Support for computer terminal and computer keyboard

An improved support assembly for a computer terminal and a computer keyboard. The assembly includes two major components, a computer terminal support (12) and a keyboard support (14). The two components can be assembled together in one of two manners by fastener assemblies (16). When assembled in one manner, the computer terminal support will be shifted from a storage position to a use position which is nearly horizontal. When assembled in the other manner, the keyboard support will be in a use position which is inclined and extends below the bottom surface of the computer terminal support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to supports, and more particularly 
to an improved support for a computer terminal and a computer keyboard 
wherein the keyboard support is movable from a stored position within the 
computer terminal support to an extended use position, the keyboard 
support capable of being assembled in one of two manners so that when the 
keyboard support is assembled one way and placed in its use position it 
will extend parallel to the top of the computer terminal support, and when 
assembled in another way and placed in its use position it will be at an 
inclined position. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Computer terminal and keyboard supports are well known in the prior art for 
supporting a keyboard below a computer terminal. Typical examples are 
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,483,572; 4,496,200; 4,624,510; 4,635,893; 
4,717,112; and 4,901,972. Typically the computer support is designed for 
use either on a desk top or on a lower surface which would normally 
receive a typewriter or other similar office equipment having a keyboard. 
When the computer terminal support is placed upon a desk top and carries a 
keyboard support which is stored within the computer terminal it should be 
obvious that a keyboard stored on the keyboard support would be at or 
above the height of the desk top. Such a level is too high for good 
operator ergonomics. Therefore, when the computer terminal support is 
adapted to be placed upon a table top, the keyboard support has been 
designed in such a manner that when the keyboard support is moved to an 
extended use position it will either be lowered or placed in an inclined 
position to facilitate use by the operator in a more ergonomic manner. 
When the computer terminal support is adapted to be placed upon a lower 
surface which would normally received a typewriter or like, it is presumed 
that the keyboard will be at the proper height and therefore the keyboard 
will be typically be shifted from a storage position just above the 
surface of the support to a forward or extended position where the 
keyboard is at the same level as it was in the storage position. 
Computer terminal and keyboard support assemblies are known in the prior 
art which can be placed at either height. One such example is shown in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,112. In this patent the computer support is adapted to 
be placed upon a surface and the keyboard can be carried by a keyboard 
support which, when in its extended position, can be disposed either in a 
first position where it is parallel to the top of the table, or an 
inclined position where it may be disposed below the top surface of the 
table. While the design in the foregoing patent overcomes some of the 
disadvantages of the prior art, it is a relatively complex design 
requiring that the keyboard support be of an extended length so that there 
cannot be compact storage of the keyboard support underneath the computer 
monitor. In addition, the foregoing design because of is relative 
complexity is also relatively expensive. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,200 another mechanism is disclosed which may be 
utilized for supporting a keyboard assembly in one of two use positions. 
However, as can be seen from the foregoing patent, the mechanism disclosed 
therein is also relatively complex and therefore somewhat costly. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for a 
computer terminal and a computer keyboard which may be assembled either in 
a first manner so that the keyboard support when extended to its working 
position is parallel to the top surface of the computer support, or which 
may be assembled in a second manner so that when the keyboard support when 
extended to its working position is disposed at an angle and below the 
bottom of the computer support. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support of the 
type set forth above which is relatively inexpensive. 
The foregoing object and other objects and advantages of this invention 
will become more apparent after a consideration of the following detailed 
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a 
preferred form of this invention is illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
With reference now to the various figures in which a preferred form of this 
invention has been illustrated, it should be noted that the keyboard and 
terminal support of this invention is indicated generally at 10 and 
consists of a computer terminal support or base indicated generally at 12 
and a computer keyboard support or holder indicated generally at 14. A 
pair of fastener assemblies, indicated generally at 16, is utilized to 
interconnect the computer keyboard holder with the computer terminal base 
in either a first manner, shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, or in a second 
manner, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. When the various components of this 
invention are assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the 
keyboard holder, when extended to its use position shown in FIG. 5, will 
be generally parallel to the top surface of the computer terminal support 
12. When the components are assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 
the keyboard holder, when extended to its use position, will be disposed 
at an inclined position as shown in FIG. 7. 
The computer terminal support or base 12 includes a generally planar top 
portion 18 which is adapted to support a computer terminal, the top 
portion having a first side 18.1, a second side 18.2 and opposed first and 
second ends 18.3 and 18.4, respectively. Extending downwardly from the top 
portion at the ends 18.3 and 18.4 are a pair of first and second parallel 
terminal base sidewalls 20, 22, respectively. As can be seen each of the 
sidewalls 20, 22 extends from the first side 18.1 to the second side 18.2 
of the top portion. The computer terminal support 12 is further provided 
with spaced apart bottom wall portions 24, 26 (FIG. 3) which extend 
inwardly from the sides 20, 22, respectively, the bottom wall portions 24 
and 26 being parallel to the top portion 18. In the preferred form the 
computer terminal support is formed of sheet metal. 
