Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 1 70796
SECTIONED WRIST REST FOR KEYBOARDS, POI~TING DEVICES,
~D THE LIXE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to ergonomic devices for
reducing the stress on the hands and wrists of operators
of keyboards, pointing devices, mice, and the like. The
present invention is particularly useful for e~h~ncing
the comfort of the user while concurrently reducing
muscle and tendon strain and stress associated with long
term usage of a keyboard, ~ointing device, or mouse for a
computer.
- Description of Related Art:
The rise in the use o~ home and office compute_s has
resulted in ar upswins in .he n~lmber of cases of ca-pei
tunnel syndrome from repetltive movement of the wr sts
and hands without proper positior.ing and support. ~ven
when this drastic condition does not result, most ?eople
who operate computer keyboards, pointing devices,.mice
and the like for a significant portion of each day
experience discomfort in their hands and wrists from
holding them in one position and develop sore spots or
aches and pains from resting on a hard table or the edge
of the keyboard.
-25 Many devices and systems have been developed over
,he last severa' years to make operating computers more
comfortable and ergonomic. For example, U.S. Pa.ent No.
5,193,92S to Foulke discloses a wrist support having a
plurality of foam sections stackably folded on top of
each other. U.S. Patent No. 5,356,099 to Sereboff
discloses a wrist support system comprising a support
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me~ber mounted on a base surface and a deformable pack
for restir.g the wrists attached to the support member.
U.S. Paten; No. 5,374,018 to Daneshvar discloses a
keybcard cradle and support pad which includes a soft pad
or inflatable balloon for a wrist support pad in front of
the keyboard. Many of the prior art wrist rests are
attached to a keyboard or keyboard recei~ing tray to
prevent movement. However, this makes it difficult to
move the rest to a desired position in front of the
keyboard or to another keyboard.
Various flexible pads exist for applying heat or
cold to selected parts of the human body for therapeutic
purposes. ~t is known to configure such a pad in one
form as an elongated flexible tube comprising an outer
soft fabric laye_ and an inner sealing layer filled with
gel -nd arranged for placement in front of a keyboard for
therapeutic purposes.
The sel maintains a viscous consistency wher cocled
or hea.ed to a therapeu~ic temperature. Thus, the se is
2~ suitable for cooling in a re-zer or ~e~ting in a
microwave, for example. The fabric layer lesser.s the
likelihood of overheating or cool ng the flesh. However,
this single compartment design tends to roll towa-d and
away ~rom the keyboard in response to movement of the
user's hands. Further, the gel filling bul~es unduly
under the thumbs when the user's hands are rested cn ~he
pad, causing awkward and less effective thumb movement.
A need remains in the art for a simple, low cost,
portable wrist rest containing a liquid or gel which may
be suitable for cooling or heating but which does not
roll with the user's wrist movement or bulge unduly so as
to impede access to the keyboard or pointing device by
the user~s thumbs.
2 1 70796
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SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~LON
Ar object of the prese~t invention is to provide an
ersonomic wrist res; for users of computer keyboards,
pointing devices and the like. Two or more elongated,
parallel sections or compartments are filled with a
deformable material. The para~lel sections prevent the
wrist rest from rolling forward or backward with wrist
motion by the user or bulging under the thum~s of the
user.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the wrist
rest comprises a fabric cover having two elongated
pockets, or chambers, with op~nings at one end and a flap
covering the openings. Two sealed tubes filled with a
de.ormable material are inserted into the pockets. The
flap prevents the tubes from slidins out of the pockets.
The deformable material may comprise a gel. If desired,
this gel may be of the type which retains its de,o~mable
characteristic when cooled or heated to apprcpriat~
~empe_atures for .herapeut~cally coolin5 or heatinc cf
sore muscles and tendons or the like.
A second embodiment of the invention comprises an
inner sealed waterproof pouch containing the defo~able
material enclosed within an outer sealed pouch. The two
elongated parallel sections of the w_ist res~ are formed
by running a seal longitudinally through both pouches.
