U.S. patent application number 12/213608 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-24 for keyboard tray.
Invention is credited to Charles A. Gillis.
Application Number | 20090314913 12/213608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41430230 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090314913 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gillis; Charles A. |
December 24, 2009 |
Keyboard tray
Abstract
A keyboard tray includes a chamber accessed through opposite
side slots through which slides a slidable mouse tray. The slidable
mouse tray and a lower keyboard body include groups of one of guide
and reinforcing ribs and guide and reinforcing slots. A mouse cord
supporting member can be utilized with either of opposite exposed
side portions of the slidable mouse tray. The keyboard try is also
preferably constructed of two bodies having alignment pins and
openings for accurate registration incident to assembly of the
keyboard tray.
Inventors: |
Gillis; Charles A.;
(Hazleton, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MILES & STOCKBRIDGE PC
1751 PINNACLE DRIVE, SUITE 500
MCLEAN
VA
22102-3833
US
|
Family ID: |
41430230 |
Appl. No.: |
12/213608 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 23/042 20130101;
G06F 3/0395 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.01 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A keyboard tray particularly adapted for supporting any one of a
variety of keyboards and an associated mouse comprising upper and
lower walls and a peripheral wall therebetween, said peripheral
wall including opposite spaced front and rear wall portions and
opposite spaced side wall portions, a slot in each side wall
portion opening into a chamber defined by said upper, lower and
peripheral walls, a slidable tray housed generally within said
chamber and having opposite side edges each substantially adjacent
one of said side wall portions, said slidable tray being slidable
relative to said chamber such that the opposite side edges of said
slidable tray can alternatively project beyond an associated side
wall portion of said peripheral wall to adapt the tray for
selective right hand and left hand utilization of a mouse
selectively upon either of said slidable tray side edge portions,
said lower wall including one of a plurality of spaced
substantially parallel guiding ribs and guiding grooves, said
slidable tray including the other of the plurality of spaced
substantially parallel guiding ribs and guiding grooves, and said
guiding ribs and guiding grooves being in substantially
complementary engaged sliding relationship with each other for
guiding side-to-side sliding movement of said slidable tray between
the right and left hand positions of mouse utilization.
2. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of
parallel guiding ribs are arranged in at least two spaced
substantially parallel groups with at least two guiding ribs per
group.
3. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of
parallel guiding ribs are arranged in at least three spaced
substantially parallel groups with at least two guiding ribs per
group.
4. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of
parallel guiding ribs are arranged in at least three spaced
substantially parallel groups with at least three guiding ribs per
group.
5. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the guiding ribs
include a guiding surface which is curved in a direction transverse
to the direction of sliding movement of slidable tray.
6. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the guiding
grooves include a guiding surface which is curved in a direction
transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the slidable
tray.
7. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the guiding ribs
include a guiding surface which is curved in a direction transverse
to the direction of sliding movement of slidable tray, and the
guiding grooves include a guiding surface which is curved in a
direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the
slidable tray.
8. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 2 wherein the guiding ribs
include a guiding surface which is curved in a direction transverse
to the direction of sliding movement of slidable tray.
9. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 2 wherein the guiding
grooves include a guiding surface which is curved in a direction
transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the slidable
tray.
10. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 2 wherein the guiding
ribs include a guiding surface which is curved in a direction
transverse to the direction of sliding movement of slidable tray,
and the guiding grooves include a guiding surface which is curved
in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of
the slidable tray.
11. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, and said mouse cord member including means for
removably securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray
when positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse
utilization.
12. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, said mouse cord member including means for removably
securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray when
positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization,
and said mouse cord securing means is a substantially U-shaped
slot.
13. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, said mouse cord member including means for removably
securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray when
positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization,
and said removable securing means is defined by forming said mouse
cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-section
defined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp
upon a peripheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
14. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, said mouse cord member including means for removably
securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray when
positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization,
said mouse cord securing means is a substantially U-shaped slot,
and said removable securing means is defined by forming said mouse
cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-section
defined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp
upon a peripheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
15. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper and
lower wall are individual members peripherally united to each
other, and said upper and lower walls include a plurality of
inter-engaged registration pins and opening for aligning said
individual members incident to securing the same to each other.
16. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 2 wherein said at least
two guiding ribs per group each define a guiding surface of an
imaginary surface curved in a direction transverse to the direction
of sliding movement of the slidable tray.
17. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 16 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, and said mouse cord member including means for
removably securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray
when positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse
utilization.
18. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 16 wherein said upper and
lower wall are individual members peripherally united to each
other, and said upper and lower walls include a plurality of
inter-engaged registration pins and opening for aligning said
individual members incident to securing the same to each other.
19. A keyboard tray particularly adapted for supporting any one of
a variety of keyboards and an associated mouse comprising upper and
lower walls and a peripheral wall therebetween, said peripheral
wall including opposite spaced front and rear wall portions and
opposite spaced side wall portions, a slot in each side wall
portions opening into a chamber defined by said upper, lower and
peripheral walls, a slidable tray housed generally within said
chamber and having opposite side edges each substantially adjacent
one of said side wall portions, said slidable tray being slidable
relative to said chamber such that the opposite side edges of said
slidable tray can alternatively project beyond an associated side
wall portion of said peripheral wall to adapt the tray for
selective right hand and left hand utilization of a mouse
selectively upon either of said slidable tray side edge portions, a
mouse cord member, said mouse cord member including means for
securing a mouse cord thereto, and said mouse cord member including
means for removably securing said mouse cord member to said
slidable tray when positioned for either right hand or left hand
mouse utilization.
20. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 19 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, said mouse cord member including means for removably
securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray when
positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization,
and said mouse cord securing means is a substantially U-shaped
slot.
21. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 19 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, said mouse cord member including means for removably
securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray when
positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization,
and said removable securing means is defined by forming said mouse
cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-section
defined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp
upon a peripheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
22. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 19 including a mouse cord
member, said mouse cord member including means for securing a mouse
cord thereto, said mouse cord member including means for removably
securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray when
positioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization,
said mouse cord securing means is a substantially U-shaped slot,
and said removable securing means is defined by forming said mouse
cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-section
defined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp
upon a peripheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
23. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 19 wherein said upper and
lower wall are individual members peripherally united to each
other, and said upper and lower walls include a plurality of
inter-engaged registration pins and opening for aligning said
individual members incident to securing the same to each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to a keyboard tray, particularly
adapted for supporting any one of a variety of conventional
keyboards and a mouse associated therewith.
[0002] The keyboard tray is preferably rigidly secured to a
keyboard tray supporting arm which is articulately mounted relative
to a desk upon which is supported a conventional personal computer
(PC). The keyboard tray houses a relatively flat mouse tray in
slidable relationship thereto. The keyboard tray is preferably
constructed from two pieces of compression-molded,
injection-molded, vacuum-molded or like formed
polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material which when united
along a periphery thereof define a bottom wall or surface, an upper
supporting wall or surface, and a peripheral wall therebetween. The
peripheral wall includes spaced opposite side wall portions which
each include a slot through which the mouse tray can slide between
operative and inoperative positions.
[0003] A keyboard tray as just described is fully disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,655,743 in the name of Charles A. Gillis which issued on
Aug. 12, 1997. The present invention constitutes an improvement
over the invention of the latter patent and the prior art patents
listed therein which are incorporated hereat by reference, along
with U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,895 granted on Feb. 24, 2004, also in the
name of Charles A. Gillis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention improves prior art keyboard trays and
particularly the keyboard tray of U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,743 by (1)
constructing the slidable tray and a chamber in which the slidable
tray slides with cooperative substantially parallel guiding ribs
and guiding grooves arranged in at least two spaced substantially
parallel groups with at least two guiding ribs per group which
define a guiding surface curved in a direction transverse to the
direction of sliding movement of the slidable tray, (2) providing a
removable mouse cord supporting member having a U-shaped slot in
which a mouse cord can be secured and (3) constructing the keyboard
tray from two members each including a peripheral wall and having a
plurality of inter-engaged registration pins and openings for
aligning the individual keyboard members incident to permanently
securing the same to each other.
[0005] With the above and other objects in view that will
hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more
clearly understood by reference to the following detailed
description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a novel keyboard tray of
the present invention, and illustrates in phantom outline a
conventional keyboard associated therewith and also in phantom
outline a conventional mouse associated with a slidable mouse tray
in its right-hand position of use, but slidable to a left-hand
position of use shown in phantom outline.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard tray,
and illustrates upper and lower keyboard bodies, the slidable mouse
tray and a mouse cord securing member.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the keyboard tray, and
illustrates the slidable mouse tray housed within an interior
chamber of the keyboard tray and a generally narrow polygonal
opening or slot in a side wall thereof.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an interior of a lower
keyboard body of the keyboard tray, and illustrates a plurality of
substantially parallel spaced reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the
lower keyboard body with the ribs being arranged in a groups with
each group defining a substantially curved guiding surface, as
viewed in transverse cross-section to the direction of sliding
movement of the slidable mouse tray.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the slidable mouse
tray, and illustrates a plurality of reinforcing ribs for
reinforcing the slidable mouse tray and being each defined by a
plurality of substantially parallel spaced ribs with each group of
ribs defining a curved guiding surface matching the curved guiding
surface of the grooves of the lower keyboard body of FIG. 4.
