GB2243337A - Arrangements for supporting the limbs of keyboard operators - Google Patents

Abstract

An hand or wrist support is adjustable with respect to a keyboard or keypad with which it is used. In one form it is attached to the keyboard itself, or to the workstation which supports the keyboard. In another form a workstation incorporates the hand rest and allows adjustment of the position of the keyboard with respect thereto.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO KEYBOARD OPERATIONS This invention concerns improvements in or relating to the keyboard or keying operations involving the use of the hands and/or fingers to operate computers, word processors and the like, or other equipment possessing keys and requiring such use for actuation or action initiation.

In particular, the invention has reference to the provision of means for assisting the operator in assuming the correct and most comfortable orientation when addressing the keyboard or keypad as the case may be.

Keyboard operations have become increasingly prevalent in many and differing working environments requiring operators to adopt postures dictated not only by the design of the workplace furniture available, but also by their own physical attributes.

Ergonomics research and good practice indicate that while operating for example keys on an electronic keyboard, the wrists should be maintained as straight as possible during movement of the fingers without them being forced into this position. As the wrist deviates from a straight posture, the tendons in the wrist will have to operate at increasingly more acute, awkward and potentially disadvantageous angles whilst moving backwards and forwards to effect finger operation, thereby occasioning a possible risk of injury to the wrists and upper limbs.

Associated with the need to keep the wrists straight are loadings produced on the hand-arm-shoulder resulting from holding the wrist straight. Again, ergonomics research and good practice indicate that the soft tissues of the arm and shoulder can be affected adversely by any 'static load'. Such a load is one in which groups of tendons, ligaments, muscles and/or other soft tissues are held in a fixed position and loaded in some way by the weight of the arm itself and/or certain parts of the arm and/or objects held by or applied to the arm.

Proposals have been made for alleviating the loading on, and for minimising general fatigue of the arms and consist in the provision of rest areas integral with the keying device, or arm supports attached to chairs or workstations. However, such proposals usually suffer from the inability to cater for the needs of the individual. Additionally, slopes have been built into keyboards in an endeavour to provide support, but because of the various physical proportions of operators, a solution of this kind has proved to be only of marginal assistance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved means for affording appropriate support for operators employed for keyboard or keying operations.

Accordingly the invention provides a support for use in conjunction with a keyboard or keypad, the support including a member adapted in use to support the wrists of an operator, the member having means for variable orientation thereof, and further means for securing the member in a desired position.

Conveniently, the member when appropriately orientated by the individual operator, is so designed that in use the wrists are maintained straight or substantially straight, thereby minimising static load.

Preferably, the member is provided with a universal mounting whereby the member can be orientated in the desired position with regard to angle, width, depth and height to suit the needs of the individual operator.

The support of the present invention may be adapted in use to rest on a workstation top in front of the keyboard or keypad.

Alternatively, the support may be attachable to the front of the workstation in cases where space is limited by workstation and keyboard design considerations.

In a further alternative embodiment, the support of the present invention is adapted to incorporate and therefore support the keyboard or keypad per se at a position in front of the workstation. This particular embodiment has additional benefits when the dimensions of the workstation top make it difficult for an operator to improve his/her posture in relation to the wrists. The latter can occur even when the thighs are tight against the underneath of the work top, because the upper trunk is too low to get into a comfortable posture. In addition, some existing workstations possess supportive bars underneath the work top which reduce the possibility of bringing the body up to a beneficial position.

The present invention in proposing what in essence affords extensive flexibility for the operator to assume a comfortable posture, thereby reduces discomfort which would otherwise result from the operator attempting to improve posture of the arms, wrists and hands by pressing the tops of the legs against any support of the workstation top.

In order further to introduce a feeling of comfort for the operator and minimise local pressure points, the member may be provided with a resilient surface, such as that afforded by foam rubber or plastics materials.

In one embodiment, the support may comprise a kit of parts including the member and a suitable number and type of fixtures which would enable the support to be set up in a plurality of desired positions as to angles, width, depth, and heights.

The fixtures may be in the form of press fit interlocks giving a variety of orientations to the support member. The support itself may be fixable to a workstation top by any suitable means, for example an evacuated suction pad or other clamping or positioning arrangement.

In a further embodiment, the support member may be hingedly disposed in such manner as to be capable of inclination to a desired angle and height. In this respect also, a kit of components may be provided which will afford the requisite flexibility in orientation, the components being of differing dimensions to give a plurality of orientations.

The present invention thus provides a means of supporting the wrists of an operator in a desired position suitable for the individual, the support being locatable on a workstation in front of the keyboard, or in a position such as to carry the keyboard and to provide the requisite support for the wrists, or in front of the workstation as dual support for the keyboard and the wrists or merely for the wrists.

The flexibility provided by the support of the present invention allows an individual to customise the wrist support having regard to anthropometric requirements, thereby alleviating if not obviating discomfort normally associated with the use of keyboards or the like.

It is to be understood that the support of the instant invention may be manufactured from any suitable materials.

Claims (10)

1. A support for use in conjunction with a keyboard or keypad, the support including a member adapted in use to support the wrists of an operator, the member having means for variable orientation thereof, and further means for securing the member a desired position.

2. A support according to Claim 1 in which the member when appropriately orientated by an individual operator, is so designed that in use the wrists are supported and maintained straight or substantially straight, thereby minimising static load.

3. A support according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the member is provided with a universal mounting whereby the member can be orientated in the desired position with regard to angle, width, depth and height to suit individual anthropometric needs.

4. A support according to any one of the preceding claims in which the support is adapted in use to rest on a workstation top in front of the keyboard or keypad.

5. A support according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the support is attachable to the front of a workstation.

6. A support according to any one of the preceding claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the support is adapted to incorporate and support a keyboard or keypad at a position in front of a workstation.

7. A support according to any one of the preceding claims in which the member is provided with a resilient surface.

8. A support according to any one of the preceding claims in which the support comprises a kit of parts including the member and a plurality of fixtures adapted for selection and interlock to provide the desired position for the support.

9. A support according to any one of the preceding claims in which the support member is hingedly disposed.

10. A support for use in conjunction with a keyboard or keypad substantially as hereinbefore described.