Patent Abstract:
A keyboard tray apparatus comprising an articulating arm coupled to a table at one end and a keyboard tray at the other. The keyboard tray apparatus provides: (a) a hook and slot system for removably coupling the keyboard tray to an articulating arm with ease; (b) a reversible mouse pad capable of being removably coupled with a spring-biased ball detent to either side of a keyboard tray; and (c) a keyboard tray having a forward two-sleeve set and a rear two-sleeve set and capable of mating with a mouse pad in a forward position or in a rear position.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to keyboard trays and, more specifically, to a keyboard tray apparatus which provides easier attachment and adjustability.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    With the expansive growth in the field of personal computers, a similar growth in the field of computer accessories has occurred. As the use of computers has increased, so too have the incidents of office workers suffering from fatigue, numbness or tingling in the arms, hands and wrists, carpal tunnel syndrome and other maladies. To combat or prevent these problems, it is necessary for the computer user to maintain the proper posture and hand position when using the keyboard of a computer. Many keyboard accessories accomplish this by providing a keyboard tray slidably coupled to a desk or table. This design is problematic, however, since different computer users have varying arm lengths and body heights which require the keyboard tray to be positioned at varying heights.  
           [0003]    To address this problem, some keyboard trays are coupled to an articulating arm which allows for the keyboard tray to be raised or lowered depending upon the needs of the user. Typically, the keyboard tray will be coupled to the articulating arm by an installer. Installation of prior art keyboard trays to prior art articulating arms requires the use of tools and hardware and can be a time-consuming process. Moreover, the removal of the keyboard tray can be necessary when the keyboard tray is in need of repair or replacement, or when one keyboard tray is shared between multiple desks, each having an articulating arm. Where such removal is necessary, it will again involve the same time-consuming process as during installation.  
           [0004]    Additionally, some keyboard trays are coupled to a mouse pad to allow the user to engage the use of a mouse on the same plane as the keyboard. However, it is often the case that the mouse pad is fixedly coupled to either the left side of the keyboard (for left-handed users) or the right-side of the keyboard (for right-handed users). If an installer has a right-side mouse, for example, and needs to install a tray/mouse pad combination for a left-handed user, the installer cannot use the right-side mouse/tray combination—or vice-versa. It is also sometimes necessary for the mouse pad to be in a forward position (close to the user) or in a rear position (away from the user) depending on the needs and preferences of the computer user as well as the shape of the desk or workstation.  
           [0005]    Moreover, prior art articulating arms couple to the center of the keyboard tray. However, once the mouse pad is attached, the articulating arm is not centered on the tray/pad combination. This can result in a phenomenon known as “mouse bounce,” where use of the mouse causes side-to-side wobbling of the tray.  
           [0006]    A need therefore existed for a keyboard tray capable of being removably coupled with relative ease to an articulating arm. A need further existed for a reversible mouse pad capable of being removably coupled in a tool-free manner to either side of a keyboard tray, in either a forward position or a rear position. Still further, a need existed for a tray adapted to be coupled with the arm closer to the mouse pad, so as to reduce or eliminate “mouse bounce.” The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard tray capable of being removably coupled with relative ease to an articulating arm.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboard tray having a reversible mouse pad capable of being removably coupled in a tool-free manner to either side of a keyboard tray.  
           [0009]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboard tray having a mouse pad capable of being coupled to either a forward position or a rear position along the side of a keyboard tray.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboard tray adapted to be coupled to an articulating arm at a point other than the center of the tray, so as to reduce or eliminate “mouse bounce.” 
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0011]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard tray apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, an articulating arm having a table coupling end and a keyboard tray coupling end, the table coupling end is dimensioned to be coupled to a table, the keyboard tray coupling end comprises a plurality of hooks positioned on opposing sides of the keyboard tray coupling end and dimensioned to couple to a keyboard tray, and a keyboard tray having a top surface and a bottom surface and a first side and a second side, a center portion of the bottom surface defines a plurality of slots dimensioned to mate with the plurality of hooks of the keyboard tray coupling end to secure the keyboard tray to the articulating arm.  
           [0012]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard tray apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, an articulating arm having a table coupling end and a keyboard tray coupling end, the table coupling end is dimensioned to be coupled to a table, the keyboard tray coupling end is dimensioned to be coupled to a keyboard tray, a keyboard tray having a top surface and a bottom surface and a first side and a second side, the keyboard tray is dimensioned to be coupled to the keyboard tray coupling end of the articulating arm, and a reversible mouse pad having a top surface and a bottom surface and a first side and a second side, the first side comprises at least two arms dimensioned to mate with at least two corresponding sleeves in the first side of the keyboard tray, the at least two arms of the first side of the mouse pad are dimensioned to mate with at least two corresponding sleeves in the second side of the keyboard tray when the mouse pad is reversed so that the bottom surface is facing up and the top surface is facing down.  
