AU592229B2

AU592229B2 - Keyboard support apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU592229B2
Application number: AU79179/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael John Cotterill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-09-04
Filing date: 1987-08-27
Publication date: 1990-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-27
Also published as: AU7917987A

Description

11- -1 AU-AI- 79179/87 WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY International Bureau PCT INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 88/ 01481 A47B 21/03 Al (43) International Publication Date: 10 March 1988 (10.03.88) (21) Internatio6ial Application Number: PCT/AU87/00289 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (Eu- S, ropean patent), CH (European patent), DE (Euro- (22) International Filing Date: 27 August 1987 (27.08.87) pean patent), FR (European patent), GB (European patent), IT (European patent), JP, LU (European patent), NL (European patent), SE (European patent), (31) Priority Application Numbers: PH 7833 US.

PH 8957 (32) Priority Dates: 4 September 1986 (04.09.86) Published 14 November 1986 (14.11.86) With interntional earch-report,-ww.--..- Ti ;d x:unft contains th.,t.

(33) Priority Country: AU un'~:,'dm-hs mn e lnd.-r rection 49 .nd is icact i' t (71X72) Applicant and Inventor: COTTERILL, Michael, printing John [AU/AU]; 43 Rocklea Crescent, Sylvania Heights, NSW 2224 8 APR 1988 (74) Agent: SHFLSTON WATERS; 55 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 (AU).

AUSTRALIAN

2 4MAR 988 PATENT OFFICE (54) Title: KEYBOARD SUPPORT APPARATUS

I

(57) Abstract A keyboard support apparatus includes two substantially rigid parallel rods (I and Each of the rods has a first respective bracket (3 and 6) at one end. Each rod is also slidbly connected to a second respective bracket (4 and Also the rods are interconected via keyboard mounting body which makes a Sldable connection with each rod. A manually operable screw fitinto a threaded hole in the mounting body and may be adjusted to bear against one of th. rods (I or 2) and thereby prevent the mounting body from sliling along the rods (1 and A keyboard or a keyboard shelf is mounted in front of the keybpard mounting body by means of a further structure which connects the underside of the 'keboard or shelf to the OfiIrside of the mounting body When the support apparatus is screwed to the underside of the desk the keyboard may be slid under the desk or pulled out in front of the desk. A preferred structure for mountinithe keyboard onto th keyboard mountin body is also described.

^sss^ 3 B tlT'- 1 a a .3 r 7 I PCT/AU 7 0 0 2 8 9 RECEIVED 8 JUN 188 2 optimum working position.

Disclosure of Invention According to the invention there is provided a keyboard support apparatus comprising: a first bracket and a second bracket interconnected by first, second and third elongate members; said first ar- second elongate members are pivotally attached by means of a first pivot pin to said first bracket; said first elongate member is also pivotally attached by means of a second pivot pin to said second bracket; said third elongate member is pivotally attached by means of a third pivot pin to said first bracket; said second and third elongate members are adapted to co-operate with a fourth pivot pin associated with said second bracket, and said fourth pivot pin is adapted to releasably engazge said second and third elongate members; the arrangement being such that, in use, one of the first and second brackets is connected to a supporting surface and the other to a keyboard and the elongate members, when released from engagement with the second bracket, are moveable substantially in the same plane.

Brief Description of Drawings A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 3n~ INTERNATIONAL SEARCH

REPORT

114enrt.inh 61gDfieC,o" No PCT/AU 87/00289 t, cLAIISUBFICAroI F SUAJICT MA? MA tti*'ir 0W t,'Ojt.e *$Ito O* 1 F h*ti~9 il A494 1 14 I~n A S I P' Ctrat (IPC) it to I41 NMtaihelv C1401i46i11A and IpC Int. C.

4 A47B 21lM CTLA o 2 8 9 RECEIVED- 8 JUN F988 3 Figure 1 (deleted); Figure 2 (deleted); Figure 3 shows a perspective view of keyboard support apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 4 shows a detail of part of the keyboard support apparatus shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus shown in Figure 3 at one extreme of its travel; and Figure 6 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus shown in Figure 3 at the other extreme of its travel.

Best Mode for Carrying out Invention Referring now to figures 3-6 keyboard attaching bracket 22 to which a keyboard or shelf may be bolted, is connected to keyboard mounting block attaching bracket 23 by means of two parallel elongate members 24 and 25. Elongate member 24 is attached to bracket 23 by means of pivot pin 27, and attached to bracket 22 by means of pivot pin 26. Elongate member 25 is attached to bracket 23 by means of pivot pin 28, and is attached to bracket 22 by means of pivot pin 29 which resides in longitudinal slot 30 of elongate member A third elongate member 31 interconnects brackets 22 and 23. Elongate member 31 is attached to bracket 23 Low S r 44 ETC'AU 7 0 2 8 9 RECEIVED 8 JUN 1988 4 by means of pivot pin 27 and is attached to bracket 22 by means of pivot pin 29 which engages in longitudinal slot 32 of member 31.

