Wrist support apparatus for computer work

A wrist support apparatus (100) for computer work, includes: a main body (110) which is a frame; and a support member (120), wherein the main body (110) includes a bottom portion (113), and side portions (111) extending upward from both sides of the bottom portion (113) in the width direction and facing each other. The support member (120) includes a support main body (121) made of an extendable material. The support main body (121) extends along the outer surfaces of the bottom portion (113) and the both side portions (111), is spaced apart from the bottom portion (113) in the upward direction so as to extend in the width direction between the both side portions (111), and forms a closed loop.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wrist support apparatus for computer work, and more particularly, to a wrist support apparatus for computer work, which a user wears when using a mouse or a keyboard.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a user uses a keyboard and a mouse of a computer, which are placed on a desk, in order to input necessary information. While using the keyboard or the mouse, the user feels stiffness in the wrist since the wrist is bent and strained, and so, it causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

In order to solve the above problems, various wrist supports have been disclosed, but they have several disadvantages in that it is difficult to use both a keyboard and a mouse, in that they must be placed long on a desk to simply support the wrist from below, and in that they cannot elastically support the wrist or tighten the wrist too strongly.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wrist support apparatus for computer work, which can be used for both of keyboard work and mouse work, elastically support the wrist, is easy to be attached and detached, and is capable of adjusting height and elasticity.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a wrist support apparatus for computer work, including: a main body which is a frame; and a support member, wherein the main body includes a bottom portion and side portions which extend upwardly from both sides of the width direction of the bottom portion, the support member includes a support body made of an extensible material, and the support member extends along the outer surface of the bottom portion and the both side portions, spaced upwardly from the bottom portion, and extending in the width direction between the side portions to form a closed loop.

Moreover, the support member further includes a support extension portion, which is made of an extensible material, and of which both sides of the width direction are coupled to the support body. The support extension portion is disposed above the support body, and includes a wearing portion formed above the support body so that the user can insert the hand between the support extension portion and the support body to wear the wrist support apparatus.

Furthermore, the support member further includes a first coupling means, and the first coupling means includes a first coupling portion provided on the surface facing the support body at the end portion of the support extension portion, and a second coupling portion detachably coupled to the first coupling portion and provided on the outer surface of the support body outward from the other side portion. The both width-directional sides of the support extension portion are coupled to the support body when the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are coupled to each other.

Additionally, the support member further includes a closed loop coupling means, and the closed loop coupling means includes: a first closed loop coupling portion provided on the outer surface of one end portion of the support body; and a second closed loop coupling portion spaced apart from the first closed loop coupling portion in the longitudinal direction of the support body to be disposed on the opposite side of the first closed loop coupling portion, and detachably coupled to the first closed loop coupling portion. The support body forms a closed loop when the first closed loop coupling portion and the second closed loop coupling portion are coupled with each other.

In addition, the side portions respectively have mounting holes formed in the lateral direction to be spaced upwardly apart from the bottom portion, the support body passes through the mounting holes of side portions, and the first closed loop coupling portion and the second closed loop coupling portion are coupled to each other to form a closed loop.

Moreover, a plurality of mounting holes are formed in the side portions to be spaced apart from each other in the up-and-down direction.

Furthermore, the support member further includes a first coupling means, and the first coupling means includes a first coupling portion provided on the surface facing the support body at the end portion of the support extension portion, and a second coupling portion detachably coupled to the first coupling portion and provided on the outer surface of the support body outward from the other side portion. Both width-directional sides of the support extension portion are coupled to the support body when the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are coupled to each other.

Furthermore, the side portions respectively have body extension portions extending upwardly from both upper sides of the back-and-forth direction, and the portion upwardly spaced from the bottom portion of the support body passes between the body extension portions of the side portions.

Additionally, the side portions further respectively include body protrusions which inwardly extend in the back-and-forth direction at end portions of the body extension portions so that the end portions are spaced apart from each other and face each other, and a portion of the support body spaced upwardly from the bottom portion and extending in the width direction between the side portions is located below the body protrusion.