Thus, the present invention is a wrist rest formed
from a plurality of sleeves of flexible material with
each slee~e defining an elongated compartment. A
deformable material fills each slee~e compartment and is
sealed therein. Those sleeves are joined in a parallel,
generally coplanar arrangement. One arrangement for
joining the sleeves is to employ a cover having two
elongated pockets each with an opening at one end and an
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~ 4
arransemen~ for closing those openinss. The Pleeves can
include two sealed tubes containing saia deformable
materia' and inse ted into respective said pockets.
A flap relative to the pockets can secure the
S slee~es in closing relation over the cover openings.
Further, the wrist rest can employ a gel as the
deformable material with that gel having a high heat
absorption capacity and which retains its deformable
characteristic when cooled to temperatures suitable for
therapeutically cooling of sore muscles and tendons.
Another advantageous deformable material for the
sleeve filler is a gel ~such as a water based gel) having
a high heat retention capacity and which retains its
deformable characteristic when heated to appropriate
lS temperatures for therapeutically heating the limbs of a
usèr. The sleeves can further include an outer layer of
low moisture vapor transmission rate material. Examples
of useful materials are CarbopGl 940 for the wate~ based
gel and A-finity plastic film or the low transm_ssi^r
rate mate_ial.
A device in accordance with this invention can
utilize a pair of sleeves each formed with a sealed ir.ner
elongated pouch of a material impermeable to the pliant
or deformable material used with those inner poucnes
contained within an outer elongated fabric pouch. The
ioint between them can be formed via a seal runni-.g
longitudinally down the center of both pouches and with
the deformable filling sealed within the inner pouches.
The present invention ~s a pad suitable for use as a
wris~ rest in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse, or
the like. A container of a material suitable for
comfortably engaging the skin of the user is configured
for defining a pair of parallel, elongated chambers. A
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s
pair of elongated pouches each fabricated of a material
which is relatively impermeable to a pliable material are
each filled with tha~ pliable ma_erial and sealed for
retaining it therein. The pouches are retained in
respective chambers o~ the container.
The chambers are each formed with an opening and a
retaining arrangement selectively closes those chamber
openings. For instance, a flexible flap secured to the
exterior of the container in proximity to the chamber
openings can pro~ide this function wherein the flap is
movable between a first position o~erlying the chamber
openings and a second position clear of the chamber
openings. It is possible to form this flap as an
extension of one of the external sur~aces of the
container or to secure a sepa-ate flap to the container
exterior so that it is movable into an overlying position
relative to the chamber openir.gs. A latching
arrangement, such as Velcro fasteners, snaps, retaining
bands or the like between the flap and the ext-rn~l
s~_face of the container can prcvide the closu-e securing
function.
Yet another containe- opening securing con isu-a~ion
is to secure the sides and one end of a flap to the
external surface of the container for defining a pocket
opening in the opposite direction from the chamber
openings. Selection of suitably flexible materials for
the flap, container and pouches permits reversal of the
aforesaid pocket into an overlying position over tne
cha~ber openings.
A wrist res~t in accordance with this invention in
one embodiment is formed via a pair of elongated plastic
sleeves containing fluidic, deformable material in sealed
relation therein. These sleeves are secured to one
another along their lengths so as to form a relatively
2 1 70796
t
flat pad that will remain stable desoite movement of the
wris.s and~or hands of the use- while operating a
keyboa~d, mouce, or the iike. To enhance comfort to the
user, at least the external su~face of the sleeves
engaged by the user can include a coatlng of material
suitable for comfortable engagement with the skin of tAat
user.
One process for constructing a wrist rest product in
accordance with this in~ention begins by placing two
layers of material impermeable to a fluidic filler
between two layers of material suitable for comfortably
engaging the skin of the user. These layers are sealed
for defining at least two chambers between the
impermeable layers. Those chambers are next filled with
the fluidic medium and sealed for retaining that fluicic
material. ~s a result, a relatively flat and comfortabIe
pad of sesmented sections is f~rmed which is stable when
placed in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse or the
like and ensaged by the wrist or hand of the user of
those ins.ruments.
The com,ort of the wris; res' to ~he user is
enhanced by employing a tricot nylon for at least one o'
the skin engaging layers.
