Patent Publication Number: US-6655646-B2

Title: Keyboard support apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to keyboard support apparatuses, and more specifically, to a keyboard support apparatus adapted to be mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet, an overhead shelf, a low ceiling, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many keyboard support apparatuses are typically mounted to an undersurface of a desktop inside a space provided under the desktop for accommodating a person&#39;s legs. These keyboard support apparatuses usually comprise a keyboard platform that can slide underneath the desktop for supporting a keyboard. The keyboard platform can be pulled out from under the desktop to position the keyboard at a front edge of the desktop when the keyboard is in use. The keyboard platform can also be pushed in under the desktop to conveniently store the keyboard under the desktop when the keyboard is not in use. 
     A drawback of these keyboard support apparatuses is that they typically support a keyboard at a height that is level with or slightly below the desktop. As a result, food or drinks that are placed on top of the desktop may spill onto the keyboard, which may damage the keyboard. Another drawback is that countertops in many kitchens and laboratories do not have an undersurface available for mounting these keyboard support apparatuses because such countertops are typically built on top of cabinets or drawers. As a result, a person may not be able to use these keyboard support apparatuses to support a keyboard when working from a countertop in a kitchen or a laboratory. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a keyboard support apparatus that supports a keyboard above a desktop or a countertop, which would prevent food or drinks that are spilled onto the desktop or the countertop from damaging a keyboard. In addition, there is a need for a keyboard support apparatus that is adapted to be mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet, an overhead shelf, a low ceiling, and the like. This would allow a person to use the keyboard support apparatus to support a keyboard when working from a countertop that does not have an undersurface available for mounting a keyboard support apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a keyboard support apparatus that is adapted to be mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet, an overhead shelf, a low ceiling, and the like. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the keyboard support apparatus comprises a storage compartment adapted to be mounted to the undersurface of an overhead cabinet, an overhead shelf, a low ceiling, and the like. The keyboard support apparatus further comprises at least one extendable support arm pivotally coupled at one end to the storage compartment, and a keyboard platform pivotally coupled to the other end of the at least one support arm. Each support arm is adapted to extend downwardly from the storage compartment to position the keyboard platform below the storage compartment in an operational configuration. Each support arm is also adapted to contract upwardly to position the keyboard platform inside the storage compartment in a storage configuration. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The numerous aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a keyboard support apparatus in an operational configuration according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 1B shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1A, in which side  5 B of the storage compartment has been cutaway. 
     FIG. 1C shows a front view of the keyboard support apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1C, in which side  5 C of the storage compartment has been cutaway. 
     FIG. 1D shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which side  5 B of the storage compartment has been cutaway, in an intermediate configuration according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 1E shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which side  5 B of the storage compartment has been cutaway, in a storage configuration according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 2A-2C show a top view of a spring-biased tab, in which a top of the storage compartment has been cutaway, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus adjacent to a computer housing according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of the keyboard support apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 4C-4E show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which a side of the storage compartment has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. 
     FIG. 5 shows a side view of a keyboard support apparatus that is a variation of the keyboard support apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of the keyboard support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6C and 6D show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which a side of the storage compartment has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of the keyboard support apparatus according to still another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 7C and 7D show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which a side of the storage compartment has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of the keyboard support apparatus according to still another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8C shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which a side of the storage compartment has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. 
     FIG. 9 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus, in which side  5 B of the storage compartment has been cutaway, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 shows an exploded perspective view of a flange on a telescoping arm according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 11A shows an exploded perspective view of a flange on a keyboard platform according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 11B shows the same view as FIG. 11A in which the telescoping arm in FIG. 11A has been removed. 
     FIG. 12 shows an exploded perspective view of the flange of the telescoping arm when the keyboard support apparatus is in the configuration shown in FIG. 1D according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 13A shows an exploded perspective view of the flange on the keyboard platform according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 13B shows the same view as FIG. 13A in which the lower arm in FIG. 13A has been removed. 
     FIG. 13C shows an exploded view of the keyboard platform rotated to aligned it with the lower arm according to the embodiment shown in FIG.  13 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a keyboard support apparatus that is adapted to be mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet, an overhead shelf, a low ceiling, and the like. 
     FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a keyboard support apparatus  3  in an operational configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard support apparatus  3  comprises a storage compartment  5  or housing preferably having a top  5 A, four sides  5 B- 5 E and an open bottom. For ease of illustration, FIG. 1B shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  3  in which side  5 B of the storage compartment  5  has been cutaway. FIG. 1C shows a front view of the keyboard support assembly  3  in which side  5 C of the storage compartment  5  has been cutaway. In alternative embodiments, the top  5 A may be omitted. In further alternative embodiments, three of the four sides  5 B- 5 E, as well as any other components attached, connected, or otherwise coupled to the sides  5 B- 5 E, may also be omitted. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the top  5 A of the storage compartment  5  is adapted to be mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet  10 , an overhead shelf, a low ceiling, and the like. The storage compartment  5  may be mounted to the overhead cabinet  10  by screws  15  threaded into the cabinet  10  through holes in the top  5 A of the storage compartment  5 . The storage compartment  5  may be made of various materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, and wood. To better match the overhead cabinet  10 , the storage compartment  5  may be made of the same material as the cabinet  10 . 
     The storage compartment  5  further comprises two tabs  20  attached to opposite inner sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment and extending inwardly. The storage compartment  5  also comprises latches  25  pivotally connected to the bottom of opposite sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5 . The latches  25  may be pivotally connected to the storage compartment  5  by pivot pins  27  inserted into the storage compartment  5  through holes in the latches  25 . The latches  25  may be rotated from a position substantially parallel to sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5 , as shown in FIG. 1A, to a position perpendicular to sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5 . 
     The keyboard support apparatus  3  also comprises a bracket  30 , preferably made of metal, and having two bent sides on opposite ends of the bracket  30 . Each bent side of the bracket  30  has an elongated slot  40 . The bracket  30  is mounted to the top  5 A of the storage compartment  5  by screws  35  threaded into the storage compartment  5  through holes in the bracket  30 . In alternative embodiments, the bracket  30  may be mounted directly to the overhead cabinet  10  by screws  35  threaded into the cabinet  10  through holes in the bracket  30 . 
     In preferred embodiments, the keyboard support apparatus  3  further comprises two telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B. However, in other embodiments, the keyboard support apparatus  3  may include only one telescoping arm  45 A or  45 B, or alternatively, more than two telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B. Each telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B preferably comprises a plurality of arms that can slide into one another for extending or contracting the telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B. The telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B are shown fully extended in FIGS. 1A-1C. Each telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B is pivotally and slideably connected to one of the bent sides of the bracket  30  by a pivot pin  50  inserted into the telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B through the respective elongated slot  40 . The pivot pin  50  may be inserted into the respective telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B by threading the pivot pin  50  into the telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B or by tightly pressing the pivot pin  50  into a hole in the telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B. Each pivot pin  50  can rotate and slide up and down in the respective elongated slop  40 . This enables the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B to rotate and move up and down with respect to the bracket  30 . In FIGS. 1A-1C, the pivot pins  50  are positioned at the bottom of the elongated slots  40 . 
     Each telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B further comprises a flange  55  extending outwardly from a side of the telescoping arm  45 A and  45 B. The flanges  55  are positioned along the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B to engage the tabs  20  attached to the sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5  when the pivot pins  50  are positioned at the bottom of the elongated slots  40 . This engagement holds the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B at a predetermined arm angle with respect to the storage compartment  5  by counter balancing gravitational forces that tend to rotate the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B clockwise. 
     FIG. 10 shows an exploded perspective view, in which side  5 B of the storage compartment has been cutaway, of the flange  55  on telescoping arm  45 A. The flange  55  extends or protrudes out from the side of telescoping arm  45 A. The flange  55  engages or rests against the tab  20  attached to side  5 B of the storage compartment  5 . This prevents telescoping arm  45 A from rotating any further in the clockwise direction, which is indicated by the arrow in FIG.  10 . 
     The keyboard support apparatus  3  further comprises a keyboard platform  60  for supporting a keyboard (not shown). The keyboard may be secured to the keyboard platform  60  by flanges (not shown) on the keyboard platform  60 , Velcro, or any other technique well known in the art for securing a keyboard to a keyboard platform. The keyboard platform  60  is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B by pivot pins  65  inserted into the keyboard platform  60  through holes in the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B. Preferably, the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B can extend downwardly to a position at which the keyboard platform  60  is about a foot or more below the bottom of the storage compartment  5 . 
     The keyboard platform  60  also comprises two flanges  70  extending outwardly on opposite sides of the keyboard platform  60 . Each flange  70  engages a backside of one of the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B. This engagement holds the keyboard platform  60  at a predetermined tilt angle with respect to the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B by counter balancing gravitational forces that tend to rotate the keyboard platform  60  clockwise. 
