Support apparatus with dual palm rests for keyboards and the like

A support apparatus has dual, or left and right, palm rests. The apparatus is positionable to support an item like a keyboard in various inclined positions. The dual palm rests are mounted separately on a common carriage that slides in a plane back and forth relative to a front edge of an item on the apparatus. The manner of mounting the palm rests permits each palm rest to swivel about a generally vertical swivel axis and, additionally, move hingeally about a hinge axis that extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the associated swivel axis. The palm rests are connected to sets of torsion springs or the like to normally bias the palm rests about both the swivel axes and the hinge axes for clamping. Likewise, the sliding action of the carriage is preferably normally biased for clamping as well. Overall, the carriage, dual palm rests and biasing cooperatively effect a multiply adjustable clamping action on the from edge of the item. The support apparatus optionally includes a dual side-pad assembly positionable in either left or right use positions, or in a storage position. Each side panel is independently inclinable, and can carry a clip-on wrist rest. The side panels provide surfaces for use, for example, with a cursor positioning device like a mouse or a trackball. For the cursor positioning device, there is also a storage device which is removably attachable to the edges of the support apparatus, for releasably storing the cursor positioning device during non-use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to the field of support apparatus for keyboards and 
the like, and in particular concerns a support apparatus with dual, or 
left and right, palm rests. The apparatus is positionable to support a 
keyboard or like item in various inclined positions. The dual palm rests 
are mounted separately on a common carriage, which carriage slides in a 
plane back and forth relative to a front edge of working surface of the 
apparatus. 
The manner of mounting the palm rests permits each palm rest to swivel 
about a respective swivel axis. The swivel axes generally intersect 
perpendicularly a plane that is defined by the sliding of the carriage. 
Additionally, the manner of mounting the palm rests involves each palm 
rest being hinged about a respective hinge axis. Each hinge axis extends 
in a plane generally perpendicular to the associated swivel axis. In 
practical use, the plane defined by the sliding carriage is generally 
horizontal, the swivel axes are generally vertical, and the hinge axes are 
generally horizontal. 
The palm rests preferably are connected with springs or the like for 
biasing the palm rests about both the swivel axes and the hinge axes. 
Additionally, the carriage is likewise preferably connected with a spring 
or springs for biasing the carriage to move normally into the front edge 
of the working surface of the apparatus. Overall, the palm rests, carriage 
and springs cooperate to effect a multiply adjustable clamping action 
relative to the relatively stationary working surface of the support 
apparatus. 
2. Prior Art 
It is known combine a keyboard support assembly with a palm rest on a 
carriage. The carriage permits displacement of the palm rest relative to a 
front edge of a keyboard on the support assembly. An example of a palm 
rest with carriage is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,136 --Hassel et. 
al. The carriage is adjustably repositioned via untightening and 
tightening a set of wing nuts. An advantage in such a carriage arrangement 
is that the carriage and palm rest cooperatively provide a clamping 
engagement on a front edge of a keyboard on the keyboard support assembly. 
The known keyboard support assemblies, of which U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,136 
discloses one example, are disadvantageous for use with many of the 
commercially available keyboards. Two types of keyboards particularly 
cause problems. 
One is the split keyboard. The split keyboard is partitioned midway between 
the left and right edges, each half being pivotably attached to the other 
half about a ball joint at the upper edge. The two halves can be locked in 
various positions such that each is slightly spread apart from the other 
along their front edges, and/or inclined, relative to the horizontal, in 
separate planes. The split keyboard is advantageous for allowing an 
operator to position his or her arms in a more natural and/or comfortable 
position than possible with a straight keyboard. While the known keyboard 
support assemblies are limitedly suitable for clamping onto the front edge 
of a straight keyboard, they are plainly ill-suited for clamping onto the 
bidirectional front edge(s) of the split keyboard. 
The other problematic keyboard for clamping is any of the commercially 
available laptop computers, each which typically has an integral keyboard. 
The commercially available laptop computers vary considerably in regards 
to thickness (i. e., height). For instance, there is often an inch (2.5 
cm) or more difference between the thickness of the keyboards of laptops 
and the thickness of non-laptop keyboards. In consequence, the known 
keyboard support assemblies are not variable enough in their adjustability 
to meet all the variety in the thicknesses of commercially available 
keyboards, especially laptops. 
In laptops, there also is much variety in the location of ports for disks, 
diskettes, cards and the like. It is generally popular to locate these 
ports in one of the front, rear, left or right sidewalls of the keyboard. 
