Patent Application
20170065075
The present invention relates to computer accessories and, more particularly, to a device adapted for improving the ergonomic support for the arm and wrist and forearm of a user of computer keyboards, computer mouse devices and other computer-related input devices.
The devices currently employed to support the arms and hands of users of computer-related input devices have one or more of the following ergonomic flaws: 1) such supporting devices support the user's wrist and forearm too low relative to the input device whereby the resulting wrist and forearm posture over extends the users' wrist and forearms while typing or “mousing”; 2) such supporting devices apply direct pressure on the carpal tunnel canal and middle of the wrist and forearm of the user; 3) such supporting devices are not adapted to continuously maintain support for the weight of the user's arm when they transition between two input devices—i.e., the arm goes unsupported when the user transitions between the mouse and the keyboard; and 4) such supporting devices are integrated to either the computer mouse device or the computer keyboard, and so preclude the use of a preferred input device or the transition between them.
In other words, current wrist and forearm rests are too low, forcing the wrist and forearm to assume an awkward “non-neutral” posture on the device, while the carpal tunnel canal region and mid-forearm directly bears on said current wrist and forearm rests, thereby compounding overall arm discomfort and stress on the finger tendons disposed within the middle of the forearm. Also, the current static wrist and forearm rests do not support the weight of the arm while transitioning from keyboard to mouse device, and vice versa, which tends to transfers stress to the user's shoulders.
As can be seen, there is a device adapted for improving the ergonomic support for the arm and wrist and forearm of a user of computer keyboards, computer mouse devices and other computer-related input devices.
In one aspect of the present invention, a wrist and forearm support device for supporting a wrist and forearm during the use of computer-related input devices resting on a supporting surface includes a body extending from a base end to a wing end; two wing support spaced apart by a predetermined void along the wing end; each wing support extending from a distal end to a narrower proximal end so as to define a supine triangle shape, wherein each wing support is oriented at a longitudinal and a latitudinal support angle relative to the supporting surface; and a base having a bottom surface for engaging the supporting surface, wherein an opposing top surface of the base is rotatably connected to the base end.
In another aspect of the present invention, a wrist and forearm support device for supporting a wrist and forearm during the use of computer-related input devices resting on a supporting surface includes a body extending from a base end to a wing end; two wing support spaced apart by a predetermined void along the wing end, wherein the predetermined void is dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a carpal tunnel region of a human user's forearm so as not to apply pressure thereto, and wherein a periphery of each wing support provides a waterfall edge; each wing support extending from a distal end to a narrower proximal end so as to define a supine triangle shape, wherein each wing support is oriented at a longitudinal and a latitudinal support angle relative to the supporting surface, wherein the latitudinal support angle ranges between seven and fourteen degrees, and wherein the longitudinal support angle ranges between five and twenty degrees; and a base having a bottom surface for engaging the supporting surface, wherein an opposing top surface of the base is rotatably connected to the base end, wherein the bottom surface provides a low friction element, and wherein the top surface provides a slanted surface to which the base end is rotatably engaged so that the latitudinal support angle is adjustable between a minimum and a maximum angle of incidence upon rotating the base relative to the body 180 degrees.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a support device adapted for improving the ergonomic support for the arm and wrist and forearm of a user of computer-related input devices. The support device may include a body dimensioned and adapted for maintaining two support pads spaced apart along a shared horizontal axis so as to form a predetermined void along said horizontal axis and at a predetermined vertical distance above a supporting surface. The predetermined void prevents direct pressure to a carpal tunnel canal region of a supported wrist and forearm. The support device provides a low-friction base for sliding along the supporting surface for maintaining wrist and forearm support as the user transitions between input devices.