     FIG. 11A shows an exploded perspective view of one of the flanges  70  on the keyboard platform  60 . FIG. 11B shows the same view as FIG. 11A in which the telescoping arm  45 A has been removed. The flange  70  extends or protrudes out from the side of the keyboard platform  60 . The flange  70  engages or pushes against the backside of telescoping arm  45 A to hold the keyboard platform  60  at the predetermined tilt angle. This prevents the keyboard platform  60  from rotating any further in the clockwise direction. 
     The slope of the flange  70  surfaces engaging the backside of the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B determines the tilt angle of the keyboard platform  60 . Therefore, the tilt angle of the keyboard platform  60  may be made adjustable by making the slope of the flange  70  surfaces adjustable with respect to the keyboard platform  60 . This may be accomplished, for example, by making the flanges  70  out of separate pieces and attaching them to opposite sides of the keyboard platform  60  using screws (not shown). The slope of the flange  70  surfaces may be adjusted by loosening the screws. The flange  70  surfaces may then be locked at a slope corresponding to a desired tilt angle by tightening the screws. 
     FIGS. 1A-1C show the keyboard support apparatus  3  in an operational configuration in which a person is using a keyboard (not shown) supported on the keyboard platform  60 . The keyboard support apparatus  3  can also be configured into a storage configuration for compactly storing the keyboard inside the storage compartment  5  when it is not in use. 
     The steps for configuring the keyboard support apparatus  3  into the storage configuration will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1D and 1E. FIGS. 1D and 1E show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  3 , in which side  5 B of the storage compartment  5  has been cutaway. 
     FIG. 1D shows an intermediate configuration in which the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B are contracted to their minimum length. This may be done by pushing the keyboard platform  60  up from its position in the operational configuration. In addition, the pivot pins  50  pivotally connecting the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B to the bracket  30  are raised up from their position in the operational configuration. This raises the flanges  55  of the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B above the tabs  20  attached to the sides  5 A and  5 B of the storage compartment  5 , which disengages the flanges  55  from the tabs  20 , and allows the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B to be rotated clockwise. 
     FIG. 12 shows an exploded perspective view of telescoping arm  45 A in the configuration shown in FIG.  1 D. In FIG. 12, telescoping arm  45 A is raised up relative to its position in FIGS. 1A-1C by sliding the telescoping arm&#39;s  45 A pivot pin  50  up the elongated slot  40  in the bracket  30 . This raises the flange  55  of telescoping arm  45 A above the tab  20  attached to side  5 B of the storage compartment  5 . As a result, the flange  55  disengages or no longer rests on the tab  20 . This allows the telescoping arm  45 A to be rotated in the clockwise direction, which is indicated by the arrow in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 1E shows the keyboard support apparatus  3  in the storage configuration. The telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B are positioned inside the storage compartment  5  by rotating the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B clockwise from their position in the intermediate configuration. In addition, the keyboard platform  60  is positioned inside the storage compartment  5  by rotating the keyboard counter-clockwise with respect to the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B. The latches  25  are rotated to a position perpendicular to the sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5  to support the bottom of the keyboard platform  60  in the storage configuration. 
     The keyboard support apparatus  3  may be configured back to the operational configuration. In this case, the latches  25  are rotated to a position parallel to the sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5  to release the keyboard platform  60  from the storage compartment  5 . The telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B are then rotated counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG.  1 D. As the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B are rotated counter-clockwise, the pivot pins  50  pivotally connecting the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B to the bracket  30  are raised up so that the flanges  55  can clear the tabs  20 . When the flanges  55  are rotated past the tabs  20 , the pivot pins  50  are lowered so that the flanges  55  and  55  can engage the tabs  20  to hold the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B at a predetermined angle. The telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B are then fully extended and the keyboard platform  60  is rotated clockwise to its operational position. 