           [0013]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard tray apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, an articulating arm having a table coupling end and a keyboard tray coupling end, the table coupling end is dimensioned to be coupled to a table, the keyboard tray coupling end is dimensioned to be coupled to a keyboard tray, a keyboard tray having a top surface and a bottom surface and a first side and a second side, the keyboard tray is dimensioned to be coupled to the keyboard tray coupling end of the articulating arm, the first side and the second side of the keyboard tray each define a forward two-sleeve set and a rear two-sleeve set, the forward two-sleeve set is dimensioned to receive a mouse pad in a forward position and the rear two-sleeve set is dimensioned to receive a mouse pad in a rear position.  
           [0014]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the keyboard tray apparatus of the present invention, showing the reversible mouse pad coupled to the first side of the keyboard tray in a forward position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the keyboard tray apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the forward two-sleeve set and the rear two-sleeve set of the first side and second side of the keyboard tray.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an arm of the mouse pad coupled to a sleeve of the keyboard tray of FIG. 1, taken along line  3 - 3 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the spring-biased ball detent of the arm of the mouse pad of the keyboard tray of FIG. 3, taken along line  4 - 4 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a bottom, perspective view of the keyboard tray apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the hooks of the keyboard tray coupling end of the articulating arm and the slots of the keyboard tray.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, side view of the keyboard tray apparatus of FIG. 1, showing one of the hooks of the keyboard tray coupling end inserted into one of the slots of the keyboard tray.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7A is a top view of the keyboard tray apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the reversible mouse pad in a rear position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7B is a top view of the keyboard tray apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the reversible mouse pad in a forward position.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of the keyboard tray apparatus of the present invention, illustrating the side-to-side adjustability of the tray vis-a-vis the articulating arm.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the adjustable tray of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2,  5 ,  7 A and  7 B, reference number  10  refers generally to one embodiment of the keyboard tray apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, the keyboard tray apparatus  10  comprises an articulating arm  12  having a table coupling end  14  and a keyboard tray coupling end  16 . The table coupling end  14  is dimensioned to be coupled to a table  18  or other surface. The keyboard tray coupling end  16  of the articulating arm  12  is dimensioned to be coupled to a keyboard tray  20 .  
         [0026]    Coupling of the keyboard tray coupling end  16  to the keyboard tray  20  is accomplished, in part, by a plurality of L-shaped hooks  22  (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) positioned on opposing sides of the keyboard tray coupling end  16  and projecting therefrom so that one leg of the L-shape projects at a substantially right angle from the tray coupling end  16  and so that the second leg of the L-shape projects at a substantially right angle from the first leg so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the tray coupling end  16 . The hooks  22  are dimensioned to mate with a corresponding plurality of slots  24  located in a center portion of the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20 , with the second leg of each L-shaped hook  22  passing through a corresponding slot  24 , and with the tray  20  then being moved rearward until the first leg of each L-shaped hook  22  contacts the forward end of the corresponding slot  24 . In this configuration, a portion of the second leg of each L-shaped hook  22  has now passed beyond the forward end of the corresponding slot  24 , preventing the keyboard tray  20  from being lifted off of the tray coupling end  16 .  
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, a first side of the keyboard tray coupling end  16  comprises three hooks  22  dimensioned to mate with three corresponding slots  24  on the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20 , and a second side of the keyboard tray coupling end  16  also comprises three hooks  22  dimensioned to mate with another three corresponding slots  24  on the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20 . While, in the preferred embodiment, the keyboard tray coupling end  16  of the keyboard tray apparatus  10  comprises three hooks  22  on a first side dimensioned to mate with three corresponding slots  24  on the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20  and three hooks  22  on a second side of the keyboard tray coupling end dimensioned to mate with three corresponding slots  24  on the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the keyboard tray apparatus  10  in which the number of hooks  22  and slots  24  deviate, even substantially, from the preferred number in either direction, so long as the easy attachment and detachment of the keyboard tray  20  to the articulating arm  12  is maintained.  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 5, the keyboard tray coupling end  16  of the articulating arm  12  preferably further comprises a tab  26  defining an aperture  28  therethrough. A thumb screw  30  is dimensioned to be inserted through the aperture  28  in the tab  26  and tightened (preferably by hand) into a corresponding threaded aperture  32  in the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20  in order to more securely couple the articulating arm  12  to the keyboard tray  20 . While, in the preferred embodiment, the keyboard tray coupling end  16  of the articulating arm  12  comprises a tab  26  defining an aperture  28  therethrough and a screw  30  dimensioned to be inserted through the aperture  28  in the tab  26  and into a corresponding threaded aperture  32  in the bottom surface of the keyboard tray  20 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the keyboard tray apparatus  10  in which no tab  26 , screw  30 , or apertures  28  and  32  are provided.  
