Adjustable and detachable mouse pad support and keyboard support having the same

• US 6,390,432 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Workrite Ergonomics Incorporated (Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company)
• Original Assignee: Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: VanderHeide, Craig L., Hodge, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sy, Holly N.
• Application Number:
  US09/518,795
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 248/918, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/346.01, 248/288.31, 248/289.11, 108/50.01, 108/65, 108/69, 108/90, 108/64, 108/139
• US Class Current: 248/346.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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 mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support and having a platform adapted to support a computer mouse, a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support, and a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm. The joint typically includes ball and socket portions. The mouse pad support has a connector adapted to removably mount the connector arm to a complementary pocket in the keyboard support without the use of tools. A keyboard support includes a first platform having a pocket for receiving a connector on a connector arm, and a second platform adapted to support a computer mouse, the connector arm extending between the first and second platforms for detachably mounting to the first platform and for adjustably mounting the second platform relative to the first platform.

Claims

1. A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising:

a platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support; and

a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform so that the platform can be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support, the joint comprising a ball-and-socket joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes,

wherein the joint further comprises a lower socket formed in the platform defining a portion of a ball socket.

2. The mouse pad support of claim 1 and further comprising an upper socket forming a complementary portion of the ball socket with the lower socket and in register with the lower socket.

3. The mouse pad support of claim 2 wherein the upper socket includes at least one resilient finger which resiliently grips a ball positioned in the ball socket.

4. The mouse pad support of claim 3 wherein the at least one resilient finger comprises four resilient fingers.

5. The mouse pad support of claim 4 and further comprising a clamp for clamping the upper socket and the lower socket together.

6. The mouse pad support of claim 5 wherein the ball further comprises a threaded stud thereon, wherein the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket, wherein the threaded stud on the ball is received in the threaded socket to fixedly mounted the ball to the connector arm.

7. The mouse pad support of claim 6 wherein the connector arm further comprises an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the connector arm during adjustment and use of the platform.

8. The mouse pad support of claim 7 wherein the connector arm further comprises a cover plate having an opening in register with the threaded socket whereby the cover plate is retained over at least a portion of the connector arm.

9. The mouse pad support of claim 8 wherein the connector arm further comprises at least two tabs which extend laterally from the connector arm in spaced relationship from the threaded socket whereby the at least two tabs are adapted to mount the connector arm to the keyboard support.

10. A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising:

a platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support; and

a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform so that the platform can be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support, the joint comprising a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes,

wherein the joint comprises a ball and a socket and wherein the socket includes at least one resilient finger which resiliently grips a ball positioned in the socket.

11. The mouse pad support of claim 10 wherein the at least one resilient finger comprises four resilient fingers.

12. A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising:

a platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support; and

a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform so that the platform can be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support, the joint comprising a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes,

wherein the joint comprises a ball and a socket and wherein the ball further comprises a threaded stud thereon, wherein the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket, wherein the threaded stud on the ball is received in the threaded socket to fixedly mount the ball to the connector arm.

13. A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising:

a platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support; and

a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform so that the platform can be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support,

wherein the connector arm comprises a threaded socket, and further comprising a cover plate having an opening in register with the threaded socket whereby the cover plate is retained over at least a portion of the connector arm.

14. The mouse pad support of claim 13 wherein the connector arm further comprises an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the arm during adjustment and use of the platform.

15. A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising:

a platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support; and

a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform so that the platform can be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support,

wherein the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket and at least two tabs which extend laterally from the connector arm in spaced relationship from the threaded socket whereby the at least two tabs are adapted to mount the connector arm to the keyboard support.

16. A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising:

a platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm mounted to the platform and adapted for mounting to the keyboard support; and

a connector adapted to removably mount the connector arm to a complementary-configured pocket in the keyboard support, the connector comprising at least two locking tabs extending laterally from the connector arm for slidable receipt within the complementary-configured pocket;

whereby the at least two locking tabs can be received within the pocket in the keyboard support to detachably mount the connector arm to the keyboard support without the use of tools.

17. The mouse pad support of claim 16 and further comprising a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform so that the platform can be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support.

18. The mouse pad support of claim 17 wherein the joint comprises a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes.

19. The mouse pad support of claim 18 wherein the joint comprises a ball and a socket.

20. The mouse pad support of claim 19 wherein the ball further comprises a threaded stud thereon, wherein the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket, wherein the threaded stud on the ball is received in the threaded socket to fixedly mount the ball to the connector arm.

21. The mouse pad support of claim 16 wherein the connector arm further comprises an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the connector arm during adjustment and use of the platform.

22. The mouse pad support of claim 16 wherein the connector arm further comprises a cover plate mounted to at least a portion of the connector arm at the mounting between the connector arm and the platform whereby the cover plate is adapted to conceal a portion of the connector arm exposed to view between the platform and the keyboard support.

23. The mouse pad support of claim 16 wherein the connector further comprises a detent tab extending axially from an end of the connector arm adjacent to the connector and having a depending flange thereon whereby the depending flange is adapted to releasably retain the connector arm to the complementary-configured pocket in the keyboard support.

24. A keyboard support having an adjustable mouse pad support mounted thereto, comprising:

a first platform adapted to support a keyboard, the first platform having a pocket with at least one retainer therein;

a second platform adapted to support a computer mouse;

a connector arm extending between and mounted to the first platform and the second platform;

the connector arm has a connecting portion adapted to fit within the pocket on the first platform and further includes a first connector which is releasably retained by the at least one retainer on the first platform to detachably mount the connector arm to the first platform; and

the connector arm has a second connector spaced from the first connector which adjustably mounts the second platform to the connector arm;

whereby the second platform can be adjusted relative to the first platform by the second connector and the connector arm and the second platform can be removed from the first platform by dismounting the first connector from the pocket on the first platform.

25. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the pocket in the first platform comprises at least two opposed sidewalls, the retainer is formed in the at least two opposed sidewalls and has at least one slot for releasably supporting the first connector of the connector arm.

26. The keyboard support of claim 25 wherein the sidewalls further comprise at least one indentation adjacent to the at least one slot for insertion and sliding movement mounting of the connecting portion of the connector arm to the at least one retainer of the pocket of the first platform.

27. The keyboard support of claim 26 wherein the pocket further comprises a detent receptor and the first connector further comprises a detent which is received in the detent receptor when the connecting portion of the connector arm is seated in the pocket of the first platform, the receipt of the detent within the detent receptor resists axial withdrawal of the connecting portion from the pocket.

28. The keyboard support of claim 27 wherein the pocket further comprises a bottom wall having at least one guide rail for seating the connecting portion of the connector arm within the pocket.

29. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the pocket further comprises a bottom wall having at least one guide rail for seating the connecting portion of the connector arm within the pocket.

30. The keyboard support of claim 29 wherein the first platform further comprises a second pocket spaced from the first pocket for removably positioning the connector arm in either the first pocket or the second pocket.

31. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the first platform further comprises a second pocket spaced from the first pocket for removably positioning the connector arm in either the first pocket or the second pocket.

32. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the second connector comprises a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the second platform for movement of the second platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes.

33. The keyboard support of claim 32 wherein the universal joint comprises a ball and a socket.

34. The keyboard support of claim 33 wherein the ball further comprises a threaded stud thereon, wherein the second connector of the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket, wherein the threaded stud on the ball is received in the threaded socket to fixedly mounted the ball to the connector arm.

35. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the connector arm further comprises an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the connector arm during adjustment and use of the second platform relative to the first platform.

36. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the keyboard support is a keyboard tray.

37. The keyboard support of claim 24 wherein the keyboard support is a work surface.