CA2697464A1 - Adjustable stand for keyboard and mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a self-supporting, mobile or fixed, adjustable stand for items such a computer keyboard, mouse or laptop computer for use while sitting on a recliner, sofa or chair, standing, sitting or kneeling on the floor.
The assembly consists of an articulated arm mechanism with supporting gas spring piston that allows the tray to be raised or lowered effortlessly. The arm assembly swivels sideways to allow the user to sit or stand more freely.
The tray assemblies also swivel for added practicality. The stand may be movable or fastened to a floor or another firm location. Movable base assembly options are included and four adjustable foot pegs or casters may be used to level the stand perfectly to the floor and to improve the mobility.
The stand can be used with a wired or wireless keyboard and mouse when viewing a large monitor or television from a distance.

Description

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention from application 2,666,278.
Figures 1 and 2 are isometric parallel projection views of the invention from the left side and from the right side.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are side views showing the middle position, upper limit position and lower limit position of the articulated arm assembly, respectively.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are top views showing the middle rotation position, counterclockwise limit position and clockwise limit position of the base post assembly, respectively.
Figure 10 is a top view showing the mouse tray swivel movement feature.
Figure 11 and 12 are top views that demonstrate the tray post assembly rotation feature.
Figure 13 is an isometric parallel projection view demonstrating all the movement features used together to place the invention in a wall-side storage position.
Figure 14 is an isometric parallel projection view of the invention components.
Figure 15 is an exploded view of the articulated arm assembly and base post assembly components.
Figure 16 is an exploded view of the articulated arm assembly and tray post assembly components.
Figure 17 is an exploded view of the tray assembly components.
Figure 18 is a view of the keyboard tray frame fastener positions with components removed for the purpose of explanation.
Figure 19 is a view of the keyboard tray and mouse tray fastener positions.
Figure 20 is an enlarged view of the inner and outer telescopic posts and spring plunger.
Figure 21 is a bottom view of the base used with leveling mounts.

Figure 22 is a bottom view of the base used with casters.
The invention consists of an upper arm (1), a lower arm (2), a piston (3), a post bracket (4), a tray bracket (5), a tray flange (6), a keyboard tray (7), a mouse tray (8), an inner post (9), an outer post (10), a post lock spring plunger (11), a post flange (12), a base unit (13) and 4 leveling mounts (14) or 4 casters (62), as shown in Figure 14. The invention also consists of three threaded spacers (16, 30 and 32), a locking circular wheel handle (20) with threaded shaft (21), two piston fittings (28, 41) and a tray post (29) as shown in Figures 15 and 16.
The invention also consists of a keyboard tray frame (48) and a mouse tray frame (51) as shown in Figure 17 as well as a mouse tray contour pad (56) as shown in Figure 19.
The two said arms are constructed from square metal tubing with holes drilled on opposing sides at each extremity allowing for two round tube sleeves (17) to be inserted through each arm, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The four said sleeves are constructed of a rigid, circular metal, plastic or wooden tube with smooth inner surface. The arms may also be constructed from rectangular tubing, circular tubing, U-channel bar or I-channel bar of metal, plastic or wooden material.
The two said brackets are constructed from a rectangular piece of sheet metal bent along the centerline into a semi-circle "U" shape with straight and equal, extending parallel walls as shown in Figure 15. Prior to bending, the sheet is drilled with a hole (26) in each corner at equal distance from the bending center line. The sheet is also punched, prior to bending, with two half-circle slanted notches (18) on both sides of the bending center line also at equal distance from the center line. The distance from the centre line to the notches is chosen such that the location of the notch after bending is centered on the "U" half-circle straight line. The orientation of the notches is chosen such that the bracket can be slipped onto a post having holes positioned to match the notch positions, where the slant will widen the "U" opening as the bracket is pushed and snapped into position on the post, also shown in Figure 15.
The two said brackets may also be constructed from a plastic or wooden material rather than metal. The brackets may also be of a rectangular "U" shape rather than circular.

