# US 8,740,166 B2 · Keyboard and mouse support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,166 B2 - Document ID: US8740166B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/029,727 - Filed: 2011-02-17 - Published: 2012-08-23 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-17 - Assignees: Fellowes, Inc. - Applicants: Larry Hamilton; Taiwon Choi; Michael Jensen; ChunSheng Li; Douglas Carpiaux; Adam Shileny; Heidi Anna Dondlinger; Martin Behling, II - Inventors: Larry Hamilton; Taiwon Choi; Michael Jensen; ChunSheng Li; Douglas Carpiaux; Adam Shileny; Heidi Anna Dondlinger; Martin Behling, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740166B2 ## CPC - A47B 21/0314: {Platforms for supporting office equipment} - A47B 2200/0085: Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) ## Abstract A support device including a keyboard platform and a bracket for mounting the keyboard platform a work surface to elevate the keyboard platform above the work surface. The keyboard platform is mounted on the bracket for sliding movement relative to an edge of the work surface along a horizontal fore-aft axis. The keyboard platform is mounted on the bracket for tilting movement about a tilting axis perpendicular to the fore-aft axis. The support device includes a lock movable between a locked position wherein sliding/tilting movement of the keyboard platform is prevented and an unlocked position wherein sliding/tilting movement of the keyboard platform is permitted. One aspect includes a clamp provided on the bracket and engageable with the work surface to elevate the keyboard platform above the work surface. One aspect provides a mouse platform pivotally attached to the keyboard platform and configured to support the mouse at a tilted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support device comprising: a keyboard platform having a top keyboard receiving surface and a bottom surface, the top keyboard receiving surface being configured to support a computer keyboard; a bracket constructed and arranged to mount the keyboard platform to an edge of a work surface with the top keyboard receiving surface facing upwardly such that at least part of the bottom surface of the keyboard platform is elevated above and over at least a portion of the work surface, the keyboard platform being mounted on the bracket for sliding movement with respect to the edge of the work surface along a substantially horizontal fore-aft axis, the keyboard platform being further mounted on the bracket for tilting movement about a tilting axis substantially perpendicular to the fore-aft axis; and a lock movable between a locked position wherein sliding and tilting movement of the keyboard platform with respect to the edge of the work surface is prevented and an unlocked position wherein sliding and tilting movement of the keyboard platform with respect to the edge of the work surface is permitted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support device of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a locking bar moveable between 1) an engaged position wherein the locking bar is engaged to engaging members of the bracket to prevent the sliding movement and tilting movement of the keyboard platform to provide the locked position and 2) a disengaged position wherein the locking bar is disengaged from the engaging members of the bracket to permit the sliding and/or tilting movement of the keyboard platform to provide the unlocked position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The support device of claim 2, wherein the locking bar is biased into the engaged position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The support device of claim 2, wherein the bracket comprises a tilting portion constructed and arranged to enable tilting movement of the keyboard platform, the locking bar constructed and arranged to engage with the tilting portion in the engaged position to prevent tilting movement of the keyboard platform and disengage from the tilting position in the disengaged position to permit the tilting movement of the keyboard platform. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The support device of claim 4, wherein the tilting portion comprises a plurality of teeth constructed and arranged to engage with the locking bar in the engaged position to prevent tilting movement of the keyboard platform when the lock structure is in the locked position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The support device of claim 2, wherein the bracket comprises a sliding portion constructed and arranged to enable sliding movement of the keyboard platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The support device of claim 6, wherein the sliding portion comprises a plurality of ridges constructed and arranged to engage with the locking bar to prevent sliding movement of the keyboard platform when the lock structure is in the locked position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The support device of claim 7, wherein the bracket comprises a tilting portion constructed and arranged to enable tilting movement of the keyboard platform, the locking bar constructed and arranged to engage with the tilting portion in the engaged position to prevent tilting movement of the keyboard platform and disengage from the tilting position in the disengaged position to permit the tilting movement of the keyboard platform. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The support device of claim 7, wherein the tilting portion comprises a plurality of teeth constructed and arranged to engage with the locking bar in the engaged position to prevent tilting movement of the keyboard platform when the lock structure is in the locked position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The support device of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a handle engageable by the user to move the lock between the locked and unlocked positions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The support device of claim 1, further comprising a mouse platform having an upper surface upon which a computer mouse can be operated and a lower surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The support device of claim 11, wherein the mouse platform is integral with the keyboard platform. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The support device of claim 11, wherein the mouse platform is fixed to the keyboard platform. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The support device of claim 11, wherein the mouse platform comprises a neoprene material on the upper surface thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The support device of claim 11, wherein the mouse platform comprises a Neoprene/EPDM/SBR foam rubber material provided on the upper surface thereof to support the computer mouse at an angled position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The support device of claim 11, wherein the mouse platform is pivotally attached to the keyboard platform, the mouse platform being pivotable between a retracted position wherein the mouse platform is positioned above a portion of the keyboard platform and an extended position wherein the mouse platform is horizontally displaced relative to the keyboard platform. ### Claim 17 A support device comprising: a keyboard platform having a top keyboard receiving surface and a bottom surface, the top keyboard receiving surface being configured to support a computer keyboard; a bracket constructed and arranged to mount the keyboard platform to a work surface with the top keyboard receiving surface facing upwardly; a clamp provided on the bracket and engageable with the work surface such that the bracket is operable to position at least part of the bottom surface of the keyboard platform elevated above and over at least portion of the work surface, the clamp comprising: at least a pair of opposing surfaces for receiving an edge of the work surface therebetween, at least one of said opposing surfaces being movable to enable relative clamping movement of the opposing surfaces towards one another to clamp the edge of the work surface therebetween, and relative releasing movement of the opposing surfaces away from one another to unclamp the edge of the work surface; a brake constructed and arranged to be moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the brake when in the engaged position permits the relative clamping movement of the opposing surfaces towards one another and prevents the relative releasing movement of the opposing surfaces away from one another, and wherein the brake when in the disengaged position permits the relative clamping movement of the opposing surfaces towards one another and permits the relative releasing movement of the opposing surfaces away from the one another, and an adjuster configured to move the opposing surfaces towards one another independent of operation of the brake. