Abstract:
An adaptor bracket for attaching a keyboard arm having a plate to a base frame wherein the adaptor bracket includes a housing having a projecting hook at one end and a projecting flange at the other end and the hook is adapted to fit over a slide member of the base frame and further wherein the adaptor is connectable to the slide member by engaging the hook with the slide member and attaching the flange to the slide member with a fastener.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relates to provisional application Ser. No. 60/211,106 filed Jun. 12, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a computer keyboard platform support mechanism and, more particularly, to the construction of a means for attaching a keyboard arm to a base frame. Specifically, a base frame is typically attached to the underside of a desk or support. A slide mechanism is incorporated into the base frame. A computer keyboard support arm is then suspended from the slide mechanism so that the support arm may be moved from a position beneath the desktop to a position extending outwardly from the desktop. 
     When a keyboard platform support mechanism is mounted to the underside of a desk, the separate base frame is first typically attached to the underside of the desk by means of screws. The separate keyboard arm is then attached to the slide mechanism or slide brackets incorporated in the base frame by bolting the keyboard arm to the slide mechanism associated with the base frame. Due to the weight and bulk of the keyboard arm, and further due to the fact that the attachment of the keyboard arm must be effected underneath the top of the desk, difficulty is often encountered when attempting to attach or bolt the keyboard arm to the slide mechanism of the base frame. The confined space and orientation of the fastening bolts makes attachment of the keyboard arm to the slide mechanism difficult, if not dangerous. For example, the individual installing such an assembly may even be required to lie flat on his or her back and simultaneously support the weight of the keyboard arm while trying to locate the fasteners and attach the fasteners through a plate in order to affix the keyboard arm to the slide mechanism of the base frame beneath the flat top surface of the desk. This has resulted in difficulties in the installation process for such keyboard arms and on some occasions, provided a potential situation of hazard. Thus, there has developed a need to provide an alternative and more desirable way in which to attach a keyboard arm to the slide mechanism of a base frame in an assembly comprising a base frame as well as the keyboard arm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises a keyboard platform support mechanism which includes a base frame with a slide mechanism and a keyboard support arm configured for attachment to the slide mechanism of the base frame. The support arm is attached and held to the slide mechanism of the base frame by a special adapter which is designed to receive the swivel plate of the support arm. The adapter housing includes hooks which fit over the slide mechanism of the base frame to support the attached keyboard arm. Fasteners can then be easily guided through appropriate flanges and slots in the adapter to tightly attach the adapter and thus the support arm to the slide mechanism of the base frame. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism and means for attachment of a keyboard support arm to the undercarriage or slide mechanism of a base frame that is attached to the underside of a desk. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an adapter mechanism which is designed to receive a support or swivel plate of a keyboard arm and retain that plate while effecting attachment of the keyboard support arm to the slide mechanism of a base frame. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide an adapter which permits attachment of a keyboard support arm of a keyboard support assembly to the base frame thereof in a manner which enhances the ease of such attachment and reduces the potential hazard associated with such attachment. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a keyboard support arm assembly which incorporates the adapter of the invention for attachment of the keyboard arm to the base frame; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the underside of the base frame of the assembly wherein the keyboard arm is positioned for attachment to the slide mechanism of the base frame; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the underside of the base frame of the assembly wherein the support arm has been fully attached to the slide mechanism of the base frame; 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the adapter which is attached to the support arm; 
     FIG. 7 is a side isometric view of the adapter and support arm of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the adapter which is utilized to attach the support arm to the slide mechanism of the base plate; 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of the adapter of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the adapter of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a plan elevation view of the swivel glide which is incorporated into the adapter of FIG.  8  and which engages the swivel plate of the keyboard support arm and retains that swivel plate engaged and positioned in the adapter of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 12 is a front side view of the glide of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a back side elevation of the glide of FIG. 11; and 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the glide of FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is depicted the general overall construction of a keyboard platform support mechanism or assembly. The assembly includes a base frame  20  which is attached to the underside of a table or desk  22  by means of fasteners which penetrate through the base frame  20  and extend into the table  22 . The base frame  20  includes a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism typically includes a slide plate  24  mounted in a ball bearing raceway. Slide plate  24  in the embodiment depicted is arranged or positioned in a side channel of the base frame  20  such as depicted in FIG.  4 . Referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that slide bracket or slide plate  24  is positioned in a ball bearing raceway on one side of the base frame  20 . A similar slide bracket or slide plate  24  is positioned on the opposite side of the base frame  20 . Plates  24  permit sliding between the front end  26  of the frame  20  and the rear end  28 . Thus slide brackets  24  are parallel and mounted in parallel spaced raceways on opposite sides of the base frame  20  permitting sliding movement of the brackets  24  between the front end  26  and rear end  28  of frame  20 . 
     The keyboard platform support arm assembly further includes a keyboard support arm  40 . The keyboard support arm  40  may be of any desired construction. The keyboard support arm  40  depicted in the drawings is a typical support arm including a support platform  42  connecting links or arms  44 , a support or undercarriage bracket  46  and, most importantly, a keyboard arm swivel plate  84  as depicted in FIG.  6 . 
