Desk accessory support

• US 6,527,235 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FJP Manufacturing Proprietary Limited
• Original Assignee: Michael John Cotterill
• Inventors: Cotterill, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US09/485,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118.3, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/281.11, 248/231.81, 248/918, 248/118.5, 248/205.1, 248/917, 248/919, 248/920, 108/97, 108/96, 108/65
• US Class Current: 248/118.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/03 with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A desk accessory support for use with a desktop has an upper surface, a lower surface and an edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces. The support includes a first abutment for abutting the upper surface, and a second abutment for abutting the lower surface. A connecting structure is configured for connecting the first and second abutments to each other. The first and second abutments and the connecting structure define a substantially U-shaped recess for receiving the edge of the desktop.

Claims

1. A desk accessory support for use with a desktop having an upper surface, a lower surface and an edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the support including:

first abutment means for abutting the upper surface;

second abutment means for abutting the lower surface, at least a portion of the second abutment means being resiliently displaceable away from at least a portion of the first abutment means such that said portions are biased towards each other for cooperatively gripping the desktop;

connection means configured for connecting the first and second abutment means to each other and for being disposed adjacent to the edge when the first and second abutment means are in abutment with the upper and lower surfaces respectively;

said first and second abutment means and said connection means defining a substantially U-shaped recess for receiving the edge of the desktop;

at least one accessory being means connected to the second abutment means by means of a cantilevered coupling extending from the second abutment means so as to be at a distance from the edge in use;

said cantilevered coupling adapted to allow adjustment of the position or orientation of the accessory bearing means with respect to the desk top;

wherein a load applied to the accessory bearing means by an accessory carried thereon causes a moment on one of the first and second abutments means which urges at least a part of one of the first and second abutment means towards a part of the other abutment means, for causing deformation of at least one of the first and second abutment means and the connection means thereby to cause at least one of said parts more firmly to impinge upon the corresponding surface of the desktop to increase the grip of the first and second abutment means on the desktop.

2. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein said connection means is effective for resiliently connecting the first and second abutment means to each other such that said abutment means are biased towards each other on being moved away from each other.

3. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the first abutment means includes a substantially planar upper surface, and the connection means includes a planar portion extending between the first and second abutments means, where in use, the connection means is disposed to abut a non linear edge of the desktop at two locations, and at least a portion of the first abutment means spans the region defined by the connection means and the portion of the non linear edge of the desktop between the two locations.

4. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the first and second abutment means include substantially parallel upper and lower planar fins respectively, which in use extend away from the edge and along at least a portion of the respective upper and lower surfaces.

5. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the first and second abutment means are substantially rectangular.

6. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the first and second abutment means are plates.

7. The desk accessory support of claim 6 wherein the first and second abutment means are integrally formed plates.

8. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the first and second abutment means are releasably connected together.

9. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the first and second abutment means are adjustably spaced apart at a predetermined distance.

10. The desk accessory support of claim 1 wherein the accessory bearing means is coupled to the second abutment means at a coupling position, by a cantilevered coupling extending, in use, at least partly in a direction from the coupling position to the edge, said moment causing said part of the second abutment means more firmly to impinge upon the lower surface.

11. The desk accessory support of claim 10 wherein the cantilevered coupling includes a linkage assembly extending from a bracket assembly mounted to the second abutment means at the coupling position.

12. The desk accessory support of claim 10 wherein the linkage assembly is a pantograph assembly.