[0011] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally
along line 6-6 of FIG. 3, and illustrates four groups of guiding
grooves and four guiding ribs with each of the latter being defined
by a plurality of generally spaced parallel ribs and one of a
plurality of interlocked alignment pins and openings for aligning
the keyboard bodies during assembly thereof.
[0012] FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken
generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 3, and illustrates details of four
groups of guide grooves or slots of the lower keyboard body and the
generally transverse curvature thereof matching each group of
guiding grooves of the slidable mouse tray.
[0013] FIG. 8, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing
FIG. 3, is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
left-hand corner of the upper and lower keyboard bodies of FIG. 2,
and illustrates respective alignment openings and pins for
effecting alignment between the keyboard bodies incident to
permanently adhesively or otherwise securing the same to each
other.
[0014] FIG. 9, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing
FIG. 3, is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken
generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 3, and illustrates one of the four
alignment pins registered with its associated alignment opening or
bore.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] A novel keyboard tray constructed in accordance with this
invention is fully illustrated in the drawings and is generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 which supports any one of a
variety of a conventional keyboards K (FIG. 1) having a power cord
C.
[0016] The keyboard tray 10 includes a slidable mouse tray 15 which
can be housed substantially entirely within the keyboard 10 (FIG.
3) or can be slid to the right or left, as shown respectively in
solid and phantom outline in FIG. 1. A conventional mouse M (FIG.
1) having a power cord C1 can be supported by the mouse tray 15 at
either side of the keyboard tray 10 depending upon the location of
the mouse tray 15.
[0017] The keyboard tray 10 is preferably injection-molded,
compression-molded or otherwise molded from polymeric/copolymeric
synthetic plastic material and has two separate individual keyboard
bodies or keyboard members, namely, an upper keyboard body 21 and a
lower keyboard body 22.
[0018] The upper keyboard body 21 (FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7) includes an
upper relatively flat surface or wall 30 of a generally polygonal
or rectangular configuration set-off by a depending rear wall
portion 31, a curved depending front wall portion 32, and opposite
substantially parallel depending side wall portions 33, 34 with the
latter depending wall portions 31 through 34 collectively defining
a depending peripheral wall 35 terminating in a peripheral edge 36.
An underside of the upper wall 30 is provided with a plurality of
substantially parallel spaced longitudinal reinforcing ribs 37
extending between the side wall portions 33, 34 which are in
crossing relationship to a plurality of substantially parallel
transverse reinforcing ribs 38 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) extending between
the rear and front wall portions 31, 32, respectively. The upper
wall 30 includes substantially shallow polygonal or rectangular
recesses R1, R2 (FIGS. 3 and 7) in which are housed and adhesively
secured thereto respective pads P1, P2 of high coefficient of
friction material which functions to prevent the keyboard K from
sliding along the surface 30, as is most evident from FIG. 1 of the
drawings.
[0019] A peripheral reinforcing rib 64 projects upwardly from the
upper wall surface 30 of the upper keyboard body 21 along the rear
peripheral wall 31 and the side peripheral walls 33, 34, and
includes upwardly opening slots S into either of which can be
located the power cord C of the keyboard K (FIG. 1).
[0020] At each corner (unnumbered) of the upper keyboard body 21
and midway of the rear and front walls 31, 32, respectively, there
is provided a downwardly opening generally cylindrical alignment
bore or opening 58 (FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) which receives an upwardly
projecting cylindrical alignment pin 59 (FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) of the
lower keyboard body 22 which are utilized to align the keyboard
bodies 21, 22 incident to permanently assembling the same utilizing
conventional adhesive, sonic welding, or the like along the
mating/contacting peripheries thereof.