In addition, the wrist support apparatus further includes a cushion member, wherein the cushion member includes a support body portion upwardly spaced apart from the bottom portion and extending between the side portions in the width direction.

Advantageous Effects

The wrist support apparatus (100) for computer work can be used for both of keyboard work and mouse work without taking off and on the wrist support apparatus (100) repeatedly, can elastically and comfortably support the wrist, is capable of adjusting height and elasticity for supporting the wrist, and allows a user to easily take off or wear the wrist support apparatus.

MODE FOR INVENTION

All the technical terms and scientific terms used in the description of the present invention have the meaning generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs, unless otherwise defined. All of the terms used in this disclosure are selected for purposes of describing the present disclosure more clearly, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in accordance with the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the terms “comprise” “include”, “having” and the like used in the description of the present invention should be understood as open-ended terms, including the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence in which the corresponding expressions are included.

The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified, which is likewise applicable to the terms of a singular form set forth in the claims.

The terms such as “first” and “second” used in the description of the present invention are used to distinguish a plurality of components, and do not limit the order or importance of the components.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another component, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other component, or a new component may be intervened therebetween.

Hereinafter, a wrist supporting apparatus for computer work according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a plan view of a wrist support apparatus for computer work according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG.2is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ ofFIG.1,FIG.3is a cross-sectional view and a partially cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ ofFIG.1,FIG.4is a side view of a main body included in the wrist support apparatus for computer work according to the embodiment of the present invention,FIG.5a side view of a main body included in a wrist support apparatus for computer work according to a modification of the present invention,FIG.6is a partially side view of a main body included in a wrist support apparatus for computer work according to another embodiment of the present invention,FIG.7is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ ofFIG.1, showing a wrist support apparatus for computer work according to a modification of the present invention,FIG.8is a side view of the wrist support apparatus for computer work illustrated inFIG.7,FIG.9is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ ofFIG.1, showing a wrist support apparatus for computer work according to another modification of the present invention, andFIG.10is a side view illustrating a used state of the wrist supporting apparatus for computer work according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, in the following description of the present invention, the horizontal direction ofFIG.1is referred to as the “width direction”, and the vertical direction is “back- and forth direction”, and the vertical direction ofFIG.2is referred to as the “up-and-down direction”. When a user wears the wrist support apparatus for computer work according to the present invention, the direction toward the elbow is referred to as the rear, and the direction toward the fingertip is referred to as the front.

The wrist support apparatus100for computer work according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body110and a support member120. The main body110acts as a frame for maintaining a shape, and the support member120acts as a support for elastically supporting the wrist.

The main body110includes a bottom portion113, and a side portion111extending upwardly from both sides in the width direction of the bottom portion113and facing each other. The main body110may be made of wood, metal such as aluminum, or synthetic resin such as ABS or nylon, and may include one or more of the foregoing. The main body110may be made of a metallic material and may be manufactured by bending both sides, or may be injection-molded with synthetic resin. An interval between the side portions111is, for example, 8 cm to 12 cm.

The support member120supports the wrist. The support member120includes a support body121made of an extensible material. For example, the support body121is a rubber band that a rubber band and fiber are woven together to be extensible.

The support body121extends along the outer surface of a bottom portion113and the outer surfaces of the side portions111of the main body110, and is spaced upwardly from the bottom portion113and extends in the width direction between the side portions111to form a closed loop. The wrist is put on a width-directionally extending portion121-2between the side portions111to elastically support the wrist. The wrist is comfortably supported since being supported by the support body121made of the extensible material. Even though the height of the wrist is changed in the up-and-down direction during computer work, the support body121is extended in accordance with the height of the wrist, thereby preventing external force or impact on the wrist. According to the user's use, a portion of the hand and a wrist portion may be placed together on the wrist support apparatus to be elastically supported.