     The subject matter of the invention relates to the mechanism and means by which the keyboard arm swivel plate  84  depicted in FIG. 6 may be attached to the sliding bracket members  24  thereby effecting attachment of the keyboard arm  40  to the base frame  20 . This attachment is effected by means of an adapter or adapter bracket depicted in the figures and specifically including a housing  50  as depicted in FIGS. 8-10 which incorporates swivel glides  80  depicted in FIGS. 11-14. The swivel glides  80  depicted in FIGS. 11-14 engage or receive the keyboard arm swivel plate  84  depicted in FIG.  6  and slide into the housing  50  depicted in FIGS. 8-10. The housing  50  depicted in FIGS. 8-10 is then easily mounted or attached to the slide brackets  24  depicted in FIG. 4 due to the construction of the housing  50  and the construction of the slide mounting brackets  24 . Thus the following description will focus initially on the construction of the housing  50  of the adapter depicted in FIGS. 8-10 to be followed by the construction of the glides depicted in FIGS. 11-14. 
     Housing  50  includes first and second formed hooks  52 ,  54  along one edge of the housing  50 . The hooks  52 ,  54  are designed to fit over and engage the slide brackets  24  of the slide mechanism. The hooks  52 ,  54  are thus spaced so as to be engageable with the slide brackets  24 . The hooks  52 ,  54  are on the top side of the housing  50  as depicted in FIG.  9 . 
     Side flanges  56 ,  58  are formed on the planar support side  60  of the housing  50 . The side flanges  56 ,  58  engage and hold the glides  80  depicted in FIGS. 11-14 and thus engage and hold swivel plate of the support arm. The side flanges  56 ,  58  include end tabs  62 ,  64  which serve to retain the swivel glides  80  described below, confined on the plate  60 . The plate  60  further includes a forwardly projecting flange  66  with a first slot  68  and a second slot  70  for receiving fasteners  90  to attach the housing  50  to the slide brackets  24 . 
     The swivel glides  80  depicted in FIGS. 11-14 are typically fabricated from a polymeric material. The glides  80  are configured to fit within the housing  50  to be retained by the flanges  56 ,  58 . The swivel glides  80  therefore include an arcuate slot  82  for receipt of the keyboard arm swivel plate  84  depicted in FIG.  6 . Thus, two glides  80  are provided, one associated with each of the flanges  56 ,  58  to cooperate with the circular swivel plate  84  and retain the plate  84  within the housing  50  constrained by the flanges  56 ,  58  as well as the retaining tabs  62 ,  64 . 
     The component parts are assembled on the swivel plate  84 . That is, the glides  80  are attached on the opposite sides of the plate  84  and then caused or effected to slide into the housing  50  retained by the flanges  56 ,  58 . The assembly will then appear as depicted in FIG. 6, for example, or FIG.  7 . The assembly is then in a condition to be attached to the base frame  20 . Such attachment is effected as depicted in FIG.  4  and FIG.  5 . Specifically, the housing  50  is positioned between the slide brackets  24  and the base frame  20 . The housing and, more particularly, the extending hooks  52 ,  54  then slide over the slide bracket  24  on each side of the base frame  20 . The slots  68 ,  70  then become aligned with mounting screws depicted in FIG. 4 as mounting screws  90 . The mounting screws  90  are partially inserted into the slide brackets  24  when the adapter housing  50  is engaged with the slide brackets  24 . After the slots  68 ,  70  are appropriately positioned with respect to the mounting screws or fasteners  90 , the screws or fasteners  90  may be tightened to retain the adapter and thus the housing as well as the support arm  40  on the base frame. Note that the heads of the mounting screws  90  will then also be positioned in a manner which will preclude the swivel glides  80  from disengaging from the housing  50 . 
     With the assembly described, the swivel plate  84  may easily rotate within the glides  80 . The adapter being attached to the slide brackets  24  permits the support arm  40  to slide between the front and rear of the base frame. The assembly is much easier to construct or assemble inasmuch as the hooks  52 ,  54  facilitate attachment of the support arm with a minimum of effort. Additionally, since the mounting screws  90  are already positioned in the slide brackets  24  when the adapter including the housing  50  is engaged with the brackets  24 , no effort is required when positioning mounting screws in openings. The screws  90  are already in the openings when the adapter and housing are engaged by sliding into engagement with the slide brackets  24 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the adapter bracket including the housing fully mounted and attached to the slide bracket wherein the front mounting screws  90  retain the adapter including the housing  50 . It is noted that variations of the construction are possible and considered to be within the scope of the claims. Such variations include providing a swivel plate that is only partially arcuate or circular and swivel glides compatible therewith. Other slot configurations in the swivel glides as well as in the plate are possible including construction wherein there is no swivel activity or action. Further, the hooks  52 ,  54  have been described as being incorporated with the housing  50 . This is the preferred embodiment, though various component parts may be reversed. That is, it is possible to include a hook mechanism associated with the brackets  24 , though that is not the preferred embodiment. Further, parallel slide brackets  24  have been disclosed. A single slide bracket extending between the sides of the base frame  20  may be utilized in combination with a single hook associated with the housing  50  and a single fastener associated with the housing  50 . Thus, there are various alternatives and combinations which are considered to be within the scope of the claims. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.