Integrated keyboard platform and document support

The present invention relates to keyboard supports for computer keyboards and the like, and in particular to an integrated keyboard support platform and document support.

Personal computers are becoming more common in many industry and office environments. Such systems may employ a keypad, mouse, and/or other data input devices, such as a digitizing pad. Often, the personal computer occupies much of the desk or worksurface, making it difficult to locate the keyboard thereon. Furthermore, many users do not prefer to locate the keyboard on the desktop because it is uncomfortable to address the keyboard over the course of the workday. A number of devices have been developed to offer greater flexibility in supporting the keyboard, mouse, or other user interface devices at a comfortable position relative to the user. Available keyboard support assemblies include a keyboard support surface that is permanently attached to a height adjustment device. Such height adjustment devices may be capable of positioning the keyboard support surface below the worksurface during use and/or for storage. Various keyboard support configurations have been developed, and may include a hand support, a mouse support, or a specific keyboard clamping arrangement.

During operation of the computer, an operator may need to read a document for entry of the information from the document. Various document holders or “copy stands” have been developed for this purpose. However, such holders are generally designed to be placed on a worksurface adjacent the user. Accordingly, such supports obstruct the worksurface, and also may be difficult to position in a comfortable line of sight for the user.

Accordingly, a device alleviating the above-identified drawbacks of existing devices is desired.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide an integrated keyboard platform and document support. The keyboard support includes a base and a keyboard support member having an upper surface. The keyboard support member is movably mounted to the base to provide adjustment through a plurality of positions of the keyboard support member. An integral document holder includes a groove having a curved shape in plan view and located in the upper surface of the keyboard support member. The groove defines an engagement surface engagable with a bottom edge of the document and defining a plane of engagement. The plane of engagement is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the support surface, and is inclined substantially level or rearwardly downward throughout the plurality of positions such that a document may be held substantially vertical or inclined rearwardly in the curved groove throughout the plurality of positions.

Another aspect of the present invention is a repositionable keyboard support including a keyboard support defining a keyboard support surface, wherein at least a portion of the support surface is planar. A document holder on the support surface has a minimal height whereby at least a portion of the keyboard support including the document holder is positionable below and proximate a worksurface to provide adequate clearance for a conventional computer keyboard without requiring additional clearance for the document holder.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a keyboard support including a base and a keyboard support member having a planar upper surface. An articulating support arm movably interconnects the base and the keyboard support member. The keyboard support also includes an upwardly opening curved groove in the upper surface of the keyboard support member for holding documents in a generally upright position on the keyboard support member.

These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the integrated keyboard platform and document support of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the integrated keyboard platform and document support of the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the line III—III; FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the line IV—IV; FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the line V—V; FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a first type of articulating support arm that can be used to mount the integrated keyboard platform and document support of FIG. 1 to an associated worksurface;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second type of articulating support arm that may be used to mount the integrated keyboard platform and document support of FIG. 1 to an associated worksurface.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The reference numeral 1 ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates an integrated keyboard platform and document support embodying the present invention, which is particularly designed for use in offices, and other similar settings and environments. In the illustrated example, the keyboard platform includes a base 2 and a keyboard support member 3 having an upper surface 4 . The keyboard support member 3 is movably mounted to the base 2 to provide adjustment through a plurality of positions of the keyboard support member 3 . An integral document holder 5 includes a groove 6 having a curved shape in plan view, and located in the upper surface 4 of the keyboard support member 3 . With further reference to FIG. 24 , the groove 6 defines an engagement or base surface 7 engagable with a bottom edge 8 of a document 9 . The engagement surface defines a plane of engagement 10 disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the support surface 4 and inclined substantially level or rearwardly downward throughout the plurality of positions of the keyboard support member 3 whereby the document 9 may be held substantially vertical or inclined rearwardly in the curved groove throughout the plurality of positions.

