Keyboard pad with reversible mouse pad

• US 6,279,859 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Roslund, Richard N. Jr., West, Daniel C. K., Tonizzo, David, Alexander, Brian D. T., Vanderloo, Ron, LeClair, Jim, Ola, Mihai L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US09/746,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20010000616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118.1, 248/118, 248/918, 248/288.51, 248/346.01, 248/281.11, 248/278.1, 248/219.1, 248/286.1, 312/208.1, 312/223.3, 108/65, 108/69, 108/93
• US Class Current: 248/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A keyboard support arrangement which includes both a main support pad for supporting a computer keyboard and an auxiliary support pad for supporting a computer mouse. The auxiliary pad is removably and angularly positionable adjacent either side of the main keyboard pad to provide increased convenience and flexibility of use. The auxiliary mouse pad is totally separable from the main keyboard pad, and a multi-positionable connecting structure enables the auxiliary pad to be positioned relative to the main keyboard pad at one of a plurality of angular positions.

Claims

1. In a work station arrangement including a work surface, a pad with a generally horizontally enlarged upper surface for supporting a computer keyboard thereon, and a support arm having a first end connected to said pad and a second end connected to the work surface, comprising the improvement wherein a braking assembly cooperates between said pad and said support arm which when in an engaged position fixes said pad in a selected orientation relative to the work surface, and a lever mounted on said pad for pivoting movement about a generally vertical axis and within a plane generally parallel to a plane defined by said upper surface, said lever being connected to cabling associated with said braking assembly and having an actuator portion disposed adjacent a front edge of said pad, said actuator portion being manually actuable by a user to release said braking assembly and permit adjustment of the orientation of said pad relative to the work surface.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein manual actuation of said lever by a user permits simultaneous adjustment of a vertical position of said pad relative to the work surface and an angular position of said pad relative to the work surface.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said first end of said support arm is pivotably connected to said pad and said second end of said support arm is pivotably connected to the work surface, said braking assembly including a first brake which cooperates with said first end of said support arm to fix said pad in a selected angular position with respect to a generally horizontal plane defined by an upper surface of the work surface, and a second brake which cooperates with said second end of said support arm to fix said pad in a selected vertical position with respect to the work surface.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein said braking assembly includes a pair of cables having first ends fixed to said lever, one of said cables having a second end connected to said first brake and the other said cable having a second end connected to said second brake, wherein upon actuation of said lever said first and second cables are actuated to release said first and second brakes and permit simultaneous vertical and angular adjustment of said pad relative to the work surface.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said lever has first and second legs which are angled relative to one another to provide said lever with a generally L-shaped configuration, said first leg defining said actuator portion thereon and said actuator portion projecting horizontally outwardly beyond said front edge of said pad, and said second leg projecting beneath said pad and being connected to said cabling.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 including a bracket disposed adjacent the work surface and associated with said second end of said support arm, said bracket non-rotatably mounting thereon a circular member defining a vertical axis, a frame-like arrangement movably disposed within an elongate track fixedly mounted to a lower surface of the work surface, said frame-like arrangement being slidably disposed within said track for permitting movement of said support pad arrangement toward and away from the work surface, and said frame-like arrangement being configured to confine said circular member therewithin such that said circular member is rotatable relative to said frame-like arrangement to permit said support pad arrangement to be pivoted about a vertical axis with respect to the work surface.

7. A support arrangement for connection to a work surface, said arrangement comprising:

a main support pad having sidewardly-spaced first and second edges and defining an upper side thereon adapted for supporting a computer keyboard;

an elongate support element having an arcuately-shaped upper surface, said support element being mounted adjacent a lower side of said main support pad and being slidably supported thereon for movement between a retracted position wherein said support element is disposed substantially beneath said main support pad and an extended position wherein said support element is cantilevered outwardly from one said edge of said main support pad; and

an auxiliary support pad defining first and second edges which are sidewardly-spaced from one another, an upper side adapted for supporting a computer accessory thereon, and a lower side defining an arcuately-shaped bearing area which extends transversely therealong, one said edge of said auxiliary support pad mounting thereon a toothed sector which is cooperatively engageable with a corresponding toothed sector mounted on said one edge of said main support pad, said auxiliary support pad being positioned on said support element when in said extended position such that said bearing area engages said upper surface thereof, said auxiliary support pad being slidably movable along said upper surface of said support element to effectively adjust the respective positions of said toothed sectors relative to one another and position said auxiliary support pad in a selected angular orientation relative to said main support pad.

8. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said auxiliary support pad mounts thereon a said toothed sector on both said first and second edges thereof, said toothed sector of said first edge of said auxiliary support pad being positioned in adjacent and opposed relation with said toothed sector of said main support pad when said auxiliary support pad is mounted thereon, said support element having a terminal end mounting thereon a toothed sector disposed in adjacent and opposed relation with said toothed sector of said second edge of said auxiliary support pad for cooperative engagement therewith.

9. The support arrangement of claim 8 wherein said terminal end of said support element mounts thereon a handle member for moving said support element between said extended and retracted positions, said handle member incorporating therein said toothed sector of said terminal end.

10. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said main support pad mounts thereon a said toothed sector on each said first and second edge thereof and a pair of said support elements are mounted adjacent said lower side of said main support pad, each said support element being selectively slidably extendible outwardly from one of said first and second edges of said main support pad into said extended position to permit said auxiliary support pad to be selectively positioned adjacent either of said first and second edges of said main support pad.

11. The support arrangement of claim 10 wherein said auxiliary support pad mounts thereon a said toothed sector on each said first and second edge thereof and each said support element has a terminal end mounting thereon a toothed sector which is horizontally and vertically aligned with one of said toothed sectors of said main support pad, said toothed sectors of said auxiliary support pad when positioned on one of said support elements adjacent one edge of said main support pad being respectively engaged with said toothed sector mounted on said one edge of said main support pad and said toothed sector of said one support element such that said auxiliary support pad is sandwiched therebetween and locked in a selected angular position relative to said main support pad.

12. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said support element defines a generally horizontal pivot axis which extends transversely of said main support pad and said auxiliary support pad, said auxiliary support pad being positionable in a plurality of discrete angular positions about the pivot axis.

13. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said auxiliary support pad mounts thereon a said toothed sector on both said first and second edges thereof which are horizontally spaced from one another, said support element having a terminal end mounting thereon a toothed sector aligned with said toothed sector of said main support pad, said support element being extendible into a fully extended position wherein said toothed sector thereof is located slightly horizontally outwardly beyond the position thereof when in said extended position to permit angular adjustment of said auxiliary support pad relative to said main support pad by selectively positioning said toothed sectors of said auxiliary support pad relative to the respective opposed toothed sectors of said main support pad and said support element, said support element being retractable inwardly into said retracted position after angular adjustment of said auxiliary support pad to engage said toothed sectors of said auxiliary support pad with the respective opposed toothed sectors of said main support pad and said support element and fix said auxiliary in a selected angular position.

14. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said upper side of said auxiliary support pad defines a generally flat surface for supporting a computer mouse thereon and accommodating movements thereof, and a shoulder projects upwardly from and substantially surrounds said flat surface to confine the mouse on said auxiliary support pad.

15. The support arrangement of claim 14 wherein said auxiliary support pad includes a front edge portion having a generally concave configuration in transverse cross-section and generally convex configuration in longitudinal section.

16. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said main support pad includes a shroud which projects horizontally sidewardly from said one edge of said main support pad above said toothed sector thereof, said shroud being disposed to cover the engaged said toothed sectors of said main support pad and said auxiliary support pad.

17. The support arrangement of claim 16 wherein said auxiliary support pad mounts thereon a toothed sector on both said first and second edges thereof, said toothed sector of said first edge being positioned in adjacent and opposed relation with said toothed sector of said main support pad, said support element has a terminal end mounting thereon a handle member for moving said support element between said extended and retracted positions, said handle member defining a toothed sector disposed in adjacent and opposed relation with said toothed sector of said second edge of said auxiliary support pad for cooperative engagement therewith, said handle member further defining a shroud which projects horizontally sidewardly toward said auxiliary support pad and above said toothed sector of said handle member, said shroud of said handle member being disposed to cover the engaged said toothed sectors of said auxiliary support pad and said handle member.

18. The support arrangement of claim 17 wherein said shroud of said handle member is spaced vertically from said toothed sector thereof to define a sidewardly opening space therebetween, said shroud of said main support pad engaging within said space and said toothed sectors of said handle member and said main support pad engaging one another when said auxiliary support pad is not mounted on said support element and said support element is in said retracted position.

19. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein said upper surface of said support element is convexly-shaped and said bearing area is concavely-shaped.

