Keyboard support mechanism

• US 5,924,664 A
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ergo View Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Mileos, George, King, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Berger, Derek J.
• Application Number:
  US08/995,889
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 248/281.11, 248/284.1, 248/918, 248/291.1, 248/292.12, 108/139, 108/140, 108/141, 108/143, 108/145, 108/138
• US Class Current: 248/281.11
• 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 2021/0342 having one double articulated arm
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A keyboard support mechanism containing a novel articulating arm mechanism for permitting vertical movement of the keyboard shelf. The articulating arm mechanism has six major components: (1) a mounting bracket, (2) a mounting bracket support in combination with a swivel bracket, (3) a shelf bracket, (4) an upper arm, (5) at least one side arm, and (6) at least one stopping means. The upper arm links the shelf bracket and the mounting bracket; the side arm and the stopping means cooperate to keep the shelf bracket (and hence the keyboard shelf) at a constant angle relative to the ground.

Claims

1. An improved auxiliary shelf mechanism for vertically and horizontally positioning an auxiliary shelf, including a means for attaching the auxiliary shelf to a desk so that the auxiliary shelf may be moved horizontally relative to the desk, wherein the improvement comprises:

an articulating arm mechanism comprising;

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket;

the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the stopping means is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position being closer to the front end of the mounting bracket than the second position, and the second position being closer to the back end of the mounting bracket than the first position.

2. The auxiliary shelf mechanism of claim 1, wherein the position of the stopping means is adjusted by means of a lever mechanism, the lever mechanism comprising an adjustment lever, a setting bracket, and a sliding bracket.

3. The auxiliary shelf mechanism of claim 1, wherein the position of the stopping means can be fixed at either the first position, or the second position, or at any position between the first and second positions.

4. The auxiliary shelf mechanism of claim 3, wherein the position of the stopping means is adjusted by means of a threaded screw mechanism.

14. The articulating arm mechanism of claim 1, wherein the position of the stopping means is adjusted by means of a lever mechanism, the lever mechanism comprising an adjustment lever, a setting bracket, and a sliding bracket.

5. An improved auxiliary shelf mechanism for vertically and horizontally positioning an auxiliary shelf, including a means for attaching the auxiliary shelf to a desk so that the auxiliary shelf may be movably positioned relative to the desk, wherein the improvement comprises:

an articulating arm mechanism comprising;

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the side arm and the upper arm are not substantially parallel to each other, and further wherein the first and fourth pivot points are closer together than the second and third pivot points.

6. An improved auxiliary shelf mechanism for vertically and horizontally positioning an auxiliary shelf, including a means for attaching the auxiliary shelf to a desk so that the auxiliary shelf may be movably positioned relative to the desk, wherein the improvement comprises:

an articulating arm mechanism comprising;

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the side arm and the upper arm are not substantially parallel to each other, and further wherein the first and fourth pivot points are closer together than the second and third pivot points.

7. An improved auxiliary shelf mechanism for vertically and horizontally positioning an auxiliary shelf, including a means for attaching the auxiliary shelf to a desk so that the auxiliary shelf may be movably positioned relative to the desk, wherein the improvement comprises:

an articulating arm mechanism comprising;

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the side arm and the upper arm are not substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the articulating arm mechanism further comprises a lower arm, the lower arm being pivotally attached to the upper arm at a fifth pivot point, the fifth pivot point being disposed between the first and second pivot points, the lower arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at the fourth pivot point, the lower arm further having within it a second opening, such that the lower arm can pivot about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point.

8. An articulating arm mechanism for connecting a shelf to a desk comprising:

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the side arm and the upper arm are not substantially parallel to each other; and

further wherein the first and fourth pivot points are closer together than the second and third pivot points.

9. An articulating arm mechanism for connecting a shelf to a desk comprising:

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the side arm and the upper arm are not substantially parallel to each other; and

further wherein the second and third pivot points are closer together than the first and fourth pivot points.

10. An articulating arm mechanism for connecting a shelf to a desk comprising:

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the side arm and the upper arm are not substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the articulating arm mechanism further comprises a lower arm, the lower arm being pivotally attached to the upper arm at a fifth pivot point, the fifth pivot point being disposed between the first and second pivot points, the lower arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at the fourth pivot point, the lower arm further having within it a second opening, such that the lower arm can pivot about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point.

11. An articulating arm mechanism for connecting a shelf to a desk comprising:

(a) a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having a front end and a back end;

(b) an upper arm having a rear end and a front end, the upper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a first pivot point, the rear of the upper arm being defined as the end of the upper arm closest to the mounting bracket, the front end being defined as the end opposite the rear end;

(c) a shelf bracket pivotally connected to the upper arm at a second pivot point;

(d) a side arm having a front end and a rear end, the side arm being pivotally connected to the shelf bracket at a third pivot point;

the side arm being further attached to the mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point;

the side arm having within it a first opening such that the side arm can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket about the fourth pivot point and can be reciprocatingly moved relative to the fourth pivot point;

the front of the side arm being defined as the end closest to the third pivot point, and the rear of the side arm being defined as the end opposite from the front;

(e) a stopping means, the stopping means having a first side facing towards the rear of the side arm, such that when the side arm moves laterally relative to the fourth pivot point, the rear of the side arm can contact the first side of the stopping means;

wherein the stopping means is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position being closer to the front end of the mounting bracket than the back position, and the second position being closer to the back end of the mounting bracket than the first position.

12. The articulating arm mechanism of claim 11, wherein the position of the stopping means can be fixed at either the first position, or the second position, or at any position between the first and second positions.

13. The articulating arm mechanism of claim 12, wherein the position of the stopping means is adjusted by means of a threaded screw mechanism.