Abstract:
An adjustable platform support assembly is provided for supporting a computer input device such as a keyboard, mouse or the like. Each support platform ( 40,50 ) is directly attached to a length of flexible gooseneck shaft ( 30,32 ) which, in turn, is attached to a coupling assembly ( 20 ). The coupling assembly is particularly designed to provide secure attachment to an arm of ( 12,14 ) of a chair ( 10 ). The assembly enables a computer operator to swivel and/or recline in the chair without having to readjust the platform position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to adjustable supports, and more particularly to an adjustable platform assembly for supporting a data input device, such as a computer keyboard, mouse or the like, and adapted for releasable attachment to an armchair. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal computers are becoming more and more common in both home and work environments. Such systems typically employ a keyboard, mouse and/or other data entry devices. Due to space constraints on the desk top, it is often difficult to locate the keyboard thereon. Furthermore, many computer operators do not prefer to locate the keyboard on the desk top because it is uncomfortable to address the keyboard. For example, computer operators often complain of hand, wrist, back and neck discomfort during data entry. 
     In response to the aforementioned problems, various mechanical assemblies have been developed for supporting data input devices, such as keyboards, at locations other than the desk top. Conventionally, such assemblies have been designed to be mechanically fastened to the underside of a desk or table top, and include a retractable keyboard support tray. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,560 and 5,839,373 are representative of typical retractable keyboard support assemblies. In each of the aforementioned representative patents, the disclosed assemblies are provided with means for adjusting the position and/or orientation of the keyboard support in an effort to reduce operator discomfort during data entry. In particular, the disclosed assemblies enable the user to adjust the keyboard position and/or orientation based upon the seated position of the user. However, these structures have inherent drawbacks. Significantly, the fixed position of the keyboard support relative to the desk or table requires the operator to repeatedly readjust the keyboard support position and/or orientation upon shifting the position and/or orientation of the user&#39;s chair. Furthermore, the aforementioned support structures are intended to be permanently installed at a single computer station using complicated, multi-component mounting hardware. Consequently, the mechanical fastening means required for attaching the aforementioned structures to the desk severely restrict their portability. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,306 addresses the portability limitation of the aforementioned structures by incorporating a conventional clamp assembly specifically designed for manual attachment to a desk or table top. However, the structure disclosed in the &#39;306 patent does not overcome the former limitation; namely, the attachment of the keyboard support platform to the desk or table requires that the user reposition and/or reorient the support platform upon altering the position and/or orientation of the user&#39;s chair. 
     Accordingly, there is a recognized need for an improved support structure for computer data input devices which overcomes the aforementioned limitations of conventional support structures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support assembly for supporting a computer data input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support assembly particularly adapted for attachment to an arm of a chair, thereby enabling the user to swivel and/or recline in said chair without having to adjust the support assembly. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable support assembly having a structure which enables the assembly to be attached to, and detached from, an armchair with minimal effort. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support system for supporting at least two individual input devices, such as a keyboard and mouse, wherein separate platform support components of said system are adapted for being releasably attached to one another. 
     These and other objects are achieved with the present invention in which an adjustable computer input device support system particularly adapted for attachment to an armchair generally comprises an input device support platform  40  connected by an adjustable jointed shaft  30  to an armchair coupling assembly  20 . Coupling assembly  20  includes a rigid base member  22  having upper and lower portions,  23  and  24 , respectively, a clamping member  28 , and a threaded screw member  29 . 
     Threaded screw member  29  extends through and engages a threaded aperture  26  extending completely through lower portion  24  of base member  22 . Preferably, clamping member  28  is freely attached to the distal end of screw member  29 , thereby enabling rotation of screw member  29  without corresponding rotation of clamping member  28 . Clamping member  28  is urged toward upper portion  23  of base member  22  by rotating threaded adjustment member  29 . Upper surface  27  of clamping member  28  engages the underside of chair arm  12  while inner surface  25  of base member upper portion  23  engages the upper surface of chair arm  12 . The contact surfaces of the base and clamping members can be provided with friction enhancing means. 