Each of the sidewalls 20, 22 is provided with an L-shaped slot 28, the slot 
in the sidewall 20 being in register with the slot in sidewall 22. Each of 
the slots 28 has one leg 28.1 which is parallel to the planar top portion 
18 and another leg 28.2 which extends vertically above one end of the leg 
28.1. While the leg 28.2 may be just a vertical slot as shown in FIGS. 1, 
2, 4, and 5, it may be provided with a plurality of notches 28.3, 28.4, 
and 28.5 as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. By having such notches it is 
possible to adjust the keyboard support when disposed in the manner shown 
in FIG. 7. 
The keyboard support includes a generally planar intermediate portion 30, 
which portion has first and second sides 30.1, 30.2 (FIG. 2) and first and 
second ends 30.3 and 30.4 (FIG. 3). A pair of parallel keyboard holder 
sidewalls 32, 34 extend upwardly from the ends 30.3, 30.4 of the 
intermediate portion 30, the sidewalls 32, 34 extending between the first 
and second sides 30.1 and 30.2, as can best be seen from FIG. 2. The 
sidewalls 32, 34 are provided with aligned apertures (no number), each of 
which receives a fastener assembly 16. Adjacent the second side 30.2 is a 
rear retaining wall 36. Similarly, adjacent the front side 30.1 is a front 
wall 38, the front wall being provided with a forwardly extending 
horizontal extension 40 from which a downwardly extending engagement 
portion 42 is secured. 
In the embodiment illustrated, each of the fastener assemblies may include 
a screw 44 having a head and a shank, a flange nut 46, a washer 48, and a 
flanged tubular bearing or bushing 50. The bushing 50 has a diameter just 
slightly less than the height of the slot 28.1, which height is indicated 
by the arrows 52 in FIG. 5. This will permit the fastener assembly to 
freely slide upon the slot. When the fastener assembly 16 is assembled 
through a slot and through an aperture in one of the sidewalls 32, 34, its 
centerline 54 will essentially coincide with the centerline of the 
aperture (no number) in the associated sidewall 32 or 34. Other fastener 
assemblies may be utilized. 
When the various parts are assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, 
the keyboard support 14 can be extended from the storage position, shown 
in FIG. 4, to the in-use position shown in FIG. 5 and then back again to 
the storage position. When in the storage position the vertical slot 
portion 28.2 may be engaged by the associated fastener assembly when the 
support is vibrated to prevent the keyboard support from "walking" out of 
the computer terminal base 12. Normally though, friction will hold the 
support in place. However, the keyboard support 14 can be extended to its 
use position shown in FIG. 5 where its base will be parallel to the top 
portion 18 of the base 12. In connection with this it should also be noted 
that the centerline of the slot leg 28.1 is spaced a distance d1 above the 
top of bottom wall 24 or 26 a distance slightly in excess of the distance 
d2 between the centerline of the aperture of each of the keyboard holder 
sidewalls and the bottom surface of the generally planar intermediate 
component 30. Because of this dimensional relationship, the keyboard 
holder will be in an essentially or nearly horizontal position when the 
keyboard holder is extended to its use position with the parts assembled 
in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. 
With the parts assembled in the alternate position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 
when the keyboard holder is shifted from its storage position within the 
computer terminal support base to its use position, it will be shifted in 
a direction towards the second side 18.2 of the computer base. When fully 
extended in this position, the fastener assembly 16 can be shifted 
upwardly in the vertical leg 28.2 until the fastener assembly engages the 
top of the vertical leg which will position the keyboard holder in the 
inclined position indicated in full lines in FIG. 7. However, if it is 
desired to position the keyboard holder in a position which is not as 
inclined as that shown in FIG. 7, the notches 28.3, 28.4, and 28.5 may be 
provided so that the fastener can be positioned in one of the notches 
28.3, 28.4, 28.5 to suitably adjust the position of the keyboard holder as 
shown in phantom lines. 
It should be apparent that by providing an assembly which can be readily 
assembled in one of two manners wherein the keyboard holder extends either 
to one side where it is maintained in an essentially horizontal position 
parallel to the top surface of the base, or to the other side where it may 
incline downwardly that an assembly has been provided which may be used in 
a number of environments to provide suitable ergonomic keyboard supports 
no matter where the assembly is positioned, which assembly may be 
manufactured at relatively low cost. 
While a preferred embodiment in which the principles of the present 
invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and discussed 
above, it should be understood that the inventor does not intend to be 
limited to the particular embodiment shown and described above, but that, 
in fact, intends to be limited only to all equivalent structures which 
fall within the scope of the following claims.