GB2425946A - Support bracket for computer screen keyboard and mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer workstation having a work surface (18) such as a desk top is fitted with means (12) for holding a screen, a keyboard and a mouse of computer equipment clear of the work surface when they are not in use. The holding means (12) comprises a support arm (10) of generally inverted L-shape, the lower end of the vertical limb (10a Fig 2) having attachment means for fixing it to the work surface and the horizontal limb (10b Fig 2) carrying a permanent mounting (13) for a screen and a holder (15) for removably supporting a keyboard. This holder (15) may also be adapted removably to hold a mouse or a separate holder (31 Fig 8) for a mouse may be carried by the vertical limb (10a) of the support arm. Data/Electrical cabling may be passed through the arm (10).

Description

* 2425946 Computer workstation This invention relates to computer

workstations.

A computer workstation commonly consists of a work surface provided, for example, by a desk, and computer equipment comprising a screen, a keyboard and a mouse which are placed on the work surface. The workstation may also include a processor which is usually placed on or under the work surface.

A problem of such work stations is that the computer equipment takes up a considerable amount of space on the work surface and prevents the work surface being utilised to the full for other tasks when the computer equipment is not in use.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a holder adapted to be mounted on or adjacent to a work surface of a computer workstation, the holder having means adapted to hold a screen, a keyboard and a mouse of computer equipment all at locations clear of the work surface.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a computer workstation comprising a work surface and a holder which is mounted on or adjacent to the work surface, the holder having means adapted to hold a screen, a keyboard and a mouse of computer equipment all at locations clear of the work surface.

Preferably the said holding means is adapted to have a screen attached to it so as to provide a permanent mounting for the screen enabling it to be viewed when the computer equipment is in use, whereas it is adapted removably to support a keyboard and a mouse so that they can be removed from the holding means and placed on the work surface when the computer :.. equipment is required to be used, and stowed away on the holder clear of the work surface when the equipment is not in use. S... * S. * . S * S. S.. S 1 * S S S. S... * * S...

The holder preferably comprises a support arm carrying the holding means.

This arm is conveniently provided with attachment means for fixing it to a work surface or another surface adjacent to the work surface.

The support arm is preferably of generally inverted L-shape, the vertical limb of the arm being adapted to be mounted at its lower end on a work surface and the horizontal limb carrying the holding means for a keyboard.

These means may also be adapted to hold a mouse or there may be a separate holder for this purpose.

The support arm may conveniently be formed to provide a conduit for cabling coimected to the screen, the keyboard and the mouse. Thus, the cabling may pass through the lower end of the vertical limb of the arm, emerging from the outer end of the horizontal limb to its connection to the screen, keyboard and mouse.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the lower end of the support arm is adapted to be received in a socket or aperture in the work surface, means being provided for securing the said end of the arm in the socket. Preferably these means is such that the arm is turnable about a vertical axis so that it can be swung between different positions, for example at 90 degrees to one another, relative to the work surface.

The holding means preferably comprises a panel arranged to be disposed in an inclined position so that, in use, a keyboard can be placed flat against it, the panel having at least one projecting part at its lower end for supporting the keyboard. The panel may have a part extending upwardly from the location of the keyboard so that a mouse can also be placed against the panel, the mouse being supported in position by the upper part of the ::::. keyboard. Where there is a separate holder for a mouse this may comprise * * ** spaced, downwardly tapering wings for holding the mouse between them. *S*. * S. *.S * * S S. S S...

S S S...

The mounting for a screen may comprise a plate attached to the horizontal limb of the support arm.

A workstation according to the invention may be provided with a receptacle for holding a computer processor. This receptacle is conveniently located beneath the work surface. Where the work surface is provided by a desk the receptacle may be secured to one or more legs of the desk or the top of the

table.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one form of holder for computer equipment at a computer workstation embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the holder shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front perspective view of another form of holder for a computer workstation embodying the invention shown with a computer screen, keyboard and mouse in position on the holder, Figure 4 is a side view of the holder illustrated in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a desk fitted with a holder for computer equipment according to the invention, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a desk fitted with two holders for computer equipment according to the invention, Figure 7 is a sectional view showing means for securing each of the holders of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 to a desk, and Figure 8 is a front perspective view of another form of holder for computer equipment at a computer workstation embodying the invention.