20. In a support pad arrangement connected to a work surface, the arrangement including a main support pad having sidewardly-spaced first and second sides which are opposite one another, said main support pad defining an enlarged upper surface configured for supporting a computer keyboard thereon, and an auxiliary support pad defining an upper surface for supporting a computer accessory thereon, comprising the improvement wherein first and second elongate beams are mounted adjacent a lower surface of said main support pad in vertically overlapping relation with one another, each said beam being supported on said main support pad for sliding movement relative to the other said beam between a retracted position wherein said beam is disposed substantially beneath said main support pad and an extended position wherein said first beam is cantilevered outwardly from said first side of said main support pad and said second beam is cantilevered outwardly from said second side of said main support pad, said auxiliary support pad being supportable on one of said beams in said extended position thereof to selectively position said auxiliary support pad adjacent one of said first and second sides of said main support pad.

21. The arrangement of claim 20 further including a stop member which cooperates between said lower surface of said main support pad and each said beam to hold same in one of said extended and retracted positions.

22. The arrangement of claim 21 wherein a pair of said stop members are disposed adjacent the respective first and second sides of said main support pad for cooperation with the respective said beams, each said stop member including a boss which projects downwardly from said lower surface and confines therein a downwardly biased ball bearing positioned adjacent an upper surface of a respective said beam, each said beam defining therein a first opening disposed adjacent a terminal outer end thereof and a second opening spaced horizontally inwardly from said first opening such that when said beam is disposed in said extended position said ball bearing engages in said second opening to hold said beam thereat, and when said beam is disposed in said retracted position said ball bearing engages in said first opening to hold said beam thereat.

23. The arrangement of claim 20 wherein each said beam and a lower side of said auxiliary support pad define cooperating arcuate bearing surfaces which are engageable with one another to permit sliding movement of said auxiliary support pad along and relative to a respective said beam to position said auxiliary support pad in a selected angular position relative to said main support pad.

24. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein each said beam has an arcuate transverse cross-section, said beams being slidably secured to said lower surface of said main support pad by a support bracket having a contour similar to said cross-sections of said beams.

25. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein a pair of said support brackets are fixed to said lower surface, said pair of support brackets being respectively mounted adjacent said first and second sides of said main support pad by respective pairs of mounting bosses which project downwardly from said lower surface, one said pair of mounting bosses projecting downwardly beyond the other pair of mounting bosses to support said beams in vertically stacked relation and permit one said beam to slidably ride beneath the other said beam.

26. The arrangement of claim 20 wherein said main support pad mounts an arcuate serrated member on each said first and second side thereof, and said beams each include a terminal outer end defining thereon a handle member for moving the respective beam between said extended and retracted positions, said handle members each defining thereon an arcuate serrated member, said auxiliary support pad mounting thereon a pair of arcuate serrated members on respective first and second sides thereof, all of said serrated members being horizontally and vertically aligned with one another, said serrated members of said auxiliary support pad when same is supported on said one beam being respectively engaged with said serrated member of said one beam and said serrated member on said one side of said main support pad to secure said auxiliary support pad thereto, the opposed pairs of said serrated members being positionally adjustable relative to one another to permit angular adjustment of said auxiliary support pad relative to said main support pad.

27. The arrangement of claim 20 wherein each said beam defines a generally horizontal pivot axis which extends transversely of said main and auxiliary support pads, said auxiliary support pad being slidably movable relative to said one beam to selectively position said auxiliary support pad in one of a plurality of discrete angular positions about the pivot axis.

28. A support pad arrangement for a computer keyboard comprising:

a main support pad having sidewardly-spaced first and second side edges and defining an upper side adapted for supporting a computer keyboard thereon;

a support arm connected to said main support pad for supporting said pad arrangement from a work surface;

an auxiliary support pad defining an upper side for supporting a computer accessory thereon;

an elongate support element mounted on said main support pad adjacent a lower side thereof, said support element being slidably supported on said main support pad for movement between a retracted position wherein said support element is disposed substantially beneath said main support pad and an extended position wherein said support element is cantilevered transversely outwardly from one of said first and second side edges of said main support pad; and

an arrangement for mounting said auxiliary support pad on said support element in said extended position thereof, said mounting arrangement including a pair of opposed and cooperative bearing members which are slidably movable relative to one another to permit said auxiliary support pad to be positioned in a selected angular orientation relative to said main support pad.

