Computer document holder

• US 6,712,327 B1
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Carney Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Carney Jr
• Inventors: Carney, Robert S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US10/266,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20040065801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 248/442.2, 248/443, 248/444, 248/441.1, 248/465.1, 248/459
• US Class Current: 248/442.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/044 only foldable

Abstract

A free-standing computer document holder, having a rectangular viewing surface with a front top flange, and supported by right and left quadrilateral side structures having longer rear side edges and shorter front side edges. Due to the unequal length of the front and rear side edges, documents are supported and presented to a computer user at an angle to a work surface, such that the top of a document is above the bottom of the document. The computer document holder is situated above a computer keyboard, and is in front of, and/or over, and/or to the rear of, the keyboard. The computer user can operate the keyboard and/or a mouse while the computer document holder is situated as described. An optional monitor riser may be used to position the monitor such that the computer document holder does not obstruct a full view of the screen.

Claims

1. A free-standing computer document holder, situated in front of, and/or over, and/or to the rear of, a computer keyboard, comprising a sized, heat formed structure of thermoplastic, and/or thermosetting, and/or thermosetting and filler material, the said document holder having:

a. a rectangular viewing surface, having left and right shorter sides, and front and back longer sides, and positioned at an angle to a work surface, and supporting and presenting documents to a computer user, and

b. left and right quadrilateral sides, such that the said sides rest on a work surface, and support the said rectangular viewing surface, and

c. the said quadrilateral sides formed such that they are on a plane at approximately a 90 degree angle to the plane of the said rectangular viewing surface, and

d. the length of the rear edge of the said quadrilateral sides being greater than the length of the front edge of the said quadrilateral sides, such that the top of a document on the said rectangular viewing surface is elevated above the bottom of the said document with respect to the said work surface, and

e. the said rectangular viewing surface having a front top flange, such that the said front top flange is on a plane at approximately a 90 degree angle to the plane of the said rectangular viewing surface, and,

f. the said document holder having a folded rear bottom flange.

2. The computer document holder of claim 1, such that the said folded rear bottom flange is on a plane at approximately a 90 degree angle to the said work surface.

3. The computer document holder of claim 1, further comprising the said right and left quadrilateral sides having folded rear edges.

4. The computer document holder of claim 1, further comprising the said right and left quadrilateral sides having reinforced rear edges.

5. The computer document holder of claim 1, further comprising a stand-alone computer monitor riser unit, situated on the said work surface beneath a monitor, and elevating the said monitor such that the entire monitor screen is visible to the said computer user.

6. The computer document holder of claim 1, further comprising a rectangular viewing surface having left and right shorter sides, each said shorter side having an equal length of approximately 10 inches, and the said rectangular view surface having front and back longer sides, each said longer side having an equal length in a range from approximately 20 inches to approximately 36 inches.

7. The computer document holder of claim 1, further comprising the said quadrilateral sides having bottom edges encased by a layer of rubbery material.

8. The computer document holder of claim 1, further comprising the said quadrilateral sides having folded rear side edges that are set back approximately one-half inch from the bottom side edge, the said bottom side edge being encased by a layer of rubbery material.

9. The computer document holder of claim 1, such that the said sized, heat formed structure of thermoplastic or thermosetting material is transparent.

10. A free-standing, portable computer document holder, situated in front of, and/or over, and/or to the rear of, a computer keyboard, comprising a sized, heat formed structure of thermoplastic, and/or thermosetting, and/or thermosetting and filler material, the said document holder having:

a. a rectangular viewing surface, having left and right shorter sides, and front and back longer sides, and positioned at an angle to a work surface, and supporting and presenting documents to a computer user, and

b. left and right folding quadrilateral leg structures, made of metal rod, or a similar durable, rigid, formable material, and attached to the said sized, heat formed structure, such that when deployed, the said quadrilateral leg structures are in a slightly splayed position, resting on a work surface, and supporting the said upper rectangular viewing surface, and

c. the length of the rear side of each said quadrilateral leg structure being greater than the length of the front side of each said quadrilateral leg structure, such that when the said quadrilateral leg structures are in a deployed position, the top of a document on the said rectangular viewing surface is elevated above the bottom of the said document with respect to the said work surface, and

d. each said quadrilateral leg structure securable in either a deployed or a retracted position by a leg securing device.

11. The portable computer document holder of claim 10, further comprising the said quadrilateral leg structures having upper sides enclosed in a tube, each said upper side of each said quadrilateral leg structure being able to rotate within the said tube, and each said tube, together with the said tube-enclosed quadrilateral leg structure, being attached to the said sized, heat formed structure, by an encasing, heat formed, folded left or right protruding section, such that the surface of the said protruding section is brought into contact with the under side of the said rectangular viewing surface.

12. The portable computer document holder and leg securing device of claim 10, the said leg securing device further comprising a cylindrical section of rubbery material, having an inner side attached to a bottom corner of the under side of the said sized, heat formed structure, the said leg securing device having a gap to accommodate movement of one of the said quadrilateral leg structures within the said gap, the width of the said gap being slightly narrower than the width of the rod of the said quadrilateral leg structure, such that the said quadrilateral leg structure slightly deforms the leg securing device, and is gripped and secured by the leg securing device, when the said quadrilateral leg structure is in the said deployed position, and the said leg securing device having a surface of the said lower side recessed from the under side of the said sized, heat formed structure by a distance slightly less than the said width of the rod of the said quadrilateral leg structure, such that when the said quadrilateral leg structure is in a retracted position, against the said under side of the said sized, heat formed structure, the said leg securing device is rotatable such that a part of the said recessed surface of the said lower side is over the said quadrilateral leg structure, and such that the said quadrilateral leg structure slightly deforms the said recessed surface of the said lower side, and is gripped and secured by the said leg securing device when the said quadrilateral leg structure is in the said retracted position.

13. The portable computer document holder and leg securing device of claim 12, the said leg securing device further comprising a terminus reinforcing structure of rigid, durable material, attached to an outer side of the said leg securing device, such that the said terminus reinforcing structure stops the quadrilateral leg structure at the inner terminus of the said gap in the said leg securing device.

14. The portable computer document holder of claim 10, further comprising a standalone monitor riser unit, situated on the said work surface beneath a computer monitor, and elevating the said computer monitor such that the entire monitor screen is visible to the computer user.

15. The portable computer document holder of claim 10, further comprising a rectangular viewing surface having left and right shorter sides, each said shorter-side having an equal length of approximately ten inches, and the said rectangular view surface having front and back longer sides, each said longer side having an equal length in a range from approximately 20 inches to approximately 36 inches.

16. The portable computer document holder of claim 10, further comprising a handle-sized gap at the upper center of the said rectangular viewing surface.