Beyond that much of a generality, there is no particular one of the 
sidewalls in which the ports typically are located. The problem is, that 
the known keyboard support assemblies have poorly placed clamping members 
which will align on one or more of the different types of laptops such 
that the clamping members will obstruct a port. Not only are ports at risk 
of being obstructed, but other times what is obstructed is a connection 
for a 110 VAC line-cord or the like. Indeed, in one laptop, the front 
sidewall carries a trackball. The keyboard support assembly disclosed by 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,136 typifies the problems in the prior art. That is, 
it has a crosswise palm rest which would directly interfere with the 
trackball of that laptop when positioned against the front edge thereof. 
For the above reasons and many more, the known keyboard support assemblies 
are disadvantageous for universal compatibility with all the various 
keyboards, which vary so much in shape and arrangement. What is needed is 
keyboard support apparatus which overcomes the problems of the prior art. 
Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide keyboard support 
assemblies with more accessories that complement use of the support 
assembly while supporting keyboards, other electronic interface devices, 
or, indeed, even non-electronic items such as ordinary writing cases and 
the like. Such accessories include side pads for use with cursor 
positioning devices and the like. The side pads preferably are movable 
between use and storage positions. Additional, other accessories include 
receptacles for storing cursor positioning devices, lamps, document 
holders, and so on. These and other complementary accessories are not 
adequately provided and/or addressed in the prior art keyboard support 
assemblies. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to combine a support apparatus 
with dual, or left and right palm rests, to effect more natural 
positioning of an operator's arms during use of a keyboard or other item 
on the apparatus. 
It is another object of the invention to mount the above dual palm rests on 
a common carriage that slides in a plane back and forth relative to a 
front edge of the apparatus. 
It is a further object of the invention to mount the dual palm rests 
separately on the common carriage so that they swivel about respective 
swivel axes which generally perpendicularly intersect the plane defined by 
the sliding of the carriage. 
It is still a further object of the invention to involve the palm rests 
with a hinged action so that each pivots about a respective hinge axis, 
which two hinge axes extend in planes generally perpendicular to the 
swivel axes. 
It is yet another object of the invention that each palm rest preferably be 
connected with springs for biasing the palm rests about both the swivel 
axes and the hinge axes, which, in combination with biasing for the 
carriage, overall can effect a multiply adjustable clamping action on a 
front edge of an item, such as a keyboard, on the support assembly. 
It is also an object of the invention that the above support apparatus be 
positionable to support a keyboard or other item in various inclined 
positions, and be combined with a slidably retractable side pad for use 
with other items like a cursor positioning device (e.g., a mouse or 
trackball) and so on. The side pad can also be adjustable to vary the 
relative inclination between the side pad and support apparatus. 
It is furthermore an object of the invention that the above side pad 
include a slidably coupled wrist support that is positionable in use 
positions and/or storage positions. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide the above support 
apparatus and retractable side pad with a storage receptacle for a one 
cursor positioning device. The storage receptacle preferably releasably 
retains the cursor positioning device and removably attaches to an edge of 
the support apparatus. 
These and other aspects and objects are provided according to the invention 
in a support apparatus that combines a base portion with dual palm rests. 
The base portion defines a working surface on which to place a keyboard or 
other item, and is positionable in various inclined positions. The dual 
palm rests are mourned on a carriage movably connected to the base portion 
for displacement in a from to back direction relative to the front edge of 
the keyboard or item on the support apparatus. The carriage is removable 
from the base portion such that the base portion is used without palm 
rests. 
The palm rests are interconnected with the carriage such that each palm 
rest can swivel about a swivel axis generally perpendicular to a plane 
defined by the displacement of the carriage, and such that each palm rest 
is hinged about a hinge axis that extends in a plane generally 
perpendicular to the associated swivel axis. 
The palm rests and carriage are connected to a set of springs such that 
each palm rest is biased about the swivel and hinge axes thereof, and the 
carriage is biased normally toward the front edge of the keyboard or item 
on the support apparatus. By all these arrangements, the carriage, dual 
palm rests, and springs cooperatively effect a multiply adjustable 
clamping action for clamping front edge portions of an item on the support 
apparatus. Such items typically include computer keyboards, split 
keyboards, laptop computers and other electrical interface device like a 
graphical tablet, as well as non-electrical items like a writing case 
which includes a compartment for writing instruments and a writing surface 
for stationery. 
The support apparatus preferably includes a pair of adjustable abutment 
members releasably securable to the base portion. The abutment members 
extend up from the working surface for abutting various positions of a 
rear portion of the keyboard on the working surface. The abutment members 
are adjustably positionable via slots which are dimensioned to accept such 
accessories as lamps, document holders and the like. 
