Patent Publication Number: US-2002002935-A1

Title: Computer keyboard and mouse holder

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to the field for computer-related accessories.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Computer usage is expanding in all segments of our population. From small children to the elderly, from students to office workers, a computer has become a versatile tool for entertainment, education, communication, word processing, etc. Using a computer most often includes typing on a computer keyboard and navigating with a computer mouse. With extended use of such devices, users may often suffer from wrist or hand injury such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cumulative Trauma Disorders, tendon and ligament inflammation, and various other arthritic-like conditions.  
       [0003] Hence, ergonomically designed products have increased to prevent these injuries. For example, a soft-cushioned type padding placed below a keyboard is often used to rest the wrists comfortably during typing motions. In addition, such padding may be used together with the keyboard on an articulating computer keyboard holder attached to the desk and adjustable to a certain height optimal to the user. Although these products may be very useful, they require a certain amount of free space. In situations where desk space is limited, such devices may have limited use. In addition, the use of the mouse may be severely hampered in such situations where space is limited, especially at home or home offices, dormitories, or when travelling in an airplane.  
       [0004] Employees that work at home are increasing, but the use of ergonomic equipments is equally limited because of high cost. Moreover, with the merging of computers and television capable of Internet access, e.g. Webtv®, there is usually no suitable area to position the mouse and the keyboard in one&#39;s living room. Thus, a need exists for a compact and ergonomically designed computer keyboard and mouse holder.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention is directed to a computer-related device holder. In one embodiment of the invention, the holder comprises a rigid tray attached to a moldable support assembly designed to sit on a person&#39;s lap. The support assembly includes a flexible housing made from fabric or cloth to form a bag and is stuffed with lightweight filler materials. The tray may further comprise securing devices to attach the computer keyboard or laptop computer to the rigid tray. In another embodiment of the invention, the tray comprises an area with a magnet-adhering surface for preventing a mouse having magnets attached to the underside of the mouse from falling. The present invention also involves a method of securing computer devices such as a computer mouse to the mouse pad, hence allowing use of the mouse at various angles of inclination without falling off and interfering with its function. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
     [0008] The present invention involves a computer-related device holder and a method for securing computer-related devices to the holder. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention where the holder  1  includes a rigid tray  10  attached to a support assembly  20 . The tray  10  can be made from plastic, acrylic, glass, or other rigid materials. The tray is, preferably, transparent to allow visualization of visually appealing prints on the support assembly. The support assembly, similar to a bean bag, includes an enclosed flexible housing made from cloth or other fabric and forms a sealed bag that can be stuffed or filled with lightweight filler materials. The enclosed flexible housing, preferably, is printed with bright colors or designs such as animals, toy characters, etc. Examples of the lightweight filler materials include any bean-bag-type stuffing such as beans, rice, plastic pellets, polystyrene, low or high density polypropylene, or toys. This bean-bag-type construction makes the support assembly moldable to the contours of a person&#39;s lap contributing to a user&#39;s comfort when it is seated on the user&#39;s lap.  
     [0009] The tray can be attached to the support assembly via different kinds of securing devices such as adhesives, glue, various types of silicone gels, molten plastic, velcro, rivets, or screws. Preferably, the attachment occurs between the support assembly and the tray at its edges within a one-inch border. The support assembly can further include a tongue-like extension  30  (FIG. 2), such as extended fabric from the flexible housing, that wraps around the edges above or below the tray.  
     [0010] The tray can be any size to accommodate keyboard or laptop computer with different sizes, but preferably, it is twenty-four inches wide, twelve inches deep, and 0.25 inch thick. The support assembly is made to the same width and depth as the tray with a preferred height of two to three inches. As seen in FIG. 2, a computer keyboard can be positioned on top of the tray. The tray surface  40  may also include attachment materials such as double-sided self-sticking foam tape or velcro to hold the keyboard or laptop computer. The tray surface, alternatively, can be treated with anti-skid components such as “Rubbermaid” type products or be molded to have a well fitting the shape of the keyboard or laptop computer.  
     [0011] In another embodiment of the invention, the holder further includes a magnet-adhering surface  50  for positioning a trackball device or a mouse  60  with magnetic strips  70  attached to the underside of the trackball device or mouse  60 . The magnetic strips  70  attached to the mouse  60  holds the mouse to the metal plate or sheet  80  and prevents the mouse from falling even when the tray  10  and metal plate or sheet  80  are inclined at an angle, e.g. ninety degrees. The magnet-adhering surface  50  can be formed using a metal plate or sheet  80 , preferably, six inches by eight inches and having a thickness of 0.025 inch up to 0.050 inch. The metal plate or sheet  80  can further be covered by fabric, painted, or anodized.  
     [0012] The magnetic strips  70  underneath the mouse  60  are made from regular self-stick flexible magnets similar to those flexible magnetic strips one attaches to an outer refrigerator door. Preferably, they are 0.10 inch to 0.025 inch thick and may be cut to sizes that fit the underside of the mouse.  
     [0013] The mouse and the keyboard described above can also be wireless-type devices using mechanisms such as infra-red transmission. This makes the holder more versatile because its use is not limited by the length of physical connection between the devices and the computer.  
     [0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the tray can include a raised soft-cushion padding attached and positioned at its lower edge. This allows for the wrists to comfortably rest on the padding during typing motions. The padding can be made from foam and preferably about one inch high. It can be attached to the tray using a double-sided self-sticking foam tape or velcro.  
     [0015] The above-detailed description is illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.