The support member120further includes a support extension portion122formed above the support body121and made of an extensible material, and a wearing portion S formed above the support body121so that the user can insert the hand between the support extension portion122and the support body121.

The support body121is stacked in contact with the outer surface of the bottom portion113and is stacked in contact with the outer surfaces of the side portions111. In the description of the support body121, the inner surface of the closed loop is referred to as the ‘inner surface’, and the outer surface of the closed loop is referred to as the ‘outer surface’.

Since the main body110includes the support body121of the closed loop form, the wrist support apparatus according to the present invention does not require additional coupling means to mount the support member120on the main body110. Since the support body121is provided along the outer surface (lower surface)113of the bottom portion113, the support body121gets in contact with a desk while the wrist support apparatus is used (reference numeral121-1inFIGS.2,3, and11). Therefore, the wrist support apparatus according to the present invention can prevent noise from being generated when the bottom portion113of the main body110, which is a frame, directly gets in contact with the desk.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the support member120includes a closed loop coupling means125to form a closed loop when being coupled. The closed loop coupling means125includes a first closed loop coupling portion125bprovided on the outer surface of one end portion of the support body121, and a second closed loop coupling portion125aspaced apart from the first closed loop coupling portion125bin the longitudinal direction of the support body121to be disposed on the opposite side of the first closed loop coupling portion125b, and detachably coupled to the first closed loop coupling portion125b. The support body121forms a closed loop when the first closed loop coupling portion125band the second closed loop coupling portion125aare coupled with each other. The closed loop coupling means125may be Velcro tapes to be detachably coupled with each other. The first closed loop coupling portion125bis formed to be longer than the second closed loop coupling portion125a. Tension of the support body121can be simply adjusted when the length of the closed loop is adjusted by adjusting a position where the second closed loop coupling portion125ais coupled to the first closed loop coupling portion125b, thereby adjusting height to support the wrist.

The support extension portion122is integrally formed with the same material as the support body121. The support extension portion122is integrally formed with the support body121. The support body121is formed at a section where the first closed loop coupling portion125band the second closed loop coupling portion125aare disposed, and the support extension portion122is formed at a portion extending outward from the second closed loop coupling portion125a. Hereinafter, the support extension portion122is formed at a section between a first coupling portion123aand the second closed loop coupling portion125a.

The support member120further includes a first coupling means123. The support extension portion122extends from the support body121on the outside of one side portion111, and preferably is longer than the interval between both of the side portions111. The first coupling means123includes a first coupling portion123aprovided on the surface facing the support body121at the end portion of the support extension portion122, and a second coupling portion123bdetachably coupled to the first coupling portion123aand provided on the outer surface of the support body121outward from the other side portion111. The second coupling portion123bis disposed between the first closed loop coupling portion125band the second closed loop coupling portion125a.

The first coupling means123may be Velcro tapes detachably coupled to each other. Preferably, the second coupling portion123bis longer than the first coupling portion123a. The first coupling portion123aand the second coupling portion123bare coupled to each other to form another closed loop, which is the wearing portion S so that the user can insert the hand into the upper portion of the support body121. When a position where the first coupling portion123ais coupled to the second coupling portion123bis adjusted, the wrist support apparatus according to the present invention can loosen or tighten the wrist inserted into the closed loop formed above the support body121. The position where the first coupling portion123ais coupled to the second coupling portion123bcan be adjusted according to the user's need and feeling.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the side portions111respectively have mounting holes111aformed in the width direction to be spaced upwardly apart from the bottom portion113. The support body121passes through the mounting holes111aof side portions111, and the first closed loop coupling portion125band the second closed loop coupling portion125aare coupled to each other to form a closed loop. The mounting hole111amay be formed in plural to be vertically spaced apart from each other. When the plurality of mounting holes111aare formed in the side portions111, it is possible to adjust the height by selecting one of the mounting holes111ainto which the support body121is inserted.

