Adjustable computer keyboard support mechanism

• US 6,158,359 A
• Filed: 03/09/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Waterloo Furniture Components Limited (Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company)
• Original Assignee: Waterloo Furniture Components Limited (Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company)
• Inventors: Woof, Michael, Allan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/264,787
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 108/93, 108/1, 108/6, 108/8, 108/10, 108/50.01, 248/918, 248/919, 248/242
• US Class Current: 108/93
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/035 having double articulated arms
• 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

The present computer keyboard support assembly comprises a platform suitable for supporting a keyboard mechanism having one end of an arm pivotally mounted to the platform and the other end pivotally mounted to a mounting bracket which is attached to the underside of a work surface. A compensating mechanism utilizing a driving mechanism interacting with the pivot mountings for the arm and controlling the orientation of the platform, as the platform is moved to and from a storage and use position.

Claims

1. An adjustable platform assembly for attachment of a generally horizontal platform to a generally horizontal work surface and providing means for transporting said platform between a work position and a storage position, while maintaining substantially the same orientation of the platform relative to the work surface, comprising in combination:

a first member for attachment to said work surface including a first substantially horizontal axis;

a second member for attachment to said platform and including a second substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to the first horizontal axis;

a support arm pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the first member and the second member, said support arm forming an angle less than 180°

whereby the support arm may transport the platform between the work position and the storage position by pivoting about said first substantially horizontal axis and where the platform is adjustable to a position above or below the level of the work surface; and

a mechanical compensating mechanism mounted on the support arm for altering the orientation of the platform about the second axis with respect to the support arm when the second member and platform are rotated about the first substantially horizontal pivot axis between the work position and the storage position.

2. The adjustable platform assembly of claim 1 where in the compensating means comprises:

a first gear mechanism attached to the first member;

a second gear mechanism attached to the second member; and

means for linking the first gear mechanism and the second gear mechanism, whereby when the second member is rotated about the first substantially horizontal axis, the means for linking causes the second gear mechanism to rotate the second member such that the orientation of the platform with respect to the horizontal is unchanged.

3. The adjustable platform assembly of claim 2 wherein:

the first gear mechanism comprises a first beveled gear attached to the first member and generally centered on the first substantially horizontal axis;

the second gear mechanism comprises a second beveled gear attached to the second member and generally centered on the second substantially horizontal axis; and

the linking means comprises a first pinion shaft, a second pinion shaft, each pinion shaft having pinion gears at their opposing ends and an intermediate rotating beveled gear, wherein one end of the first pinion shaft engages the first beveled gear and the other end of the first pinion shaft engages the intermediate beveled gear and one end of the second pinion shaft engages the intermediate beveled gear and the other end of the second pinion draft engages the second beveled gear whereby when the platform is rotated about the first substantially horizontal axis, the first pinion shaft causes the intermediate beveled gear to rotate which in turn causes the second pinion shaft to rotate which causes the second beveled gear to rotate which keeps the orientation of the platform with respect to horizontal unchanged.

4. The adjustable platform assembly of claim 2 further comprising a means for locking the support arm to prevent pivotal movement about the first substantially horizontal pivot axis.

5. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 4 wherein the means for locking pivotal movement comprises:

a pivot shaft disposed along the second horizontal axis and operatively associated with the second end of each support arm and fixed to the second gear mechanism of said compensating means, said pivot shaft comprising an inner shaft and two outer shafts each of which defines a cam bearing end, said outer shafts being concentrically surrounding the inner shaft and linearly opposed to each other with the cam bearing ends being located at adjacent ends of the outer shafts;

a locking cam adapted to engage the cam bearing ends of the outer shafts and the inner shaft to restrict the rotation of the pivot shaft about the second horizontal axis;

a locking lever adapted to move the locking cam to and from engagement and disengagement with the cam bearing surfaces of the outer shafts and the inner shaft.

6. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 4 wherein the means for locking pivotal movement comprises:

a shaft disposed along the second substantially horizontal axis and non-rotatably associated with said second gear mechanism;

a cam rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam defining at least one cammed surface;

means for rotating said cam on said shaft;

a first brake disc non-rotatably mounted on said shaft, said first brake disc defining a cam engaging side and a braking side said braking side defining a braking surface and said first brake disc being positioned to engage the cammed surface of said cam with said cam engaging side whereby when the cammed surface of the cam engages the cam engaging side of the first brake disc the first brake disc is forced away from the cam along the shaft; and

a braking surface on the second end of said support arm whereby when the cam engages the cam engaging side of the first brake disc the braking surface of the first braking disc becomes securely associated with the braking surface on the support arm such that the platform is locked against rotation about the first substantially horizontal axis.

7. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 6 further comprising a means for tilting the platform whereby the angle of the platform with respect to horizontal can be changed.

8. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 7 wherein the second member defines a braking surface which becomes securely associated with the braking surface of the first braking disc when the cam engages the cam engaging side of the braking disc to form the tilting means.

9. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 7 wherein said cam has two cammed surfaces, and the second member defines a braking surface, said tilt means comprising:

a second brake disc having a cam engaging side and a braking side said braking side defining a braking surface whereby when the second cammed surface of the cam engages the cam engaging side of the second brake disc the braking surface of the second braking disc becomes securely associated with the braking surface on the second member.

10. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 6 wherein the cam rotating means comprises:

a cable defining a first end and a second end, said first end associated with said cam whereby pulling the cable causes the cam to rotate about the shaft;

a pull handle assembly associated with the second end of the cable whereby pulling the pull handle assembly pulls the cable and causes the cam to rotate about the shaft; and

a tension spring associated with the cam and acting counter to the cable whereby the spring returns the cam to a home position when no force is exerted on the cable.

11. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 10 wherein when the first cam is in the home position the platform is locked against rotation about the first substantially horizontal axis.

12. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 2 further comprising a means for tilting platform whereby the angle of the platform with respect to horizontal can be changed.

13. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 12 wherein the means for tilting further includes a tilt lock means for locking the platform at a selected angle.

14. The adjustable platform support assembly of claim 13 wherein the tilt lock means comprises a clutch surface on one outer shaft, a locking plate engaging the clutch surface and restricting the rotation of the platform with respect to said outer shaft and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the locking plate with the clutch surface.

15. The adjustable platform assembly of claim 14 wherein the locking lever is also the actuator.