Referring now to
The support device 10 may include a body 12 dimensioned and adapted for supporting two, spaced-apart support pads 14. Each support pad 14 may be disposed an approximately equal vertical distance above a supporting surface 28. In certain embodiments, the predetermined vertical distance may range from approximately 0.75 inches to approximately 3 inches. It being understood that terms ‘vertical,’ ‘above,’ ‘horizontal,’ ‘upper,’ ‘lower’ and ‘downwardly’ are defined relative to the direction of gravity, from ‘above’ and directed ‘Vertically’ ‘down’ toward the presumed flat, horizontal supporting surface 28. In other words, a vertical distance between the supporting surface 28 and each support pad 14 is approximately equal. Each support pad 14 is spaced apart a ‘horizontal’ distance so as to form a predetermined void dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a carpal tunnel canal region 32 of the user's wrist and forearm 30, as illustrated in
The two support pads 14 may be dimensioned and adapted so that a human user's wrist and forearm maintains a generally neutral wrist and forearm posture while using the supporting device 10, thereby lessen musculoskeletal stress. In certain embodiments, each support pad 14 includes a generally horizontal portion 13 joined to an angled portion 15, wherein the angled portion 15 slopes downwardly toward its opposing angled portion 15 at a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle may be adapted to maintain the neutral wrist and forearm posture while supporting the wrist and forearm 30 without directly pressuring the carpal tunnel canal region 32, whereby supporting pressure is maintained near and along the sides of the user's wrist and forearm 30, as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, the body 12 may form a generally V-shaped channel 18 so that two support pads 14 are spaced apart a shared horizontal plane/axis so as to form the predetermined void disclosed above, and illustrated in
The base 16 may be a low-friction component, such as but not limited to, a low friction material, rotating wheels or the like. As a result, the base may be adapted to glide/slide the body 12 along the supporting surface 28. In certain embodiments, the supporting surface 28 is shared by the computer keyboard 24, tablet and/or the computer mouse device 26 so that the user's wrist and forearm 30 is supported while keying, mousing and/or transitioning in between input devices, thereby reducing musculoskeletal stress to the user's upper arm, neck and shoulder. In alternative embodiments, the supporting device 10 may be used for other types of manually operated controls and input devices having a supporting surface 28 nearby. As way of example, the supporting device 10 may be used by a light rail operator maintaining the control throttle.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The supporting device 10 has described above may be provided. The user rests their wrist and forearm 30 between the two supporting pads 14 in a comfortable, neutral posture for keying, mousing, or transitioning between the input devices, whereby the user may apply pressure so that the low friction base 16 slides along the supporting surface 28. To disengage from the present invention, the user simply raises their wrist and forearms 30 from the supporting pads 14.
Referring to
The two wing supports 50 may be soft material or pads that extend from the wing end 64 at a longitudinally support angle relative to a second axis 82, which is enumerated in
A void 56 may be provided between the spaced apart wing supports 50 so that a gauge portion 66 of the wing end 64 is visible, as illustrated in
Each wing support 55 provides waterfall edges 55 along their periphery, wherein the waterfall edges 55 are dimensioned and adapted to contact with the user's forearm to reduce or minimize high concentrations of pressure. The waterfall edges 55 may have a radius of curvature of approximately a quarter inch. The supine triangular design for the user to be able to modify forearm placement, from the wrist crease (distally) to close to the elbow (proximally) without any area where there is not a waterfall edge 55. Other designs have abrupt sharp or small radial surface edges which creates shear which can lead to discomfort and other medical medleys.
The latitudinal and longitudinal support angles of the wing supports 50 allows for the support of the natural angles of the base of the forearm while the top of the arm remains flat, thereby invoking a more neutral position of the forearm and wrist. The flatter winged shape also allows any portion of the forearm from wrist to elbow to be placed in the rest without having to adjust the separation of the pads (void 56). The waterfall front, rear and side of the pads/wing supports 50 reduce pressure points on the forearm or wrist of the user.
The base 40 may have a bottom surface for engaging the supporting surface 28, such as a desktop, table of the like. The bottom surface may provide a low-friction component, such as but not limited to, a low friction material, rotating wheels or the like. As a result, the base 40 may be adapted to glide/slide along the supporting surface 28. Opposing the bottom surface, the base 40 provides a top surface 42, and along at least a portion of the top surface 42 is the slanted surface 44, or wedged shape. A distance between the (flat) supporting surface 28 and the slanted surface 44 increases or decreases when moving along the second axis 82.
The base end 62 of the body 60 is generally orthogonal relative to the body 60, and so when the base end 62 and the slanted surface 44 interface as the body 60 rotates about the first axis 80 an angle of difference 88 is defined relative to the first axis 80, as illustrated in
The design of the present invention is adapted to accommodate a large variation in what part of the forearm can be placed in the support device 10 while supporting the upper extremity also allows for different size users from small women to large males to use the support device 10 without adjustment to accommodate forearm volume, breadth and depth and length. The adjustability allows users to modify the effective fingertip height to accommodate very thin or very thick input devices, such as tablets, keyboards, laptops or other work surfaces.
Utilizing the angle of incidence 86 of the forearm support to modify the latitudinal support angle and thus the inclination between the hand height and the forearm height, results in a smaller change to the center of mass of the upper arm as there is no change in upper arm angle if the forearm angle is changed. As opposed to other devices that simply raise and lower a user's whole upper and lower arm, whereby if the height of such devices is raised, the resulting increase in the upper arm (shoulder) angle and also the center of mass of the arm thereby increases torque on the shoulder compared to that of simply changing the angle of incidence 86 of the forearm. In other words, if one were to simple raise the height of the support then the upper arm angle would be increased thereby increasing the moment at the shoulder, by changing just the angle of the forearm only the forearm and elbow angles are affected.
Referring to
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/850,231, filed Sep. 10, 2015 which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/048,483, filed Sep. 10, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62048483 | Sep 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14850231 | Sep 2015 | US |
| Child | 15354550 | US |