[0021] The mouse slide tray 15 is of a generally polygonal or
rectangular configuration and includes two relatively large shallow
substantially rectangular mouse-receiving recesses R3, R4 (FIGS. 1,
2 6 and 7) located symmetrically with respect to rear and front
edges 24, 25, respectively, and opposite side edges 26, 27. As is
best illustrated in FIG. 5, four groups 41 through 44 of three ribs
45 through 47 each which terminate in respective terminal or end
faces or surfaces 55 through 57, respectively, project downwardly
from a lower surface 28 of the slidable mouse tray 15. Each of the
groups 41 through 44 of three ribs 45 through 47 are reinforced by
a plurality of longitudinally spaced depending projections 48 of a
generally arcuate configuration as defined by an arcuate or curved
terminal or end face 49 which, as viewed in transverse
cross-section (FIGS. 6 and 7), imparts a generally curved
transverse configuration defined by a transverse curved plane
passing through the end or terminal faces 55 through 57 of the ribs
45 through 47, respectively, of each of the groups 41 through 44.
The transverse curvature or arc is identified by the reference
character A in FIG. 6 and 7 of the drawings.
[0022] The slidable mouse tray 15 is further reinforced along the
peripheral side walls 26, 27 by a plurality of downwardly
projecting spaced reinforcing ribs 63 (FIG. 5) which foreshorten
the length of the groups 42, 43 of ribs 45 through 47 as compared
to the groups 41, 44 of ribs 45 through 47. The latter
foreshortening provides finger access areas FA (FIG. 5) contiguous
the side walls 26, 27 for gripping the mouse slide tray 15,
particularly when completely housed within a chamber Cs (FIGS. 6
and 7) set off between the keyboard bodies 21, 22 in which the
mouse slide tray 15 can be substantially fully housed.
[0023] The lower keyboard body 22 includes a lower wall 70 (FIG. 4)
of a substantially polygonal or rectangular configuration
substantially matching the configuration of the upper wall 30 of
the keyboard body 21 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a rear
peripheral wall 71, a slightly curved front peripheral wall 72
matching the curvature of the front wall 32 of the upper keyboard
body 21, and side peripheral walls 73, 74 collectively defining a
peripheral wall 75.
[0024] The side peripheral walls 73, 74 of the lower keyboard body
22 are each shorter in height than the sidewalls 33, 34,
respectively, of the upper keyboard body 21 and therewith define
respective generally rectangular side openings or slots 76 (FIGS. 1
and 3) through which the mouse slide tray 15 can enter or exit the
chamber Cs.
[0025] The lower keyboard body 22 is reinforced by four groups 81
through 84 (FIG. 4) of four ribs 85 through 88 each which impart a
mirror image transverse curved configuration A (FIGS. 6 and 7) to
the respective longitudinally extending groups 41 through 44 of the
mouse slide tray guide ribs 45 through 47, it being noted that the
curvature and structural relationship and orientation of the
individual ribs 85 through 88 both define the rib groups 81 through
84 and the guide slots 81 through 84 defined thereby.
[0026] When assembled in the manner best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6
and 7 of the drawings, the groups 41 through 44 of guide ribs 45
through 47 of the slidable mouse try 15 slide in the guide grooves
81 through 84, respectively, of the lower keyboard body 22 each
define by the four ribs 85 through 88 along the substantially
matching arcuate guide surfaces A (FIGS. 6 and 7) which are defined
by upper surfaces (unnumbered) of the ribs 85 through 88 and
corresponding curved surfaces 91 (FIG. 4) of a plurality of
transverse reinforcing ribs 92 (FIG. 4). In this manner, the ribs
45 through 47 and 85 through 88 of the respective mouse slide tray
15 and the lower keyboard body 22 define smooth substantially
arcuate surfaces A which not only provide guiding functions but
reinforcing functions contemporaneously therewith.
[0027] A mouse cord member 100 (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes upper and
lower substantially parallel walls 101, 102 defining a channel 103
therebetween which has a vertical height slightly less than the
thickness of the slidable mouse tray 15 along the rear edge 24
thereof. The mouse cord member 100 is preferably constructed from
synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material and can be
snap-secured to the slidable mouse tray 15 at either exposed side
thereof in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. An
upwardly projecting rib 105 includes an upwardly opening slot 106
for snugly snap-receiving therein the cord C1 of the mouse M in the
manner illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0028] The bottom wall 70 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) is provided with a
polygonal or rectangular recess Rr (FIGS. 2 and 4) in which is
housed a block of wood B secured to the wall 70 by screws
(unnumbered) for the purpose of securing thereto a keyboard support
arm (such as the support arm A of FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No.
5,655,743).
[0029] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be
understood that minor variations may be made in the article without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *