Abstract:
A keyboard tray includes a chamber accessed through opposite side slots through which slides a slidable mouse tray. The slidable mouse tray and a lower keyboard body include groups of one of guide and reinforcing ribs and guide and reinforcing slots. A mouse cord supporting member can be utilized with either of opposite exposed side portions of the slidable mouse tray. The keyboard try is also preferably constructed of two bodies having alignment pins and openings for accurate registration incident to assembly of the keyboard tray.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is directed to a keyboard tray, particularly adapted for supporting any one of a variety of conventional keyboards and a mouse associated therewith. 
         [0002]    The keyboard tray is preferably rigidly secured to a keyboard tray supporting arm which is articulately mounted relative to a desk upon which is supported a conventional personal computer (PC). The keyboard tray houses a relatively flat mouse tray in slidable relationship thereto. The keyboard tray is preferably constructed from two pieces of compression-molded, injection-molded, vacuum-molded or like formed polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material which when united along a periphery thereof define a bottom wall or surface, an upper supporting wall or surface, and a peripheral wall therebetween. The peripheral wall includes spaced opposite side wall portions which each include a slot through which the mouse tray can slide between operative and inoperative positions. 
         [0003]    A keyboard tray as just described is fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,743 in the name of Charles A. Gillis which issued on Aug. 12, 1997. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the invention of the latter patent and the prior art patents listed therein which are incorporated hereat by reference, along with U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,895 granted on Feb. 24, 2004, also in the name of Charles A. Gillis. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention improves prior art keyboard trays and particularly the keyboard tray of U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,743 by (1) constructing the slidable tray and a chamber in which the slidable tray slides with cooperative substantially parallel guiding ribs and guiding grooves arranged in at least two spaced substantially parallel groups with at least two guiding ribs per group which define a guiding surface curved in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the slidable tray, (2) providing a removable mouse cord supporting member having a U-shaped slot in which a mouse cord can be secured and (3) constructing the keyboard tray from two members each including a peripheral wall and having a plurality of inter-engaged registration pins and openings for aligning the individual keyboard members incident to permanently securing the same to each other. 
         [0005]    With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a novel keyboard tray of the present invention, and illustrates in phantom outline a conventional keyboard associated therewith and also in phantom outline a conventional mouse associated with a slidable mouse tray in its right-hand position of use, but slidable to a left-hand position of use shown in phantom outline. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard tray, and illustrates upper and lower keyboard bodies, the slidable mouse tray and a mouse cord securing member. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the keyboard tray, and illustrates the slidable mouse tray housed within an interior chamber of the keyboard tray and a generally narrow polygonal opening or slot in a side wall thereof. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an interior of a lower keyboard body of the keyboard tray, and illustrates a plurality of substantially parallel spaced reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the lower keyboard body with the ribs being arranged in a groups with each group defining a substantially curved guiding surface, as viewed in transverse cross-section to the direction of sliding movement of the slidable mouse tray. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the slidable mouse tray, and illustrates a plurality of reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the slidable mouse tray and being each defined by a plurality of substantially parallel spaced ribs with each group of ribs defining a curved guiding surface matching the curved guiding surface of the grooves of the lower keyboard body of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 , and illustrates four groups of guiding grooves and four guiding ribs with each of the latter being defined by a plurality of generally spaced parallel ribs and one of a plurality of interlocked alignment pins and openings for aligning the keyboard bodies during assembly thereof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken generally along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 , and illustrates details of four groups of guide grooves or slots of the lower keyboard body and the generally transverse curvature thereof matching each group of guiding grooves of the slidable mouse tray. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8 , which appears on the sheet of drawings containing  FIG. 3 , is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left-hand corner of the upper and lower keyboard bodies of  FIG. 2 , and illustrates respective alignment openings and pins for effecting alignment between the keyboard bodies incident to permanently adhesively or otherwise securing the same to each other. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9 , which appears on the sheet of drawings containing  FIG. 3 , is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 3 , and illustrates one of the four alignment pins registered with its associated alignment opening or bore. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    A novel keyboard tray constructed in accordance with this invention is fully illustrated in the drawings and is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  which supports any one of a variety of a conventional keyboards K ( FIG. 1 ) having a power cord C. 
         [0016]    The keyboard tray  10  includes a slidable mouse tray  15  which can be housed substantially entirely within the keyboard  10  ( FIG. 3 ) or can be slid to the right or left, as shown respectively in solid and phantom outline in  FIG. 1 . A conventional mouse M ( FIG. 1 ) having a power cord C 1  can be supported by the mouse tray  15  at either side of the keyboard tray  10  depending upon the location of the mouse tray  15 . 
         [0017]    The keyboard tray  10  is preferably injection-molded, compression-molded or otherwise molded from polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material and has two separate individual keyboard bodies or keyboard members, namely, an upper keyboard body  21  and a lower keyboard body  22 . 
