BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
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This invention relates to ergonomic devices for reducing the stress on the hands and wrists of operators of keyboards, pointing devices, mice, and the like. The present invention is particularly useful for enhancing the comfort of the user while concurrently reducing muscle and tendon strain and stress associated with long term usage of a keyboard, pointing device, or mouse for a computer.
Description of Related Art:
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The rise in the use of home and office computers has resulted in an upswing in the number of cases of carpel tunnel syndrome from repetitive movement of the wrists and hands without proper positioning and support. Even when this drastic condition does not result, most people who operate computer keyboards, pointing devices, mice and the like for a significant portion of each day experience discomfort in their hands and wrists from holding them in one position and develop sore spots or aches and pains from resting on a hard table or the edge of the keyboard.
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Many devices and systems have been developed over the last several years to make operating computers more comfortable and ergonomic. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,193,925 to Foulke discloses a wrist support having a plurality of foam sections stackably folded on top of each other. U.S. Patent No. 5,356,099 to Sereboff discloses a wrist support system comprising a support member mounted on a base surface and a deformable pack for resting the wrists attached to the support member. U.S. Patent No. 5,374,018 to Daneshvar discloses a keyboard cradle and support pad which includes a soft pad or inflatable balloon for a wrist support pad in front of the keyboard. Many of the prior art wrist rests are attached to a keyboard or keyboard receiving tray to prevent movement. However, this makes it difficult to move the rest to a desired position in front of the keyboard or to another keyboard.
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Various flexible pads exist for applying heat or cold to selected parts of the human body for therapeutic purposes. It is known to configure such a pad in one form as an elongated flexible tube comprising an outer soft fabric layer and an inner sealing layer filled with gel and arranged for placement in front of a keyboard for therapeutic purposes.
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The gel maintains a viscous consistency when cooled or heated to a therapeutic temperature. Thus, the gel is suitable for cooling in a freezer or heating in a microwave, for example. The fabric layer lessens the likelihood of overheating or cooling the flesh. However, this single compartment design tends to roll toward and away from the keyboard in response to movement of the user's hands. Further, the gel filling bulges unduly under the thumbs when the user's hands are rested on the pad, causing awkward and less effective thumb movement.
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A need remains in the art for a simple, low cost, portable wrist rest containing a liquid or gel which may be suitable for cooling or heating but which does not roll with the user's wrist movement or bulge unduly so as to impede access to the keyboard or pointing device by the user's thumbs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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An object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic wrist rest for users of computer keyboards, pointing devices and the like. Two or more elongated, parallel sections or compartments are filled with a deformable material. The parallel sections prevent the wrist rest from rolling forward or backward with wrist motion by the user or bulging under the thumbs of the user.
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In a first embodiment of the invention, the wrist rest comprises a fabric cover having two elongated pockets, or chambers, with openings at one end and a flap covering the openings. Two sealed tubes filled with a deformable material are inserted into the pockets. The flap prevents the tubes from sliding out of the pockets. The deformable material may comprise a gel. If desired, this gel may be of the type which retains its deformable characteristic when cooled or heated to appropriate temperatures for therapeutically cooling or heating of sore muscles and tendons or the like.
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A second embodiment of the invention comprises an inner sealed waterproof pouch containing the deformable material enclosed within an outer sealed pouch. The two elongated parallel sections of the wrist rest are formed by running a seal longitudinally through both pouches.
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Thus, the present invention is a wrist rest formed from a plurality of sleeves of flexible material with each sleeve defining an elongated compartment. A deformable material fills each sleeve compartment and is sealed therein. Those sleeves are joined in a parallel, generally coplanar arrangement. One arrangement for joining the sleeves is to employ a cover having two elongated pockets each with an opening at one end and an arrangement for closing those openings. The sleeves can include two sealed tubes containing said deformable material and inserted into respective said pockets.
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A flap relative to the pockets can secure the sleeves in closing relation over the cover openings. Further, the wrist rest can employ a gel as the deformable material with that gel having a high heat absorption capacity and which retains its deformable characteristic when cooled to temperatures suitable for therapeutically cooling of sore muscles and tendons.
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Another advantageous deformable material for the sleeve filler is a gel (such as a water based gel) having a high heat retention capacity and which retains its deformable characteristic when heated to appropriate temperatures for therapeutically heating the limbs of a user. The sleeves can further include an outer layer of low moisture vapor transmission rate material. Examples of useful materials are Carbopol 940 for the water based gel and Affinity plastic film for the low transmission rate material.
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A device in accordance with this invention can utilize a pair of sleeves each formed with a sealed inner elongated pouch of a material impermeable to the pliant or deformable material used with those inner pouches contained within an outer elongated fabric pouch. The joint between them can be formed via a seal running longitudinally down the center of both pouches and with the deformable filling sealed within the inner pouches.
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The present invention is a pad suitable for use as a wrist rest in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse, or the like. A container of a material suitable for comfortably engaging the skin of the user is configured for defining a pair of parallel, elongated chambers. A pair of elongated pouches each fabricated of a material which is relatively impermeable to a pliable material are each filled with that pliable material and sealed for retaining it therein. The pouches are retained in respective chambers of the container.
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The chambers are each formed with an opening and a retaining arrangement selectively closes those chamber openings. For instance, a flexible flap secured to the exterior of the container in proximity to the chamber openings can provide this function wherein the flap is movable between a first position overlying the chamber openings and a second position clear of the chamber openings. It is possible to form this flap as an extension of one of the external surfaces of the container or to secure a separate flap to the container exterior so that it is movable into an overlying position relative to the chamber openings. A latching arrangement, such as Velcro fasteners, snaps, retaining bands or the like between the flap and the external surface of the container can provide the closure securing function.
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Yet another container opening securing configuration is to secure the sides and one end of a flap to the external surface of the container for defining a pocket opening in the opposite direction from the chamber openings. Selection of suitably flexible materials for the flap, container and pouches permits reversal of the aforesaid pocket into an overlying position over the chamber openings.
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A wrist rest in accordance with this invention in one embodiment is formed via a pair of elongated plastic sleeves containing fluidic, deformable material in sealed relation therein. These sleeves are secured to one another along their lengths so as to form a relatively flat pad that will remain stable despite movement of the wrists and/or hands of the user while operating a keyboard, mouse, or the like. To enhance comfort to the user, at least the external surface of the sleeves engaged by the user can include a coating of material suitable for comfortable engagement with the skin of that user.
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One process for constructing a wrist rest product in accordance with this invention begins by placing two layers of material impermeable to a fluidic filler between two layers of material suitable for comfortably engaging the skin of the user. These layers are sealed for defining at least two chambers between the impermeable layers. Those chambers are next filled with the fluidic medium and sealed for retaining that fluidic material. As a result, a relatively flat and comfortable pad of segmented sections is formed which is stable when placed in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse or the like and engaged by the wrist or hand of the user of those instruments.
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The comfort of the wrist rest to the user is enhanced by employing a tricot nylon for at least one of the skin engaging layers.
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Another process for fabricating a wrist rest for use in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse, or the like, starts with forming at least two elongated chambers from a material suitable for comfortable engagement of the skin of a user. At least two elongated sleeves are formed of material impermeable to a fluidic medium with those sleeves filled with the fluidic medium and sealed for retaining the fluidic medium therein. The thus filled sleeves are then inserted into respective chambers. Note that it is likewise acceptable to fill and seal the sleeves with the fluidic medium after they are inserted into the chambers.
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The final product is a relatively flat and comfortable pad which is stable when placed in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse or the like. A flap can then be formed or attached far releasably securing the sleeves in the chambers. Selection of a water based gel for the fluidic medium is believed advantageous.
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The foregoing and other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become more apparent to those having normal skill in the art in the light of the following detailed description of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIGURE 1 shows a disassembled isometric view showing the interrelationships of the elements of one embodiment of a wrist rest in accordance with the present invention.
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FIGURE 2 shows a bottom view of the wrist rest of FIG. 1 ready for use after assembly and closure of the retainer flap.
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FIGURE 3 shows a section view of the wrist rest of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
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FIGURE 4 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of a wrist rest according to the present invention.
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FIGURE 5 shows an isometric, front section view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5.
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FIGURE 6 shows the wrist rest of FIGS. 1 and 2 in use in proximity to the front of a keyboard.
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FIGURE 7 is a side view of a wrist rest in accordance with this invention in a typical relationship to a keyboard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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FIG. 1 shows a side isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a wrist rest 10 in accordance with the present invention. Fabric cover 12 may be of any reasonably durable fabric which is preferably comfortable when contacted by the hands, wrists and fingers of a user. For example, polyester flannel (tricot) or nylon tricot woven material are suitable candidate materials for cover 12. A seam 14 runs down the center of cover 10 and, along with side seams 18 and 20 and bottom seam 16, forms two compartments or pockets 24 and 25. Seams 14, 16, 18, and 20 are preferably sewn, but are securable by other procedures and processes, such as gluing or heat sealing.
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Sealed tubes 26 and 27 are inserted into pockets 24 and 25 as indicated by arrows 36 and 38. A flap of material 22 is attached at side seams 18 and 20 so as to form a pocket opening which faces away from the openings of pockets 24 and 25. The flap 22, pockets 24 and 25 and tubes 26 and 27 along with their contents are all constructed of materials suitable flexible to permit inversion of the pocket formed by flap 22 so that it is flipped over the end of cover 12 as indicated by arrow 34. Flap 22 then tightly covers the ends of pockets 24 and 25, thereby retaining tubes 26 and 27 within pockets 24 and 25. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 which show flap 22 in the closure position.
