Wrist rest for stenotypists

Details Wrist rest for stenotypists Wrist rest for stenotypists

1999-07-09

2001-06-19

Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)

Supports

Armrest or headrest

Armrest for writer

C248S918000, C400S715000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247672

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for use by a keyboard operator, e.g., a stenotypist, for supporting the forearms and wrists, for comfort and to prevent injury, e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome.
It is known in the art to provide apparatus for supporting the wrists of a keyboard operator during typing, for example, on a computer keyboard. Such devices are often in the form of an elongated cushion designed to be placed on the surface of a desk, keyboard drawer, or other platform, in front of a keyboard. However, a desk or platform surface is not always available for allowing the use of a conventional wrist support. Court stenographers, in particular, often suffer from strain due to their working in an environment where they must be seated on a chair having no arms, and must operate a keyboard device, i.e., a stenographic recording machine, mounted on a column of a tripod with no desk surface available on which to place any means of forearm or wrist support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problem of the prior art is overcome by the instant invention which teaches the construction of a device for enabling the forearms and wrists of an operator to be supported in an environment where the operator is seated on a chair without arms, and is operating a keyboard device mounted on a column of a tripod with no desk surface available on which to place any means of forearm or wrist support. More specifically, in accordance with the invention, apparatus for supporting the forearms and wrists of a keyboard operator can be seated on the lap of the operator and readily adjusted to conform to the placement of the operator's forearms and wrists in a position for typing on the keyboard.
The wrist rest of the invention is adapted to be supported on the lap of a keyboard operator and includes a base adapted to be seated on the lap of the operator, left arm means moveably mounted proximal a left end of the base for supporting the left forearm of the operator, right arm means moveably mounted proximal a right end of the base for supporting the right forearm of the operator, left arm fastener means operatively connected to said base and said left arm means for selectively fixing said left arm means to said base thereby preventing movement therebetween, and right arm fastener means operatively connected to said base and said right arm means for selectively fixing said right arm means with respect to said base thereby preventing movement therebetween, and releasing said right arm from said base thereby permitting movement therebetween. The base has an elongated slot with a central longitudinal axis intersecting said first and second arm means, and at least one of said fastener means is disposed within the slot for rotation and translation of the arm means to which it is connected, relative to said base. Each of said arm means is L-shaped and has a major segment and a minor segment. The minor segment has an aperture in which the fastening means is received and the major segment has first and second deformable cushion means mounted thereon in offset relationship for providing a stepped support for the forearm and wrist of the operator.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a wrist-rest which can be seated on the lap of a keyboard operator without need for a desk or platform support.
Another object of the invention is to provide a wrist-rest which can support virtually the entire length of the operator's forearms as well as the wrists.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a wrist-rest which has separate adjustments for positioning the left forearm and wrist independently of the right forearm and wrist.
A further object of the invention is to provide a wrist-rest which enables the spacing between the left and right forearms to be fixed.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a wrist-rest which enables the angle between the left and right forearms to be fixed.
Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings and description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5004196 (1991-04-01), Gross
patent: 5158256 (1992-10-01), Gross
patent: 5161760 (1992-11-01), Terbrack
patent: 5398896 (1995-03-01), Terbrack

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