The palm rests define upper surfaces and concave rearward surfaces shaped 
for abutting against front edge portions of a keyboard chosen from one of 
a computer keyboard, a split computer-keyboard, and a laptop computer with 
an integral keyboard. The advantage in such concave rearward surfaces is 
that, because commercially available keyboards vary so much in thickness, 
the concave rearward surfaces define a flange to be positioned relatively 
flush with the home row of the chosen keyboard (i.e., the row with the 
space bar). 
The base portion preferably defines a passageway below the working surface, 
and this passageway extends in a left to right direction relative to the 
front edge of the keyboard or other item on the working surface. The 
support apparatus preferably includes a dual side-pad assembly that is 
slidably disposed in the passageway. The dual side-pad assembly comprises 
left and right side pads interconnected with a shaft for counter rotation 
relative to each other. The dual side-pad assembly has a storage position 
generally occupying the passageway. Additionally, the dual side-pad 
assembly has left and right extended positions in which either the left or 
the right side pad extends out from below the working surface for use, for 
example, with a cursor positioning device. 
Moreover, the dual side-pad assembly has relatively extreme left and right 
extended positions in which either the left or the right side pad is 
permitted to be rotated to various inclined positions relative to the 
working surface. The side pad which may be so inclined remains in place 
via a frictional engagement with a resilient sleeve which acts to brake 
the side pad in place. This resilient sleeve covers that portion of the 
shaft which extends between the left and right side pads. Each side pad is 
screwed into the adjacent end of the shaft such that counter rotation of 
the side pads on the shaft either results in the side pads spiraling 
closer together or further apart, depending on the directions of rotation. 
Spiraling the pads toward or away from one another correspondingly changes 
the amount of squeeze on the resilient sleeve between the two pads, which 
further changes the degree of braking effected by the resilient sleeve to 
stabilize one pad in an inclined position. 
It is advantageous that one of the side pads can be formed with a 
peripheral groove. When that occurs, then a wrist rest according to the 
invention can be removably attached to that one side pad via a gripping 
finger extending in the groove. The wrist rest is variably positionable on 
the side pad between storage and use positions. 
It is also can be advantageous to include a storage receptacle which can 
store a cursor positioning device during non-use. The storage receptacle 
includes a first resilient element for removably attaching the storage 
receptacle to the base portion, and a second resilient element for 
releasably retaining the cursor positioning device. 
A number of additional features and objects will be apparent in connection 
with the following discussion of preferred embodiments and examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In FIG. 1, a support apparatus 10 according to the invention combines a 
relatively stationary base portion 12 with variably positionable dual palm 
rests, 14. The base portion 12 is preferably mounted to a mounting 
structure (not shown) such as a locking support arm, via mounting hardware 
18. However, the base portion 12 is suitable for setting on a table top 
(not shown), preferably with adjustable back legs (not shown) such that 
the base portion 12 is positionable in various inclined positions. In the 
drawings, the apparatus 10 is shown generally horizontal. However, the 
apparatus 10 can be oriented in other orientations, and accordingly, terms 
like "up" and "down", "left" and "right", and "front" and "rear" are used 
merely for convenience in this description and do not limit the apparatus 
10 to particular orientations. 
The base portion 12 defines a generally flat working surface 22 for 
carrying an item such as a keyboard (not shown), e.g., one of a computer 
keyboard, a split computer-keyboard, and/or a laptop with its own integral 
keyboard. Other items include other electronic interface devices, an 
example being a graphical tablet or data tablet, as well as non-electrical 
items such as a writing case which includes a compartment for storing 
writing instruments and a writing surface for stationery and the like. The 
working surface 22 includes a negative cavity which receives a 
correspondingly sized resilient pad 24 that increases the frictional 
engagement between the keyboard and support apparatus 10. 
The base portion 12 also defines a pair of slots 26 through the working 
surface 22, positioned rearward of the resilient pad 24 and extending in a 
common left to right direction. Each slot 26 slidably receives a pin (not 
in view) carrying a resilient bumper 28 and rigid cap 32 combination. The 
cap 32 is resiliently biased via the inherent resiliency in the bumper 28 
to seek a plane perpendicular to the bumper 28. Each bumper 28 is variably 
positionable along the respective slot 26 and is releasably lockable via a 
nut (not shown) tightenable on the pin. The slots are also shaped and 
sized to accept releasably attachable accessories (not shown) such as 
lamps and document holders and the like, which would have appropriately 
configured legs to attach to and extend up from the slots 26. 