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FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the wrist rest of FIG. 1 with flap 22 in a closed position as mentioned above. Flap 22, which is secured along its edges to the outer seams of pockets 24 and 25, is stretchable over the ends of pockets 24 and 25 between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, any of several arrangements can provide a secured closure for pockets 24 and 25, such as Velcro on the end of an otherwise loose flap attached to, or formed as an extension of, the upper or lower surface of wrist rest 10.
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Section lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 indicate the section view of writs rest 10 as is shown in FIG. 3. Loop 39, attached to bottom seam 16, is useful for carrying, or hanging, wrist rest 10 for display or storage. Thus, FIG. 3 shows a somewhat enlarged front section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of wrist rest 10 of FIG. 1. Tubes 26 and 27 are shown inserted into cover 12, and flap 22 is in the closed position.
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Tubes 26 and 27 are formed of a soft, flexible and comfortable inner tube cover 30 of a material which is substantially impermeable to deformable filling material 32. For example, filling 32 may be a water based gel, such as the polymer composed of Carbopol 940, water, and propylene glycol sterilized via super chlorination. In that case, inner tube cover 30 is preferably a low moisture vapor transmission rate material, such as 4 to 5 mil Affinity film produced from Dow plastic by Pierson.
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Many other fillings are possible, including natural clays such as attapulghite and bentonite. Another possible filling example is oils thickened with inorganic/organic modified clays or simple petrolatum, such as 100 point motor oil thickened with Baragel 3000 from Rheox Corporation and petroleum jelly. All of these latter materials could be used with a urethane inner tube cover 30. A low moisture vapor transmission material is not required with these fill materials.
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Contemporary processes are available which are suitable for adaptation in fabricating tubes 26 or 27. For instance, inner tube cover 30 may be a simple plastic tube which is filled with gel and then sealed at its ends.
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If tubes 30 are of simple construction, then ideally the tube 30 material and the fill material 32 are chosen to allow use of form, fill, and seal technology, a process by which the inner tube film is fed into a thermosealer machine and sealed simultaneously as the filler is introduced inside the tube. The water based gel and waterproof cover discussed in the previous paragraph are useable in this process. Alternatively, the tubes may be individually RF or heat sealed, hand or automatically filled, and then spout sealed.
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FIG. 4 shows a side isometric view of a second embodiment 40 of a wrist rest according to the present invention. In this embodiment, tubes 41A and 41B are preferably constructed so that all of the seals 44, 46, 48, and 50 are RF or heat sealed by a die in one step, with end seal 52 RF or heat sealed shut after inner gel pouches 56 are filled (note FIG. 5). Fabric outer pouches 42 and 43 are preferably formed of nylon tricot, and inner tube covers 56 and 57 are formed of plastic film.
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Thus, in the second preferred embodiment, wrist rest 40 is formed by placing one layer of tricot nylon on the bottom, placing two layers of plastic film on top of the first layer, and finally placing a second layer of nylon tricot on top. Seals 44, 46, 48, and 50 are RF or heat sealed, permanently sealing the four layers together into two gel pouches 56 and 57. Gel pouches 41A and 41B comprise outer fabric pouches 42 and 43 along with inner tube covers 56 and 57 formed by the aforementioned seals. Gel pouches 41A and 41B are then manually or otherwise filled with pliant, deformable filling 62 and 63. Finally, end or spout seal 52 is RF or heat sealed to prevent the deformable filling from escaping the gel pouches.
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FIG. 5 shows a front section view of the FIG. 4 embodiment. Deformable filling 62 and 63 is contained within inner tube covers 56 and 57, and outer fabric cover 42 and 43 as shown. FIG. 5 is taken along section lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.
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FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of wrist rest 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in use before a keyboard 64. Note that the wrist rest 40 of FIG. 4 and 5 is similarly situated when in use. The hands or wrists 66 of the user may rest on wrist rest 10 whether or not the user is using keyboard 64 or a pointing device (not shown). FIG. 7 shows a side view of wrist rest 10 in place in front of keyboard 64.
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Although keyboard 64 is shown with a relatively straight front edge, note that wrist rest embodiments 10 and 40 are both well suited for use with devices having front edges otherwise configured. That is, being flexible as described, either wrist rest 10 or wrist rest 40 can easily conform to the front edge of a keyboard which is curved, sloped, or otherwise modified as for ergonometric purposes.
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While the exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention are described herein with particularity, those having normal skill in the art will recognize various changes, modifications, additions and applications other than those specifically mentioned herein without departing from the spirit of this invention.
