Integrated wrist rest

• US 6,216,988 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, Peter Y., Hsu, Jimmy Ming-Der
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US09/339,712
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.5, 400/718, 400/719, 400/715, 400/472
• US Class Current: 248/118
• 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 1/1656 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

Abstract

A padded wrist rest that is integral with a portable electronic device, meaning that the wrist rest is sold with the device and does not have to be removed from the device to close and store the device, is disclosed. While integral to the portable electronic device, the wrist rest of the present invention can be removed by the user or owner of the portable electronic device for maintenance or replacement. The wrist rest may be single- or multiple-part, and includes one or more pads manufactured from encapsulated gel, closed-cell foam, fabric-covered padding, vinyl-covered padding, or leather-covered padding. The wrist rest may include one or more bases that are slid, screwed, or snapped into place on the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. An integral padded wrist rest on a portable electronic device, said wrist rest comprising:

at least one pad assembly comprising a pad and a base, said base including coupling means for attaching said pad assembly to said portable electronic, device in a removable fashion; and

wherein at least said base of said pad assembly is received in a recess defined by said electronic device; and

further wherein;

said electronic device further defines a longitudinal slot in said recess;

said base includes at least one longitudinal tab; and

wherein said tab and said base are received in said slot and said recess in a telescoping manner.

2. The integral wrist rest according to claim 1, wherein said pad is selected from one of the following group:

encapsulated gel, closed-cell foam, fabric covered padding, vinyl covered padding, and leather-covered padding.

3. The integral wrist rest according to claim 2, comprising:

two pad assemblies;

said electronic device defining two recesses; and

further wherein

a first of said pad assemblies is received in a first of said recesses and a second of said pad assemblies is received in a second of said recesses.

4. The integral wrist rest according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises:

at least one peg having a first diameter and a shoulder having a second diameter;

said electronic device further defining at least one hole in said recess for receiving said at least one peg, said hole having a diameter larger than said first diameter and small than said second diameter.

5. The integral wrist rest according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises:

at least one threaded receptacle in said portable electronic device;

said base including at least one countersunk hole therethrough; and

a threaded fastener extending through said countersunk hole and engaging said threaded receptacle when said pad assembly is received in said recess.

6. An integral padded wrist rest on a portable electronic device, said wrist rest comprising:

at least one pad assembly comprising a pad and a base, said at least one pad assembly received in a recess defined by said electronic device and said pad projecting above a surface of said portable electronic device for cushioning the wrist of a user;

said base of said pad assembly further including a plurality of pegs attached to said lower surface of said base, said pegs having a first diameter and including a shoulder having a second diameter, said shoulder tapering from said second diameter to said first diameter;

said portable electronic device further defining in said recess a corresponding plurality of holes and receiving said pegs therein, each of said plurality of holes having a third diameter smaller than said second diameter and larger than said first diameter such that said shoulders are captured and hold said base in said recess in a stationary but removable fashion.

7. The integral wrist rest according to claim 6 wherein said pad is selected from one of the following group:

encapsulated gel, closed-cell foam, fabric covered padding, vinyl covered padding, and leather-covered padding.

8. The integral wrist rest according to claim 7 comprising:

two pad assemblies;

said electronic device defining two recesses; and

further wherein

a first of said pad assemblies is received in a first of said recesses and a second of said pad assemblies is received in a second of said recesses.

9. An integral padded wrist rest on a portable electronic device, said wrist rest comprising:

at least one pad assembly comprising a pad and a base, said at least one pad assembly received in a recess defined by said electronic device and said pad projecting above a surface of said portable electronic device for cushioning the wrist of a user;

said base further including a plurality of countersunk holes therethrough;

said portable electronic device further including a like plurality of captive threaded receptacles; and

a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through said countersunk holes in said base and engaging said captive threaded receptacles.

10. The integral wrist rest according to claim 9 wherein said pad is selected from one of the following group:

encapsulated gel, closed-cell foam, fabric covered padding, vinyl covered padding, and leather-covered padding.

11. The integral wrist rest according to claim 10, comprising:

two pad assemblies;

said electronic device defining two recesses; and

further wherein

a first of said pad assemblies is received in a first of said recesses and a second of said pad assemblies is received in a second of said recesses.