Abstract:
A keyboard assembly including a keyboard and an attachment assembly detachably coupled directly to the keyboard and couplable to a structural member, the attachment assembly completely supporting the keyboard.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/746,292, “INTEGRAL KEYBOARD/TRAY/WRIST REST”, Filed Dec. 21, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a computer workstation, and, more particularly, to a keyboard connection to a computer workstation.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    A computer workstation often includes a keyboard tray for supporting a computer keyboard. The keyboard, mouse pad and mouse are supported by and are freely slidable across the upper surface of the keyboard tray. A problem is that the positions of the keyboard and mouse pad must be frequently adjusted by the user in order to compensate for the sliding of the keyboard and mouse pad on the upper surface of the keyboard tray. Another problem is that the cords leading from the keyboard and mouse often become undesirably placed as the keyboard and mouse slide across the keyboard tray. This may lead to the cords being snagged, thereby pulling the keyboard and mouse off of the keyboard tray, which can result in damage to the mouse and keyboard. Yet another problem is that the sliding of the keyboard across the keyboard support can cause squeaking or other irritating sounds which add to the noise level of the office environment.  
           [0006]    Economic considerations, primarily due to the competitive nature of computer related items, has lead to the current configuration of computer ancillary peripheral equipment. Keyboards in particular are such that they are essentially a throw away item if they malfunction. Keyboards are generally supported by a substantially flat surface and due to that support the keyboard needs only the strength to functionally hold the keys in an operating position. Weight transferred to the keyboard from an operator is directly transferred to the flat surface. A problem with this dependence, of the keyboard on a flat surface, is that the keyboard has little strength to be supported in a manner other than on a flat surface. Such a weakness is easily demonstrated by simply flexing the keyboard with two hands.  
           [0007]    What is needed in the art is a keyboard assembly that is supported without the need for a tray.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides an integral support for a keyboard, that attaches and detaches from a work surface with a quick-connect coupler.  
           [0009]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a keyboard assembly including a keyboard and an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly is detachably coupled directly to the keyboard and couplable to a structural member. The attachment assembly completely supports the keyboard.  
           [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that the keyboard is directly supported without a separate support structure.  
           [0011]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the keyboard and mouse pad are in a fixed position, and do not slide around on a keyboard support surface.  
           [0012]    Still another advantage is that the present invention occupies less space within a work cubical than does a separate keyboard, mouse pad and keyboard tray.  
           [0013]    Yet another advantage is that the keyboard cord can be placed in a fixed position, thereby preventing the cord from getting snagged.  
           [0014]    A further advantage is a reduction in the number of required components and, thus, a reduction in their associated costs.  
           [0015]    A still further advantage is that the keyboard is strengthened so as to be supported by an attachment assembly, thereby resulting in a more durable keyboard. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a keyboard assembly of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a top view of the integral keyboard device of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the keyboard assembly of the present invention for use with a laptop computer;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a keyboard assembly of the present invention; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a keyboard assembly of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0022]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of a keyboard assembly  10  of the present invention, including an integral keyboard device  12  and an attachment assembly  14 . Attachment assembly  14  is attached to an underside  16  of a desk top  18  having a work surface  20 . Attachment assembly  14  includes a quick-connect coupler  22 , a mounting arm  24 , a pair of mounting brackets  26  and a pair of tracks  28 , one of which is shown.  
         [0024]    Integral keyboard device  12  includes a keyboard pad  30 , a keyboard pad support  32 , a wrist rest  34 , a mouse pad  36  and an indentation or “mouse house”  38 . A communication cord  40  is attached to integral keyboard device  12  and carries data which is dependent upon the actuation of keyboard pad  30  by a user, as is well known. Keyboard pad  30  includes a plurality of rows and columns of keys  42 , as is also well known. Keyboard pad support  32  is in the form of a plastic tray that supports keyboard pad  30 . Keyboard pad support  32  is integrally formed with pad  30  and with all other components of integral keyboard device  12 .  
