices, comprising:

a palm support section for supporting a user'"'"'s palm, the palm support section directly overlying a portion of a work surface to allow at least a part of the data entry device to be positioned directly underneath at least a portion of the palm support section, between the palm support section and the work surface; and

a base component for supporting the palm support section above the work surface with the palm support section at a level above the height of the data entry device, the base component having a bottom surface of sufficiently low friction to allow the apparatus to be moved along the work surface as the data entry device is used.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the palm support section is positioned sufficiently above the work surface to allow manipulation of the data entry device along the work surface relative to the palm support section.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the palm support section includes an elevated central portion contoured for fitting in the user'"'"'s palm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the height of the palm support section above the work surface is adjustable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for limiting movement of the data entry device beneath the palm support section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, including a curvilinear section coupling the base component to the palm support section such that the palm support section is cantilevered from the curvilinear section.

7. An apparatus for minimizing posture- and stress-related disorders associated with the use of computer data entry devices, comprising:

a palm support section for supporting a user'"'"'s palm, the palm support section extending over a portion of a work surface to allow at least a part of the data entry device to be positioned between the palm support section and a work surface; and

a base component for supporting the palm support section above the work surface with the palm support section at a level above the height of the data entry device, the base component having a bottom surface of sufficiently low friction to allow the apparatus to be moved along the work surface as the data entry device is used, wherein the angle of the palm support section relative to the base component is adjustable.

8. An apparatus for minimizing posture- and stress-related disorders associated with the use of computer data entry devices, comprising:

a palm support section for supporting a user'"'"'s palm, the palm support section directly overlying a portion of a work surface to allow at least a part of the data entry device to be positioned directly underneath at least a portion of the palm support section, between the palm support section and the work surface; and

a base component for supporting the palm support section above the work surface with the palm support section at a level above the height of the data entry device, the palm support section being positioned sufficiently above the work surface to allow manipulation of the data entry device along the work surface relative to the palm support section.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, in which the palm support section includes an elevated central portion contoured for fitting in the user'"'"'s palm.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the angle of the palm support section relative to the base component is adjustable.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the height of the palm support section above the work surface is adjustable.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further including means for limiting movement of the data entry device beneath the palm support section.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, including a curvilinear section coupling the base component to the palm support section such that the palm support section is cantilevered from the curvilinear section.

14. An apparatus for minimizing posture- and stress-related disorders associated with the use of a computer pointing device movable along a work surface to achieve movement of a cursor on a computer display, comprising:

a palm support section for supporting a user'"'"'s palm, the palm support section directly overlying a portion of a work surface to allow at least a part of the pointing device to be positioned directly underneath at least a portion of the palm support section, between the palm support section and the work surface; and

a base component for supporting the palm support section above the work surface with the palm support section at a level above the height of the pointing device, the base component having a bottom surface of sufficiently low friction to allow the apparatus to be moved along the work surface as the pointing device is used, and the palm support section being positioned sufficiently above the work surface to allow manipulation of the pointing device along the work surface relative to the palm support section.