     Coupling assembly  20  is connected to a support platform  40  by a flexible jointed steel shaft  30 , commonly referred to as a gooseneck shaft, which is bendable and when bent will remain in the new position. Preferably, gooseneck shaft  30  is provided with a first end threaded and sized for mating with a corresponding threaded aperture in base member  22  of coupling assembly  20 . 
     The second end of gooseneck shaft  30  is preferably sized for being snugly received by an aperture  45  extending longitudinally through a thickened section  46  of support platform  40 . Preferably, aperture  45  extends longitudinally through a majority of the length of section  46  of support platform  40 . The snug fit prevents the support platform  40  from inadvertently slipping against the gooseneck shaft  30  while the operator is addressing the supported input device, yet enables the support platform to be forcibly rotated about the gooseneck shaft if desired. In particular, the snug fit enables the operator to adjust the degree of tilt of the support platform  40  by rotating the platform about the central axis of gooseneck shaft  30 , while gripping an exposed length of the gooseneck shaft proximate aperture  45 . 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a pair of support platforms  40  and  50 , connected to chair arms  12  and  14 , respectively, are provided with means for being releasably attached to one another. Preferably, an outwardly-extending tongue member  48  of support platform  40  is sized and shaped for being snugly received within channel  58  of adjacent support platform  50 . The attachment provides adequate mechanical stability to prevent the adjacent platforms  40 ,  50  from inadvertently detaching or twisting with respect to one another. Furthermore, the weight bearing capacity of each support platform is increased due to the added support provided, via the connection, by the adjacent support platform assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an adjustable support system in a fully-assembled state, in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a clamp assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of the clamp assembly of FIG. 2 attached to an arm of a chair; 
     FIG. 4 is a left top front isometric view of a pair of interlocking input device support platforms, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the interlocking support platforms depicted in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an adjustable computer input device support system particularly adapted for attachment to an armchair generally comprises an input device support platform  40  connected by an adjustable jointed shaft  30  to an armchair coupling assembly  20 . The support system illustrated in FIG. 1 depicts two individual support assemblies coupled to individual arms  12  and  14  of chair  10 . Except where otherwise noted herein, the individual support assemblies have identical structures. Consequently, an understanding of the invention can be had by reference to a single support assembly. Accordingly, for the purpose of the following discussion, reference will be made particularly to the assembly coupled to chair arm  12 . 
     Significantly, coupling assembly  20  is particularly suited for attachment to an arm of a chair. Coupling assembly  20  includes a unitary base member  22  having upper and lower portions,  23  and  24 , respectively, a clamping member  28 , and a threaded screw member  29 . Base member  22  is constructed to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to support adjustable jointed shaft  30  and support platform  40 . Preferably, base member  22  is constructed from metal; however, alternate materials are possible. For example, base member  22  can be molded from a rigid plastic material. 
     Threaded screw member  29  extends through and engages a threaded aperture  26  extending completely through lower portion  24  of base member  22 . Preferably, clamping member  28  is freely attached to the distal end of screw member  29 , thereby enabling rotation of screw member  29  without corresponding rotation of clamping member  28 . In operation, clamping member  28  is initially provided in a retracted position to enable the assembly to be loosely fitted around chair arm  12 . Subsequently, clamping member  28  is urged toward upper portion  23  of base member  22 , by rotating threaded adjustment member  29 , until assembly  20  is tightly coupled to chair arm  12 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, when properly coupled to the chair arm, upper surface  27  of clamping member  28  engages the underside of chair arm  12  while inner surface  25  of base member upper portion  23  engages the upper surface of chair arm  12 . Preferably, coupling assembly  20  is adequately tightened to minimize slipping of surfaces  25  and  27  against the outer surface of the chair arm. In instances where further protection against inadvertent slipping is desired, inner surface  25  of base member  22 , and upper surface  27  of clamping member  28  are provided with friction enhancing means. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various means for providing enhanced friction between the clamping assembly  20  and the chair arm  12  are possible. For instance, surfaces  25  and  27  can be roughened or constructed having integral friction enhancing structures, such as raised bumps and ridges. Alternatively, surfaces  25  and  27  can be provided with a layer of friction enhancing material, such as rubber, disposed thereon. 
