Patent Abstract:
A mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support and having a platform adapted to support a computer mouse, a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support, and a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm. The joint typically includes ball and socket portions. The mouse pad support has a connector adapted to removably mount the connector arm to a complementary pocket in the keyboard support without the use of tools. A keyboard support includes a first platform having a pocket for receiving a connector on a connector arm, and a second platform adapted to support a computer mouse, the connector arm extending between the first and second platforms for detachably mounting to the first platform and for adjustably mounting the second platform relative to the first platform.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/123,042, filed Mar. 5, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mouse pad support. More particularly, this invention relates to a mouse pad support that is removably coupled to a computer keyboard support without the use of fastening devices or tools. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a mouse pad support that has a swivel mechanism for adjusting the mouse pad support relative to a keyboard support. In yet an additional aspect, the invention relates to a keyboard support having a mouse pad support adjustably and detachably coupled thereto. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Computers have now become commonplace in the work environment and, in a broadest sense, typically comprise a processing unit with a detached monitor and keyboard unit operably connected thereto. The monitor is typically placed on a work surface and the keyboard is typically placed on a keyboard support. The keyboard support can comprise the work surface as well, or on a keyboard support such as a keyboard tray mounted to the work surface. These types of keyboard trays are typically adjustably mounted to an underside of the work surface to accommodate the varying ergonomics of different users of the computer. 
     The advent of graphical user interfaces have a user of a computer operating system to perform commands and interact with applications running on the computer by merely pointing and clicking on items displayed on the computer monitor. This has necessitated the use of a pointing device, or a “mouse,” also interconnected with the computer processing unit which a user can operate by sliding the mouse over a textured surface and clicking on button(s) provided on the mouse. 
     The mouse is typically supported on a mouse “pad”, which provides sufficient surface area on which the user can slide the mouse and submit commands to the processing unit therewith. This mouse pad is typically supported on either the worksurface or a separate platform, typically supported by the keyboard tray. 
     The use of a mouse (or any other point-and-click device such as a trackball or stylus pad) has complicated the ergonomics of the user, typically seated in front of the computer monitor and typing on the keyboard provided on the keyboard support. In addition, employers have become more sensitive to such ergonomics as a result of the raised awareness of repetitive stress disorders sometimes encountered by users of computers in the workplace. Some users prefer that the mouse be located at a different angular position than their preferred keyboard support position. Some users are left-handed versus right-handed, and would prefer that their mouse be located on a particular side of the keyboard support or work surface. 
     One example of an adjustable mouse pad support is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,572 to Copeland et al., issued Jun. 4, 1996, which discloses a mouse pad support for both right- and left-handed users wherein a user can switch the effective side of the mouse pad from left to right by sliding a pair of interconnected mouse pads along rails on the keyboard tray to expose either a right or left side mouse pad. A user can also pivotably adjust the effective mouse pad once the mouse pads are located on the desired side of the keyboard tray by tightening the interconnected mouse pads on a threaded shaft which interconnects the mouse pads. 
     However, this and other prior art attempts to produce an easy to manufacture and assemble mouse pad and keyboard support associated therewith have fallen short. First, users typically cannot change the angle of the mouse pad relative to the keyboard support except by rotating the mouse pad about an axis that is typically planar with the keyboard support. For example, in the Copeland reference, the mouse pads are rotatable with respect to each other about an axis planar with the keyboard tray, i.e., along a threaded shaft extending between the mouse pads. Second, users typically cannot easily re-configure a mouse pad for a left-handed user from a right-handed configuration, or vice versa, except to purchase two mouse pad supports such as that shown in the Copeland reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention relates to a mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising a platform adapted to support a computer mouse, a connector arm adapted for mounting to the keyboard support, and a joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis for adjustably mounting the connector arm to the platform. The platform can thereby be adjustably positioned relative to the keyboard support. 
     The joint can comprise a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes. The joint can comprise a ball-and-socket joint. A lower socket can be formed in the platform defining a portion of a ball socket. An upper socket portion can form a complementary portion of the ball socket with the lower socket and in register with the lower socket. The upper socket can include at least one resilient finger which resiliently grip a ball positioned in the ball socket. The at least one resilient finger preferably comprises four resilient fingers. A clamp can be provided for clamping the upper and lower sockets together. 
     The ball can have a threaded stud thereon, wherein the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket and the threaded stud on the ball is received in the threaded socket to fixedly mounted the ball to the connector arm. The connector arm can further comprise an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the arm during adjustment and use of the platform. 