         [0025]    Wrist rest  34  is an elongate pad extending along the length of keyboard pad  30 . As best seen in FIG. 1, an upper surface  44  of wrist rest  34  is positioned above an upper surface  46  of keyboard pad support  32 . Thus, wrist rest  34  supports a user&#39;s wrists or palms at a level above upper surface  46  of keyboard pad support  32 . Mouse pad  36  provides a surface on which a computer mouse can be operated.  
         [0026]    Indentation  38  provides an area in which a computer mouse can be stored and retained while not in use. Indentation  38  may be in communication with an optional channel  48  in which a cord of a computer mouse may be stored and retained. Alternatively, the cord of the computer mouse may be routed through the body of keyboard pad support  32  and through cord  40 .  
         [0027]    Quick-connect coupler  22  is a universal attachment that can be quickly and easily snapped onto integral keyboard device  12 . Actuation of a button or lever (not shown) releases integral keyboard device  12  from quick-connect coupler  22  and allows device  12  to be detached from coupler  22 .  
         [0028]    A first end of mounting arm  24  is attached to quick-connect coupler  22 . A second end of mounting arm  24  is pivotally attached to mounting brackets  26  at pivot points  50 , only one of which is shown. More particularly, mounting arm  24  can pivot clockwise or counterclockwise about pivot points  50  in the plane of the page of FIG. 1. Mounting arm  24  includes a channel  52  in which cord  40  can be retained, thereby preventing snagging of cord  40 . Channel  52  can have one open side through which cord  40  can be inserted into channel  52 . Alternatively, channel  52  can be in the form of a through channel, i.e., channel  52  can be enclosed throughout 360° and have two open ends through which cord  40  is threaded.  
         [0029]    Tracks  28  each slidably retain a respective one of mounting brackets  26 . That is, each mounting bracket  26  can be slid within tracks  28  in the directions of double arrow  54  as a result of the user pushing integral keyboard device  12  toward desk top  18  or pulling integral keyboard device  12  away from desk top  18 . Tracks  28  are rigidly affixed to underside  16  of desk top  18 .  
         [0030]    Integral keyboard device  12  is shown in FIG. 2 as being in the form of a keyboard input device for inputting data into a separate computer. However, it is to be understood that the integral keyboard device of the present invention may also be in the form of a laptop computer  60 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0031]    Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown another embodiment of keyboard assembly  10  including an integral keyboard device  72  and an attachment assembly  74 .  
         [0032]    Keyboard device  72 , also known as a data input device  72 , includes a receiving channel  90 , a substructure  92  and an upper structure  94 . Receiving channel  90  interacts with attachment assembly  74  to detachably connect keyboard device  72  thereto. Along the sides of receiving channel  90  are biased detents  96 , in the form of spring fingers  96 . Biased detents  96  interact with receiving points  112  or indentations  112  on attachment assembly  74  to removably connect keyboard device  72  to attachment assembly  74 . Biased detents  96  may alternatively be located on attachment assembly  74 , which would interact with receiving points along receiving channel  90 . Biased detents  96  may also be in the form of spring loaded protrusions and may be integral with substructure  92 , upper structure  94  or attachment assembly  74 .  
         [0033]    Substructure  92  and upper structure  94  of keyboard device  72  interact to form an integral strengthened keyboard unit. Substructure  92  and upper structure  94  are connected by fasteners or in a snap together manner. Substructure  92  includes ribs  98  to provide strength so that keyboard device  72  can be directly coupled with attachment assembly  74 . This advantageously allows keyboard  72  to be directly supported thereby eliminating the need for a keyboard to be accommodated on a shelf, drawer, tray or space on desktop  18 . The strength of keyboard device  72  is needed to accommodate loads that can be applied to it on its edges and corners, which are remote from the support that is available proximate to attachment assembly  74 . Such loads often come from the pressure of forearms on wrist rest  34  and the placement of an elbow on mouse pad  36 . The placing of an elbow on a surface such as on keyboard  72  transfers approximately 30 pounds of force. If an operator places an elbow on mouse pad  36  to then support his/her head on the palm of the hand, a force of 50 pounds is often transferred to this remote portion of keyboard device  72 . Loads of an even greater intensity are periodically placed on keyboard device  72  when an operator grasps the edges of keyboard device  72  as an aid in standing from a sitting position in a chair. Other, even greater loads are contemplated if an person leans or partially sits on keyboard device  72  or uses keyboard device  72  as a lifting point in an attempt to move desk top  18 .  
