U.S. patent application number 09/305353 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for pull-out keyboard tray.
Invention is credited to COOPER, MARK J., STEWART, KRISTIN M..
Application Number | 20020043604 09/305353 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23180449 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020043604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
COOPER, MARK J. ; et
al. |
April 18, 2002 |
PULL-OUT KEYBOARD TRAY
Abstract
A pull-out keyboard tray. The pull-out keyboard tray includes an
adjustable keyboard platform, removable storage compartments, and
keyboard wiring protrusions. The keyboard is slightly mounted on
drawer slides having multiple position detents, and is adapted for
mounting under a desk top surface and the like. The keyboard
further includes a removable palmrest, as well as slide shrouds for
shrouding the drawer slides.
Inventors: |
COOPER, MARK J.; (RESEDA,
CA) ; STEWART, KRISTIN M.; (REDONDO, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE PARKER & HALE
P O BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
911097068
|
Family ID: |
23180449 |
Appl. No.: |
09/305353 |
Filed: |
May 4, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 2210/15 20130101;
A47B 21/0314 20130101; Y10S 248/918 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.01 |
International
Class: |
B65D 019/00; A47G
029/00 |
Claims
1. A pullout keyboard tray assembly slidably extendable from a
position substantially below a desktop surface to a position
extending out from the desktop surface, the pullout keyboard tray
comprising: a substantially rectangular platform adapted to receive
a keyboard, the platform having a forward edge, a rearward edge,
and side edges interconnecting the forward and rearward edges;
support means for supporting the platform, the support means
including a substantially vertical surface having horizontal edge
surfaces adapted to support an edge of the platform.
2. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the
horizontal edge surfaces are adapted to receive the rear edge of
the platform.
3. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 2 wherein the
substantially vertical surface comprises a forward edge of at least
one storage compartment.
4. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 3 wherein the
substantially vertical surface comprises a forward edge of a
plurality of storage compartments.
5. A pullout keyboard tray assembly comprising: a tray adapted to
receive a keyboard; at least one slide coupled to the tray, the
slide having a range of travel from a retracted position to an
extended position, with a partial extended position being between
the retracted position and the extended position, the slide
including a detent at the partial extended position.
6. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 5 further comprising
at least one storage compartment coupled to the tray.
7. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the tray
has a front and a rear, the front defining a forward edge of the
tray as the slide move towards the extended position and the rear
being the edge of the tray opposite the front, and wherein the
storage compartment is coupled to a rear of the tray.
8. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 7 wherein the slide
is mounted to the bottom of a table surface, the tray and storage
compartment being substantially under the table surface when the
slide is retracted, the tray and storage compartment is forward of
the table surface when the slide is extended, and the tray is
substantially forward of the table surface and the storage
compartment is substantially underneath the table surface when the
slide is at the partial extended position.
9. A pullout keyboard tray assembly comprising: a pair of slides
adapted for mounting to an underside of a desktop; a keyboard
support coupled to the slides; and slide shrouds coupled to the
keyboard support, the slide shrouds substantially enclosing
portions of the slides adjacent the keyboard support.
10. The pullout keyboard tray of claim 9 further comprising
protrusions operably extending from the keyboard support, the
protrusions adapted to maintain position of a wire.
11. The pullout keyboard tray of claim 10 wherein the protrusions
extend from the slide shrouds.
12. A pullout keyboard tray assembly comprising: a keyboard
support; means for extendably coupling the keyboard support to an
underside of a desk surface; a palmrest removably coupled to a
forward edge of the keyboard support.
13. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 12 wherein the
palmrest comprises a gel material mounted to a substantially rigid
support.
14. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 13 wherein the
substantially rigid support comprises a substantially flat
elongated planar surface.
15. The pullout keyboard tray assembly of claim 14 wherein the gel
material includes an indent receiving the substantially rigid
support.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to pull-out trays, and more
particularly to under-surface mounted pull-out keyboard trays.
[0002] The use of personal computers is widespread both at the
office and at home. Such widespread use of personal computers has
presented challenges to furniture and furniture accessory designers
and manufacturers. A primary challenge is that office and office
type furniture must be adapted to meet the requirements imposed by
such computer systems.