The mounting holes111aare formed in plural to be vertically spaced apart from each other, and the support body121is inserted into the mounting hole111alocated below so as to form the closed loop. The support extension portion122is inserted into the mounting hole111alocated above so that the first coupling means123can be coupled. The support extension portion122passes through the upper ends of the side portions111so that the first coupling means123can be coupled.

The support body121is inserted into the mounting hole111alocated above to form the closed loop, and the support extension portion122passes through the upper ends of the side portions111so that the first coupling means123can be coupled.

The side portion111further includes an extension portion insertion hole1l1blaterally formed at a position spaced upwardly from the mounting hole111aso that the extension portion122can be inserted into the extension portion insertion hole1l1b. In the drawing, the reference numeral1l1bdenotes the extension portion insertion hole, but also the support body121may pass through the extension portion insertion hole1l1bof the side portion111to form the closed loop. The support extension portion122may pass through the upper ends of the side portions111, and the first coupling means123can be coupled to the support extension portion122.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the mounting hole111aand the extension hole1l1bare formed in a long hole shape extending in the back-and-forth direction.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the mounting holes111aare formed to be inclined downward to the rear (left side ofFIG.5) so that the mounting holes111aare low at the rear. Since the mounting holes111aare inclined such that the rear, which is the elbow, is low, the support body121passing through the mounting holes111ais also low at the rear. since inclination angle of the support body is in the same direction as the inclination angle of the arm, the contact load is more uniformly applied.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the mounting hole111ais formed in an upwardly curved shape in which a central portion of the back-and-forth direction is high and both sides are low. The support body121forming the closed loop extends more at the protruding central portion rather than both sides of the width direction of the mounting holes111a. Therefore, it can prevent that both back-and-forth end portions of the support body121get in contact with the wrist to concentrate pressing force when the user puts the wrist on the support body121.

As illustrated inFIGS.7and8, the side portions111respectively have body extension portions1l1fextending upwardly from both upper sides of the back-and-forth direction. The portion upwardly spaced from the bottom portion113of the support body121passes between the body extension portions1l1fof the side portions111. Since both back-and-forth directional sides of the support body121are caught to the body extension portions1l1f, it is prevented that the support member120is separated from the main body110in the width direction.

The support body121may be formed of a closed loop through back-stitch coupling121a. The support extension portion122is a section extending from a portion of back-stitch coupling121a.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the support body121, which is a closed loop, is provided along the outer surface of the side portions111and the bottom portion113after passing between the body extension portions111f. Of course, in this case, the closed loop coupling means125described above is provided to form a closed loop in a detachable manner.

The side portions111further respectively include body protrusions11ginwardly extending in the back-and-forth direction at end portions of the body extension portions1l1fso that the end portions are spaced apart from each other and face each other. When the user wears the wrist support apparatus, the support extension portion122passes below the body protrusions111gof both side portions, and the end portion of the support extension portion is coupled to the first coupling means123from the outside of one side portion111. The extension portion122passes over the first coupling means123and is coupled to the body protrusion111g.

As illustrated inFIG.9, an end portion of the support extension portion122is also back-stitched122ato the support body121forming the closed loop at the outer surface of the other side portion111, so that the support extension portion122is provided on the upper portion of the support body121.

As described above, the support extension portion122is disposed above the support body121, and the wearing portion S allowing the user to insert the hand to wear is formed between the support body121and the support extension portion122. Therefore, when the user wears the wrist support apparatus100for computer work according to the present invention, the wrist is spaced apart from the floor T (SeeFIG.10). InFIG.10, the reference numeral H denotes a hand, M denotes a mouse.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the wrist support apparatus100for computer work according to the present invention further includes a cushion member160. The cushion member160is made of a cushiony material, such as sponge. The cushion member160includes a support body portion121-2upwardly spaced apart from the bottom portion113and extending between the side portions111in the width direction. The cushion member160serves as a buffer.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The wrist support apparatus100for computer work according to the present invention can comfortably support the wrist and improve work efficiency since moving together with the wrist.