         [0034]    Attachment assembly  74  is coupled to a structural member  18  such as desk top  18  having a work surface  20 . Structural member  18  may be part of a work station, a desk or a roll around computer station. Attachment assembly  74  includes a quick-connect coupler  102 , a mounting arm  104 , a mounting bracket  106  and a track  108 . Quick-connect coupler  102 , similar to quick-connect coupler  22 , is an attachment that can be quickly and easily snapped onto integral keyboard device  72 . Even though attachment assembly  74  is depicted as coupling to an internal surface of keyboard device  72 , keyboard device  72  may alternatively include a protrusion that extends from keyboard device  72  to which attachment assembly  74  is coupled in a detachable manner. The protrusion is coupled with the internal structural portion of keyboard device  72 , such as ribs  98 , to thereby effectively receive support from attachment assembly  74 .  
         [0035]    In one embodiment, quick-connect coupler  102  includes a button  110 , which when activated releases integral keyboard device  72  from quick-connect coupler  102  and allows device  72  to be detached from coupler  102 . Alternatively, a lever (not shown) may be provided to perform the same function as button  110 .  
         [0036]    In another embodiment, quick-connect coupler  102  includes receiving points  112 , which are in the form of indentations  112 . Indentations  112  are positioned to accommodate spring biased detents  96  by allowing biased detents  96  to extend into indentations  112  thereby retaining quick-connect coupler  102  in receiving channel  90 . The interaction of biased detents  96  and indentations  112  allow the removal of keyboard device  72  from quick-connect coupler  102  by the application of an appropriate pulling force on keyboard device  72 . Receiving points  112  may also be in the form of holes into which biased detents  96  extend. Alternatively, biased detents  96  may be positioned on quick-connect coupler  102  and indentations  112  along receiving channel  90  to thereby removably retain keyboard device  72  to quick-connect coupler  102 .  
         [0037]    Alternatively, quick-connect coupler  102  may interact with receiving channel  90  to retain keyboard device  72  using an interference fit arrangement. This arrangement is arrived at by the shaping and sizing of quick-connect coupler  102  and receiving channel  90  to come into frictional engagement with each other when coupled together.  
         [0038]    Attachment assembly  74  may also include a clamping device  116 . Mounting bracket  106  moves in a sliding fashion through a portion of clamping device  116 . Mounting bracket  106  has a hollow channel or a cavity through which cord  40  is threaded. Pivoting point  118  allows mounting arm  104  to pivot thereabout relative to mounting bracket  106 . Clamping device  116  detachably clamps attachment assembly  74  to an edge of desk top  18 .  
         [0039]    In FIG. 5, there is shown attachment assembly  74  substantially similar to the previous embodiment of the present invention, interacting with track  108 . Mounting bracket  106  is detachably slidingly connected to track  108 . Track  108  is secured with fasteners to an underneath side of desktop  18 .  
         [0040]    Advantageously, attachment assembly  74  interacts with either clamping mechanism  116  or track  108 . When attachment assembly  74  is slid into clamping device  116  or track  108 , mounting arm  104  aligns with clamping device  116  or track  108  and is substantially in line with mounting bracket  106 . As keyboard device  12  is slid from either clamping device  116  or track  108  mounting bracket  106  is freed to pivot about pivot point  118  thereby allowing an operator to position keyboard device  12  at an angle to desktop  18 .  
         [0041]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.