GB2252530A - Arm support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an arm support (eg for typists, keyboard operators, etc) 10 comprising support means 12 in the form of a U-shaped channel which is preferably pivotally carried by a first arm member 20. The first arm member 20 is pivotally connected to a second arm member 28 which is provided at its opposite end with a boss assembly 32 including a roller bearing assembly (not shown). A collar 40 is carried on a screw threaded shaft so as to support the arm 10 over a work surface 68. A locking disc 42 has a screw threaded inner hole which engages with the shaft such that the height H of the arm 10 is adjustable with respect to the work surface 68. The arm 10 is attached to the work surface 68 by clamping means including a first clamp part 46 and a second clamp part 58. The first clamp part has an upper clamp surface and the second part has a lower clamp surface 56 which cooperates to engage an edge of a work surface 68. A clamping member 64 is rotatably adjustable to effect securement of the arm to the work surface edge. <IMAGE>

Description

ARM SUPPORT This invention relates to an arm support especially for supporting the forearm of a keyboard operator.

Keyboards, for example as used in computing, word processing etc, require that their operators' forearms are held over the keyboard whilst in operation. Whilst it is possible to rest parts of the forearm or the elbows on the surface bearing the keyboard such resting does not permit easy articulation of the arms and hence speedy usage of the keyboard.

The requirement to hold the forearms over the keyboard or supporting surface during use causes undue stress on the upper part of the arm and its attached muscles. Such stress can cause upper limb disorders and strain to the neck and shoulder muscles. It will be appreciated, of course, that the longer the keyboard is in use the more likely such problems are likely to occur in its operator.

In order to relieve such problems and lower the load placed on the neck and shoulder muscles, it is known to provide various forms of supports placed in relation to the keyboard in order to take at least some part of the weight of the operator's arm. For example, it is known to provide a relatively fixed bar over a keyboard which is positioned so as to support at least part of the operator's wrist or forearm weight and thus lower the load placed on the neck or shoulder muscles. Such an arrangement, however, is inflexible and does not provide proper support for the forearm during all of its required movement.

Additionally it is known to provide slings or cupped supports on members extending from chair arms to support forearms on an operator sitting on said chair. Again this arrangement is relatively inflexible and since the chair is usually movable in relation to the keyboard can be difficult to properly position with respect to the keyboard for convenient usage.

It is an object of the invention therefore to provide an arm support for a keyboard operator which permits a large degree of articulation whilst at the same time relieving the operator's neck and shoulder muscles of at least a substantial part of the load normally placed thereon.

With this object in view the present invention provides an arm support comprising arm support means attached to a first arm member which is pivotally connected to a second arm member, the second arm member being carried by a pivot mounted on a bracket which is provided with means to effect securement thereof to a load bearing surface.

In a first aspect of the invention the arm support means comprises a substantially U-shaped forearm support carried at one end of the first arm member which is pivotally connected at its other end to one respective end of the second arm member. In this arrangement the second arm member is preferably pivotally carried at its other free end by the bracket which is advantageously to be secured to a vertical load bearing surface, for example a table.

In an advantageous modification of this aspect the forearm support means is pivotally connected to the free end of the first arm member. In this way further articulation of the support is provided in that three pivot points are provided relative to the fixed bracket.

The means for effecting securement of the bracket to a load bearing surface may be clamping means for example a U-shaped arrangement intended to be fitted about a free edge of a vertical load bearing surface and provided with gripping means operable to provide a friction grip on said load bearing surface edge. Alternatively a suction cup arrangement or a rigid securement of the bracket, for example, by screws or bolts may also be provided.

The forearm support means is preferably padded in order to provide a cushioned support for the operator's forearm thereby to avoid damage to same by friction as would be caused by slight movement of the arm on a comparatively rigid surface e.g. by chaffing.

The second arm member is preferably provided with means to vary its height with respect to the bracket such that the height of the arm support means over the load bearing surface may be similarly varied. In this way the arrangement may be adjusted to compensate for operating characteristics, for example the requirements of the operator, proximity of the keyboard and other variables.

Both the first and second arm members are comparatively rigid in order to provide the necessary support to maintain the forearm at a fixed height over the load bearing surface.

Alternatively, in a modified embodiment the pivot mounted on the bracket carries the second arm at a point spaced away from its free end which which is provided with a counterweight arrangement. In this way the counterweight can be adjusted to compensate for load placed on the arm by resting of an operator's forearm on the arm support means. Such an arrangement may be unduly cumbersome however and where space is restricted may cause additional problems by movement of the second arm about the pivot.

A further novel aspect of the invention provides a clamping bracket for attaching an arm support to an edge of a horizontal surface comprising first and second clamp parts, the first clamp part having a horizontal surface engagement part and a vertical shaft depending therefrom which telescopically engages with a second vertical shaft projecting upwardly from a second horizontal surface engaging part which is provided with vertically adjustable screw clamping means.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the constituent parts of the first preferred embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of the assembled embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 as attached to a load bearing surface.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 an arm support according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10. The support comprises arm support means 12 which is a substantially Ushaped channel form (see Fig. 2) attached to a pin 14 projecting from the channel's lower surface. The support means 12 is preferably padded so as to avoid frictional damage to an operator's arm or wrist and to provide a cushioning effect for ease of use.