     FIGS. 2A-2C show a top view, in which the top  5 A of the storage compartment  5  has been cutaway, of a spring-biased tab  210  according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the storage compartment  5  comprises spring-biased tabs  210  slideably connected to opposite sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5  to replace the tabs  20  shown in FIG.  1 A. For ease of illustration, FIGS. 2A-2C only show the spring-biased tab  210  on side  5 B of the storage compartment  5 , although it is to be understood that there is an identical spring-biased tab  210  on side  5 D of the storage compartment  5 . The spring-biased tabs  210  are each slideably connected to the respective side  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5  along line  215 . Each spring-biased tab  210  is biased by a spring coil  220  that biases the tab  210  in a direction away from the respective side  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5 . In addition, each spring-biased tab  210  has a curved surface  230  facing the backside  5 E of the storage compartment  5  and a flat surface  240  facing the front side  5 C of the storage compartment  5 . 
     An advantage of the spring-biased tabs  210  according to this embodiment is that they allow the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B to be rotated counter-clockwise in going from the storage configuration to the operational configuration without having to raise the flanges  55  above the spring-biased tabs  210 . This can be appreciated by referring to FIG. 2B, which shows the flanges  55  contacting the spring-biased tabs  210  in the counterclockwise direction. In this direction, the flanges  55  slide along the curved surfaces  230  of the spring-biased tabs  210 . This pushes the spring-biased tabs  210  into the sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5  from their positions in FIG. 2A, which is indicated by the dashed outline. After the flanges  55  are rotated past the spring-biased tabs  210 , the spring coils  220  push the spring-biased tabs  210  back out. The flat surfaces  240  of the spring-biased tab  210  can then engage the flanges  55  to hold the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B in a predetermined angle as shown in FIG.  2 C. 
     FIG. 9 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  3 , in which side  5 B of the storage compartment  5  has been cutaway, according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the keyboard support apparatus further  3  comprises two retractable spools  920  mounted to opposite sides  5 B and  5 D of the storage compartment  5 . FIG. 9 only shows the retractable spool  920  mounted to side  5 B of the storage compartment  5 , although it is to be understood that there is an identical spool  920  mounted to side  5 D of the storage compartment  5 . A suspension wire  910  is wound around each retractable spool  920 . One end of each suspension wire  910  is connected to the keyboard platform  60 , preferably at an end of the keyboard platform  60  located away from the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B. The suspension wires  910  may be connected to the keyboard platform  60  by tightly winding an end of each suspension wire  910  around a screw  930  threaded into the keyboard platform  60 . The suspension wires  910  are used to increase the stability of the keyboard platform  60  at the predetermined tilt angle. This is accomplished by adjusting the fully extended length of each suspension wire  910  according to the predetermined tilt angle of the keyboard platform  60 . In the storage configuration, the retractable spools  920  pull in the suspension wires  910 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  3  in an exemplary arrangement in which a computer housing  310  is mounted to the undersurface of the overhead cabinet  10  adjacent to the keyboard support apparatus  3 . The computer housing  310  may house computer hardware including, but not limited to, a processor, a hard drive, and a modem. In addition, a thin display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), is rotatably connected to the computer housing  310 . The display  320  may be rotated from a user position, which is shown in FIG. 3, to a storage position, which is indicated by the dashed outline in FIG.  3 . Furthermore, a countertop  330  or desktop is located below the overhead cabinet  10 . 
     This arrangement provides a person with a readily accessible computer system that can be compactly stored above the countertop  330  when it is not in use. The computer system includes the computer hardware inside the computer housing  310 , the display  320  and a keyboard (not shown) supported on the keyboard platform  60 . The keyboard supported on the keyboard platform  60  may be electrically coupled to the computer hardware inside the computer housing  310  via wires or cables. To conceal the wires or cables, one or both of the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B may have an internal cavity extending the length of the arm through which the cables or wires may be carried to the keyboard. This may be accomplished, for example, by making the plurality of arms comprising the telescoping arms  45 A and  45 B hollow. 
     The keyboard support apparatus  3  according to the present invention offers several advantages. One advantage is that the keyboard platform  60  can support a keyboard above a countertop, which prevents food or drinks that are spilled onto the countertop from damaging the keyboard. This is ideal for use in a kitchen or a bar where food and drinks may be placed on a countertop in close proximity to the keyboard platform  60 . Another advantage is that the keyboard support apparatus  3  is able to compactly store a keyboard inside the storage compartment  5  above a countertop. This allows a person to use the countertop space below the storage compartment  5  when the keyboard is not in use. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the keyboard support apparatus  3  is not limited to being mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet  10 . The keyboard support apparatus  3  may, for example, be mounted to an undersurface of an overhead shelf, an overhead rack, or a low ceiling, where a low ceiling is defined as any ceiling that a person can readily reach by extending his or her arms. The keyboard support apparatus  3  may, for example, be mounted to a low ceiling located directly above a bed, such as a bunk bed. In this example, the keyboard platform  60  may support a keyboard at a height above the bed that enables a person to use the keyboard while he or she is lying in bed. The keyboard may then be compactly stored inside the storage compartment  5  at a height above the bed that provides adequate head clearance for the person to get in and out of the bed. 