         [0018]    The upper keyboard body  21  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  7 ) includes an upper relatively flat surface or wall  30  of a generally polygonal or rectangular configuration set-off by a depending rear wall portion  31 , a curved depending front wall portion  32 , and opposite substantially parallel depending side wall portions  33 ,  34  with the latter depending wall portions  31  through  34  collectively defining a depending peripheral wall  35  terminating in a peripheral edge  36 . An underside of the upper wall  30  is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel spaced longitudinal reinforcing ribs  37  extending between the side wall portions  33 ,  34  which are in crossing relationship to a plurality of substantially parallel transverse reinforcing ribs  38  ( FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 ) extending between the rear and front wall portions  31 ,  32 , respectively. The upper wall  30  includes substantially shallow polygonal or rectangular recesses R 1 , R 2  ( FIGS. 3 and 7 ) in which are housed and adhesively secured thereto respective pads P 1 , P 2  of high coefficient of friction material which functions to prevent the keyboard K from sliding along the surface  30 , as is most evident from  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0019]    A peripheral reinforcing rib  64  projects upwardly from the upper wall surface  30  of the upper keyboard body  21  along the rear peripheral wall  31  and the side peripheral walls  33 ,  34 , and includes upwardly opening slots S into either of which can be located the power cord C of the keyboard K ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0020]    At each corner (unnumbered) of the upper keyboard body  21  and midway of the rear and front walls  31 ,  32 , respectively, there is provided a downwardly opening generally cylindrical alignment bore or opening  58  ( FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 ) which receives an upwardly projecting cylindrical alignment pin  59  ( FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 ) of the lower keyboard body  22  which are utilized to align the keyboard bodies  21 ,  22  incident to permanently assembling the same utilizing conventional adhesive, sonic welding, or the like along the mating/contacting peripheries thereof. 
         [0021]    The mouse slide tray  15  is of a generally polygonal or rectangular configuration and includes two relatively large shallow substantially rectangular mouse-receiving recesses R 3 , R 4  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2   6  and  7 ) located symmetrically with respect to rear and front edges  24 ,  25 , respectively, and opposite side edges  26 ,  27 . As is best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , four groups  41  through  44  of three ribs  45  through  47  each which terminate in respective terminal or end faces or surfaces  55  through  57 , respectively, project downwardly from a lower surface  28  of the slidable mouse tray  15 . Each of the groups  41  through  44  of three ribs  45  through  47  are reinforced by a plurality of longitudinally spaced depending projections  48  of a generally arcuate configuration as defined by an arcuate or curved terminal or end face  49  which, as viewed in transverse cross-section ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), imparts a generally curved transverse configuration defined by a transverse curved plane passing through the end or terminal faces  55  through  57  of the ribs  45  through  47 , respectively, of each of the groups  41  through  44 . The transverse curvature or arc is identified by the reference character A in  FIG. 6 and 7  of the drawings. 
         [0022]    The slidable mouse tray  15  is further reinforced along the peripheral side walls  26 ,  27  by a plurality of downwardly projecting spaced reinforcing ribs  63  ( FIG. 5 ) which foreshorten the length of the groups  42 ,  43  of ribs  45  through  47  as compared to the groups  41 ,  44  of ribs  45  through  47 . The latter foreshortening provides finger access areas FA ( FIG. 5 ) contiguous the side walls  26 ,  27  for gripping the mouse slide tray  15 , particularly when completely housed within a chamber Cs ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) set off between the keyboard bodies  21 ,  22  in which the mouse slide tray  15  can be substantially fully housed. 
         [0023]    The lower keyboard body  22  includes a lower wall  70  ( FIG. 4 ) of a substantially polygonal or rectangular configuration substantially matching the configuration of the upper wall  30  of the keyboard body  21  and projecting upwardly therefrom is a rear peripheral wall  71 , a slightly curved front peripheral wall  72  matching the curvature of the front wall  32  of the upper keyboard body  21 , and side peripheral walls  73 ,  74  collectively defining a peripheral wall  75 . 
         [0024]    The side peripheral walls  73 ,  74  of the lower keyboard body  22  are each shorter in height than the sidewalls  33 ,  34 , respectively, of the upper keyboard body  21  and therewith define respective generally rectangular side openings or slots  76  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) through which the mouse slide tray  15  can enter or exit the chamber Cs. 
         [0025]    The lower keyboard body  22  is reinforced by four groups  81  through  84  ( FIG. 4 ) of four ribs  85  through  88  each which impart a mirror image transverse curved configuration A ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to the respective longitudinally extending groups  41  through  44  of the mouse slide tray guide ribs  45  through  47 , it being noted that the curvature and structural relationship and orientation of the individual ribs  85  through  88  both define the rib groups  81  through  84  and the guide slots  81  through  84  defined thereby. 
         [0026]    When assembled in the manner best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7  of the drawings, the groups  41  through  44  of guide ribs  45  through  47  of the slidable mouse try  15  slide in the guide grooves  81  through  84 , respectively, of the lower keyboard body  22  each define by the four ribs  85  through  88  along the substantially matching arcuate guide surfaces A ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) which are defined by upper surfaces (unnumbered) of the ribs  85  through  88  and corresponding curved surfaces  91  ( FIG. 4 ) of a plurality of transverse reinforcing ribs  92  ( FIG. 4 ). In this manner, the ribs  45  through  47  and  85  through  88  of the respective mouse slide tray  15  and the lower keyboard body  22  define smooth substantially arcuate surfaces A which not only provide guiding functions but reinforcing functions contemporaneously therewith. 
         [0027]    A mouse cord member  100  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) includes upper and lower substantially parallel walls  101 ,  102  defining a channel  103  therebetween which has a vertical height slightly less than the thickness of the slidable mouse tray  15  along the rear edge  24  thereof. The mouse cord member  100  is preferably constructed from synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material and can be snap-secured to the slidable mouse tray  15  at either exposed side thereof in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. An upwardly projecting rib  105  includes an upwardly opening slot  106  for snugly snap-receiving therein the cord C 1  of the mouse M in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    The bottom wall  70  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6 ) is provided with a polygonal or rectangular recess Rr ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) in which is housed a block of wood B secured to the wall  70  by screws (unnumbered) for the purpose of securing thereto a keyboard support arm (such as the support arm A of FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,743). 
         [0029]    Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the article without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.