Pull-out keyboard tray

• US 6,454,369 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accuride International Incorporated (Accuride Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Accuride International Incorporated (Accuride Corporation)
• Inventors: Cooper, Mark J., Stewart, Kristin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZUMNY, JONATHON A
• Application Number:
  US09/305,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20020043604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.01, 248/281.11, 248/918, 248/286.1, 248/287.1, 248/921, 248/922, 108/93, 108/143, 108/137, 108/5, 108/6, 108/96, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 312/223.3, 312/208.1, 400/715, 400/717
• US Class Current: 312/223.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/15 Keyboard drawers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A pull-out keyboard tray. The pull-out keyboard tray includes an adjustable keyboard platform, removable storage compartments, and keyboard wiring protrusions. The keyboard is slightly mounted on drawer slides having multiple position detents, and is adapted for mounting under a desk top surface and the like. The keyboard further includes a removable palmrest, as well as slide shrouds for shrouding the drawer slides.

Claims

1. A pullout keyboard tray assembly slidably extendable from a position substantially below a desktop surface to a position extending out from the desktop surface, the pullout keyboard tray comprising:

a keyboard platform adapted to receive a keyboard, the platform having a forward edge, a rearward edge, and side edges interconnecting the forward and rearward edges;

a support tray bounded in the front by a palmrest and in the rear by a largely vertical wall, wherein said keyboard platform is adapted to be received therebetween on said support tray, the forward edge of the keyboard platform being approximate the palmrest, the largely vertical wall having horizontal edge surfaces adapted to support the rearward edge of the keyboard platform.

2. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the largely vertical wall comprises a forward edge of at least one storage compartment.

3. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 2 wherein the largely vertical wall comprises a forward edge of a plurality of storage compartments.

4. The pullout keyboard tray of claim 1 wherein the horizontal edge surfaces provide the keyboard tray with an adjustable inclination from approximately neutral to approximately negative seven degrees.

5. A pullout keyboard tray assembly comprising:

a pair of slides, each comprising at least two slide members, adapted for mounting to an underside of a desktop, the slides extendable from a retracted position to an extended position;

a keyboard support coupled to the slides;

slide shrouds coupled to the keyboard support, the slide shrouds substantially enclosing portions of the slides adjacent the keyboard support when the slides are in the extended position;

wherein the slide shrouds are mounted adjacent to side edges of the keyboard support and each comprising a substantially elongated body having a cavity enclosing portions of the slides adjacent the keyboard support when the slides are in an extended position, the body having an aperture approximate an end of the body allowing for passage of a one of the pair of slides; and

further comprising a bracket coupled to each slide, wherein the slide shrouds each have a slot formed in the elongated body, the slot allowing for the passage of the brackets during extension of the slides.

6. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 5 further including a horizontal surface extending from an edge of the shroud,

the horizontal surface having an aperture allowing for the passage of a cord and protrusions adapted to maintain the position of the cord.

7. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 5 wherein the brackets are adapted to couple the slides to the underside of the desktop.