[0003] Computer systems require room for display monitors, computer
units, and computer keyboards. Display monitors are often placed on
a desktop surface. Likewise, computer units are often placed about
the desk on the floor or in some other position. Computer
keyboards, however, often pose special problems. Preferably, a
keyboard is located slightly in front of a display monitor so that
a user may easily type on the keyboard while examining the monitor.
Thus, users often place keyboards on desk tops directly in front of
a monitor. Placing the keyboard on the desktop, however, is often
troublesome. Such placement of the keyboard takes up valuable desk
space which the user may at times require for other purposes. In
addition, desktops are often slightly higher than the height at
which ergonomic typing preferably occurs.
[0004] Extendably mounting the keyboard underneath a desktop
surface, therefore, is often done. Mounting the keyboard under the
desktop frees up valuable desk space, as well as positions the
keyboard at a height more conducive for typing. Unfortunately, many
keyboard trays extend significantly below the desktop such that the
keyboard and a tray holding the keyboard reduce the knee space
available for a user. Moreover, many such trays provide no room for
storage of small objects. Also, tray users may inadvertently injure
themselves through contact, particularly of fingers, with the
slides during movement. In addition, keyboards generally have
associated wiring, and many such known keyboards provide no items
for efficient routing of the associated wires. Further, easy yet
simple methods of positioning many keyboards, both in terms of
amount of extension and of angle of inclination of the keyboard,
are often lacking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention therefore provides a pull-out keyboard
tray assembly. The assembly is slidably extendable from a position
substantially below a desk top surface to a position extending out
from the desk top surface. The assembly comprises a substantially
rectangular tray, the tray being defined by a forward edge, a
rearward edge, and side edges interconnecting the forward and
rearward edges. The assembly further comprises support means for
supporting the tray, the support means including a substantially
vertical surface having horizontal edge surfaces adapted to support
an edge of the tray.
[0006] In one embodiment the invention comprises a pull-out
keyboard tray assembly with a tray adapted to receive a keyboard.
At least one slide is coupled to the tray, the slide having a range
of travel. The range of travel of the slide is from retracted
position to an extended position, with a partial extended position
being between the retracted position and the extended position. In
one embodiment the slide is a 3/4 extension slide, and in one
embodiment the slide is a full extension slide. Further, in one
embodiment the slide includes a detent at the partial extended
position. In an additional embodiment the assembly includes a
storage compartment at the rear of the tray, with the tray
substantially extending from the desk top surface when the slide is
in the partial extended position, but the storage compartment is
substantially underneath the desk top surface when the slide is at
the partial extended position. And yet another embodiment of the
invention, the pull-out keyboard tray assembly comprises a pair of
slides adapted for mounting to an underside of a desk top. A
keyboard support is coupled to the slides. Protrusions extend
upward from the keyboard support surface, with the protrusions
adapted to maintain position of a wire. In one embodiment the
protrusions extend from slide shrouds coupled to the keyboard
support, the slide shrouds substantially enclosing portions of the
slides adjacent the keyboard support. In yet further embodiments of
the present invention, the assembly includes a palmrest removably
coupled to a forward edge of the keyboard support. In one
embodiment the palmrest comprises a gel material mounted to a
substantially rigid support.
[0007] Many of the attendant features of this invention will be
more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood in a
reference to the following detailed description considering
connection with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pull-out keyboard tray of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the storage compartment of a
keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of the storage compartments of the
keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of a unitarily formed
storage compartment for a keyboard tray;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a planar view of a right slide shroud of the
keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a planar view of a left slide shroud of the
keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the slide shroud of FIG. 7;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a planar view of a support tray of the keyboard
tray of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the support tray of FIG. 9;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a right storage compartment
of the keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a left storage compartment
of the keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the storage compartment
of FIG. 11;
[0021] FIG. 14 illustrates the underside of the storage compartment
of FIG. 11;
[0022] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a middle storage
compartment of the keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the storage compartment of FIG.
14;
[0024] FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a wooden support pad
assembled with the palmrest of the keyboard tray of FIG. 1; and
[0025] FIG. 18 is a view of a bottom side of the palmrest of the
keyboard tray of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 19 is a view of an upturned tab on the support tray
adapted to engage the slide shroud;
[0027] FIG. 20 is a view of the slide shroud including a bracket
adapted to engage the upturned tab; and
[0028] FIG. 21 is a view of the keyboard platform of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a pull-out keyboard tray of the present
invention. The keyboard tray includes a support tray 11 which
undergirds a keyboard area. Partially resting on top of the support
tray is a keyboard platform 13. The keyboard platform provides a
surface upon which to place a keyboard. The keyboard platform is a
generally flat planar surface substantially rectangular in shape.