As best seen in FIG. 3 , the base surface 7 forms an angle “D” with the upper surface 4 . The angle D is preferably about twenty degrees, but may fall within the range of about fifteen degrees to about twenty-five degrees. Further, wider ranges of angles, such as, for example, ten degrees to thirty degrees may also be utilized to position the document 9 . Because the angle D is non-zero, document 9 will be supported at a rearwardly inclined angle, with the bottom edge 8 of document 9 contacting the base surface 7 . Rear surface 11 of document 9 contacts the corner 12 of groove 6 . Groove 6 has a generally U-shaped cross section formed by base surface 7 , upwardly-extending rear face 13 , and upwardly extending front face 14 . The chamfer 15 at the top edge of front face 14 helps to guide the document 9 during insertion of the document 9 in groove 6 . Because the document 9 angles rearwardly, groove 6 is deeper adjacent the central portion 16 than at the ends 17 and 18 . For example, the dimension “A” of FIG. 3 corresponds to the depth of groove 6 adjacent the end 17 of groove 6 , and the dimension “B” of FIG. 4 corresponds to the depth of groove 6 adjacent the central portion 16 thereof. In the illustrated example, dimension A is 0.184 inches, and dimension B is 0.290 inches. As best seen in FIG. 5 , groove 6 has an opening 21 through base surface 7 at the center 20 of groove 6 . In the illustrated example, the opening 21 has a dimension “C” of about 0.12 inches. The document 9 contacts corner 12 adjacent opening 21 as described above, and also contacts a lower corner 22 when the document 9 is received in opening 21 . The contact of document 9 on corners 12 and 22 adjacent the center 20 of groove 6 further stabilizes and supports the document 9 in the desired angular position.

Keyboard support member 3 preferably includes a wrist rest 23 to support a user's wrist and hand area during use. Keyboard support member 3 is preferably made of a suitable polymer material, and includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 24 , as well as connectors 25 . Keyboard support member 3 may also be made of wood or other material, and the groove 6 may be milled, routed, or otherwise machined into the upper surface 4 of the keyboard support member 3 . Connectors 25 may be a standard threaded bolt or stud for securing keyboard support member 3 to an articulating support arm 26 . Alternately, non-threaded quick-disconnect connectors may be utilized to connect keyboard support member 3 to a selected one of various articulating support arms. A quick-disconnect arrangement is described in detail in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/004,985, entitled TILT LOCKOUT FOR ARTICULATED KEYBOARD SUPPORTS, filed Jan. 9, 1998, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,405, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Connectors 25 may be an adapter having an annular groove, such as disclosed in above-identified U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,405. Examples of different types of articulating support arms that can be interchangeably connected to keyboard support member 3 are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 . Articulating support arm 26 of FIG. 6 is substantially the same as the articulating arm 26 illustrated in FIG. 1 , and can be mounted to the lower surface 30 of a worksurface 29 . The keyboard support member 3 can be secured to the end portion 31 of articulating support arm 26 utilizing either conventional threaded fasteners or a quick-disconnect connector assembly, such as that disclosed in above-identified U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,405. The keyboard support member 3 may also be connected to a second type of articulating support arm 27 by either a conventional threaded fastener arrangement, or the quick-disconnect connector assembly 28 . Quick-disconnect connector assembly 28 is substantially identical to that disclosed in above-identified U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,405. Various articulating support arm designs having a standardized connector arrangement that is compatible with the connectors 25 of keyboard support member 3 may be utilized. This arrangement permits the keyboard support member 3 to be connected to a selected one of a variety of different types of articulating support arms as desired for a particular application.

Because the document holder 5 including groove 6 has a low profile that does not extend upwardly above a keyboard (not shown) positioned on surface 4 of keyboard support member 3 , the keyboard support member 3 may be stored in a position directly below the worksurface 29 without requiring adjustment of the vertical position of keyboard support member 3 to account for the document support. When positioned below worksurface 29 , keyboard support member 3 can be positioned parallel to, or tilted slightly, relative to worksurface 29 . In this position keyboard support member 3 does not interfere with the legs of a seated user. The document support does not protrude upwardly above the surface 4 of keyboard support member 3 , providing a very low profile such that upper surface 4 can be positioned very close to the lower surface of worksurface 29 . Also, during use, the document holder 6 is conveniently positioned directly in front of a user, thereby reducing the effort required of an operator reading the document and inputting the data or other information utilizing the computer keyboard. Because the document holder 5 is positioned on the keyboard support member 3 , the worksurface is not cluttered or otherwise obstructed as with conventional document holders that rest on the worksurface itself.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.