Another process for fabricating a wrist rest for use
in proximity to a keyboard, computer mouse, or the iike,
starts with forming at least two elongated chambers from
a material suitable for comfortable engagement of the
skin of a user. At least two elon~ated sleeves are
formed of material impermeable to a fluidic medium with
those sleeves filled with the fluidic medium and sealed
for retaining the fluidic medium therein. The thus
filled sleeves are then inserted into respective
chambers. Ncte that it is likewise acceptable to fill
2 1 70796
_
and seal the sleeves with the fluid~c medi~_m after they
are inserted into the chambers.
The final product is a relatively fla~ and
comfortable pad which is stable when placed in proximity
to a keyboard, computer mouse or the like. A flap can
then be formed or attached for releasably securing the
sleeves in the chambers. Selection of a water based gel
for the fluidic medium is be~ieved advantageous.
The foregoing and other objects, ad~antages and
applications of the present invention will become more
apparent to those having normal skill in the art in the
light of the following detailed description of this
invention.
BRIEF ~ESCRIPTION OF T'..~ ~R~WI~GS
FIGURE 1 shows a disassembled isome--lc view showing
the interrelationships of the elements of one embodiment
of a wrist rest in accordarce wi h er.e p_esent inven-ior..
- FIGURF. 2 shows a bottom view of the wr st res. o_
FIG. 1 ready for use after assem~ly and closure o, the
2G retainer flap.
FIGURE 3 shows a section view of the wrist rest of
FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along section line 3-3 of FIG~ 2.
FIGURE 4 shows an isometric view of a second
embodiment of a wrist rest according to tne present
invention.
FIGURE S shows an isometric, front section view of
the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5.
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FIGU~E 6 shows the wrist -est of FIGS. 1 and 2 in
use in proximity to the front of a keyboard.
F~GUR~ 7 is a side vi-w of a wrist rest in
accordance with this invention in a typical relationship
to a keyboa-d.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODTMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a side isometric view of a preferred
embo~i~ent of a wrist rest 10 in accordance with the
present invention. Fabric cover 12 may be of any
reasonably durable fabric which is preferably comfortable
when contacted by the hands, wrists and fingers of a
user. For example, polyester flannel ~tricot) or nylon
tricot woven ma.erial are suitable candidate materials
for cover 12. A seam 14 runs down the center of cover 10
and, along with side seams 1~ and 20 and bottom seam lo,
forms two compartments or pockets 24 and 25. Seams 14,
15, 18, ar.d 20 a-e preferably sewn, but are secu-able by
othe- procedures and processes, such as gluins o~ hea.
seal ng.
Sealed tubes 26 and 27 are inserted in~o pocke.s 24
and 25 as indicated by arrows 36 and 38. A flap of
material 22 is attached at side seams 18 and 20 so as to
form a pocket opening which faces away from the openings
of pockets 24 and 25. The flap 22, pockets 24 and 25 and
~ubes 26 and 27 along with their contents are all
constructed of materials suitable flexible to permit
inversion o~ the pocket formed by flap 22 so tha~ it is
flipped over the end of cover 12 as indicated by arrow
34. Flap 22 then tightly covers the ends of pockets 24
- 30 and 25, thereby retaining tubes 26 and 27 within pockets
24 and 25. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 which
show flap 22 in the closure position.
2 1 70796
FIG. 2 shows a bot.om ~iew of the wrist rest of FIG.
1 with flap 22 in a closed position as ment oned above.
Flap 22, which is secur-d along its edges t~ the outer
seams of pockets 24 and 25, is stretchable over the ends
S of pockets 24 and 25 between the positions shown in FIGS.
1 and 2. Alternatively, any of several arrangements can
provide a secured closure for pockets 24 and 25, such as
Velcro on the end of an otherwise loose flap attached to,
or formed as an extension of, the upper or lower surface
of wrist rest 10.
Section lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 indicate the section
view of writs rest 10 as is shown in FIG . 3 . Loop 3 9,
attached to bottom seam 16, is useful for carrying, or
hanging, wrist rest 10 for display or storage. Thus,
15 FIG. 3 shows a somewhat enlarged front section view taken
along line 3- 3 of FIG. 2 of wrist rest lQ of FIG. 1.
Tubes 26 and-27 are shown inserted into cover 12, and
flap 22 is in the closed position.