     The connector arm can further comprise a cover plate having an opening in register with the threaded socket whereby the cover plate is retained over at least a portion of the connector arm. The connector arm can preferably have at least two tabs which extend laterally from the connector arm in spaced relationship from the threaded socket whereby the tabs are adapted to mount the connector arm to the keyboard support. The socket can include at least one resilient finger which resiliently grips a ball positioned in the socket. 
     In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a mouse pad support adapted for mounting to a keyboard support comprising a platform adapted to support a computer mouse, a connector arm mounted to the platform and adapted for mounting to the keyboard support, and a connector adapted to removably mount the connector arm to a complementary-configured pocket in the keyboard support. The connector preferably comprises at least two locking tabs extending laterally from the connector arm for slidable receipt within the complementary-configured pocket. The locking tabs can thereby be received within the pocket in the keyboard support to detachably mount the connector arm to the keyboard support without the use of tools. 
     A joint can be provided for mounting the connector arm to the platform for swivel movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about a generally vertical axis. The joint can preferably comprise a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the platform for movement of the platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes. The joint preferably comprises a ball-and-socket joint. The ball further comprises a threaded stud thereon, the connector arm further comprises a threaded socket, and the threaded stud on the ball can be received in the threaded socket to fixedly mount the ball to the connector arm. 
     The connector arm can be provided with an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the arm during adjustment and use of the platform. The connector arm can further comprise a cover plate mounted to at least a portion of the connector arm at the mounting between the connector arm and the platform whereby the cover plate is adapted to conceal a portion of the connector arm exposed to view between the platform and the keyboard support. 
     The connector preferably comprises a detent tab extending axially from an end of the connector arm adjacent to the connector and having a depending flange thereon whereby the flange is adapted to releasably retain the connector arm to the complementary-configured pocket in the keyboard support. 
     In an additional aspect, the invention relates to a keyboard support having an adjustable mouse pad support mounted thereto, comprising a first platform adapted to support a keyboard, the first platform having a pocket with at least one retainer therein, a second platform adapted to support a computer mouse, and a connector arm extending between and mounted to the first and second platforms. The connector arm preferably has a connecting portion adapted to fit within the pocket on the first platform and further includes a first connector which is releasably retained by the retainer on the first platform to detachably mount the connector arm to the first platform. The connector arm also preferably has a second connector spaced from the first connector which adjustably mounts the second platform to the connector arm. The second platform can thereby be adjusted relative to the first platform by the second connector and the connector arm and the second platform can be removed from the first platform by dismounting the first connector from the pocket on the first platform. 
     The pocket in the first platform can comprise at least two opposed sidewalls, the retainer is formed in the sidewalls and has at least one slot for releasably supporting the first connector of the connector arm. The sidewalls can further comprise at least one indentation adjacent to the at least one slot for insertion and sliding movement mounting of the connecting portion of the connector arm to the retainer of the pocket of the first platform. 
     The pocket preferably comprises a detent receptor and the first connector further comprises a detent which is received in the detent receptor when the connecting portion of the connector arm is seated in the pocket of the first platform. The receipt of the detent within the detent receptor preferably resists axial withdrawal of the connecting portion from the socket. The pocket can further comprise a bottom wall having at least one guide rail for seating the connecting portion of the connector arm within the pocket. 
     The first platform can further comprise a second pocket spaced from the first pocket for removably positioning the connector arm in one of the first and second pockets. 
     The second connector preferably comprises a universal joint mounting the connector arm to the second platform for movement of the second platform with respect to the connector arm about multiple axes. The joint can comprise a ball-and-socket joint. The ball can further comprise a threaded stud thereon, the second connector of the connector arm can further comprise a threaded socket, and the threaded stud on the ball can be received in the threaded socket to fixedly mount the ball to the connector arm. 
     The connector arm can further comprise an interior latticework for adding structural support to the connector arm and resisting torsional and shear stresses imparted to the arm during adjustment and use of the platform. The keyboard support can be a keyboard tray. The keyboard support can also be a work surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description and drawings, of which the following is a brief description: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouse pad support and keyboard platform assembly formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the mouse pad support and keyboard platform assembly shown FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mouse pad support shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a keyboard platform formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the keyboard platform taken along the line  5 — 5  shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the connecting arm portion of the mouse pad support shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the connecting arm shown in FIG. 6 taken along the line  7 — 7 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the connecting arm shown in FIG. 6 taken along the line  8 — 8 ; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the mouse pad assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line  9 — 9  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the keyboard platform shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line  10 — 10 ; and 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines  11 — 11  of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-3 in particular, a mouse pad support  10  according to the present invention is coupled to a computer keyboard  32  without the use of fastening devices or fastening tools. The mouse pad support  10  includes a platform  12  and a connecting arm  14 . 
