Wireless mouse and Keyboard Chair Mount Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a tray on a chair having two arms. The apparatus includes a first support member coupled to a first arm of the chair, the first support member defining a top surface and being adapted to be slid from a use position in which the top surface is substantially accessible to support the tray, to a stowed position in which the top surface is not substantially accessible to support the tray, and a second support member coupled to a second arm of the chair, the second support member defining a top surface and being adapted to be slid from a use position in which the top surface is substantially accessible to support the tray, to a stowed position in which the top surface is not substantially accessible to support the tray. A tray adapted to sit on and span the distance between the two extended support members may also be included.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the inventive wireless mouse and keyboard chair mount apparatus of the invention, with the slidable tray support member in the extended, ready-to-use position, but without the tray;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the tray support member stowed;

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 removed from the chair arm and turned upside-down;

FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of the work tray for the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a partial, bottom view of the tray of FIG. 4A, showing a pair of channel-defining members;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tray of FIGS. 4A and 4B resting on an apparatus of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the inventive wireless mouse and keyboard chair mount apparatus of the invention, with the slidable tray support member in the extended, ready-to-use position, but without the tray;

FIG. 6B is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a detent mechanism for the invention;

FIG. 7 shows an armchair with the invention in use thereon;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and bottom views, respectively, of the preferred embodiment of the inventive wireless mouse and keyboard chair mount apparatus of the invention, with the slidable tray support member in the stowed position, but without the tray;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are top and bottom views, respectively, of the preferred embodiment of the inventive wireless mouse and keyboard chair mount apparatus of the invention shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, with the slidable tray support member in the extended, ready-to-use position, but without the tray;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective and side views, respectively, of the cover portion of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the slide-out tray support member of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective and side views, respectively, of the mount member of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B;

FIG. 13A is a view similar to FIG. 1A of another embodiment of the invention that is built directly in to the arms of an armchair; and

FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a tray on a chair having two arms, the apparatus comprising: a first support member coupled to a first arm of the chair, the first support member defining a top surface and being adapted to be slid from a use position in which the top surface is substantially accessible to support the tray, to a stowed position in which the top surface is not substantially accessible to support the tray; anda second support member coupled to a second arm of the chair, the second support member defining a top surface and being adapted to be slid from a use position in which the top surface is substantially accessible to support the tray, to a stowed position in which the top surface is not substantially accessible to support the tray.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first support member comprises a cantilevered arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first support member further comprises an end cap on the distal end of the arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the end cap defines a thumb grip to assist the user in sliding the first support member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first support member further comprises one or more spaced grips on the top surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first support member is generally rigid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the first support member is generally flat.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first housing for the first support member and a second housing for the second support member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the housings are adapted to be releasably coupled to an arm of the chair.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the housings are adapted to be coupled to an arm of the chair such that the housing sits on top of the arm to which it is coupled.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the housing are coupled to an arm of the chair by one or more straps that are coupled to the housing and encircle the arm.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the straps are adjustable in length.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a construction for releasably locking each arm in its respective housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the construction for releasably locking each arm in its respective housing comprises a detent assembly, located in part on the support member and in part on the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tray adapted to sit on and span the distance between the first and second support members.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the tray has an upper surface and a lower surface, and carries two pairs of channel-defining members on its lower surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the channel-defining members comprise spaced generally linear protrusions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the linear protrusions of each pair are generally parallel to one another.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the top surface of the tray is large enough to support a wireless computer keyboard and a wireless computer mouse.

20. An apparatus for supporting a tray on a chair having two arms, the apparatus comprising: a first generally rigid, cantilevered arm support member coupled to a first arm of the chair, the first support member defining a generally flat top surface and being adapted to be slid from a use position in which the top surface is substantially accessible to support the tray, to a stowed position in which the top surface is not substantially accessible to support the tray; anda second generally rigid, cantilevered arm support member coupled to a second arm of the chair, the second support member defining a generally flat top surface and being adapted to be slid from a use position in which the top surface is substantially accessible to support the tray, to a stowed position in which the top surface is not substantially accessible to support the tray.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a first housing for the first support member and a second housing for the second support member, wherein the housings are adapted to be releasably coupled to an arm of the chair such that the housing sits on top of the arm to which it is coupled.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a tray adapted to sit on and span the distance between the first and second support members.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the tray has an upper surface and a lower surface, and carries two pairs of channel-defining members on its lower surface.