         [0029]    The structure herein described for coupling the keyboard tray  20  to the keyboard tray coupling end  16  of the articulating arm  12  permits a user to reduce installation time by up to approximately 40% as compared to prior art keyboard tray/tray coupling end combinations.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the keyboard tray apparatus  10  preferably further comprises a reversible mouse pad  34  having a top surface  36  and a bottom surface  38  and a first side  40  and a second side  42 . The first side  40  of the reversible mouse pad  34  comprises at least two arms  44  dimensioned to mate with at least two corresponding sleeves  46  in the first side of the keyboard tray  20 . The at least two arms  44  are also dimensioned to mate with at least two corresponding sleeves  46  in the second side of the keyboard tray  20  when the mouse pad  34  is reversed so that the bottom surface  38  is facing up and the top surface  36  is facing down. While, in the preferred embodiment, the keyboard tray apparatus  10  comprises a reversible mouse pad  34 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the keyboard tray apparatus  10  which has a fixed mouse pad or no mouse pad at all.  
         [0031]    For durability and strength, it is preferred that the keyboard tray  20  and mouse pad  34  be constructed from steel. It is further preferred that the keyboard tray have a molded, raised edge  21  around a perimeter thereof, to prevent the keyboard (not shown) from sliding off during use. Similarly, the mouse pad  34  should also have a molded, raised edge  35  around, to coral the mouse (not shown).  
         [0032]    In the preferred embodiment, the first side  40  of the reversible mouse pad  34  comprises two arms  44  and the first side and the second side of the keyboard tray  20  each define a forward two-sleeve set  48  and a rear two-sleeve set  50 . The two arms  44  of the mouse pad  34  are dimensioned to mate with the forward two-sleeve set  48  of the first side and the second side of the keyboard tray  20  when the mouse pad  34  is in a forward position (resulting in the configuration shown in FIG. 7B) and the two arms  44  of the mouse pad  34  are dimensioned to mate with the rear two-sleeve set  50  of the first side and the second side of the keyboard tray  20  when the mouse pad  34  is in a rear position (resulting in the configuration shown in FIG. 7A). The preferred placement of the mouse pad  34  will generally depend on work surface shape, with a rear configuration being suitable for a rectangular work surface configured like that shown in FIG. 7A, and a forward configuration being suitable for a forty-five degree angle work surface like that shown in FIG. 7B or a curved work surface. User preference may also play a role in mouse pad  34  placement.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the at least two arms  44  of the keyboard tray apparatus  10  each preferably comprise a spring-biased ball detent  52  located thereon and dimensioned to allow each arm  44  to pass through the sleeve  46  with the ball detent  52  in a retracted position and to allow a portion of the ball detent  52  to project through an aperture  54  in the sleeve  46  when the ball detent  52  is in a projected position—preventing the retraction of the arm  44 . The spring-biased ball detent  52  allows for the quick, easy, and secure locking and unlocking of the arms  44  to the sleeves  46 —typically in a matter of seconds. (In lieu of the spring-biased ball detent  52 , a quick-connect coupler of a different type could be provided that would permit quick, tools-free, coupling and de-coupling of the arms  44  to the sleeves  46 .)  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS.  8 - 9 , another embodiment of the keyboard tray apparatus  10  is shown. In this embodiment, side to side adjustability in the mounting of the keyboard tray  20  is provided so as to reduce or eliminate mouse bounce. As shown in FIG. 9, multiple rows of slots  24  are positioned along the base of the keyboard tray  20 . By selectively positioning the hooks  22  in the desired set of slots  24 , the user can position the keyboard tray  20  so that it is centered on the articulating arm  12  (as in FIG. 5), or so that it is more proximate the right side (the preferred position where the mouse pad  34  is located on the right side) or so that it is more proximate the left side (the preferred position where the mouse pad  34  is located on the left side. FIG. 8 illustrates the side to side adjustability as seen from the top of the keyboard, with the mouse pad  34  on the right side and the edge of the keyboard tray  20  on the left side shown in broken lines, to show different possible positions.  
         [0035]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0