Adjustable ergonomic support for computer keyboards

In combination, a keyboard and a support mechanism supporting the keyboard, the support mechanism comprises:

• a bracket member adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to a work surface,
• a support tray movably mounted to said bracket member,
• said support tray comprising a support surface,
• the keyboard having an upper surface with a forward edge and a rear edge,
• the upper surface of the keyboard having keys carrying letters, each letter having a top and a bottom, when viewed in a normal manner the bottoms of the letters located closer to a forward edge of the keyboard than the tops of the letters and the tops of the letters located closer to the rear edge of the keyboard than the bottoms of the letters,
• the keyboard disposed on the support surface with the keys directed upwardly,
• said support tray being movable to a range of positions in which said relative height of said forward edge of the keyboard varies relative the relative height of said rear edge of the keyboard,
• a locking mechanism having a locked condition for locking said support tray in fixed relationship to said bracket member within said range of positions,
• a limit mechanism limiting movement of the support tray relative to said bracket member so that said support tray in a locked condition is always oriented with said forward edge of the keyboard at a vertical height relative to said rear edge of the keyboard higher than the rear edge of the keyboard.

A method of positioning a keyboard with respect to a work surface,

• the keyboard having a space bar along a forward edge of the keyboard and upwardly facing indicia carrying keys with indicia thereon oriented for normal reading by viewing rearwardly over the forward edge, said method comprising the steps of:
• mounting said keyboard on a support platform having a front edge and a rear edge with the forward edge of the keyboard directed toward the front edge of the support platform,
• moving said support platform relative to said work surface through a range of positions between a lower position and an upper position;
• locking said support platform at one of a plurality of selected position within said range of positions;
• and
• limiting angular movement of said support platform relative to said work surface in each of said plurality of selected position so that said support platform in any one of said plurality of selected position is always oriented with said front edge higher than said rear edge.

A method for positioning a keyboard with respect to a work surface

• the keyboard having a space bar alone a forward edge of the keyboard and upwardly facing indicia carrying keys with indicia thereon orientated for normal reading by viewing rearwardly over the forward edge, said method comprising the steps of:
• mounting said keyboard on a support platform having an upper surface extending generally in a plane, a front edge and a rear edge, with the forward edge of the keyboard adjacent and directed toward the front edge of the support platform;
• moving said support platform in a first direction transverse to said plane through a range of positions between a lower position and an upper position;
• moving said support platform in a second direction different from said first direction between a retracted position in which said front edge of said support platform is at a first spaced distance from said work surface and an extended position in which said front edge of said support platform is at a spaced distance from said work surface greater than said first spaced distance;
• locking said support platform at a selected position within said range of positions;
• and
• limiting angular movement of said support platform relative to said work surface in said selected position so that said support platform in said selected position is always oriented with said front edge higher than said rear edge.