Wrist support

• US 20010000109A1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Published: 04/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sak Technology Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stanley A. Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Stanley A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,452,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/034 Support for hands or arms

Abstract

Notebook computers having an integrated wrist support device are disclosed. Also disclosed are wrist supports for use with notebook computer keyboards, a wrist support kit, and notebook computer kits.

Claims

1. A wrist support for use with a notebook computer having a keyboard, said wrist support being compressible and comprising a base having one or more flat surfaces, said base being adapted for mounting on said notebook computer whereby said wrist support can be affixed to the notebook computer without interfering with the operation of the keyboard.

2. The wrist support of

claim 1

, wherein the largest of said flat surfaces has a surface area of less than 60 cm².

3. The wrist support of

claim 2

, wherein the largest of said flat surfaces has a surface area of less than 50 cm².

4. The wrist support of

claim 1

, wherein said wrist support further comprises an attachment device for attaching said wrist support to said notebook computer.

5. The wrist support of

claim 4

, wherein said attachment device comprises a fastener that can be affixed to said wrist support, and an acceptor that can be affixed to said notebook computer and removably attached to said fastener.

6. The wrist support of

claim 4

, wherein said attachment device is a hook and loop type connector.

7. The wrist support of

claim 1

, wherein said attachment device is a mechanical lock.

8. The wrist support of

claim 7

, wherein said compressible wrist support is biased such that said wrist support displaces (a) a greater volume when not subjected to an extraneous force than when subjected to an extraneous force and (b) a lesser volume when subjected to an extraneous force than when not subjected to an extraneous force.

9. The wrist support of

claim 7

, wherein said base comprises a compressible material.

10. The wrist support of

claim 9

, wherein said compressible material is synthetic sponge.

11. The wrist support of

claim 1

, wherein said wrist support is reversibly inflatable.

12. The wrist support of

claim 11

, wherein said wrist support further comprises a reversibly inflatable bladder.

13. The wrist support of

claim 12

, wherein said wrist support further comprises an inflation controller for inflating or deflating said reversibly inflatable bladder, said inflation controller being in fluid communication with said reversibly inflatable bladder and a fluid source, whereby said inflation controller controls fluid flow between said fluid source and said reversibly inflatable bladder such that said bladder can be inflated or deflated.

14. The wrist support of

claim 13

, wherein said fluid source is atmospheric air.

15. The wrist support of

claim 12

, further comprising a bladder cover placed over the reversibly inflatable bladder.

16. The wrist support of

claim 11

, wherein the largest of said flat surfaces has a surface area of less than 60 cm².

17. The wrist support of

claim 16

, wherein said wrist support further comprises an attachment device for attaching said wrist support to said notebook computer.

18. The wrist support of

claim 17

, wherein said wrist support further comprises an inflation controller for inflating or deflating said reversibly inflatable bladder, said inflation controller being in fluid communication with said reversibly inflatable bladder and a fluid source, whereby said inflation controller controls fluid flow between said fluid source and said reversibly inflatable bladder such that said bladder can be inflated or deflated.

19. The wrist support of

claim 18

, wherein said attachment device comprises a fastener that can be affixed to said wrist support, and an acceptor that can be affixed to said notebook computer and removably attached to said fastener.

20. The wrist support of

claim 18

, wherein said attachment device is a hook and loop type connector.

21. A notebook computer kit comprising:

a notebook computer, a wrist support, and an attachment device for attaching said wrist support to said notebook computer, said wrist support being compressible and comprising a base having one or more flat surfaces, said base being adapted for mounting on said notebook computer whereby said wrist support can be affixed to the notebook computer without interfering with the operation of the keyboard.

22. The notebook computer kit of

claim 21

, wherein said attachment device comprises a fastener adapted to be attached to said wrist support, and an acceptor adapted to engage said fastener and to be attached to said notebook computer.

23. The notebook computer kit of

claim 21

, wherein said attachment device is a hook and loop type connector.

24. The notebook computer kit of

claim 21

, further comprising instructions for using said notebook computer kit.