Keyboard palm rest assembly

• US 7,717,374 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Depay, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US12/011,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/918, 400/715, 400/719, 361/FOR.106, 108/43, 403/472, 403/473, 403/474, 403/475, 403/476, 403/478, 403/479, 403/480, 403/481, 403/482, 403483-496
• US Class Current: 248/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A keyboard palm rest assembly comprises a frame having an opening therethrough, the opening located corresponding to a position of a palm of a user when the user is utilizing a keyboard located adjacent the opening. The keyboard palm rest assembly also comprises a panel coupled to the frame and disposed across the opening, the panel enabling an airflow therethrough from a side opposite the user'"'"'s palm to a side corresponding to the user'"'"'s palm.

Claims

1. A keyboard palm rest assembly, comprising:

a frame having an opening therethrough, the opening located corresponding to a position of a palm of a user when the user is utilizing a keyboard located adjacent the opening; and

a fabric panel coupled to the frame and disposed across the opening, the fabric panel enabling an airflow therethrough from a first side of the fabric panel opposite the user'"'"'s palm to a second side of the fabric panel corresponding to the user'"'"'s palm,

wherein the opening extends from the fabric panel through the frame to a side of the frame that is exposed to a region outside the frame to enable the airflow from the region outside the frame through the opening and through the fabric panel,

wherein the frame comprises a plurality of pins for securing the fabric panel to the frame, wherein the plurality of pins extend through the fabric panel to secure the fabric panel to the frame.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fabric panel comprises a flexible fabric panel.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the frame supports the keyboard.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fabric panel comprises a woven material.

5. A keyboard palm rest assembly, comprising:

a frame having an opening therethrough, the opening located corresponding to a position of a palm of a user when the user is utilizing a keyboard located adjacent the opening; and

a fabric panel coupled to the frame and disposed across the opening, the fabric panel enabling an airflow therethrough from a first side of the fabric panel opposite the user'"'"'s palm to a second side of the fabric panel corresponding to the user'"'"'s palm,

wherein the opening extends from the fabric panel through the frame to a side of the frame that is exposed to a region outside the frame to enable the airflow from the region outside the frame through the opening and through the fabric panel,

wherein the side of the frame that is exposed to the region outside the frame is a bottom side of the frame.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the fabric panel is slidably insertable into the frame.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein the frame comprises an upper frame member having a second opening and a lower frame member having the first opening, wherein the fabric panel is disposed between at least a portion of the upper and lower frame members, and wherein the first and second openings are aligned to enable the airflow to pass from the region outside the frame through the first opening, through the fabric panel, and through the second opening.

8. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one support element to elevate the bottom side of the frame to provide an airflow path to enable the airflow.

9. A keyboard palm rest assembly, comprising:

a frame having an opening therethrough, the opening located corresponding to a position of a palm of a user when the user is utilizing a keyboard located adjacent the opening; and

a flexible panel coupled to the frame and disposed across the opening, the flexible panel enabling an airflow through the flexible panel from a first side of the flexible panel opposite the user'"'"'s palm to a second side of the flexible panel corresponding to the user'"'"'s palm,

wherein the opening extends from the flexible panel through the frame to a side of the frame that is exposed to a region outside the frame to enable the airflow from the region outside the frame through the opening and through the flexible panel,

wherein the side of the frame that is exposed to the region outside the frame is a bottom side of the frame.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a portion of the frame supports the keyboard.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the flexible panel is slidably insertable into the frame.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein the frame comprises an upper frame member having a second opening and a lower frame member having the first opening, wherein the flexible panel is disposed between at least a portion of the upper and lower frame members, and wherein the first and second openings are aligned to enable the airflow to pass from the region outside the frame through the first opening, through the flexible panel, and through the second opening.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of pins for securing the flexible panel to the frame.

14. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising at least one support element to elevate the bottom side of the frame to provide an airflow path to enable the airflow.

15. A keyboard palm rest assembly, comprising:

a frame having an opening therethrough, the opening located corresponding to a position of a palm of a user when the user is utilizing a keyboard located adjacent the opening; and

a mesh panel disposed across the opening and configured to support the user'"'"'s palm thereon, the mesh panel enabling an airflow upwardly through the mesh panel to the user'"'"'s palm,

wherein the opening extends from the mesh panel through the frame to a side of the frame that is exposed to a region outside the frame to enable the airflow from the region outside the frame through the opening and through the mesh panel,

wherein the side of the frame that is exposed to the region outside the frame is a bottom side of the frame.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein a portion of the frame supports the keyboard.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the mesh panel is slidably insertable into the frame.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein the frame comprises an upper frame member having a second opening and a lower frame member having the first opening, wherein the mesh panel is disposed between at least a portion of the upper and lower frame members, and wherein the first and second openings are aligned to enable the airflow to pass from the region outside the frame through the first opening, through the mesh panel, and through the second opening.

19. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising at least one support element to elevate the bottom side of the frame to provide an airflow path to enable the airflow.