Patent Publication Number: US-9839285-B2

Title: Computer stand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/319,101 filed Apr. 6, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of computer stands and more specifically relates to a specially designed, ergonomically sound computer desk assembly, complete with adjustable pieces, like a height adjustable fold away footrest, angle and height adjustable holding platform, desktop, dropdown keyboard, and height adjustable legs to provide a workstation that allows users to stand or sit while using a computer, at virtually any level desired, whether using a standard desk chair, an elevated chair or stool, or standing. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     While there is little or no manual labor involved with working at a desk, people who are employed in professions that entail this seemingly relaxing activity would readily attest to the physical demands of desk jobs. Not only can hours of staring at a computer screen strain the eyes and result in headaches, but prolonged periods seated at a desk can also engender pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and legs areas. Whether operating a PC or a laptop, the body is often kept in a tense, upright position, or bent forward, for hours at a time. As a result, many who work the 9 to 5 office job or spend extended time at a home desk find themselves feeling as if they have just completed a day of digging ditches or nailing down roof shingles. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. D618,009 to Gary Lancet; U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,961 to Jess Browning; and U.S. Publication No. 20060054751 to Brian Johnson, et al. This art is representative of computer stands. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a computer stand should provide adjustable heights and positions to allow standing or sitting as desired by the user and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable improved computer stand to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known computer stand art, the present invention provides a novel improved computer stand. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a height adjustable, ergonomically correct computer desk assembly, with a height adjustable, and fold away foot rest; angle and height adjustable computer support surface, and keyboard support platform. The adjustable workstation allows a user to either sit, or stand at any level desired for comfort. 
     An improved computer stand is disclosed herein enabling a user to work on a computer while in a sitting or standing position, comprising a base member adapted to be placed on a floor surface, an adjustable support stem attached to the lower end of base member and adjustably extends vertically upwards from the base member. A computer support member includes a computer support surface having a width of 30 inches and rectangular in shape, formed as a platform member formed from wood adapted to extend horizontally and support a computer member thereon, and is connected to the upper end of the support stem. At least one support bracket member is connected between the support stem and a bottom surface of the computer support member for stability. An attachment portion is located in a position vertically spaced from and below the computer support surface. A keyboard support platform is connected to the attachment portion via a hinge member and a locking member, such that the keyboard support platform can be held in a horizontal position when in use and pivoted downwardly into a vertical position when not in use. 
     A foot rest member is connected to the support stem at a lower section thereof and adapted to support the feet of a user. The foot rest member includes a male connector member formed having a cylindrical shape adapted to be connected within the female connector member of the support stem and connected with the releasable connector member to vertically and pivotally adjustably connect the foot rest member to the support stem. The male connector member of the foot rest member comprises an extension arm extending therefrom and a ball member on a distal end of the extension arm, and the foot rest member includes a socket portion on a lower surface adapted to receive the ball member therein, such that the angle of the foot rest member with respect to the support stem can be adjusted. 
     The support stem includes at least two telescoping members formed from a metallic material connected to one another via a releasable connector and allows the computer support surface to be adjustable from 35″ to 62″ in height from the base member. The computer support member further includes a holder portion having a holding surface, and is located between the computer support surface and the attachment portion and angled relative to the computer support surface and adapted to hold material for a user to view while working on a computer. 
     The lower section of the support stem includes a female connector member attached thereto formed having a hollow cylindrical shape and a releasable connector member. The releasable connector between the two telescoping members is formed as a ratchet member and includes a handle portion adapted to allow a user to adjust the length of the two telescoping members and thereby the length of the support stem. The computer support member further comprises an elongated rectangular retainer portion attached to a back surface measuring 30 inches in length and a width of 2.5 inches adapted to retain objects on the computer support surface. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an improved computer stand. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, improved computer stand constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating an improved computer stand with the keyboard support platform in a horizontal position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating the base member and foot rest member of improved computer stand according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an improved computer stand with keyboard support platform in a pivoted downwardly position according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an improved computer stand in a raised position according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
       The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer stand and more particularly to an improved computer stand as used to improve the ability of a user to utilize an adjustable height computer stand with a height adjustable footrest. The user is able to sit or stand to work, the top surface is angle adjustable, and the keyboard platform is hinged and able to fold down out of the way when not in use. 
