US20060108487A1

US20060108487A1 - Slide for keyboard platform

Info

Publication number: US20060108487A1
Application number: US11/250,896
Authority: US
Inventors: Michel Cloutier; Louis Menard
Original assignee: Nicolet Plastique Ltd
Current assignee: Nicolet Plastique Ltd
Priority date: 2004-11-22
Filing date: 2005-10-14
Publication date: 2006-05-25
Also published as: CA2486809A1; EP1658783A3; EP1658783A2

Abstract

Disclosed is a slide for use to install a keyboard platform under a working surface. The slide consists of an elongated piece having an upper portion provided with openings to receive screws for fixing it under the working surface, and a C-shaped bottom portion sized to receive and support one side of the platform. The lower portion has a slot extending over most of its length and through which a screw may be inserted in order to retain one side of the platform with the C-shaped lower portion while allowing this platform to be moved along the slide and stopped at opposite ends thereof. Advantageously, the elongated piece also has a lateral surface with holes made therein in order to allow its fixation with screws onto a vertical panel or any other support piece extending vertically under the working surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide for keyboard platform, which is devised to allow quick and easy installation of a computer keyboard platform under a working surface or between vertical panels.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

It is of common practice in the field of furniture especially adapted for computers, to use a desk, or a table or any other working surface provided with a support for a computer keyboard, which is mounted onto a platform that can be pulled forward from under the desk or table, and subsequently moved back under same when such is necessary, especially when there is a need for space. For this purpose, there already exist numerous types of computer keyboard platforms. However, the existing supports for such platforms call for the installation of pieces of wood and/or complex equipment in order to position the platform under the working surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a slide for a keyboard platform, which slide is installable in a very easy manner under a working surface such as a desk or a table in order to support the platform on which is positioned the keyboard in such a manner as to allow the platform to be moved forward and rearward under said working surface.
The slide for a keyboard platform according to the invention basically consists of an elongated piece having an upper portion provided with openings to receive screws for fixing the slide under the working surface, a C-shaped bottom portion sized to receive and support one side of the platform, and two opposite ends. The lower portion of the elongated piece comprises a slot extending over most of the length of the bottom portion and through which a screw may be inserted in order to retain one side of the platform within the C-shaped bottom portion while allowing the platform to be moved along the slide and stopped at the opposite ends thereof.
Preferably, the opposite ends of the slide according to the invention, each have a rounded surface in order to reduce the risk of scratching injuries in use.
Preferably also, the slide according to the invention, may comprise a lateral side with holes therein in order to allow fixation of it with screws onto a vertical panel or any other support piece extending vertically under the working surface.
The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer keyboard platform held between two slides according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the platform in a forward position;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the left-hand side of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the two slides, the platform as well as the screws and other attachment means in separate positions;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are a perspective view, rear elevational view and front elevational view respectively, of the slide according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the previous drawings;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are rear elevated view, top plan view and side elevational view respectively, of the slide shown in FIGS. 5 and 6; and
FIGS. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views showing how the slide according to the invention can be installed under a working surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The support 1 for a computer keyboard as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises, as is of common practice, a platform 3 which is devised to be mounted in a sliding manner under the bottom of a working surface in order to be easily accessible to the user and be subsequently moved back under the working surface to get more space if need be.
In accordance with the present invention, this support 1 makes use of two slides 5 of absolutely identical structure for installing the keyboard platform 3 under the working surface. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the slides 5 are of perfectly symmetrical structure, which allows them to be used for installation purposes either on the left-hand side or on the right-hand side of the platform, which is not the case with the conventional slides presently on the market. The slide 5 according to the invention is actually reversible, which reduces the number of elements to be kept in storage for installing purposes.
Each slide 5 according to the invention comprises opposite ends having rounded surfaces 7, 9 in order to reduce the risk of scratching injuries that could be caused in use, especially when the slides located under a desk comprise sharp edges as is the case with conventional slides or wood supports.
Each slide 5 also comprises a lower portion 11 with a C-shape, which acts as a support for the platform and permits to compensate for any excessive pressure during manipulation. Just below the upper part of the C-shaped bottom portion 11, there is a slot 13 that extends over most of the length of the bottom portion. This slot 13 is intended to receive plastic reinforcing support 15 and/or screws 17 that are connectable directly to the platform in order to guide the same while stopping its sliding motion at the opposite ends of the slide. It is worth noting that the plastic reinforcing support 15 could be replaced by screws or metal disks.
Using such reinforcing support 15 and/or screws 17 that extend externally outside from the slide, has the advantage of holding the adjacent edge of the platform within the C-shaped bottom portion of the slide and thus preventing it from falling down as it may happen with conventional supports wherein a metal reinforcing bar is the only means used to prevent this problem.
The upper portion of each slide 5 also comprises openings 19 in which can be inserted screws 21 in order to fix it under the working surface or a piece of wood fixed under the same, as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 11. The openings 19 are preferably located in free spaces in order to allow a person with a conventional screwdriver to have easy access to them and install the screws.
Preferably, each slide 5 also comprises a plurality of holes 21 made in its lateral side to allow installation of the slide onto a vertical panel or another support piece extending vertically under the working surface, such as wood blocks that are not located vertically underneath, but laterally, as is shown in FIG. 10.
The slide 5 according to the invention, is preferably made of a plastic material molded into two parts, without use of expensive mechanical means, such permits to increase the production rate.

Claims

1. A slide for use to install a keyboard platform under a working surface, said slide consisting of an elongated piece having an upper portion provided with openings to receive screws for fixing said slide under the working surface, a C-shaped bottom portion sized to receive and support one side of the platform, and two opposite ends, said lower portion comprises a slot extending over most of the length of said bottom portion and through which a screw may be inserted in order to retain one side of the platform within the C-shaped bottom portion while allowing said platform to be moved along the slide and stopped at the opposite ends thereof.

2. The slide according to claim 1, wherein each of said opposite ends has a rounded surface in order to reduce the risk of scratching injuries in use.

3. The slide according to claim 1, further comprising a lateral side with holes therein in order to allow fixation of said slide with screws onto a vertical panel or another support piece extending vertically under the working surface.

4. The slide according to claim 2, further comprising a lateral side with holes therein in order to allow fixation of said slide with screws onto a vertical panel or another support piece extending vertically under the working surface.

5. The slide according to claim 1, wherein said slide is made of molded plastic material.

6. The slide according to claim 2, wherein said slide is made of molded plastic material.

7. The slide according to claim 3, wherein said slide is made of molded plastic material.

8. The slide according to claim 4, wherein said slide is made of molded plastic material.