In FIG. 3, the base portion 12 has an underside to which is attached a 
bracket system comprising mirror image outer portions 34 flanking a 
central portion 36. Each outer portion 34 is bored through in the front to 
rear direction to define a track 38 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2). The central 
portion 36 cooperates with the outer portions 34 and base portion 12, as 
shown in FIG. 3, to define a passageway 42 extending in the left to right 
direction. A dual side-pad assembly 48 (see also FIG. 4) slides in the 
passageway 42 from a retracted position (e.g., FIG. 2, or as partly 
retracted in FIG. 1) to either a left or a right extended position (FIG. 3 
shows a right extended position). The outer portions 34 include scalloped 
portions to provide a user with more conveniently graspable left and right 
edges than known before. 
As shown by the exploded view of FIG. 2, the dual palm rests 14 are mounted 
separately on a carriage 44, which preferably has rails 46 that are 
slidably disposable in the tracks 38. That is, the rails 46 slide within 
the hollow cavities or tracks 38 defined in the outer bracket portions 34. 
The carriage is selectively removable from sliding engagement with the 
base portion 12 via withdrawal of the rails 46 from the tracks 38 in the 
outer bracket portions 34. The rails 46 are interconnected across their 
front ends by a cross bar 50 that extends in the left to right direction. 
Each apertured end of the crossbar 50 is positioned between a ring 52 on 
the adjacent rail 46 and another ring 54 carrying a spindle 56. The ring 
52 on the rail 46 has a bushing pivotably carrying the ring 54 with the 
spindle 56. The cross bar 50 and rails 46 are relatively fixed while the 
spindle 56 is permitted to swivel relative to the crossbar and rails 50 
and 46. 
Each spindle 56 is coupled to the same-sided palm rest 14 in a manner 
wherein the palm rests 14 are said to be hinged to the spindles 56 to move 
angularly about generally horizontal hinge axes. The swivel connection 
between each rail-ring 52 and adjacent spindle-ring 54 incorporates a 
torsion spring 62. The torsion springs normally biases the left palm rest 
14 counterclockwise (when viewed from above) and the right palm rest 14' 
clockwise. The palm rests 14 are connected with another set of torsion 
springs 64 such that each palm rest's rearward edge is biased downwardly 
against the base portion's front edge. Moreover, the rails 46 are 
connected to coil springs 66 (like tension springs, or even shock cords 
and the like) to bias the carriage 44 in a normally retracted position 
(e.g., FIG. 1 ). Another embodiment replaces the torsion springs 62 and 64 
with leaf springs which provide an equivalent actions. Overall, the 
carriage 44, the palm rests 14 and springs 62-66 cooperatively permit 
resilient clamping of the palm rests 14 on various sized keyboards placed 
on the base portion 12. 
In FIGS. 3 and 4, the dual side-pad assembly 48 comprises left and right 
side pads 70 and 70' interconnected by a middle shaft 72 extending in the 
left to right direction. Each side pad 70 is formed with internal thread 
and is coupled to an adjacent end of the shaft 72 formed with 
complementary external thread. The shaft 72 has a central portion exposed 
between the side pads which is covered by a relatively close-fitting 
resilient sleeve 78. The side pads, shaft and sleeve 70, 72 and 78 
cooperate such that the side pads 70 and 70' can be positioned in various 
planes relative to each other and yet the side pads 70 and 70' are braked 
by the sleeve 78 to stably hold their positions relative to one another. 
In use, the dual side-pad assembly 48 has relatively extreme left and right 
extended positions, relative to the base portion 12, in which either the 
left or the right side pad 70 or 70' is permitted to be rotated to various 
inclined positions relative to the working surface 22. The side pad 70 or 
70' which just happens to be so inclined remains in place via a braking 
action, or via the frictional engagement, with a resilient sleeve 78, 
which acts to brake the side pad 70 or 70' in place. Since the shaft 72 is 
threaded into the side pads 70, counter rotation of the side pads 70 on 
the shaft 72 either results in the side pads 70 spiraling closer together 
or further apart, depending on the directions of rotation. Spiraling the 
side pads 70 toward or away from one another correspondingly changes the 
amount of squeeze on the resilient sleeve 78 between the two pads 70, 
which further changes the degree of braking effected by the resilient 
sleeve 78 to stabilize one pad 70 or 70' in an inclined position. 
