Single arm articulated keyboard support

• US 5,211,367 A
• Filed: 10/16/1991
• Issued: 05/18/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Musculus, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US07/778,388
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 248/279, 248/284, 248/286, 248/288.5, 248/292.1, 248/575, 248/576, 248/918, 108/69, 108/75, 267/64.12
• US Class Current: 248/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0342 having one double articulated arm
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/15 Keyboard drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• 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 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

An adjustable keyboard support includes a rigid support arm, and a keyboard support pivotally connected to the rigid support arm at a joint comprised of a ball and seat arrangement. The joint includes a retainer that both holds the ball on the seat and further adjustably frictionally engages the ball to resist the rotation of the keyboard support with respect to the support arm during keyboard manipulation. The adjustable keyboard support further includes a mounting bracket slideably and pivotally connected to an associated worksurface, permitting the keyboard to be moved between a raised use position and a retracted storage position. A lift assist is provided to counterbalancing support the weight of a keyboard placed on the keyboard support, and in the preferred embodiment is comprised of a self locking gas strut that automatically locks the arm in a given position. The gas strut attaches to a bracket that can be adjustably moved between high lift force and low lift force positions.

Claims

1. An adjustable keyboard support for attachment to a worksurface having an underside and a front edge, comprising:

a single rigid support arm having forward and rearward portions;

a mounting bracket adapted for attachment to the underside of an associated worksurface;

means for pivotably connecting the rearward portion of said support arm with said mounting bracket, said means for pivotably connecting defining a vertical axis of rotation and a horizontal axis of rotation;

means for releasably locking said support arm at a selected position;

a keyboard support portion configured to securely support a computer keyboard or the like thereon;

a continuously repositionable ball joint pivotally and rotatably connecting said keyboard support portion with the forward portion of said support arm so that said keyboard support portion can be squared with the front edge of the associated worksurface to facilitate use of a keyboard placed thereon, said joint including a retainer with means for resisting rotation of said keyboard support portion with respect to said support arm during keyboard manipulation, yet permitting manual rotation of said keyboard support portion with respect to said support arm to facilitate vertically angularly and rotatably adjusting said keyboard support portion;

lift assist means associated with said support arm for assisting in lifting said keyboard support portion, said lift assist means including a gas strut; and

pivotable bracket means for adjusting the amount of lifting force generated by said lift assist means.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivotable bracket means for adjusting the amount of lifting force generated by said lift assist means includes a lift assist adjuster bracket operably pivotally connected to said mounting bracket, said gas strut being operably attached to said lift force adjuster bracket so as to define a moment arm for said gas strut around the axis of rotation defined by said means for pivotably connecting said support arm and said mounting bracket, said lift assist adjuster bracket being pivotally movable so as to change the length of said moment arm to control the lifting force generated by said gas strut.

3. An articulated arm arrangement for adjustably supporting keyboards and the like adjacent an associated worksurface, the worksurface having an underside and a front edge, comprising:

an elongated, rigid support arm having forward and rearward portions;

a mounting bracket having means for attaching the same to an underside of the worksurface;

means for pivotably connecting the rearward portion of said support arm with said mounting bracket, so as to permit said support arm to pivot about a horizontally oriented arm pivot axis between a raised position and a lowered position adjacent to the worksurface, and also so as to permit said support arm to pivot about a vertically oriented arm pivot axis from side to side;

means for locking said support arm at a selected height between said raised and lowered positions;

a keyboard support portion configured to support a computer keyboard or the like thereon;

a continuously repositionable swivel joint connecting said keyboard support portion with the forward portion of said support arm in a manner which permits said keyboard to both pivot and rotate with respect to said support arm about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, said swivel joint including an adjustable friction retainer which normally resists rotation of said keyboard support portion with respect to said support arm during keyboard manipulation, yet permits selected rotation of said keyboard support portion with respect to said support arm for adjustment so that said keyboard support portion can be squared with the front edge of the associated worksurface, whereby said keyboard support portion is shifted to a selected vertical position by grasping the same, and manually rotating said arm about said arm pivot axis, while maintaining said keyboard support portion in a substantially horizontal orientation, said locking means being adapted to retain said support arm in the selected vertical position, such that upon manual release of said keyboard support portion, said friction retainer automatically prevents inadvertent movement of said keyboard support portion from the set orientation of said keyboard support portion during normal manipulation of the keyboard;

lift assist means associated with said support arm for assisting in lifting said keyboard support portion, said lift assist means including a gas strut; and

pivotable bracket means for adjusting the amount of lifting force generated by said lift assist means, said pivotable bracket means for adjusting including a lift assist adjuster bracket that can be moved between first and second positions to change the lifting force generated by said lift assist means.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said gas strut is operably attached to said lift assist adjuster bracket so as to define a moment arm for said gas strut around the axis of rotation defined by said means for pivotably connecting said support arm and said mounting bracket, said lift assist adjuster bracket being pivotally movable so as to change the length of said moment arm to control the lifting force generated by said gas strut.