Bracket 22 is connected at one side of the underside of a keyboard, and bracket 23 is connected at one side of the underside of keyboard mounting body 9 (for instance by bolts which pass through holes in the overhang 35 of bracket 25 and through the holes or slots 19 of mounting body Further brackets 33 and 34 are connected to the other sides of the keyboard and mounting body in order to prevent rotation of the keyboard with respect to the mounting body. Brackets 33 and 34 are interconnected by a further elongate member which is pivotally attached at either end by means of pivot pins 36 and 37 respectively. An alternative arrangement would be to connect brackets 22 and 23 at the centres of the keyboard and keyboard mounting body, in which cast. brackets 33 and 34 could be dispensed with.

A cross member 38 provides the final degree of stability to the structure.

A comparison of Figures 5 and 6 will indicate that only a limited amount of pivotal movement is possible by elongate members 24 and 25 around pivot pins 27 and 28.

The precise amount of movement permitted is determined by the length of the slot 30. In Figure 6 it can be a 4 i K SST!WUTE SHEETi P/AU 7 0 0 2 8 9 -CEIVED- 8 JUN 88 5 seen that bracket 22 may be tilted in a clockwise direction about pivot 26 an amount determined by the length of either slot 30 or slot 32.

It should be appreciated that rotation is possible by any desired amount between the two extreme positions shown in Figures 5 and 6 respectively. Also, at any intermediate position between the two extremes shown some degree of tilt is possible.

Pivot pin 29 is essentially a threaded bolt, that is at least some part of the pin which extends beyond the surface of elongate member 25 is threaded. A nut, preferably turnable by hand, may be tightened or loosened on the threaded portion of pivot pin 29 in order to clamp or release elongate members 25 and 31, and bracket 22. This is illustrated in greater detailin Figure 4. It is ani advantage of this arrangement that the structure may be adjusted to desired angle and tilt with one hand.

To facilitate operation and to counteract the weight of the keyboard a spring 39 may be provided connecting the elongate member 25 and bracket 22.

Spring 39 comes under greater tension when bracket 22 is moved downwards with respect to bracket 23. That is when the arms of the spring are compressed together.

This has the effect of returning the desktop to the SI)S ,1 ITUTE

SHEET

i i crT/Aju, 7 0 o 2 8 9 RECEIVED 8 JUN 1988 6 horizontal.

A further spring 40, for instance a coil spring, may connect an overhang 35 of bracket 23 to elongate member 25. This spring also comes under greater tension when bracket 22 is moved downwards with respect to bracket 23. The action of the spring therefore serves to return bracket 22 and therefore the keyboard, to its highest position, Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For instance, the invention has been described with reference to structures suitable for right-hand operation when mounted under the operator's desk, but it should he clear that left-handed operation is equally possible and may be facilited by mirror image construction. It is also feasilbe that dual-controls may be provided on either side of the structure, both or either of which may be used to control the movements. It should also be appreciated that the shapes of all the brackets and bodies need not be limited to those shown. Also the elongate members and rods need not have the cross section shown, 4 SU'r STiTJTE SHEET

Claims

1. (deleted) slo

2. (deleted) fou

3. (deleted) wit

4. (deleted) sect (amended) A keyboard support apparatus comprising: 7 Ij a first bracket and a second bracket interconnected app by first, second and third elongate members; said first intE and second elongate members are pivotally attached by brat means of a first pivot pin to said first bracket; said ten first elongate member is also pivotally attached by resi means of a second pivot pin to said second bracket; said 8. third elongate member is pivotally attached by means of appE v a third pivot pin to said first bracket; said second and int e third elongate members are adapted to co-operate with a thiz fourth pivot pin associated with said second bracket, unle and said fourth pivot pin is adapted to releasably do bw engage said second and third elongate members; the 9. arrangement being such that, in use, one of the first appa r ef e and second brackets is connected to a supporting surface r and the other to a keyboard, and the elongate members, draw when released from engagement with the second bracket, are moveable substantially in the same plane. S6. (new claim) A keyboard support apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein: SU STi UTE SHEET I, m' r~~ 1 r 1s Wl||H|^ PTr/AU 37 /00 2 8 8 the second and third elongate members each have a slot in which the fourth pivot pin resides, and the fourth pivot 1pin is threaded to adjustably co-operate with a manually operable nut to releasably clamp the second and third elongate members.

7. (amended and renumbered) A keyboard support apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which a first spring interconnects said third elongate member and said second bracket such that the first spring comes under greater tension when the second bracket is moved downwards with respect to the first bracket.

8. (amended and renumbered) A keyboard support apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which a second spring interconnects an overhang of the first bracket and the third elongate member such that the second spring comes under greater tension when the second bracket is moved downward with respect to the first bracket.

9. (amended and renumbered) A keyboard support apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. r flY.jTE SHEET