The three said spacers are metal or plastic cylinders having a smooth outer surface with threaded inner surface and are positioned inside three of the four said sleeves. The spacers provide a low-friction rotating motion along the inner surface of the sleeves.
The said handle is a metal or plastic wheel with a threaded hole and the said shaft is a metal cylinder, smooth on the outer surface and threaded at both extremities. The shaft fastens to the handle at one of its extremities. The handle shaft is positioned in the fourth said sleeve and the smooth surface of the shaft provides a low-friction rotating motion along the inner surface of the sleeve.
Fasteners (25, 27, 36, 38, 39 and 40) are bolts that fasten the said threaded spacers (that are situated inside with said arm sleeve) at each extremity to the facing holes of the said brackets, providing a rotation motion for the arm inside the bracket, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The said post bracket is equipped with one spacer whereas the said tray bracket is equipped with two.
The said post bracket is equipped with a nut (24) fastened to its outer surface over one of its four, facing corner holes. The said handle with shaft is positioned through the bracket hole, through the said arm sleeve and into the nut, also providing a rotation motion for the arm inside the bracket.
The invention described at this stage is an articulating parallelogram assembly. When the said handle is loosened, the assembly articulates freely and when the handle is progressively tightened, the articulation becomes difficult and eventually locks into position. The said arms and the said articulation scheme are essential features of the invention that provide a vertical motion to the tray.
The said piston consists of a rod and an outer, sliding cylinder with inner compressed gas or inner or outer compression spring. Both ends of the piston are equipped with threaded or bare pins. The said piston fittings are eyelets or U-shaped clips equipped with a hole finished to match the piston ends and are positioned around the said arm sleeves as the sleeves are assembled with the said arm square tubes. Each of the two arms is equipped with one piston fitting at one extremity that rotates freely around the sleeve. The two arms are assembled with the two said brackets such that the piston fittings are opposite to each other allowing the piston to be placed in a diagonal manner inside the said parallelogram arm assembly. In the case of tube-shaped said arms, the side internal to the parallelogram is etched creating an opening as wide as the piston outer dimension and starting from the piston fastening extremity of the arm running up to the arm's half-length, creating a space for the piston inside the arm tubes as the parallelogram assembly articulates to its upper limit. In the case of I-channel arms, the sides of the piston fittings may be extended to channel the arm as the parallelogram assembly articulates to its upper limit.
In the case of the said low-friction articulating arm assembly, the said piston is an essential feature of the invention that provides an upward force sufficient to hold the tray in place during use.
The said tray post is constructed of round metal tubing with two pairs of holes (63) facing each other at one extremity of the post, as shown in Figure 16. The pairs are distanced from one another to match the said notch pairs in the said tray bracket. The bracket clamps onto the post into position as it is assembled, as shown in Figure 16. The tray post may also be constructed of square or rectangular, plastic or metal tubing as well as solid wood.
The said tray post is also equipped with a rectangular "U" shaped groove (44) near the extremity opposite to the said tray bracket holes extremity, as shown in Figure 17. The groove runs in a circular manner around the entire circumference of the post.
The said tray flange is constructed of a metal material and its inner diameter is sized to fit the said tray post's outer diameter in a manner tight enough to allow a rotating motion with low friction when assembled to the post. The flange is drilled with a threaded hole near its narrow extremity. A set screw (42) is used in the flange hole, as shown in Figure 17 and sized to match the said post groove allowing the flange to rotate freely on the post but preventing it from being removed from the post. The flange is drilled with four threaded holes on its wider, round flat surface. The four holes are distanced equally to each other and distanced equally from the flange center point. The tray flange may also be constructed of a plastic or wooden material.
The said keyboard tray frame is a very rigid, lightweight, wooden or plastic rectangular flat board with four holes drilled to match the four said tray flange holes. Four bolts (53) are used to fasten the frame to the flange, as shown in Figure 18. The frame holes are also counter-sunk such that the bolt heads are entirely recessed into the frame.