::::. In the drawings the same reference numerals are used to indicate like parts. * SS.

Each holder shown in the drawings comprises a support arm 10 of generally * a. * a * * S. S.. a. S * *..S

inverted L-shape. The lower end of the vertical limb lOa of the arm is provided with a spigot or projection 11 to be received in a socket or aperture in a work surface of a computer workstation. The support arm carries holding means 12 for computer equipment, specifically a screen, a keyboard and a mouse.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 the holding means 12 comprise a plate 13 which is carried by the horizontal limb 1 Ob of the support arm 10 and provided with holes enabling a screen 14 to be secured to it as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a panel 15 also carried by said horizontal limb for removably holding a keyboard 30 and a mouse 16 as also shown in Figures 3 and 4. The plate is connected to the arm by a horizontal pivot joint 17 which enables the angular position of the screen to be adjusted.

The embodiment shown in Figure 8 is similar except that a separate holder 31 is provided on the vertical limb I Oa of the support arm 10 for removably holding the mouse.

The panel 15 is arranged in an inclined position and formed with two forwardly projecting side lugs 1 5a and either two forwardly projecting bottom lugs 1 Sb having upwardly extending portions 1 Sc as in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 6 or a single such bottom lug 15d with a single such portion 15e as in the embodiment of Figure 8 so that a keyboard 30 can be placed flat against the panel between the side lugs 1 5a with its lower part received in and supported by the channel formed by the lugs 1 Sb, 1 5c or lSd, iSe.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 the panel 15 has a part which extends upwardly from the location of the keyboard so that a mouse 16 can be placed against this part, the mouse being supported by the upper part of the keyboard. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 which has a separate holder 31 for the mouse, this holder has downwardly tapering side wings 31 a so that the mouse can simply be placed between these wings and held by them. In all cases, therefore, the keyboard and mouse can be stowed away in positions clear of the work surface when the computer is not in use. When the computer is required to be used the mouse and the keyboard are simply lifted off the holding means and placed on the work surface.

The support arm 10 is hollow so as to form a conduit through which * * * ** S S...

S S S...

electrical cables can be passed in order to connect the keyboard and the mouse to the computer system. The cables enter the arm at the lower end of its vertical limb 1 Oa and emerge from an opening 31 provided in its horizontal limb lOb.

A holder according to the invention may be supplied in right hand and left hand versions. Figures 1 and 2 show a left hand version and Figures 3 and 4 show a right hand version.

Figure 5 shows a right hand version of the holder fitted to a desk 32. This desk comprises a top 18 forming a work surface which is supported by a frame 19 comprising two U-shaped members 20 connected together by two cross members 21. The members 20 are disposed with their limbs horizontal, the upper limb having the table top 18 secured to it and the lower limb being provided with feet 22 which rest on the floor.

A receptacle 23 for housing a processor 24 is mounted beneath the table top 18. This receptacle may be secured to the top or/and to one of the members 20.

Figure 6 shows a desk 32 of a similar construction having a left hand version of the holder and a right hand version fitted to it as well as two receptacles for processors.

As illustrated in Figure 7, in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 the lower end of the vertical limb lOa of the support arm 10 is formed with a cylindrical spigot 11 which is received in a complementary socket formed by two opposed top hat bushes 26 fitted in an aperture in the desk top 18, a flange 27 provided on the arm resting on the upper bush. The arm is secured in position by a collar 28 fixed to the downwardly projecting lower part of the spigot. The arm is turnable about the axis of its vertical limb lOa relative to the desk top, the extent of such movement being limited to 90 degrees by a screw 29 which is engaged with a bore in the underside of the desk top.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 the lower end of the vertical limb lOa of the support arm 10 extends through a collar 33 which is fixed to it, so * ... that when the holder is fitted to a work surface provided by a desk top 34, it extends downwardly through an aperture 35 in the desk top. The lower end portion of the vertical limb is screw-threaded to receive a nut 36. *** ** S S...

