US20050115475A1

US20050115475A1 - Keyboard carrier

Info

Publication number: US20050115475A1
Application number: US10/724,735
Authority: US
Inventors: Sheng-Hsiung Lin
Original assignee: PUU RONG INDUSTRIES Co Ltd
Current assignee: PUU RONG INDUSTRIES Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-02
Filing date: 2003-12-02
Publication date: 2005-06-02

Abstract

A keyboard carrier installs to a platform by means of a supporting arm disposed at one side of the platform for supporting a keyboard and at least one object. The keyboard carrier includes a storage compartment and a supporting plate. The storage compartment includes a container and a cover. The container stores small objects. The cover corresponds to the container for opening and closing. The supporting plate is made of metal material for supporting the keyboard and the object and includes a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface. The first supporting surface supports the keyboard. The second supporting surface supports the object formed by expanding from the front edge of the first supporting surface towards the user. The first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are integral to the carrier.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a keyboard carrier, and more particularly to a keyboard carrier of which structure is improved and which includes a storage compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The popularity of computers in both the home and the workplace has intensified the focus of manufacturers to improve the technology of the conventional keyboard holder. To consider limited space, storing a keyboard on the desktop is impractical. In addition, repetitive strain injuries can result from periodically using the same posture. An ergonomic and economic design is step-less adjustable to suite different body postures and hand positions. As many countries become more attentive to environmental protection, metal (which can be recycled) is preferred to plastic.
The end of the keyboard holder connects to a keyboard carrier. Conventional keyboard carriers include a supporting surface for the keyboard and a storage compartment, both of which are integral to the carrier. The keyboard carrier is generally made of plastic (as showed in FIG. 1). However, more developed countries pay greater attention to environmental protection and possibly manufactures the product by using recyclable metal. Thus, a keyboard carrier made of plastic is not environmentally friendly. In addition, the strength and durability of plastic carriers are worse than metallic counterparts. Keyboard carriers frequently require repositioning; therefore the keyboard carrier needs to be made of a tough material. Since the storage compartment only supports lightweight objects the storage compartment does not need to be made of a material with too high strength.
Other conventional keyboard carriers consist entirely of metal. It is not easy to manufacture the storage compartment with complex shapes using metal, therefore the storage compartment is often left out such that the keyboard carrier only has function which supports the keyboard.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a keyboard carrier to solve the afore-mentioned problems and disadvantages. The supporting plate of the keyboard carrier is completely made of metal and its' storage compartment from plastic. This greatly reduces the need for plastic in the keyboard carrier; furthermore, the problem of environmental protection also decreases. Small objects such as stationary can be stored in the carrier's compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard carrier that can support a keyboard and store objects.
The objective of the keyboard carriers design is to include a supporting plate completely made of metal, such that the usage of plastic for the keyboard carrier greatly decreases and aids the problem of environmental protection.
It is further the object of the present invention to provide a keyboard carrier with increased firmness and durability.
In order to achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a keyboard carrier that is installs to a platform by using a supporting arm disposed at one side of the platform for supporting a keyboard and at least one object. The keyboard carrier includes a storage compartment and a supporting plate. The storage compartment includes a container and a cover. The container stores objects. The cover corresponding to the container can open and close. The supporting plate is made of metal for supporting the keyboard and an object. It includes a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface. The first supporting surface supports the keyboard. The second supporting surface holds the object. Expanding the front edge of the first supporting surface towards the user reveals the second supporting surface.
The aforementioned, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which precedes with references to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard carrier showing an embodiment in the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a front-left-top perspective view of a keyboard carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front-right-top exploded perspective view of a keyboard carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a back-left-top exploded perspective view of a keyboard carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a storage compartment and a supporting plate according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a keyboard carrier showing an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, they depict a keyboard carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard carrier 1 includes a supporting plate 10 and a storage compartment 11. The supporting plate 10 has a first supporting surface 101 and a second supporting surface 102 which is formed by expanding from the front edge of the first supporting surface 101 toward a user such that the first supporting surface 101 and the second supporting surface 102 are integrally manufactured. The first supporting surface 101 and the second supporting surface 102 are not located on the same horizontal plane. According to the aforementioned, the second supporting surface 102 embodiment is lower than the first supporting surface 101. The storage compartment 11 is disposed on the top of the second supporting surface 102. Conventional keyboard carriers that are completely made of plastic have the problem of environmental protection, the supporting plate 10 according to the present invention is completely made of metal with just the storage compartment 11 from plastic. Repositioning the supporting plate 10 frequently requires that it be made of metal such that the strength of the supporting plate 10 is increased. Compared with conventional keyboard carriers, the need to use plastic for the keyboard carrier 1 according to the present invention reduces; thus limiting the effect on the environment.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the storage compartment 11 includes a container 111, a cover 112 and a soft pad 113. The container 111 has at least one partition 114 for separating objects 50 that are disposed in the container 111. The cover 112 corresponding to container 111 to opens and closes. Using the keyboard 40, the soft pad 113 provides the user's hand with support. The second supporting surface 102 provides fixing holes 103, and the container 111 has fixing protrusions 115 located on the bottom and respectively correspond to the fixing holes 103. The fixing hole 103 and the fixing protrusion 115 joins together by using a fixing element 12 to affix the container 111 to the second supporting surface 102. The fixing element 12 is a screw, a tenon or a rivet, and the fixing element 12 according to the embodiment is a screw. The partition 111 of the storage compartment 11 provides tenons 121, and the edge of the second supporting surface 102 has fixing holes 119 corresponding to the tenons 121. The cover 112 can be opened at 90 degrees angle to the container 111 and the fixing strength of the container 111 and the second supporting surface 102 is increased.
In addition, the container 111 has snap grooves 116 located on the rear panel and the cover 112 has matching snap protrusions 117. The snap grooves and the snap protrusions connect the cover 112 to the container 111. The snap protrusion 117 corresponds to the snap grooves 116 for opening and closing. Furthermore, the front-edge of the soft pad 113 has a fastener 118 and connects the soft pad 113 to the cover 112. In addition, the supporting plate 10 is provides with a binder 60 which is disposed at the top of the first supporting surface 101 and close to the user. The binder 60 provides a place to hold reading material to for inputting data into a computer.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the keyboard carrier 1 is installed to a platform 30 by using a supporting arm 20 disposed at one side of the platform 30. The first supporting surface 101 supports the keyboard 40, and the second supporting surface 102 supports the storage compartment 11. The storage compartment 11 stores objects 50.
Although the explanation relates the invention to its preferred embodiment, it is not the extent of its use. It is to be understood that there exists many possible modifications and variations for those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A keyboard carrier, installed to a platform by using a supporting arm disposed at one side of the platform for supporting a keyboard capable of holding at least one object, the keyboard carrier comprises:

a storage compartment, including:

a container; and

a cover corresponding to the container to be opened and closed; and

a supporting plate made of metal for supporting the keyboard and the object, including:

a first supporting surface for supporting the keyboard; and

a second supporting surface for supporting the object formed by expanding from the front edge of the first supporting surface towards the user, the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are integral to the carrier.

2. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are not located on the same horizontal plane.

3. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the container has at least one partition for separating objects that are inside the container.

4. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the second supporting surface provides at least one fixing hole and the container is provided with at least one fixing protrusion disposed on the bottom thereof and respectively corresponding to the fixing holes, to affix the container to the second supporting surface.

5. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the container provides at least one fixing element for fixing the fixing protrusion to the fixing hole.

6. The keyboard carrier according to claim 5, wherein the fixing element is a screw.

7. The keyboard carrier according to claim 5, wherein the fixing element is a tenon.

8. The keyboard carrier according to claim 5, wherein the fixing element is a rivet.

9. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the container has at least one snap groove disposed on the side thereof for connecting the cover to the container for opening and closing.

10. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the cover has at least one snap protrusion disposed on the side corresponds to the snap groove for opening and closing.

11. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the storage compartment further includes a soft pad disposed on the cover for providing a user's hand with supporting when the user uses the keyboard.

12. The keyboard carrier according to claim 11, wherein the soft pad has a fastener disposed on the edge thereof for connecting the soft pad to the cover.

13. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate is provided with a binder disposed at the top of the first supporting surface for providing the user with easy reading for correctly inputting data.

14. The keyboard carrier according to claim 1, wherein the container of the storage compartment is provided with at least one partition, and the second supporting surface is provided with at least one hole disposed in the edge of the second supporting surface and corresponding to the partition.