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The support device of claim 17, wherein the pair of opposing surfaces comprises a moveable surface and a fixed surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The support device of claim 18, wherein the clamp is further constructed and arranged such that the moveable surface is positioned below the work surface and the fixed surface is positioned above the work surface when the work surface is received between the movable and fixed surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The support device of claim 17, wherein the brake comprises a lever. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The support device of claim 17, wherein the clamp is positioned below the bracket when the keyboard support device is mounted to the work surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The support device of claim 17, wherein the keyboard platform is mounted on the bracket for sliding movement with respect to the edge of the work surface along a substantially vertical plane, and wherein the keyboard platform is further mounted on the bracket for tilting movement with respect to the edge of the work surface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The support device of claim 22, further comprising a lock movable between a locked position wherein sliding and tilting movement of the keyboard platform with respect to the edge of the work surface is prevented and an unlocked position wherein sliding and tilting movement of the keyboard platform with respect to the edge of the work surface is permitted. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The support device of claim 23, wherein the lock comprises a locking bar moveable between 1) an engaged position wherein the locking bar is engaged to engaging members of the bracket to prevent the sliding movement and tilting movement of the keyboard platform to provide the locked position and 2) a disengaged position wherein the locking bar is disengaged from the engaging members of the bracket to permit the sliding and/or tilting movement of the keyboard platform to provide the unlocked position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The support device of claim 17, wherein the brake is biased in the engaged position and is constructed and arranged to be depressed against the bias to move the brake to the disengaged position. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The support device of claim 17, further comprising a mouse platform having an upper surface upon which a computer mouse can be operated and a lower surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The support device of claim 26, wherein the mouse platform is attached to the keyboard platform and positioned at an elevated height relative to the keyboard platform. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The support device of claim 26, wherein the mouse platform is integral with the keyboard platform. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The support device of claim 26, wherein the mouse platform is fixed to the keyboard platform. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The support device of claim 26, wherein the mouse platform comprises a neoprene material on the upper surface thereof. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The support device of claim 26, wherein the mouse platform comprises a Neoprene/EPDM/SBR foam rubber material provided on the upper surface thereof to support the computer mouse at an angled position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The support device of claim 26, wherein the mouse platform is pivotally attached to the keyboard platform, the mouse platform being pivotable between a retracted position wherein the mouse platform is positioned above a portion of the keyboard platform and an extended position wherein the mouse platform is horizontally displaced relative to the keyboard platform. ### Claim 33 A support device comprising: a keyboard platform having a top keyboard receiving surface and a bottom surface, the top keyboard receiving surface being configured to support a computer keyboard; a bracket constructed and arranged to mount the keyboard platform to a work surface with the top keyboard receiving surface facing upwardly; a clamp provided on the bracket and engageable with the work surface such that the bracket is operable to position at least part of the bottom surface of the keyboard platform elevated above and over at least portion of the work surface, the clamp comprising: at least a pair of opposing surfaces for receiving an edge of the work surface therebetween, at least one of said opposing surfaces being movable to enable relative clamping movement of the opposing surfaces towards one another to clamp the edge of the work surface therebetween, and relative releasing movement of the opposing surfaces away from one another to unclamp the edge of the work surface; a brake constructed and arranged to be moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the brake when in the engaged position permits the relative clamping movement of the opposing surfaces towards one another and prevents the relative releasing movement of the opposing surfaces away from one another, and wherein the brake when in the disengaged position permits the relative clamping movement of the opposing surfaces towards one another and permits the relative releasing movement of the opposing surfaces away from the one another, wherein the brake is biased in the engaged position and is constructed and arranged to be depressed against the bias to move the brake to the disengaged position. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The support device of claim 33, wherein the pair of opposing surfaces comprises a moveable surface and a fixed surface. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The support device of claim 33, wherein the clamp is positioned below the bracket when the keyboard support device is mounted to the work surface. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The support device of claim 33, wherein the keyboard platform is mounted on the bracket for sliding movement with respect to the edge of the work surface along a substantially vertical plane, and wherein the keyboard platform is further mounted on the bracket for tilting movement with respect to the edge of the work surface. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The support device of claim 36, further comprising a lock movable between a locked position wherein sliding and tilting movement of the keyboard platform with respect to the edge of the work surface is prevented and an unlocked position wherein sliding and tilting movement of the keyboard platform with respect to the edge of the work surface is permitted. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The support device of claim 33, further comprising a mouse platform having an upper surface upon which a computer mouse can be operated and a lower surface. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The support device of claim 38, wherein the mouse platform is pivotally attached to the keyboard platform, the mouse platform being pivotable between a retracted position wherein the mouse platform is positioned above a portion of the keyboard platform and an extended position wherein the mouse platform is horizontally displaced relative to the keyboard platform.