     In addition, a flip-up display may be pivotally attached to one end of the keyboard platform. In this example, the flip-up display may communicate with the keyboard supported on the keyboard platform  60 . In addition, the flip-up display may be flipped down over the keyboard supported on the keyboard platform  60  to provide compact storage in the storage configuration. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of a keyboard support apparatus  410  according to another embodiment of the present invention in an operational configuration. The keyboard support apparatus  410  according to this embodiment comprises a storage compartment  420  mounted to an undersurface of an overhead cabinet  10  and having an open bottom. The keyboard support apparatus  410  also comprises two upper arms  450  pivotally connected at one end to opposite sides of the storage compartment  420  by pivot pins  455 . The keyboard support apparatus  410  further comprises two lower arms  460  pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the upper arms  450  by pivot pins  465 . The lower arms  460  are spaced closer together than the two upper arms  450 , as shown in FIG.  4 B. The keyboard support apparatus  410  further comprises a keyboard platform  470  pivotally connected at opposite sides to the lower arms  460  by pivot pins  475 . 
     The keyboard platform  470  further comprises two flanges  480  extending outwardly from opposite sides of the keyboard platform  470 . The flanges  480  engage a backside of the lower arms  460  to hold the keyboard platform at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower arms  460 . Each upper arm  450  further comprises an arm flange  490  extending inwardly from the side of the upper arm  450  facing the other upper arm  450 . Each arm flange  490  engages a backside of one of the lower arms  460  to hold the lower arm  460  at a predetermined angle with respect to the upper arm  450 . 
     FIG. 13A shows an exploded perspective view of one of the flanges  480  on the keyboard platform  470 . FIG. 13B shows the same view as FIG. 13A in which the telescoping arm  460  has been removed. The flange  480  extends or protrudes out from a side of the keyboard platform  470 . The flange  480  holds the keyboard platform at the tilt angle by pushing against the backside of the lower arm  460 . 
     FIGS. 4C-4E show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  410 , in which a side of the storage compartment  420  has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration. In FIG. 4C, the keyboard platform  470  is rotated counter-clockwise to align it with the lower arms  460 . FIG. 13C shows an exploded view of the keyboard platform  470  when it is aligned with the lower arm  460 . In FIG. 4D, the lower arms  460  and the keyboard platform  470  are rotated together counter-clockwise to align them with the upper arms  450 . In FIG. 4E, the upper arms  450 , the lower arms  460 , and the keyboard platform  470  are rotated together counterclockwise to a position inside the storage compartment  420 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a variation of the keyboard support apparatus  510  of this embodiment in which the upper arms  450  are pivotally connected to the storage compartment  420  at another end of the storage compartment  420 . In this case, the keyboard support apparatus  510  is configured from the operational configuration to the storage configuration following similar steps to the ones shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D. In the last step, however, the upper arms  450 , the lower arms  460 , and the keyboard platform  470  are rotated together clockwise, rather than counter-clockwise, to a position inside the storage compartment  420 . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of a keyboard support apparatus  610  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention in an operational configuration. The keyboard support apparatus  610  according to this embodiment comprises a storage compartment  620  mounted to the undersurface of the overhead cabinet  10  and having an open bottom. The keyboard support apparatus  610  also comprises upper arms  630  pivotally connected to a backside of the storage compartment  620  by hinges  635 , and two middle arms  640  pivotally connected to the upper arms  630  by hinges  645 . The keyboard support apparatus  610  further comprises two bottom arms  650  pivotally connected to the middle arms  640  by hinges  655  and each bottom arm  650  having a perpendicular protrusion  657 . The keyboard support apparatus  610  also comprises a keyboard platform  660  pivotally connected at opposite sides to the perpendicular protrusions  657  of the bottom arms  650  by pivot pins  665 . A backside of the keyboard platform rest  660  against surfaces  653  of the bottom arms  650  to hold the keyboard platform at a predetermined angle. 