The sides of the support tray are bounded in the front by a
palmrest 15, on the sides by slide shrouds 23a, b, and in the rear
by a set of storage compartments 17. As used herein, references to
directions such as front, rear, top, etc., are with reference to a
keyboard positioned before a user, and the directions are used
merely to more fully convey the description of the invention.
[0030] The keyboard platform is illustrated in FIG. 21. The
keyboard platform is a substantially flat, largely rectangular
plate. As previously mentioned, the keyboard platform includes an
aperture at its midpoint, as well as a notch along the rear edge.
In the embodiment described the keyboard platform is steel,
although in alternative embodiments the keyboard is aluminum or
plastic.
[0031] The keyboard platform also includes polymeric grips 151
along the forward and rear edges. The polymeric grips, which are a
soft polyurethane in one embodiment, have a substantially C-shaped
cross-section. The grips are coupled to the keyboard platform along
small notches (not shown), which allows the grips to engage the
keyboard platform without extending beyond the horizontal footprint
of the keyboard platform. The grips serve to cushion the keyboard
platform, thereby reducing scraping against other items as well as
reducing noise during operation.
[0032] The storage compartments include a front face 19 defining a
largely vertical wall, with horizontal ridges 21 extending forward
from the wall. The rear edge of the keyboard platform is adapted to
be placed in groves formed by these ridges, thereby providing
different angles with respect to the horizontal of the support
tray. In the embodiment shown these angles range from neutral angle
to a negative 7.degree., although in one embodiment the tray is
fixed at negative 7.degree.. At approximately the midpoint of the
keyboard platform is a platform aperture 39, and along the back
edge approximately midway along the keyboard platform is a platform
notch 37. The aperture 39 and notch 37 provide easy grip areas to
allow a user to modify the angle at which the keyboard platform
rests. In addition, a notch in the rear of the support tray allows
wiring associated with a keyboard to be easily passed to a computer
unit.
[0033] The keyboard tray is extendably mounted to the underside of
a desk. This is done using drawer slides 25 of which only one is
shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the drawer slide is of a
side-by-side type, and in one embodiment is of a type described in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/267,425 entitled Slide Detent
Device, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. This
type of slide provides a detent mechanism at both full extension
and three quarters extension of the slide. This provides a stable
typing environment when the slide is either fully extended, with
the storage compartments exposed, or when the slide is partially
extended, with the storage compartment not exposed. Other types of
drawer slides, however, such as telescopic drawer slides, could be
used. L-shaped brackets 27a, b are mounted to the drawer slides.
The L-shaped brackets are attached to a planar web 29 of one of the
drawer slides via welding or other means. The brackets extend
vertically, thereby forming a vertical surface 31, from the web of
a drawer slide, and then have a roughly 90.degree. bend to form a
horizontal surface 33 extending from the slide member. The
horizontal surface of the brackets allows the brackets to be easily
mounted to the bottom of a desk or other flat table-like surface.
The vertical surface is attached to the slides in one embodiment by
screws, passing through apertures 35 in the vertical surface. The
vertical surface includes a plurality of apertures at different
heights, thereby allowing for height adjustment of the unit.
[0034] When the slides are retracted, and the keyboard tray is
located under the flat surface, the shrouds 15 would necessarily
contact the L-shaped brackets. Accordingly, the shrouds include a
slot 39a, b in the upper surface of the shroud to allow for passage
of the brackets when the keyboard tray is retracted. When the
keyboard tray is extended, however, the shrouds provide a way of
keeping dust and other foreign objects, including fingers, etc.,
away from the slide members.
[0035] The shrouds also include a horizontal surface 41 extending
inwards towards the rear of the shroud. This horizontal surface has
two knobs, or protrusions, 43a, b extending vertically. The knobs
or protrusions provide a convenient way of keeping keyboard cords,
mouse cords, or the like in a neat and orderly fashion, and away
from the keyboard surface. Moreover, the protrusions are spaced
apart a distance such that many common mouse cords are firmly held
in place when placed between the protrusions. In other words, in
one embodiment the protrusions provide a "snap-fit" engagement for
the mouse cords.