     The platform  12  is a circular shaped member fabricated of a hard plastic material, for example, by injection molding. It will be appreciated that the other suitable materials and geometric configurations may be used to fabricate the platform  12 . The platform  12  includes a flexible pad  16 , a lower plate  18  and a ball and socket joint  20 . 
     The pad  16  includes a top surface which has an integrally formed wrist rest  24  extending upwardly therefrom. The wrist rest  24  includes a smooth, contoured outer surface sized to accommodate the wrist of a user during manipulation of a mouse  26  and is made from a soft, resilient material. 
     The lower plate  18 , as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes an upwardly extending sidewall surface  28 . FIG. 1 shows the pad  16  covering the lower plate  18  so as to form a cavity enclosed between the pad  16  and the lower plate  18  and surrounded by the sidewall surface  28 . The sidewall surface  28  retains the pad  16  in place on the lower plate  18 . 
     The lower plate  18  defines a lower socket  30  for receiving the ball and socket joint  20 . The lower socket  30  is partially closed by an annular bottom wall  52  as shown in FIG.  9 . The annular bottom wall  52  includes a plurality of openings  33  for receiving fasteners  48  as discussed below. 
     Turning now to a discussion of the ball and socket joint  20 , as depicted in FIG. 9, the ball and socket joint  20  is positioned in the lower socket  30  formed in the lower plate  18 . As will become clear from the discussion herein, the ball and socket joint  20  imparts frictionally restrained universal movement to the mouse pad support  10  relative to the keyboard support  32 . 
     The ball and socket joint  20  includes a ball stud  34  with a spherically-shaped upper portion  35  and a threaded stud  50 . The top surface of the spherically-shaped upper portion  35  is received in an upper socket  36 . As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the upper socket  36  is a disc-shaped plastic member having a central portion  39  and an outer rim  37  connected to each other by four radial ribs  43 . The radial ribs  43  define four integral spring fingers  41  which together define semi-spherical inner surface  38 . A plurality of axial openings  40  are spaced around the outer rim  37 . The semi-spherical inner surface  38  receives the upper portion of the spherically-shaped upper portion  35  of the ball stud  34 . 
     The radius of curvature of the spherically-shaped upper portion  35  of the ball stud  34  and the semi-spherical inner surface  38  are substantially the same so that upper portion of the spherically-shaped upper portion  35  fits snuggly within the semi-spherical inner surface  38  of the upper socket  36 . The spring fingers  41  are biased against the upper portion of the spherically-shaped upper portion  35  of the ball stud  34  to maintain constant pressure on the upper portion  35 . In this manner, the spring fingers  41  form an integral spring and the need for a separate spring is avoided. The ball and socket joint  20  further includes a support plate  44  having a series of openings  46  which receive screws  48 . The screws  48  are also received in the openings  40  of the upper socket  36 . 
     The lower socket  30  is formed by a depending side wall  42  and a bottom wall  52  having a central opening  54  formed by a partial spherical surface. The bottom wall  52  has a series of openings  33  which align with the openings  40  in the upper socket and receive the screws  48 . 
     The spherical upper surface  35  of the ball stud  34  seats on the partial spherical surface of the central opening  54  of the lower socket  30 . Thus a ball socket is formed from the partial spherical surfaces of the socket central opening  54  and the upper socket spherical inner surface  38 . This ball socket captures the spherically shaped upper portion of the ball stud  34  and frictionally holds the ball stud with respect to the platform  12  when the nuts  49  are tightened onto the screws  48 . However, the platform  12  is slightly movable with respect to the ball stud  34  against the frictional forces between the ball socket and the ball stud spherically shaped upper portion. In the preferred embodiment, the nut and bolt combination  48 ,  49  is used to tighten the socket. Other adjustable fasteners can also be used for this purpose. 
     Now turning to a discussion of the connecting arm  14  as shown in FIG. 6, in the preferred embodiment, the connecting arm  14  is fabricated of a hard plastic material for example, by injection molding. The arm  14  includes a rectangularly shaped portion  56  integrally formed with a triangularly shaped portion  58 . 
