Support arm for computer keyboard

Claim 2

Computer keyboard apparatus comprising a computer keyboard, an ordinary desk or table, a support arm attached to said desk and keyboard and supporting said keyboard from said desk, said support arm comprising a base for detachably securing said support arm to said ordinary desk, said base having a clamping element for clamping said base to the edge of said desk, said clamping element having upper and lower gripping elements for gripping the upper surface and under surface, respectively, of said ordinary desk, and a tightening mechanism for varying the separation of said upper and lower gripping elements to accomodate different desk thicknesses and to tighten said gripping elements against said upper and under surfaces of said desk, an arm member extending horizontally from said base at a height below the level of the underside of said desk, said arm member comprising a keyboard end for supporting said keyboard, a keyboard support plate at the keyboard end of said arm member, and a first rotatable joint at said base with means for permittig rotation of said arm member about a first vertical axis, said rotation being sufficient to move said arm member from a keyboard-stored position in which said keyboard is positioned beneath said desk to an operating position in which said keyboard is exposed in front of said desk.

Claim 3

The support arm of claim 1 further comprising a second rotatable joint at the keyboard end of said arm member with means for permitting rotation of said keyboard about a second vertical axis.

Claim 4

The support arm of claim 2 wherein said second rotatable joint includes means for rotating said keyboard about a horizontal axis of rotation to permit tilting the keyboard to a desired position.

Claim 5

The support arm of claim 1 further comprising a first opening in said support arm at the outer end of said arm for introducing the cable of said keyboard into the interior of said support arm, said first opening being located so that said keyboard covers said opening and cable entering said opening and further comprising a second opening at the inner end of said arm, said second opening being underneath said arm so as to conceal from view cable exiting said arm through said second opening.

Claim 6

The support arm of claim 1 wherein said upper gripping element comprises an upper clamping member with a surface for gripping the upper surface of said desk, wherein said lower gripping element comprises a central member with a surface for gripping the undersurface of said desk, wherein said thightening mechanism comprises a threaded rod to which said upper member is threaded, said threaded rod extending vertically through said central member and, an adjustment knob connected to said threaded rod and providing a means for tightening or loosening the grip of said clamping and central members on said desk.

Claim 7

The support arm of claim 5 wherein means are provided for supporting said arm member with respect to the upper clamping member and the central member of said base so that said support arm is free to rotate about said first vertical axis even when said base is tightly clamped to said desk.

Claim 8

The support arm of claim 6 wherein said threaded rod and first vertical axis are coaxial.

Claim 9

A support arm for installing a computer keyboard on an ordinary desk or table, comprising a base for detachably securing said support arm to said ordinary desk, said base having a clamping means for clamping said base to the edge of said desk, an arm member extending horizontally from said base at a height below the level of the underside of said desk, a keyboard support plate at the keyboard end of said arm member, a first rotatable joint at said base with means for permitting rotation of said arm member about a first vertical axis, said rotation being sufficient to move said arm member from a keyboard-stored position in which said keyboard is positioned beneath said desk to an operating position in which said keyboard is exposed in front of said desk, and a second rotatable joint at the keyboard end of said arm member with means for permitting rotation of said keyboard about a second vertical axis, said second rotatable joint including means for rotating said keyboard about a horizontal axis of rotation to permit tilting the keyboard to a desired position, said second rotatable joint comprising a member fixed to the underside of said keyboard support plate and having a first cylindrical surface, an intermediate member having a second cylindrical surface adapted to mate with said first cylindrical surface, said two cylindrical surfaces being adapted to provide said tilting rotation of said keyboard, a first horizontal bearing surface on said arm member, a second horizontal bearing surface on said intermediate member and adapted to mate with said first horizontal bearing surface, said two bearing surfaces being adapted to provide said rotation about a second vertical axis, and fastening means for clamping together said cylindrical and horizontal surfaces.

Claim 10

A support arm for installing a computer keyboard on an ordinary desk or table, comprising a base for detachably securing said support arm to said ordinary desk, said base having a clamping means for clamping said base to the edge of said desk, an arm member extending horizontally from said base at a height below the level of the underside of said desk, a keyboard support plate at the keyboard end of said arm member, a first rotatable joint at said base with means for permitting rotation of said arm member about a first vertical axis, said rotation being sufficient to move said arm member from a keyboard-stored position in which said keyboard is positioned beneath said desk to an operating position in which said keyboard is exposed in front of said desk, and a second rotatable joint at the keyboard end of said arm member with means for permitting rotation of said keyboard about a second vertical axis, said second rotatable joint including means for rotating said keyboard about a horizontal axis of rotation to permit tilting the keyboard to a desired position, said second rotatable joint comprising a member fixed to the underside of said keyboard support plate and having a first cylindrical surface, an intermediate member having a second cylindrical surface adapted to mate with said first cylindrical surface, said two cylindrical surfaces being adapted to provide said tilting rotation of said keyboard, a first horizontal bearing surface on said arm member, a second horizontal bearing surface on said intermediate member and adapted to mate with said first horizontal bearing surface, said two bearing surfaces being adapted to provide said rotation about a second vertical axis, and fastening means for clamping together said cylindrical and horizontal surfaces.

Claim 11

The support arm of claim 8 wherein said cylindrical surfaces are on members constructed of sufficiently different plastic material that said keyboard can be tilted to a desired position and retain that position without further tightening or other adjustment of said joint.

Claim 12

The support arm of claim 8 wherein said fastening means is a bolt which is passed through said members.

Claim 13

A support arm for installing a computer keyboard on an ordinary desk or table, comprising a base for detachably securing said support arm to said ordinary desk, said base having a clamping means for clamping said base to the edge of said desk, an upper clamping member with a surface for gripping the upper surface of said desk, a central member with a surface for gripping the undersurface of said desk, a threaded rod to which said upper member is threaded, said threaded rod extending vertically through said central member, and an adjustment knob connected to said threaded rod and providing means for tightening or loosening the grip of said clamping and central members on said desk, an arm member extending horizontally from said base at a height below the level of the underside of said desk, a keyboard support plate at the keyboard end of said arm member, a first rotatable joint at said base with means for permitting rotation of said arm member about a first vertical axis, said rotation being sufficient to move said arm member from a keyboard-stored position in which said keyboard is positioned beneath said desk to an operating position in which said keyboard is exposed in front of said desk, and means for supporting said support arm with respect to the other members of said base so that said support arm is free to rotate about said first vertical axis even when said base is tightly clamped to said desk, said threaded rod and first vertical axis being coaxial, said support arm and central member having mating cylindrical journals, said adjustment knob being positioned beneath said arm, and said threaded rod extending through the interior of the journal of said central member.

Claim 14

A support arm for installing a computer keyboard on an ordinary desk or table, comprising a base for detachably securing said support arm to said ordinary desk, said base having a clamping means for clamping said base to the edge of said desk, an upper clamping member with a surface for gripping the upper surface of said desk, a central member with a surface for gripping the undersurface of said desk, a threaded rod to which said upper member is threaded, said threaded rod extending vertically through said central member, and an adjustment knob connected to said threaded rod and providing means for tightening or loosening the grip of said clamping and central members on said desk, an arm member extending horizontally from said base at a height below the level of the underside of said desk, a keyboard support plate at the keyboard end of said arm member, a first rotatable joint at said base with means for permitting rotation of said arm member about a first vertical axis, said rotation being sufficient to move said arm member from a keyboard-stored position in which said keyboard is positioned beneath said desk to an operating position in which said keyboard is exposed in front of said desk, and means for supporting said support arm with respect to the other members of said base so that said support arm is free to rotate about said first vertical axis even when said base is tightly clamped to said desk, said threaded rod and first vertical axis being coaxial, said support arm and central member having mating cylindrical journals, said adjustment knob being positioned beneath said arm, and said threaded rod extending through the interior of the journal of said central member.

Claim 15

The support arm of claim 11 wherein said central member and support arm include means for concealing said journal and threaded rod.