The pin 14 locates in a corresponding hole 16 provided at one free end 18 of a first arm member 20. The hole 16 preferably includes a roller bearing assembly (not shown) in order to provide easy pivotal movement of the support with respect to the said first arm member 20.

At the first arm member's opposed end 20 a second pin 22 is provided directed downwardly with respect to the arm member 20. It should also be noted that for a convenient operating height the end of the first arm 20 which carries the support means 12 is arranged relatively lower than that carrying the second pin 22 by providing an angled section 24 at some point along the length of the first 'arm member (see Fig. 2).

The second pin 22 locates in a second hole 26 also provided with a roller bearing assembly (not shown) which is carried at one end of a second arm member 28. This second arm member 28 is also provided with an angled section 29 which provides a bend in the second arm member in a plane perpendicular to that of the angled section 24 of the first arm member 20. The other free end 30 of the second arm member 28 is provided with a boss assembly 32 including a further hole 34 and roller bearing assembly (not shown). This boss assembly 32 engages with a third pin 36 provided at one end of a screw threaded shaft 38.

The shaft 38 is provided with a collar 40 which limits vertical movement of the boss 32 over the third pin 36.

The screw threaded section of the shaft 38 engages with a locking disc 42 which has a screw threaded inner hole 34 engageable with the shaft 38. The shaft 38 further engages with a first clamp part 46 comprising a substantially vertical shaft 48 and an upper clamp surface 50. The downwardly projecting shaft 48 of the first clamp part 46 engages in a hole 52 provided in a substantially vertical pipe 54 projecting from a second vertical surface 56. This second surface 56 and pipe 54 comprises a second clamp part 58. Thus the shaft 38 is rotatable with respect to the first clamp part 46 which is in turn rotatable with respect to the second clamp part 58.

The lower clamp surface 56 further includes a locating hole 60 which engages with a second screw threaded shaft 62 having at one upper end a clamping member 64 and at its lower end a knurled wheel 66 for rotation of the shaft 62 within the hole 60. Thus the clamp member 64 may be raised or lowered with respect to the lower clamp surface 56.

The manner of use of the arm support 10 is shown in Fig. 2 in which the upper and lower clamp surfaces 50, 56 are placed respectively above and below an edge of a vertical load bearing surface, for example a table 68.

The knurled wheel 66 is rotated to cause engagement of the clamp part 64 thus trapping the table edge between the upper clamp surface 50 and the member 64. This rigidly attaches the support to the table edge.

The shaft 38 and locking disc 42 are engaged and inserted into the vertical shaft 48. The second pivot arm is pivotally mounted on the third pin 36 and the first pivot arm is located at the end of the second arm member 28. The first pin 14 depending from the arm support means is then inserted into the end of the first support member 20. Adjustment of the height H of the support means 12 above the load bearing surface 68 is effected by rotation of the locking wheel 42 causing respective lowering or raising of the shaft 38 and the associated collar 40 on which the boss 32 and the second arm member 28 rests.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides articulation i.e. pivotal movement of the arm at three different points and thus permits wide movement of the arm support means 12 with respect to the clamp assembly. Thus the forearm of a keyboard operator (not shown) is permitted a large degree of movement over a keyboard whilst still providing maximum support and thus relieving stress to arm, shoulder and neck muscles which would otherwise occur.

The invention is not confined to the foregoing details and variations may be made thereto.

Claims (12)

1. An arm support comprising arm support means attached to a first arm member which is pivotally connected to a second arm member, the second arm member being carried by a pivot mounted on a bracket which is provided with means to effect securement thereof to a load bearing surface.

2. An arm support as claimed in claim 1 in which a substantially U-shaped forearm support is carried at one end of the first arm member which is pivotally connected at its other end to one respective end of the second arm member.

3. An arm support as claimed in claim 2 in which the second arm member is pivotally carried at its other free end by the bracket which is adapted to engage a vertical load bearing surface.

4. An arm support as claimed in claims 2 or 3 in which the forearm support means is pivotally connected to the free end of the first arm member.

5. An arm support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means for effecting securement of the bracket to a load bearing surface is clamping means in the form of U-shaped arrangement adapted to be fitted about a free edge of a vertical load bearing surface and provided with gripping means operable to provide a friction grip on said load bearing surface edge.

6. An arm support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the forearm support means is padded to provide a cushioned support for the operator's forearm.

7. An arm support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the second arm member is provided with means to vary its height with respect to the bracket such that the height of the arm support means over the load bearing surface may be correspondingly varied.

8. An arm support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pivot mounted on the bracket carries the second arm at a point spaced away from its free end which is provided with a counterweight arrangement.

9. An arm support as claimed in claim 1 in which the means to effect securement comprises a clamping bracket for attaching an arm support to an edge of a horizontal surface including first and second clamp parts, the first clamp part having a horizontal surface engagement part and a vertical shaft depending therefrom which telescopically engages with a second vertical shaft projecting upwardly from a second horizontal surface engaging part which is provided with vertically adjustable screw clamping means.

10. An arm support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A clamping bracket for attaching an arm support to an edge of a horizontal surface comprising first and second clamp parts, the first clamp part having a horizontal surface engagement part and a vertical shaft depending therefrom which telescopically engages with a second vertical shaft projecting upwardly from a second horizontal surface engaging part which is provided with vertical adjustable screw clamping means.

12. A clamping bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.