Supports – Armrest or headrest
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-07-10
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Armrest or headrest
C248S118100, C248S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257531
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to articulated support assemblies that can be retrofitted to existing desks or horizontal surfaces, the assemblies being designed to permit the user to adjust the position of a workstation or keyboard to the most desirable location and store the keyboard or workstation under the desk when it is inactive, thus maximizing work space use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices designed to support keyboards or workstations relative to a desk edge are widely available. Most of these devices maintain a set elevation and merely extend from below the desk where they are stored and the support is attached and are designed primarily for use while the operator of the keyboard is seated at the workstation. These devices have tended to increase their intrusion into the knee-space of the user to obtain a greater degree of motility. In creating motility, they have also generally required more depth of the under desk surface to retract the mechanisms that were designed to create range of motion. The devices were not primarily designed to allow the user to sit or stand at his/her workstation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,367 to Musculus discloses an articulating arm connected to the center and front edge of the keyboard support surface and is capable of accommodating most adjustment conditions from a seated position. The greatest intrusion into the users work area is the knee space that requires straddling the single arm to keyboard interface. In addition, this central arm support method does not create the degree of horizontal stability at the distal areas of the keyboard support. This device also requires large depths under the desk surface for mounting the device. Due to the depth required, many desks that have a knee apron may not be suitable for this assembly, the assembly being based on three adjustment points. In addition, the assembly is not suitable with the operator in a standing position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,487 to Kirchhoff et al discloses a device that uses two support arms that allow the device greater stability at the lateral distal surfaces of the keyboard support and has a total of three pivot points. Two pivot points are under the desk at the distal ends of the keyboard support surface and are arrested by gears with latching cogs. The third pivot point is a generally U shaped torsion bar that the keyboard tray rotates above and around on a horizontal axis. This rotation is arrested by a clutch assembly below the keyboard that allows virtually any angle of keyboard adjustment. It is limited, however, in that the method of connection from the generally U shaped torsion bar that extends from the desk to the keyboard tray uses valuable space in the height of the keyboard tray itself. This does not allow the user to place the keyboard close to a lap position while seated. This device also requires more under desk space than is available in desks with knee aprons. In addition, the production of the device is expensive as it has gears and clutch assemblies that are labor intensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,263 to Watt et al discloses a work surface that supports an auxiliary device such as a keyboard and is adjustable for vertical movement relative to the work surface or desk it is mounted to. It consists of two sets of parallel arm subassemblies that are horizontally spaced by approximately 80% of the moveable work surface. The generally vertical parallel arms are linked by a horizontal torsion tube for stability on the horizontal plane. This assembly includes a release mechanism that permits arresting the platform at any point within its range of motion, the range of motion being from approximately 4 inches below the desk surface to approximately 6 inches thereabove. Persons of minimal stature can stand or sit while interfacing with the keyboard. However, the '263 system does not have wrist angle adjustment of the keyboard support surface relative to the angle of the users wrist. In addition, the system mechanisms are placed in a manner that is invasive of the knee user space. Further, the '263 system does not retract horizontally under the desk surface, an important requirement of most conventional systems.
Other prior art assemblies are generally less adaptable for ergonomic user adjustment as they are typically less adjustable for height and angle of the keyboard/workstation. Thus, an improved keyboard or workstation support is desired that will address these problems and create the freedom to sit or stand at the workstation.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved user workstation which allows the user to adjust the position of a keyboard or workstation to a desirable location and to store the keyboard or workstation under a work desk when inactive to maximize work space.
The present invention further enables the keyboard to be adjusted to a maximum horizontal elevation vertically above the desk or supporting surface or down to the proximity of the floor from a standard elevation desk; the raised elevations allowing the user to stand at the workstation whenever he/she is fatigued from sitting, thereby reducing strain on lumbar regions of the lower vertebrae. In addition, the user can extend the keyboard an increased distance from the workstation monitor than is generally possible with most prior art assemblies and therefore reduce eye strain associated with typical desk applications.
The keyboard angle of inclination is also adjustable to reduce the risk of and alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome and to increase productivity; the assembly of the present invention being easy to install by hooking it to the front edge of the desk and then supports itself from the floor while alternate telescoping legs or screws are installed. The assembly has the capacity to be retrofitted to desks with knee aprons due to a minimal depth required with the six pivot point assembly provided.
The present invention thus provides users with a more active workstation that only requires the computer monitor be elevated approximately 5 degrees above level eyesight at the top of the monitor. With this position, the user can either sit or stand while comfortably viewing the monitor. A keyboard support tray supported by two articulated arm assemblies that are joined with their opposite arm members with torsion tubes and adjusted primarily at six pivot points/hubs is also provided. The components of the assembly are preferably formed from polystyrene, unless nylon or steel is specified. The six pivot points are essential for creating maximum motility with two support arms that afford maximum lateral distal stability of the keyboard platform with minimal intrusion into the desk depth enabling retrofitting into desks with aprons. The two articulating arm assemblies are linked in the center of the front by the keyboard and workstation support platform and in the rear by bracket assemblies that attach it to the horizontal surface that it extends from the desk, the mounting brackets transferring load and finding their proper mounting location under the horizontal surface by means of vertically adjustable angle brackets that hook onto the top edge of the horizontal surface and wrap around to the bottom.
The entire device is controlled by means of two rotating trigger mechanisms that are linked together by a square steel bar. As the six pivot and release mechanisms are controlled by the trigger assembly, any movement desired is controlled from these two locations. The pivot points also include torsion springs of appropriate grade and gauge to allow for range of movement while assisting the lift of the entire assembly including the keyboard and mouse it supports. The springs are adjustable as they can be secured to the appropriate holes in the assembly housing to produce either positive or negative torsion to suit the direction of force and intensity required. The mouse tray is placed in a manner that permits the user the most convenient access thereto, typically at the keyboard elevation and as close
DeLuca Jerome
Keschner Irving
King Anita M.
LandOfFree
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