The flange mounting holes are chosen such that the flange is mounted in the center of the frame. The frame is also drilled with a hole (64) as a mounting point for the said mouse tray, as shown in Figure 17. A duplicate hole is drilled at the opposite end of the frame for the mouse tray to be mounted on the right or on the left hand side of the said keyboard tray.
The said mouse tray frame is a very rigid, lightweight, wooden or plastic rectangular flat board with a narrow, rounded extension on one of its shorter side. The frame is drilled with a hole (50) positioned at the extremity of the board extension such that is can be used as a swiveling mounting point to the said keyboard tray, as shown in Figure 17.
The said keyboard tray is a very light, thin, wooden or plastic rectangular flat board of dimensions suitable for supporting a regular computer keyboard. Four screws (54) are used to fasten the tray to the said keyboard tray frame, as shown in Figures 17 and 19.
The said mouse tray is a very light, thin, wooden or plastic rectangular flat board with a narrow, rounded extension on one of its shorter side. The tray is of dimensions suitable for supporting a regular computer mouse. Four screws (55) are used to fasten the tray to the said mouse tray frame, as shown in Figures 17 and 19.
The said mouse tray contour pad (56) is fabricated from foam or plastic material dimensioned to match the usable mouse portion of the said mouse tray and its height is chosen such that the rolling mouse is prevented from falling off the tray as the tray is moved into various positions. The underside of the pad is covered with an adhesive that is used to fasten it to the tray.
The said inner post is constructed of round metal tubing with two pairs of holes (19) facing each other at one extremity of the post, as shown in Figure 15. The pairs are distanced from one another to match the said notch pairs in the said post bracket. The bracket clamps onto the post into position as it is assembled. The bracket is positioned on the post such that the said handle/shaft/nut assembly is situated at the post extremity, as shown in Figure 15. The inner post may also be constructed of square or rectangular, plastic or metal tubing as well as solid wood.
The said outer post is constructed of round metal tubing and is drilled with one hole at one extremity and equipped with the said post lock spring plunger positioned over the hole. The hole size is chosen to match the plunger pin. The plunger cylinder may be tack-welded to the outer surface of the post, as shown in Figure 15. The outer post and the said inner post are sized and finished such that they can be fitted together telescopically without friction. The outer post may also be constructed of square or rectangular, plastic or metal tubing.
The said inner post is drilled with pairs of holes that are sized to match the said plunger pin, allowing the telescopic motion to lock at various positions. In the case of circular posts, the inner post is also etched with slots to accommodate a rotation motion of the inner post with respect to the outer post.
The said post flange is constructed of a metal material and its inner diameter is sized to fit the said outer post's outer diameter in a manner tight enough to prevent motion when assembled to the post.
The flange is drilled with a threaded hole near its narrow extremity. A
set screw (59) is used in the flange hole to lock the flange to the post, as shown in Figure 21. The flange is drilled with four threaded holes on its wider, round flat surface. The four holes are distanced equally to each other and distanced equally from the flange center point. The post flange may also be constructed of a plastic or wooden material.
The said base unit is a metal or wooden, single part or assembly that is sized and weighted such the rest of the stand assembly described thus far, can be fastened and used freely without tipping or falling.
The said base unit is drilled with four through-holes that are positioned to match the four said post flange threaded holes. Four bolts (61) are used on the underside of the base unit to fasten the post flange to the base, as shown in Figure 21.
The said base unit is also drilled with four threaded holes on its underside. The holes are sized to match the four said leveling mounts and to match the four said casters, as shown in Figures 21 and 22.
The holes are positioned such that the base weight is distributed evenly amongst all four mounts.

Claims (11)

1. An articulated arm assembly apparatus, comprising: two arms, two brackets and four shaft assemblies, for supporting and adjusting the height of a suitable tray sub-assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising also a piston assembly for increased weight support.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shaft assemblies are comprised of sleeves and threaded spacers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising also a bracket post and a tray assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tray assembly is comprised of a top tray assembly, a post with plate and a flanged bearing with rotation about the arm assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tray assembly is comprised of a top tray assembly with rotation about the arm assembly and a side tray assembly with rotating capability about the tray post.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the top tray and/or side tray assemblies are comprised of a multi-piece assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, comprising also a base assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the base unit is U-shaped or similarly, V-shaped for moveable stand applications with rotation and height adjustment of the arm assembly with respect to the base unit.

10.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the base unit is a post with flange for fixed mounting to a floor or other suitable flat surface with rotation and height adjustment of the arm assembly with respect to the base unit.

11.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the base unit is a single-pieced molded or shaped part.