     FIGS. 6C and 6D show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  610 , in which a side of the storage compartment  620  has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration. In FIG. 6C, the keyboard platform  660  is rotated counter-clockwise to a position parallel to the bottom arms  650 , and the bottom arms  650  are rotated counter-clockwise to a position parallel to the upper arms  630 . This places the bottom arms  650  and upper arms  630  in a position perpendicular to the middle arms  640 . In FIG. 6D, the upper arms  630  are rotated counter-clockwise to a position inside the storage compartment  620 . 
     In this embodiment, a flat display (not shown), such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), may be mounted between the upper arms  630  or the bottom arms  650 . Preferably, the flat display has a thickness equal to or smaller than the arms between which it is mounted. That way, the flat display may be mounted between the upper arms  630  or the bottom arms  650  in such a way that it does not interfere with the movements of the keyboard support apparatus  610 . 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a keyboard support apparatus  710  according to still another embodiment of the present invention in an operational configuration. The keyboard support apparatus  710  according to this embodiment comprises a storage compartment  720  mounted to the undersurface of the overhead cabinet  10  and having an open bottom. The keyboard support apparatus  710  also comprises two back telescoping arms  730  pivotally connected to opposite sides of the storage compartment  720  by pivot pins  735 , and two front telescoping arms  740  pivotally connected to opposite sides of the storage compartment  720  by pivot pins  745 . The keyboard support apparatus  710  further comprises a keyboard platform  750  pivotally connected to the back telescoping arms  730  and the front telescoping arms  740  by pivot pins  755 . The front telescoping arms  740  extend to a slightly longer length than the back telescoping arms  730  so that the keyboard platform  750  is tilted at a predetermined angle. 
     The keyboard support apparatus  710  further comprises tabs  760  attached to opposite sides of the storage compartment  720  and extending inwardly. The tabs  760  engage a backside of the back telescoping arms  730  to prevent the arms  730  from rotating clockwise beyond a predetermined angle. 
     FIGS. 7C and 7D show a side view of the keyboard support apparatus  710 , in which a side of the storage compartment  720  has been cutaway, in going from the operational configuration to a storage configuration. In FIG. 7C, the keyboard platform  760  is pushed up such the back telescoping arms  730  and the front telescoping arms  740  are contracted to their minimal length. In FIG. 7D, the back telescoping arms  730  and the front telescoping arms  740  are rotated counter-clockwise so that the keyboard platform  760  is positioned inside the storage compartment  720 . 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B show a side and a front view, respectively, of a keyboard support apparatus  810  according to still a further embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard support apparatus  810  comprises a bracket  815  having two bent sides. Each bent side has two slots  825 , each slot  825  having a curved-in end. The keyboard support apparatus  810  also comprises two pairs of top levers  830 . The levers in each pair of top levers  830  are pivotally connected to each other at their mid-point by a pivot pin  835 . In addition, one end of each top lever  830  is pivotally and slideably connected to the bracket  815  by a pin  833  inserted into each of the slots  825 . The keyboard support apparatus  810  further comprises two pairs of bottom levers  840 . The levers in each pair of bottom levers  840  are pivotally connected to each other at their mid-point by a pivot pin  845 . In addition, each bottom lever  840  is pivotally connected at one end to one of the top levers  830  by a pivot pin  843 . 
     The keyboard support apparatus  810  further comprises two bottom rails  850 , each rail  850  having two slots  855 . One end of each bottom lever  840  is pivotally and slideably connected to one of the bottom rails  850  by a pin  847  inserted into each of the slots  855  in the bottom rails  850 . The keyboard support apparatus  810  further comprises a keyboard platform  860  pivotally connected at opposite sides to the bottom rails  850  by pivot pins  865 . Each bottom rail  850  comprises a flange  870  extending inwardly from the side of the bottom rail  850  facing the other bottom rail  850  and engaging a bottom of the keyboard platform  860  to hold the keyboard platform  860  at a predetermined tilt angle. 
     FIG. 8C shows the keyboard support apparatus in a storage configuration. The keyboard platform is pushed up into a storage compartment (not shown) enclosing the bracket  815 . The pins  833  connecting the lop levers  833  to the bracket  815  are slid along the slots  825  of the bracket  815  to the curved-in ends of the slots  825 . The curved-in ends of the slots  825  hold the pins  833  in place, and thereby the keyboard platform  860 , in the storage configuration. The pins  847  connecting the bottom levers  840  to each bottom rail  850  are slid to opposite ends of the slots  855 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modification may be made to the just described preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be restricted or limited except in accordance with the following claims and their legal equivalents.