[0036] The palmrest is formed of a gel-like substance. In other
embodiments, a foam material is used in place of the gel-like
substance.
[0037] The storage compartment 17 actually comprises three separate
removable replaceable storage compartments in the embodiment
illustrated. A left storage compartment 45 includes a roughly half
cylindrical indentation 47 for containing pencils and the like. A
right storage compartment 49 has a rectangular storage area 51 with
an opening in front. This allows for convenient placement of floppy
disks, CD-ROMs and other similar flat items. The rectangular
storage area has a slight negative slope, namely sloping away from
the keyboard support surface, this helps avoid dislodgement of
items in the storage compartment as the keyboard tray is opened and
closed, as well as providing for an easier way of grabbing the
items in the tray. A middle storage compartment 53, located between
the left and right storage compartments, includes a rectangular
storage area 55 for note pads, business cards, and the like, as
well as a small semi-cylindrical area for small items. All of the
storage compartments have ridges extending across their front face
in a horizontal manner so as to allow for placement of the keyboard
support platform at various angles of orientation.
[0038] Turning now to FIG. 2, the underside of the keyboard tray of
FIG. 1 is illustrated. FIG. 2 illustrates some of the mounting
interrelationships between the components which make up the
pull-out keyboard tray. The bottom most surface of the keyboard
tray is provided by the support tray 11. The palmrest 15, which is
mounted to a rigid surface, i.e., a board 61 for support, is
mounted on top of the support tray and extends forward of the
support tray. Three apertures 63a, b, c are placed near the forward
edge of the support tray, with one in the middle and one near
either edge, to allow for a screw, rivet, or other mechanism for
removably mounting the palmrest and rigid surface to the support
tray. In one embodiment, a screw is placed through the aperture and
the rigid surface, and into the palmrest. The head of the screws
include T-nuts, or alternatively wings, to increase the ease of
manually replacing or removing the palmrest. This is useful, for
example, when use of a keyboard including a palmrest, or merely an
oversize keyboard, is desired, as well as when a different palmrest
is desired.
[0039] The storage compartments extend beyond the rear edge of the
support tray. As will be described in more detail later, the
storage compartments have a slot adapted to receive an upturned
edge of the rear edge of the support tray, with the storage
compartments thereby forming an overhanging structure.
[0040] Each of the sides of the support tray have three planar
extending members 65a, b, c, and 67a, b, c. The planar extending
members are located at the front, the middle, and the rear of the
sides of the keyboard support tray. The planar members have
apertures for receiving a screw or other cylindrical attachment
means. The apertures are positioned so as to allow the screw or
other attachment means to engage in receptors on the shrouds,
thereby allowing mounting of the shrouds to the support tray.
[0041] In one embodiment the middle planar extending member has an
upturned tab which engages a bracket formed in the slide shroud.
The upturned tab of the middle planar extending member is
illustrated in FIG. 19. The bracket formed in the slide shroud is
illustrated in FIG. 20. The upturned tab is largely an upturned
edge 161 of the end of the middle planar extending member. The tab
has a width less than that of the middle planar extending member,
but also has a top surface of a slightly greater width which forms
barbs 163. These barbs are adapted to contact and frictionally
engage sides of the bracket formed in the slide shroud. In an
alternative embodiment the upturned tab does not have barbs, but is
instead sized for a slight interface fit with the bracket.
[0042] The bracket in the slide shroud is integrally formed with
the slide shroud, and comprises opposing L-shaped pieces on the
inner surface of the slide shroud. The L-shaped pieces 191, 193 are
spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the barbs
on the upturned tab in the described embodiment. Also in the
embodiment described, the L-shaped pieces are centered about the
position of the mid-shroud mounting post of FIG. 8, and the
mid-shroud mounting post is not present.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the right storage
compartment, and in particular the ridges extending from the front
of the storage compartment adapted for engagement with the keyboard
platform. The front wall of the storage compartment slopes slightly
away from the keyboard area. Near the bottom of the front wall are
two longitudinal ridges with upper surfaces. These upper surfaces
allow the keyboard platform to be rested on the upper surfaces.
Thus, the keyboard platform may be placed on top of the upper
surface thereby allowing the keyboard platform to have a neutral
incline. Placing the keyboard platform between the two ridges,
whereby the keyboard platform is placed on top of the flat surface
of the lower ridge, allows the keyboard to be placed at a slight
negative incline. Further, the keyboard platform may be laid on top
of the keyboard support tray, which allows for the keyboard
platform to be placed at three varying angles.