If the aperture 35 in the desk top is larger than the lower end of the vertical limb lOa, a ring 37 is fixed to the limb below the collar 33. Three bolts of which one is shown at 38, pass through holes in this ring and through holes in the desk top and are fitted with nuts which are tightened against the underside of the desk top to secure the support arm to the desk.

If the aperture in the desk top is of the same diameter as the lower end of the support arm 10, the ring 37 can be omitted, the arm being secured to the desk top by tightening the nut 36 against the underside of the latter so that the desk top is gripped between the collar 33 and this nut.

In a modification, the collar 33 or the ring 37 may be provided with a single bolt which extends downwardly through an arcuate slot in the desk top concentric with the lower end of the support arm 10 so that the arm can be turned about a vertical axis through ninety degrees to a desired position relative to the desk top, such movement being limited by the bolt. * .. * * * . **** * * **.* * e* I..

S S.. S * * S. S S... S * S 5.5

Claims (15)

1. A holder adapted to be mounted on or adjacent to a work surface of a computer workstation, the holder having means adapted to hold a screen, a keyboard and a mouse of computer equipment all at locations clear of the

2. A holder fitted to a computer workstation having a work surface, the holder which being mounted on or adjacent to the work surface and having means adapted to hold a screen, a keyboard and a mouse of computer equipment all at locations clear of the work surface.

3. A holder as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the said holding means is adapted to have a screen attached to it so as to provide a permanent mounting for the screen enabling it to be viewed when the computer equipment is in use, whereas it is adapted removably to support a keyboard and a mouse so that they can be removed from the holding means and placed on the work surface when the computer equipment is required to be used, and stowed away on the holder clear of the work surface when the equipment is not in use.

4. A holder as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 which comprises a support arm canying the holding means and provided with attachment means for fixing it to a work surface or another surface adjacent to the work surface.

5. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support arm is of generally inverted L-shape, the vertical limb of the arm being adapted to be mounted at its lower end on a work surface and the horizontal limb carrying the holding means for a keyboard.

6. A holder as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the holding means for the keyboard is also adapted to hold a mouse.

7. A holder as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the holding means comprises a : ** separate holder for a mouse which is carried by the vertical limb of the :::: support arm. *.,. * a. * * S * S. * S "S * a. S. * S.. S * . S...

8. A holder as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7 wherein the support arm is formed to provide a conduit for cabling connected to the screen, the keyboard and the mouse.

9. A holder as claimed in Claim 8 when dependent on Claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the cabling passes through the lower end of the vertical limb of the support arm, emerging from the outer end of the horizontal limb to its connection to the screen, keyboard and mouse.

10. A holder as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9 wherein the lower end of the support arm is adapted to be received in a socket or aperture in the work surface, means being provided for securing the said end of the arm in the socket.

11 A holder as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the securing means is such that the arm is turnable about a vertical axis so that it can be swung between different positions, for example at 90 degrees to one another, relative to the

12. A holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding means comprises a panel arranged to be disposed in an inclined position so that, in use, a keyboard can be placed flat against it, the panel having at least one projecting part at its lower end for supporting the keyboard.

13 A holder as claimed in Claim 12 when dependent on Claim 6 wherein the panel has a part extending upwardly from the location of the keyboard so that a mouse can also be placed against the panel, the mouse being supported in position by the upper part of the keyboard.

14. A holder as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the separate holder for a mouse comprises spaced, downwardly tapering side wings for holding the mouse between them.

15. A holder as claimed in Claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the means for holding a : ** screen comprises a plate attached to the horizontal limb of the support arm. S.,. S... * S... * SS *5* S.. * S * *. S *5S* * . *5S*