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Adjustable armchair trayAdjustable armchair tray description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060108841, Adjustable armchair tray. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of pending application, entitled ADJUSTABLE ARMCHAIR TRAY, filed by Daniel V. Steenson on Oct. 13, 2005, with application Ser. No. 11/250,654, which is a continuation-in-part application claiming the priority date from the pending utility application entitled ADJUSTABLE ARMCHAIR MOUSE TRAY, filed by Daniel V. Steenson on Aug. 18, 2004 with application Ser. No. 10/921,540. Both applications are incorporated herein by these references. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of computer accessories. More particularly, the present invention provides an adjustable tray that may be easily mounted to the arm of a chair to provide a generally planar working surface to support a computer mouse and other accessories, devices and objects. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Computers are operated through the use of peripheral systems and devices such as a keyboard, roller mouse or optical mouse, pen, joystick, keyboard, keypad, roller ball, trackball, personal digital assistant, cell phone, or similar device or other device, referred to collectively as IO devices. IO devices enable a user to interact with a computer or network to send or receive information, make decisions, and carry out various other functions. Direct physical contact with, and therefore close proximity to, these devices are essential to their operation. [0004] However, in most circumstances a computer user works at a desk and leans forward or sideways from a comfortable sitting position to reach a keyboard or mouse on a desk or other flat surface. Reaching for the keyboard or the mouse in this way makes it very difficult to maintain proper posture and operate the computer comfortably. Use of IO devices on a desktop stresses the back, shoulder and the wrist. For wrist stress and carpal tunnel syndrome, numerous products, such as ergonomically shaped mice and wrist supports, attempt to address the symptoms of this stress without addressing the awkward positioning that often causes strain. [0005] Additionally, persons with debilitating injuries may find that reaching to a desk to use IO devices is difficult or painful. Accordingly, there is a need for a surface for supporting one or more IO devices that maintains a position so that the user may maintain ergonomically correct posture and wrist position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The physical stresses resulting from the awkward positioning and use of IO devices on a desktop may be remedied by mounting an adjustable tray to the left or right arm of a chair in order to facilitate the operation of a mouse or other IO device as a natural extension of a person's arm from a comfortable seated position. An adjustable tray that can be quickly and efficiently mounted to the arm of a chair may facilitate comfortable use of a computer keyboard on a person's lap without reaching for other IO devices, or use of a keyboard on the platform, further correcting the hunched forward position of many computer users. Multiple trays may be used simultaneously; for example, with a keyboard and a mouse, or split keyboards adapted for use with the left and right hands. [0007] As used herein, the adjustable armchair tray is referred to simply as an adjustable tray. The adjustable tray includes a platform that provides a generally planar working surface particularly suited for operation of IO devices. The platform is rotatably fastened to a chair arm attachment body, which is adjustable to fit various styles, widths, and lengths of chair arms. [0008] The platform also preferably includes retainers around its perimeter to prevent devices from sliding off the platform, and retainers to retain a pad on the platform when the platform is rotated and stored to the side of the chair. [0009] The main components of the chair arm attachment body are an armchair stop, guides and one or more compression elements. The armchair stop supports the platform for use and storage, and connects the platform to the guides that mount on the arm of a chair. The armchair stop preferably defines a groove, cavity or interconnecting groove by which the armchair stop is pivotally connected by a fastener to the platform through one of the slots in the platform. This interconnection allows the platform to slide and rotate within the horizontal plane for use, and within the vertical plane for storage of the platform to the side of a chair. [0010] The adjustable tray includes guides for allowing the adjustable tray to be mounted to the chair arm. The manner of attachment presents various embodiments of the adjustable tray. In some embodiments, the guides are slidably interconnected to the armchair stop and fixed against the chair arm by at least one securing device. The securing device is preferably a strap with a buckle for easy attachment. In other embodiments, the guides retract into corresponding cavities in the chair arm. [0011] The adjustable tray is preferably adjustable to various sizes of chair arms. The adjustable tray may also include a pad disposed on the platform and retained by a retainer around the periphery of the platform or, one or more discrete pad retainers. Cushioning material may be used on the armchair stop, the plurality of guides, the plurality of vertical guides and the bottom support member to prevent movement of the adjustable tray or marring of the chair during use. [0012] In other embodiments, the armchair stop is securely attached directly to the chair arm, eliminating the adjustable guides while still allowing the platform to be placed in a generally horizontal plane for use and a generally vertical plane for storage. In still other embodiments, a rotatable joint may be used to tilt or angle the platform to accommodate the user's wrist rotation, which is particularly useful for ergonomic use of keyboards. [0013] The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. [0014] Still other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein only the preferred embodiments of the invention will be described and shown, simply by way of illustration of the best modes contemplated to manifest the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, as mounted on a chair arm. [0017] FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 4 shows a fastener according to an embodiment of the invention. [0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. Continue reading about Adjustable armchair tray... Full patent description for Adjustable armchair tray Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Adjustable armchair tray patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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