The dual side-pad assembly 48 is positionable as a unit in the passageway 
42 (FIG. 3) to various extended positions to provide a working surface, 
such as, for example, a surface for a cursor positioning device (not 
shown), like a mouse or trackball and the like, on either side of the base 
portion 12. The dual side-pad assembly 48 has opposite extreme positions 
(not shown), and in these opposite extreme positions, one or the other of 
the side pads 70 will clear the adjacent edge of the base portion 12, and 
so is free to be rotated relative to the base portion 12. Thus that one 
side pad 70 can then be inclined relative to the base portion 12 to suit 
the operator during use of the cursor positioning device. As mentioned 
above, the squeeze on the resilient sleeve 78 is variable by the operator. 
This way, the operator can select or dial in the desired amount of braking 
action, including the associated amount of force required to overcome the 
braking action. 
An additional inventive aspect of the keyboard support apparatus 10 
includes a clip-on wrist rest 74 (FIGS. 5a and 5b) cooperating with 
specially formed peripheral grooves 76 in an alternative side pad 70. The 
wrist rest 74 has enlargements (not shown) for extending into the grooves 
76, and is positionable in various use positions (e.g., FIG. 5a) to 
provide support to the operator's wrist/forearm during use of the cursor 
positioning device. The wrist rest 74 has stored positions (e.g., FIG. 5b) 
on the side pad 70 during non-use. Alternatively, during non-use, since 
the wrist rest 74 is removable, the wrist rest can be simply detached from 
the side pad 70, thereby permitting the side pad 70 to be stored below the 
working surface 22. 
The support apparatus 10 according to the invention further comprises a 
clip-on storage receptacle 80 (FIGS. 5a and 7) for storing the cursor 
positioning device during non-use on a peripheral edge of the base portion 
12. The storage receptacle 80 comprises a plate 82 with a relative bottom 
formed with a resilient clip 84 and a relative top combined with a 
resilient band 86. The clip 84 is shaped and arranged for removable 
attachment to the peripheral edges of the base portion 12. The resilient 
band 86 is sized for resiliently retaining the cursor positioning device 
to the plate 82. 
With general reference to all the FIGURES, the support apparatus 10, before 
use, is positioned with the carriage, dual palm rests and dual side pads 
44, 14 and 70 all in each's respective storage position. An operator 
releasably mounts an item like a keyboard to the apparatus 10 by the 
following procedure. The operator positions the bumpers 28 to abut desired 
positions on the keyboard, preferably not obstructing any port or the 
like. For example, with some laptops, the only nonobstructive positions 
along the length of the rear sidewall is only at the corners between the 
rear and left and right sidewalls. Next, an operator would slide the 
carriage 46 to an extended position and swivel the palm rests 14 to out-of 
the way positions, thus permitting a keyboard to be placed on the working 
surface 22, abutting the bumpers 28. The operator does so, perhaps causing 
the resiliently biased caps 32 to catch the rear edge of the keyboard. 
After that, the carriage and palm rests 44 and 14 are moved to desired 
positions. First, the palm rests 14 are rotated open about their hinge 
axes to define jaws for gripping a front edge of the keyboard. Next, the 
palm rests 14 are positioned in a desired swivel angle. For example, if 
the keyboard is a bidirectional split keyboard, it may be desirable to 
swivel the palm rests 14 in complementary angles. On the other hand, if 
the keyboard is a straight keyboard but includes ports or a trackball and 
the like on the front edge, then it is desirable to swivel the palm rests 
14 to an angle of attack on the front corners of the keyboard. Finally, 
the carriage 44 is released to return under biasing to the retracted 
position as the palm rests 14 are permitted to close about their hinge 
axes on the front edge of the keyboard. In sum, the support apparatus 10 
effects a multiply adjustable clamping action, mainly on the front edge of 
the item to be clamped, such as a keyboard. 
In FIGS. 8 and 9, the palm rests 14 are shaped and size for comfort to the 
operator who otherwise might suffer fatigue or, worse, the symptoms of 
repetitive stress injury or carpal tunnel syndrome and the like. For this 
purpose, the palm rests 14 have convex upper surfaces 90. The convex upper 
surfaces 90 are positionable in elevations relatively flush with the home 
row of keyboards (i. e., the row with the space bar) because of concave 
rear sidewalls 92, which define a relatively thin flange 94. The concave 
rear sidewalls 92 and flange 94 cooperatively act on the front edge or 
edge portions of the keyboard to clamp the keyboard in place. 
The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing 
variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to 
persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to 
the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be 
made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of 
preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which 
exclusive rights are claimed.