[0044] FIG. 3 also illustrates the slot 81 provided to receive the
upturned edge of the support tray. The slot is in a plurality of
webs 83 provided within the underside of the storage compartment.
This slot is, or as previously stated, is towards the front of the
storage compartment. In addition, FIG. 3 illustrates a semi-hooked
strut 85 which positions the storage compartment with respect to
the shroud.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a front view of the storage compartments. The
front view shows the left compartment 45, the middle compartment
53, and the right compartment 49. The front view also shows a
portion of the strut with the hooked tab 87 on the right side of
the right storage compartment. The left storage compartment has a
corresponding left strut having a hooked tab. The middle storage
compartment has a semi-circular notch 91 in the lower front portion
of the compartment so as to allow passage of electrical cords such
as a keyboard cable.
[0046] The front view also illustrates the ridges extending along
the lower front surface of the storage compartments. Each ridge is
collinear with the corresponding ridges on the other storage
compartments, thereby providing for level side-to-side displacement
of the keyboard support tray.
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a unitarily
formed storage compartment. The unitarily formed storage
compartment takes the place of the left, middle, and right storage
compartments. The unitarily formed storage compartment also does
not contain ridges as described with respect to the left, right,
and middle storage compartments. Instead, the unitarily formed
storage compartment has a plurality of semi-circular disks 101
protruding from the front service. The semi-circular disks are
arranged in two horizontal lines so as to provide the keyboard
holding angles as previously described.
[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates the right slide shroud. The right slide
shroud includes a shroud body 111. The shroud body has an elongated
upper beak-like shape. This beak-like shape includes an elongated
length, a relatively narrow width, a steeply sloping back surface
113, and a relatively steeply sloping front surface 115. The height
of the body decreases slightly from the rear forward. The rear of
the shroud body (not shown) is substantially open to allow passage
of a slide. In addition, the top of the shroud body includes the
slot 39 to allow passage of the L-brackets mounting the slides to
the underside of a desk or other surface.
[0049] A platform 41 extends from the rear lower inner surface of
the body. The planar surface, which is approximately the width of
the shroud body, includes an aperture 117 towards the rear of the
surface to allow passage of a keyboard cord, mouse cord, or the
like. More particularly, the aperture allows access to mounting
locations on 3/4 extension slides. The front of the planar surface
includes two protrusions 43a, b located side-by-side approximate
the front of the planar surface. The protrusions provide a handy
means for routing of cords, as well as means to wrap the cords so
as to maintain the cords in a constant position. The planar surface
also includes an attachment protrusion 119 on the forward inner
edge of the planar surface. The attachment protrusion has a
vertical slit 121 adapted to receive the upturned edge of the
keyboard support tray. The planar surface also includes a
rectangular cut-out 123 on the lower surface of the inward edge.
The rectangular cut-out is adapted to receive the semi-hooked end
of the strut on the storage compartment. The rectangular cut-out
thereby provides additional positional stability for the storage
compartments.
[0050] FIG. 7 illustrates a view of the left slide shroud. The left
slide shroud is a mirror image of the right slide shroud. The view
illustrated in FIG. 7, however, illustrates additional detail
regarding the rear end of the shroud. As illustrated, the rear end
of the shroud body includes a rectangular aperture 131 extending
substantially across the width of the body, and over roughly the
top half of the rear end of the body.
[0051] FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the slide shroud of FIG.
7. As shown in the bottom view, the slide shroud is substantially
hollow. Three posts 141a, b, c, however, extend from the inside
surface of the shroud body perpendicularly downward. The posts
include cylindrical hollowed out portions adapted to receive a
screw and the like. One cylindrical mounting post is located
approximately at the midpoint at the width of the shroud body near
the forward edge of the shroud body. Two other mounting posts are
located along the inside outer edge of the shroud body, one
approximately at midpoint and one near the rear end. To increase
rotational stability, a fourth mounting post 143 is located
approximately the midpoint of the planar surface.
[0052] Returning now to FIG. 2, illustrating the underside of the
keyboard tray, it may be seen that the support tray includes screw
hole midpoints 151a, b, c corresponding to those where a
cylindrical mounting post contact the support tray. Thus, the
support tray supports the slide shroud, while the mounting screws
prevent extraneous motion.