Tubes 25 and 27 are fo~ed o' a soft, flexible and
ccmfortable inne- tube cove- 30 of a mater al wrich is
substantially impermeable to defor~able filiins material
32. For example, filling 32 may be a water based gel,
such as the polymer composed of Carbopol 940, water, and
propylene g~ycol sterilizea via super chlorination. In
25 that case, inner tube co~e~ 30 is preferably a low
moisture vapor transmission rate material, such as 4 to 5
mil Affinity f lm produced from Dow plastic by Pierson.
Many other fillings are possible, including natural
clays such as attapulghite and bentonite. Another
possible filling example is oils thickened with
inorganic/organic modified clays or simple petrolatum,
such as 100 point motor oil thickened with ~aragel 3000
from Rheox Corporation and petroleum jelly. All of these
latter materials could be used with a urethane inner tube
- 21 70796
cove~ 30. A low moisture vapor transmission materiai is
not required with these fi'l materials.
Contemporary processes are available which are
suitable for adaptation in fabricating tubes 26 or 27.
For instance, irner tube cover 30 may be a simple plastic
tube which is filled with gel and then sealed at its
ends.
If tubes 30 are of simple construction, then ideally
the tube 30 material and the fill material 32 are chosen
to allow use of form, fill, and seal technology, a
process by which the inner tube film is fed into a
- thermosealer machine and sealed simultaneously as the
filler is introduced inside the tube. The water based
gel and waterproof cover discussed in the pre~ious
paragraph are useable in this process. Alternatively,
the tubes may be individually RF or heat sealed, hand or
automatically filled, and then spout sealed.
FIG. 4 shows a side 1somet-ic view of a second
embodiment 40 of a wrist rest accordir.g to the p~esen~
invention. In this embodiment, tubes 4'A and 4~3 are
preferably constructsd so that all of the seals 4~, A 5
48, and 50 are RF or heat sealed by a die in one step,
with end seal 52 RF or heat sealed shut after inner gel
pouches 56 are filled (note FIG. 5). Fabric outer
pouches 42 and 43 are preferably formed of nylon tricot,
and inner tube covers 56 and 57 are formed of plastic
film.
Thus, in the second preferred embodiment, wrist rest
40 is formed by placing one layer of tricot nylon on the
bottom, placing two layers of plastic film on top of the
first layer, and finally placing a second layer of nylon
tricot on top. Seals 44, 46, 48, and 50 are RF or heat
sealed, permanently sealing the four layers together into
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11
two gel pouches 56 and 57. Gel pouches 41A and 41B
comprise outer fabric pouches 42 and 43 along with inner
tube covers 56 and 57 formed by the afcrementioned seals.
Gel pouches 41A and 41B are then marually or otherwise
S filled with pliant, deformable filling 62 and 63.
Finally, end or spcut seal 52 is RF or heat sealed to
prevent the deformable filling from escaping the gel
pouches.
FIG. 5 shows a front section view of the FIG. 4
embodiment. Deformable filling 62 and 63 is contained
within inner tube covers 56 and 5~, and outer fabric
cover 42 and 43 as shown. FIG. 5 is taken along section
lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 shows a top plan view o~ wrist rest 10 of
FIGS. 1 and 2 in use before a keyboard 64. Note that the
wrist rest 40 of FIG. 4 and 5 is slmilarly situated when
in use. The hands or wrists 66 of the use_ may rest on
wrist rest 10 whether or not the user is using keybcard
64 or a pointing device (not shown). FIG. 7 shows a sids
view of w-isc rest 10 in place in ~ror.t of keyboard 54.
Although keyboard 64 is shown with a relativ-ly
straight front edge, note that wrist r-st embodiments lG
and 40 are both well suited for use with devices having
front edges otherwise configured. That is, being
flexible as described, either wrist rest 10 or w~ist res.
40 can easily conform to the front edge of a keyboard
which is cur~ed, sloped, or othe~wise modified as for
ergonometric purposes.
While the exemplary preferred embodiments of the
present invention are described herein with
particularity, those having normal skill in the art will
recognize various changes, modifications, additions and
applications other than those specifically mentioned
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herein without departing f-om the spirit of this
in~ention.