     Although a particular base member geometry is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the geometry of the base member  22  may vary to conform to the particular chair arm shape or geometry. In contrast to conventional C-clamps used for coupling to planar surfaces, such as table tops and desk tops, the present invention incorporates a wraparound coupling device geometry extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of arm  12  to prevent the coupling assembly  20  from being inadvertently detached from the chair arm. 
     Coupling assembly  20  is connected to a support platform  40  by a flexible jointed steel shaft  30 , commonly referred to as a gooseneck shaft, which is bendable and when bent will remain in the new position. Preferably, gooseneck shaft  30  is provided with a first end threaded and sized for mating with a corresponding threaded aperture in base member  22  of coupling assembly  20 . However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, alternate means of attachment may be suitable. For instance, where coupling assembly base member  22  is constructed from a plastic material, the first end of gooseneck shaft  30  can be directly molded into the base member  22 . Regardless of the means of attachment, it is preferred that the first end of gooseneck shaft  30  attaches directly to base member  22  of the coupling assembly  20 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4-5, the second end of gooseneck shaft  30  is preferably sized for being snugly received by an aperture  45  extending longitudinally through a thickened section  46  of support platform  40 . Longitudinally extending aperture  45  forms a channel (not shown) for receiving a corresponding length of the gooseneck shaft  30 . Preferably, aperture  45  extends longitudinally along a majority of the length of section  46  of support platform  40 . In this manner, the corresponding length of gooseneck shaft  30  snugly inserted therein provides additional support for platform  40 . Preferably, the snug fit provides adequate friction between the outer surface of the inserted length of gooseneck shaft  30  and the channel wall to prevent the support platform  40  from inadvertently sliding along, or rotating about, the gooseneck shaft while the operator is addressing the supported input device. However, it is also preferred that the friction between gooseneck shaft and channel wall enables the support platform to be forcibly rotated about the gooseneck shaft if desired. In particular, the snug fit enables the operator to adjust the degree of tilt of the support platform  40  by rotating the platform about the central axis of gooseneck shaft  30 , while gripping an exposed length of the gooseneck shaft proximate aperture  45 . 
     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, numerous alternate means for attaching gooseneck shaft  30  to the support platform are possible. For example, the second end of gooseneck shaft  30  and the internal surface of the support platform channel can have threaded or snap-fitting structures. Furthermore, an auxiliary coupling component can be employed for providing a connection between gooseneck shaft  30  and support platform  40 . Regardless of the means of attachment employed, it is preferred that gooseneck shaft  30  attaches to support platform  40  in a manner which prevents the gooseneck shaft from physically contacting the body of a seated user. In that respect, the peripheral attachment of the gooseneck shaft  30  to the support platform  40  in the present invention is significant since it prevents the gooseneck shaft from extending beneath the support platform and interfering with the legs of the seated computer operator. 
     Still referring to FIGS. 4-5, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a pair of support platforms  40  and  50 , connected to chair arms  12  and  14 , respectively, are provided with means for being releasably attached to one another. Preferably, an outwardly-extending tongue member  48  of support platform  40  is sized and shaped for being snugly received within channel  58  of adjacent support platform  50 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, numerous alternate means of temporary attachment are possible, including interlocking components, snap-fitting components, and magnetic components, to name just a few. It is preferred that the support platform attachment means employed provides adequate mechanical stability to prevent the adjacent platforms  40 ,  50  from inadvertently detaching or rotating with respect to one another. Significantly, the connection of adjacent support platforms provides improved mechanical stability. More specifically, the weight bearing capacity of each support platform is increased due to the added support provided at the connector end of the support platform. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims.