Patent Publication Number: US-2005115475-A1

Title: Keyboard carrier

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a keyboard carrier, and more particularly to a keyboard carrier of which structure is improved and which includes a storage compartment.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The popularity of computers in both the home and the workplace has intensified the focus of manufacturers to improve the technology of the conventional keyboard holder. To consider limited space, storing a keyboard on the desktop is impractical. In addition, repetitive strain injuries can result from periodically using the same posture. An ergonomic and economic design is step-less adjustable to suite different body postures and hand positions. As many countries become more attentive to environmental protection, metal (which can be recycled) is preferred to plastic.  
      The end of the keyboard holder connects to a keyboard carrier. Conventional keyboard carriers include a supporting surface for the keyboard and a storage compartment, both of which are integral to the carrier. The keyboard carrier is generally made of plastic (as showed in  FIG. 1 ). However, more developed countries pay greater attention to environmental protection and possibly manufactures the product by using recyclable metal. Thus, a keyboard carrier made of plastic is not environmentally friendly. In addition, the strength and durability of plastic carriers are worse than metallic counterparts. Keyboard carriers frequently require repositioning; therefore the keyboard carrier needs to be made of a tough material. Since the storage compartment only supports lightweight objects the storage compartment does not need to be made of a material with too high strength.  
      Other conventional keyboard carriers consist entirely of metal. It is not easy to manufacture the storage compartment with complex shapes using metal, therefore the storage compartment is often left out such that the keyboard carrier only has function which supports the keyboard.  
      Accordingly, there exists a need for a keyboard carrier to solve the afore-mentioned problems and disadvantages. The supporting plate of the keyboard carrier is completely made of metal and its&#39; storage compartment from plastic. This greatly reduces the need for plastic in the keyboard carrier; furthermore, the problem of environmental protection also decreases. Small objects such as stationary can be stored in the carrier&#39;s compartment.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard carrier that can support a keyboard and store objects.  
      The objective of the keyboard carriers design is to include a supporting plate completely made of metal, such that the usage of plastic for the keyboard carrier greatly decreases and aids the problem of environmental protection.  
      It is further the object of the present invention to provide a keyboard carrier with increased firmness and durability.  
      In order to achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a keyboard carrier that is installs to a platform by using a supporting arm disposed at one side of the platform for supporting a keyboard and at least one object. The keyboard carrier includes a storage compartment and a supporting plate. The storage compartment includes a container and a cover. The container stores objects. The cover corresponding to the container can open and close. The supporting plate is made of metal for supporting the keyboard and an object. It includes a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface. The first supporting surface supports the keyboard. The second supporting surface holds the object. Expanding the front edge of the first supporting surface towards the user reveals the second supporting surface.  
      The aforementioned, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which precedes with references to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a keyboard carrier showing an embodiment in the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  is a front-left-top perspective view of a keyboard carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a front-right-top exploded perspective view of a keyboard carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a back-left-top exploded perspective view of a keyboard carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a storage compartment and a supporting plate according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a keyboard carrier showing an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , they depict a keyboard carrier  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard carrier  1  includes a supporting plate  10  and a storage compartment  11 . The supporting plate  10  has a first supporting surface  101  and a second supporting surface  102  which is formed by expanding from the front edge of the first supporting surface  101  toward a user such that the first supporting surface  101  and the second supporting surface  102  are integrally manufactured. The first supporting surface  101  and the second supporting surface  102  are not located on the same horizontal plane. According to the aforementioned, the second supporting surface  102  embodiment is lower than the first supporting surface  101 . The storage compartment  11  is disposed on the top of the second supporting surface  102 . Conventional keyboard carriers that are completely made of plastic have the problem of environmental protection, the supporting plate  10  according to the present invention is completely made of metal with just the storage compartment  11  from plastic. Repositioning the supporting plate  10  frequently requires that it be made of metal such that the strength of the supporting plate  10  is increased. Compared with conventional keyboard carriers, the need to use plastic for the keyboard carrier  1  according to the present invention reduces; thus limiting the effect on the environment.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4 ,  5  and  6 , the storage compartment  11  includes a container  111 , a cover  112  and a soft pad  113 . The container  111  has at least one partition  114  for separating objects  50  that are disposed in the container  111 . The cover  112  corresponding to container  111  to opens and closes. Using the keyboard  40 , the soft pad  113  provides the user&#39;s hand with support. The second supporting surface  102  provides fixing holes  103 , and the container  111  has fixing protrusions  115  located on the bottom and respectively correspond to the fixing holes  103 . The fixing hole  103  and the fixing protrusion  115  joins together by using a fixing element  12  to affix the container  111  to the second supporting surface  102 . The fixing element  12  is a screw, a tenon or a rivet, and the fixing element  12  according to the embodiment is a screw. The partition  111  of the storage compartment  11  provides tenons  121 , and the edge of the second supporting surface  102  has fixing holes  119  corresponding to the tenons  121 . The cover  112  can be opened at 90 degrees angle to the container  111  and the fixing strength of the container  111  and the second supporting surface  102  is increased.  
      In addition, the container  111  has snap grooves  116  located on the rear panel and the cover  112  has matching snap protrusions  117 . The snap grooves and the snap protrusions connect the cover  112  to the container  111 . The snap protrusion  117  corresponds to the snap grooves  116  for opening and closing. Furthermore, the front-edge of the soft pad  113  has a fastener  118  and connects the soft pad  113  to the cover  112 . In addition, the supporting plate  10  is provides with a binder  60  which is disposed at the top of the first supporting surface  101  and close to the user. The binder  60  provides a place to hold reading material to for inputting data into a computer.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the keyboard carrier  1  is installed to a platform  30  by using a supporting arm  20  disposed at one side of the platform  30 . The first supporting surface  101  supports the keyboard  40 , and the second supporting surface  102  supports the storage compartment  11 . The storage compartment  11  stores objects  50 .  
      Although the explanation relates the invention to its preferred embodiment, it is not the extent of its use. It is to be understood that there exists many possible modifications and variations for those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.