     The rectangularly shaped portion  56  includes a bottom wall  60  that in integrally formed with an open lattice structure  63  as shown in FIG.  6 . The lattice structure  63  provides strength and rigidity to the arm  14  without unduly increasing the weight of the arm  14 . The bottom wall  60  also is integrally formed with an upwardly extending support  64 . 
     The outer periphery of the rectangularly shaped portion  56  in integrally formed with a plurality of outwardly extending tabs  66 ,  68 . The tabs  66  are tapered in thickness from the right to the left as viewed from FIG.  6 . In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, four tabs  66  project outwardly from the upper sidewall  62  of the rectangularly shaped portion  56 , and a single tab  68  projects outwardly from the rear portion  62 ′ of the rectangularly shaped portion  56 . 
     The rearwardly projecting tab  68  includes a raised lip  70  that extends linearly along the long edge of the tab  68 . The tab  68  has a depending flange  71  and is separated from the rear wall  62 ′ through slots  73 . The tab  68  is thus flexibly joined to the rear wall and can be moved rearwardly by depressing the depending flange  71  toward the rear wall  62 ′. 
     The triangularly shaped portion  58  includes a bottom wall  72  that is also integrally formed with the open lattice structure  63 . Additionally, the bottom wall  72  is integrally formed with an upwardly projecting socket protrusion  74 . The protrusion  74  defines an open center and has a height approximately equal to the height of the sidewall portion  76  of the triangularly shaped portion  58 . 
     The open top surface of the triangularly shaped portion  58  is closed by a cover plate  80 . The cover plate  80  defines a downwardly extending support  84  that mates with the latticework  63  on the rectangularly shaped portion  56  to form a press-fit to keep the cover plate  80  in place on the connector arm  14 . The cover plate  80  also defines an opening  82  that receives the protrusion  74  formed on the triangular portion  58 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the socket  78  is press fit through the opening  82  and into protrusion  74  and can be retained with adhesives, if desired. When assembled, the top surface of the cover plate  80  provides a bearing surface for the socket  78 , and the socket  78  includes a threaded surface that receives the threaded portion the ball stud  34 . This arrangement provides a frictional engagement that couples the mouse pad platform  12  to the arm  14 , and the opposite end of the arm  14  couples the mouse pad support  10  to a computer keyboard platform  32 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, the keyboard platform  32  includes a plurality of pockets  86 . In the preferred embodiment, one pocket  86  is formed on both the left and right sides of the keyboard platform  32 . The pockets  86  include bottom wall  89 , a pair of side walls  90  and a rear wall  96 . The side walls  90  have a plurality of outwardly projecting indentations  88 ,  92  formed therein. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, four indentations  88  are formed in the sidewalls  90 , and a single indentation  92  is formed in the rear wall  96  of each pocket  86 . Additionally, each bottom wall  89  has a pair of integrally formed guide rails  94 . As shown in FIG. 4, the rearwardly extending indentation  92  is centered between the two guide rails  94 . The side wall also defines a slot  98  adjacent each of the indentations  88 . The slots  98  are tapered in depth from the outer end to the inner end or from right to left as seen in FIG.  5 . Further, the bottom wall  89  further includes a tapered surface  100  terminating in a slot or further indentation  102 . 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show the arm  14  coupled to the keyboard platform  32 . To install the arm  14  onto the keyboard platform  32 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  6 , the rectangularly shaped portion  56  of the arm  14  is received in one of the pockets  86 . The tabs  66  register with the indentations  88  when the arm  14  is installed into the pocket  86 . The arm  14  is then pushed into the pocket whereby the top surface of the rectangularly shaped portion  56  slides along the guide rails  94  and the tabs  66  enter the slots  98  until the lip  70  registers with the slot  102 . The arm  14  will be locked into the pocket at that time. The arm  14  can be released from the pocket by pushing the flange  71  toward the end wall  62 ′ and pulling outwardly on the arm with respect to the platform support  32 . The tapered tabs  66  and the tapered slots  98  are important in tightly seating the arm  14  in the pocket  86 . As the arm  14  is seated in the pocket, the tapered surfaces are tightly connected to each other so that the joint between the arm  14  and the pocket  86  is solid. 
     It will be understood that, although the keyboard support  32  is shown in the drawings as a typical keyboard tray, the keyboard support  32  can also be a typical worksurface which includes a bracket defining the pocket(s)  86  for mounting the mouse pad support  10  directly thereto. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8