     Generally speaking, improved computer stand is a specially designed elevated computer support surface that allows users to comfortably stand, if desired, while taking up much less space than conventional computer desks. Fabricated of a durable wood material with a strong, metal-based support stem, this product would be adjustable to heights ranging from forty-two to sixty-two inches (35″-62″), and would feature a large surface width of thirty inches (30″). The improved computer stand features two (2) tiers. The top section is a flat rectangular piece that can easily support a laptop or computer monitor. The second tier, which is tucked underneath the top space, is hinge connected and adjustable in height. The hinge connection allows the user to drop the keyboard platform down and out of the way when not in use. This surface can easily support an external keyboard and mouse. Between the two tiers is an angled holding platform, for use with tablets, or to hold paperwork, one&#39;s phone, or a calculator, etc. This platform is adjustable in angle and height. A footrest, attached at the base of the support stem, offers a height adjustable place to relax the feet should one choose to sit on a tall stool or chair while working. The footrest is able to fold out of the way when not in use. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view illustrating an improved computer stand  100  with the keyboard support platform  168  in an upright, horizontal position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Improved computer stand  100  is disclosed herein enabling a user to work on computer while in a sitting or standing position, comprising base member  106  adapted to be placed on floor surface  172 , adjustable support stem  114  attached to top side  108  of base member  106  and adjustably extends vertically upwards from base member  106 . Computer support member  140  includes computer support surface  142  having a width of 30 inches and rectangular  144  in shape, formed as platform member  146 , formed from wood  148  adapted to extend horizontally and support thereon, and is connected to upper end  122  of support stem  114 . At least one support bracket member  160  is connected between support stem  114  and bottom surface  150  of computer support member  140  for stability. Attachment portion  166  is located in a position vertically spaced from and below computer support surface  142 . Keyboard support platform  168  is connected to attachment portion  166  via hinge member  176 , such that keyboard support platform  168  can be held in a horizontal position when in use and pivoted downwardly  169  into a vertical position when not in use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side view illustrating the base member  106  and foot rest member  130  of improved computer stand  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Foot rest member  130  is connected to support stem  114  at lower section  124  thereof and adapted to support the feet of a user. Foot rest member  130  includes male connector member  132  formed having a cylindrical shape adapted to be connected within female connector member  134  of support stem  114  and connected with releasable connector member  136  to vertically and pivotally connect foot rest member  130  to support stem  114 . Male connector member  132  of foot rest member  130  comprises extension arm  138  extending therefrom and ball member  137  on a distal end of extension arm  138 , and foot rest member  130  includes socket portion  131  on lower surface  133  adapted to receive ball member  137  therein, such that the angle of foot rest member  130  with respect to support stem  114  can be adjusted. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view illustrating an improved computer stand  100  with keyboard support platform  168  in a pivoted downwardly position  169  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Support stem  114  includes at least two telescoping members  116  formed from metallic material  118  connected to one another via connector  120  and allows computer support surface  142  to be adjustable from 35″ to 62″ in height from base member  106 . Computer support member  136  further includes holder portion  152  having holding surface  154 , and is located between computer support surface  142  and attachment portion  166  and angled relative to computer support surface  142  and adapted to hold material for a user to view while working on computer. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view illustrating an improved computer stand  100  in a raised position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Lower section  124  of support stem  114  includes female connector member  125  attached thereto formed having a hollow cylindrical shape and releasable connector member  126 . Releasable connector member  126  between two telescoping members  116  is formed as ratchet member  127  and includes handle portion  128  mechanically connected to the releasable connector member via cable adapted to allow a user to adjust the length of two telescoping members  116  and thereby the length of support stem  114 . Computer support member  140  further comprises an elongated rectangular retainer portion  156  attached to back surface  157  measuring 30 inches in length and a width of 2.5 inches adapted to retain objects on computer support surface  142 . 
     Improved computer stand  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.