Keyboard positioning system

• US 5,961,231 A
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flex-Rest LLC (Flex-Rest)
• Original Assignee: Flex-Rest LLC (Flex-Rest)
• Inventors: Ambrose, Frederic C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US08/677,410
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/473, 400/480, 400/481, 400/489, 400/488, 400/681, 400/715, 248/118.3, 248/918, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.2, 248/923, 235/146, 235/145 R, 235/145 A
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/034 Support for hands or arms

Abstract

The present invention is a device for mounting a keyboard to a base for positioning the keyboard in a backward tilted position and for use by a hand of an operator. The keyboard has a front end, a rear end, a plurality of keys each having an uppermost surface, and an uppermost keyplane defined by the uppermost surface of the keys. In one embodiment, the device comprises first and second bracket members engagable with the base. The device further comprises a support tray comprising a support surface and a keyboard stop member. The support surface has a front portion and a rear portion and is adapted to support the keyboard. The support tray is engaged with the first and second brackets such that the keyboard may be orientated in a backward tilted position which is defined by the rear end of the keyboard being disposed below the front end of the keyboard and the uppermost keyplane being tilted backwards. The keyboard stop member is adapted to prevent the keyboard from falling off the support surface when the keyboard is in the backward tilted position. The device further comprises a palm rest movably engaged with the support tray.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a keyboard to a base and for positioning the keyboard in a backward tilted position for use by a hand of an operator, the device comprising:

(a) a keyboard having a front end, a rear end, a plurality of keys each having an uppermost surface, and an uppermost keyplane defined by said uppermost surface of said keys;

(b) first and second bracket members engagable with the base;

(c) a support tray comprising;

a support surface and

a keyboard stop member comprising a stop wall, said support surface comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, such that said stop wall extends from said first side wall to said second side wall and wherein said stop wall is disposed in said rear portion of said support surface, said support surface being adapted to support said keyboard, said support tray being engaged with said first and second brackets such that the keyboard may be orientated in a backward tilted position which is defined by the rear end of the keyboard being disposed below the front end of said keyboard and said uppermost keyplane is tilted backwards, said keyboard stop member being adapted to prevent said keyboard from falling off said support surface when said keyboard is in said backward tilted position; and

(d) a palm rest movably engaged with said support tray from a position at least substantially adjacent said front portion of said keyboard to a position above said keyplane while said rear portion of said keyboard is below said front portion of said keyboard.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said support tray is movably connected to said first and second bracket members.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said support tray is rotatably connected to said first and second bracket members.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said palm rest is rotatably connected to said support tray.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second bracket members are secured to the base.

6. A device for mounting a keyboard to a base and for positioning the keyboard in a plurality of positions for use by a hand of an operator, the keyboard having a front end, a rear end, a plurality of keys each having an uppermost surface, and an uppermost keyplane defined by the uppermost surface of the keys, the device comprising;

(a) first and second bracket members independently engagable with the base;

(b) first and second clamps for respectively independently attaching each of the first and second bracket members to the base, each clamp comprising an arm and a pad, wherein a distance between each arm and each pad is adjustable so as to clamp the base therebetween; and

(c) a support tray comprising a support surface having a front portion and a rear portion and being adapted to support the keyboard, the support tray being engaged with the first and second brackets such that the keyboard may be oriented in a plurality of positions.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the support tray further comprises a keyboard stop member adapted to prevent the keyboard from falling off the support surface when the keyboard is oriented in at least one of the plurality of positions.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of positions comprises a backward tilted position wherein the rear end of the keyboard is disposed below the front end of the keyboard and the uppermost keyplane is tilted backwards.

9. The device of claim 6 further comprising:

(d) a palm rest engaged with the support tray.