CPU holder

• US 6,986,491 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US10/291,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20040089781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 70/18, 70/58, 70/30, 70/49, 248/674, 248/225.11, 248/285.1, 248/332, 248/317, 248/316.1, 248/323, 248/328, 248/329, 248/785.1, 248/918, 248/447.2, 248/316.8, 248/637, 248/917, 254/294, 254/310, 254/376, 254/342, 254/213, 254/225
• US Class Current: 248/317
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/006 Computer holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/02 Locking means

Abstract

A computer unit holder for supporting a computer unit under a desk or other work surface is disclosed. The computer unit holder includes a cable that extends downwardly and underneath the computer unit to support it. The cable may be supported by two side panels, one of which includes an adjustment mechanism for changing the length of the exposed cable. One of the side panels may be adjustable toward and away from the other side panel. A movable mount may also be included so that the load of the computer unit will always be centered under the mount.

Claims

1. A computer unit holder comprising:

a base;

an elongated flexible member supported by said base, said elongated flexible member being a length sufficient to extend underneath a computer unit positioned underneath said base;

an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance which said elongated flexible member extends downwardly from said base, said adjustment mechanism including a lock adapted to allow said distance of said elongated flexible member to be decreased but not increased; and

a keyway in communication with said lock, said keyway adapted to allow a key to be inserted therein and to unlock said lock so that the distance said elongated flexible member extends downwardly from said base when the key is inserted into said keyway can be increased.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein said elongated flexible member is a cable.

3. The holder of claim 2 wherein a majority of said cable underneath said adjustment mechanism is free from contact with any rigid structure other than the computer unit supported by said cable whereby said cable is free to flex to a shape of a computer unit supported by said cable.

4. The holder of claim 2 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a ratchet wheel and said lock includes a pawl operably connected to said ratchet wheel.

5. The holder of claim 2 further including a mount attached to a side of said base opposite said cable, said mount adapted to allow said base to rotate while said mount is affixed to a stationary structure.

6. The holder of claim 2 further including an elongated tray adapted to be mounted to a flat surface, and a mount attached to a side of said base opposite said cable, said mount adapted to be supported by said elongated tray and to move in said tray in the direction of elongation of said tray.

7. The holder of claim 6 wherein said mount is adapted to allow said base to rotate while said mount is affixed to a stationary structure.

8. The holder of claim 2 further including a mount adjustably attached to a side of said base opposite said cable, said mount adapted to move along said base such that said mount can be centered over the computer unit supported by said cable.

9. The holder of claim 2 further including at least one cable guide, said cable guide including a channel for threading said cable therethrough, said cable guide having a first and second surfaces, said first and second surfaces being oriented perpendicular to each other and adapted to contact a side and bottom of a computer unit, respectively.

10. The holder of claim 2 further including:

a first side panel mounted to said base and oriented generally perpendicularly to said base;

a second side panel adjustably mounted to said base and oriented generally perpendicularly to said base and parallel to said first side panel, said second side panel adapted to be moved toward and away from said first panel along said base.

11. The holder of claim 10 wherein said cable is mounted to one or both of said first and second side panels and extends between said first and second side panels at least twice.

12. The holder of claim 10 further including at least four cable guides, said cable guides including a channel for threading said cable therethrough, said cable guides each having a first and second surface, said first and second surfaces being oriented perpendicular to each other and adapted to contact a side and bottom of the computer unit, respectively.