Chairs and seats – With table – desk – or easel – Table pivotally connected to seat
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-03-27
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
With table, desk, or easel
Table pivotally connected to seat
C297S188180, C248S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206464
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to adjustable supports, and more particularly to an adjustable platform assembly for supporting a data input device, such as a computer keyboard, mouse or the like, and adapted for releasable attachment to an armchair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Personal computers are becoming more and more common in both home and work environments. Such systems typically employ a keyboard, mouse and/or other data entry devices. Due to space constraints on the desk top, it is often difficult to locate the keyboard thereon. Furthermore, many computer operators do not prefer to locate the keyboard on the desk top because it is uncomfortable to address the keyboard. For example, computer operators often complain of hand, wrist, back and neck discomfort during data entry.
In response to the aforementioned problems, various mechanical assemblies have been developed for supporting data input devices, such as keyboards, at locations other than the desk top. Conventionally, such assemblies have been designed to be mechanically fastened to the underside of a desk or table top, and include a retractable keyboard support tray. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,560 and 5,839,373 are representative of typical retractable keyboard support assemblies. In each of the aforementioned representative patents, the disclosed assemblies are provided with means for adjusting the position and/or orientation of the keyboard support in an effort to reduce operator discomfort during data entry. In particular, the disclosed assemblies enable the user to adjust the keyboard position and/or orientation based upon the seated position of the user. However, these structures have inherent drawbacks. Significantly, the fixed position of the keyboard support relative to the desk or table requires the operator to repeatedly readjust the keyboard support position and/or orientation upon shifting the position and/or orientation of the user's chair. Furthermore, the aforementioned support structures are intended to be permanently installed at a single computer station using complicated, multi-component mounting hardware. Consequently, the mechanical fastening means required for attaching the aforementioned structures to the desk severely restrict their portability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,306 addresses the portability limitation of the aforementioned structures by incorporating a conventional clamp assembly specifically designed for manual attachment to a desk or table top. However, the structure disclosed in the '306 patent does not overcome the former limitation; namely, the attachment of the keyboard support platform to the desk or table requires that the user reposition and/or reorient the support platform upon altering the position and/or orientation of the user's chair.
Accordingly, there is a recognized need for an improved support structure for computer data input devices which overcomes the aforementioned limitations of conventional support structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support assembly for supporting a computer data input device such as a keyboard or a mouse.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support assembly particularly adapted for attachment to an arm of a chair, thereby enabling the user to swivel and/or recline in said chair without having to adjust the support assembly.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable support assembly having a structure which enables the assembly to be attached to, and detached from, an armchair with minimal effort.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support system for supporting at least two individual input devices, such as a keyboard and mouse, wherein separate platform support components of said system are adapted for being releasably attached to one another.
These and other objects are achieved with the present invention in which an adjustable computer input device support system particularly adapted for attachment to an armchair generally comprises an input device support platform
40
connected by an adjustable jointed shaft
30
to an armchair coupling assembly
20
. Coupling assembly
20
includes a rigid base member
22
having upper and lower portions,
23
and
24
, respectively, a clamping member
28
, and a threaded screw member
29
.
Threaded screw member
29
extends through and engages a threaded aperture
26
extending completely through lower portion
24
of base member
22
. Preferably, clamping member
28
is freely attached to the distal end of screw member
29
, thereby enabling rotation of screw member
29
without corresponding rotation of clamping member
28
. Clamping member
28
is urged toward upper portion
23
of base member
22
by rotating threaded adjustment member
29
. Upper surface
27
of clamping member
28
engages the underside of chair arm
12
while inner surface
25
of base member upper portion
23
engages the upper surface of chair arm
12
. The contact surfaces of the base and clamping members can be provided with friction enhancing means.
Coupling assembly
20
is connected to a support platform
40
by a flexible jointed steel shaft
30
, commonly referred to as a gooseneck shaft, which is bendable and when bent will remain in the new position. Preferably, gooseneck shaft
30
is provided with a first end threaded and sized for mating with a corresponding threaded aperture in base member
22
of coupling assembly
20
.
The second end of gooseneck shaft
30
is preferably sized for being snugly received by an aperture
45
extending longitudinally through a thickened section
46
of support platform
40
. Preferably, aperture
45
extends longitudinally through a majority of the length of section
46
of support platform
40
. The snug fit prevents the support platform
40
from inadvertently slipping against the gooseneck shaft
30
while the operator is addressing the supported input device, yet enables the support platform to be forcibly rotated about the gooseneck shaft if desired. In particular, the snug fit enables the operator to adjust the degree of tilt of the support platform
40
by rotating the platform about the central axis of gooseneck shaft
30
, while gripping an exposed length of the gooseneck shaft proximate aperture
45
.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a pair of support platforms
40
and
50
, connected to chair arms
12
and
14
, respectively, are provided with means for being releasably attached to one another. Preferably, an outwardly-extending tongue member
48
of support platform
40
is sized and shaped for being snugly received within channel
58
of adjacent support platform
50
. The attachment provides adequate mechanical stability to prevent the adjacent platforms
40
,
50
from inadvertently detaching or twisting with respect to one another. Furthermore, the weight bearing capacity of each support platform is increased due to the added support provided, via the connection, by the adjacent support platform assembly.
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Santa Rosa Gilbert
Santa Rosa Michael
Gold Glenn E.
Jr. Milton Nelson
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