29. The arrangement of claim 28 wherein said support element defines a generally horizontal pivot axis which extends transversely of said main support pad and said auxiliary support pad, said auxiliary support pad being positionable in a plurality of discrete angular positions about the pivot axis relative to said main support pad by slidably adjusting said bearing members relative to one another, said arrangement further including a locking structure which fixes said auxiliary support pad in said selected angular orientation relative to said main support pad.

30. The arrangement of claim 29 wherein one of said bearing members has a convex configuration and the other said bearing member has a concave configuration.

31. The arrangement of claim 30 wherein one of said bearing members is defined on a lower side of said auxiliary support pad and the other said bearing member is defined on an upper surface of said support element.

32. The arrangement of claim 28 wherein said support element and a lower side of said auxiliary support pad respectively define said cooperative bearing members, said bearing members having arcuate surfaces which are engageable with one another to permit sliding movement of said auxiliary support pad along and relative to said support element to position said auxiliary support pad in said selected angular orientation relative to said main support pad.

33. A support pad arrangement for supporting a computer keyboard, said arrangement comprising:

a main support pad having first and second sidewardly-spaced side edges and defining an upper surface configured for supporting a computer keyboard thereon;

an auxiliary support pad defining an upper surface configured for supporting a computer accessory thereon;

first and second elongate support members each mounted on said main support pad for sliding movement between a retracted position wherein the respective support member is positioned substantially beneath said main support pad and an extended position wherein said first support member is cantilevered transversely outwardly from said first side edge of said main support pad and said second support member is cantilevered transversely outwardly from said second side edge of said main support pad, said auxiliary support pad being selectively mountable on one of said first and second support members to position said auxiliary support pad adjacent the corresponding said first and second side edge of said main support pad.

34. The support pad arrangement of claim 33 wherein said auxiliary support pad is wholly and readily detachable from said main support pad and selectively positionable adjacent either of said first and second side edges thereof by positioning the corresponding said support member in said extended position.

35. The support pad arrangement of claim 33 wherein said first and second support members are mounted on a lower surface of said main support pad in generally parallel relation with one another.

36. The support pad arrangement of claim 33 wherein said support members are mounted for sliding movement in a direction which is transverse to said side edges.

37. A support pad arrangement for a computer keyboard, comprising:

a keyboard support pad having a generally horizontally enlarged upper surface adapted for supporting a computer keyboard thereon;

a supporting structure connected to said keyboard pad for movably supporting said support pad arrangement from a work surface;

a releasable braking assembly cooperating between said keyboard pad and said supporting structure for fixing said keyboard pad in a selected position relative to the work surface; and

an actuator member movably mounted on said keyboard pad and connected to cabling of said braking assembly, said actuator member being manually actuable by a user into an actuating position to release said braking assembly and permit simultaneous adjustment of said keyboard pad into a plurality of vertical and angular positions relative to the work surface.

38. The arrangement of claim 37 wherein said actuator member is mounted on said keyboard pad closely adjacent a front free edge thereof and has a portion projecting outwardly from said front edge which is manually depressible by a user to release said braking assembly, said actuator member being disposed and movable within a plane generally parallel to a plane defined by said upper surface.

39. The arrangement of claim 37 further including an auxiliary support pad having a generally horizontally enlarged upper surface adapted for supporting a computer accessory thereon, and a connecting structure configured to selectively and detachably connect said auxiliary pad to said keyboard pad adjacent either of first and second sides thereof.

40. The arrangement of claim 39 wherein said connecting structure includes a pair of elongate support elements each slidably supported on said keyboard pad, a first of said support elements being extendible outwardly from said first side of said keyboard pad into an extended position, and a second of said support elements being extendible outwardly from said second side of said keyboard pad into an extended position, the respective support elements being selectively movable into said extended position for supporting said auxiliary pad adjacent the respective said first or second side of said keyboard pad.

41. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein said first and second support elements are longitudinally aligned with one another and are slidably mounted on a bottom surface of said keyboard pad.

42. The arrangement of claim 39 wherein first and second connecting members are mounted adjacent said first and second sides of said keyboard pad, respectively, and a third connecting member is mounted on said auxiliary pad and is configured to cooperatively engage with one of said first and second connecting members to permit said auxiliary pad to be pivoted about a generally horizontal axis into a plurality of discrete angular positions relative to said keyboard pad.

43. The arrangement of claim 42 wherein each said first and second connecting member includes a toothed portion configured to engage with a correspondingly configured toothed portion of said third connecting member.