[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates the support tray. In one embodiment no
keyboard platform is used. Instead a keyboard rests directly on the
support tray. In addition, in one embodiment no storage
compartments are used.
[0054] The support tray has a largely rectangular flat surface 161.
Three planar surfaces extend from the left and right side of the
flat surface. The forward most planar surfaces 151a form part of
the front edge of the support. The front end of the support
generally has a rolled up edge 171. The rear of the support tray
includes an upturned edge 173. Also extending from either side of
the rear of the support tray, and in a rearward direction, are
wings 151c. The wings are substantially flat and are essentially
merely a continuation of the rectangular flat surface.
[0055] Along either side of the flat surface are support walls
175a, b. The support walls extend from the rear edge of the forward
planar surface and extend to the forward edge of the rearward
planar surface. The side walls are adapted to be coupled to the
slide members. The planar surfaces, as previously mentioned, are
adapted to mount the slide shrouds. In addition, when mounted the
slide shrouds largely encompass the support walls.
[0056] The flat surface also has apertures corresponding to the
location of the apertures in the keyboard platform. This increases
the ease of moving the angle at which the keyboard tray rests as
well as providing keyboard cable access holes.
[0057] FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom view of the support tray. The
bottom view more fully shows the relationship of the wings and the
flat surface. The bottom view also more completely illustrates the
apertures along the front edge, the extensions, and the details of
the support tray for mounting of the slide shrouds and
palmrests.
[0058] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the right storage
compartment. FIG. 11 shows the ridges for supporting the keyboard
tray, the storage area, and the strut with hooked end for
attachment to the slide shrouds.
[0059] FIG. 12 shows details of the left storage compartment. As
with the right storage compartment, the left storage compartment
includes ridges for placing the keyboard tray at different angles,
a storage area, and a strut with a hooked end. The strut of the
left side storage compartment is, of course, essentially the mirror
image of the strut of the right storage compartment.
[0060] FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the storage compartment
of FIG. 12. The side view more fully illustrates the slits adapted
to receive the upturned edge of the support tray. These slits are
placed in transverse webs undergirding the storage compartment, and
which provide additional support for the storage compartment.
[0061] FIG. 14 more fully illustrates the transverse webs of the
right storage compartment. The right storage compartment includes
five webs, each with a vertical slot. The plurality of webs with
vertical slots provides additional stability both to the storage
itself and for positional stability with respect to the keyboard
support tray.
[0062] FIG. 15 illustrates the middle storage compartment. The
middle storage compartment is adapted to abut the right storage
compartment on one side and the left storage compartment on the
other side. The middle storage compartment includes an oval
indented area on the top for storage of small items such as paper
clips and the like. Also on the top of the middle storage
compartment is a rectangular storage area for storage of note pads
and the like. The front edge of the middle storage compartment
includes two ridges adapted for placing the keyboard platform
thereon. Along the bottom front edge of the middle storage
compartment is an oval cut-out which increases the ease of removing
the middle storage compartment without disturbing the left or right
storage compartments.
[0063] FIG. 16 illustrates the underside of the middle storage
compartment. As with the other storage compartments, the middle
storage compartment has transverse webs undergirding the storage
compartment. The transverse webs include slits adapted to receive
the upturned edge of the support tray.
[0064] FIG. 17 illustrates a bottom view of the palmrest and board.
The palmrest and support board form a large planar surface with a
flat edge adjacent a keyboard when mounted to the support tray, and
a column cave rounded edge facing the user. The board is placed in
a cut-out region of the palmrest, and the board includes three
mounting apertures. In one embodiment the palmrest and board are
together largely covered in material, thereby forming the palmrest
and board into an integral assembly and largely hiding the wood or
plastic base from view.
[0065] FIG. 18 illustrates a view of the bottom side of the
palmrest, including a cut-out adapted to receive the board. The
bottom side of the palmrest also includes three cavities
corresponding in size and location to the apertures in the
board.
[0066] Thus, the present invention provides a device with many
small features for increasing the ease of use in keyboards for
computer systems in modern day office furniture. Although this
invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, it
should be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise
than as described. Accordingly, the described embodiments should be
viewed as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention to be determined by the claims, and their equivalents,
supported by this application.
* * * * *