Support apparatus with dual palm rests for keyboards and the like

Abstract

A support apparatus has dual, or left and right, palm rests. The apparatus is positionable to support an item like a keyboard in various inclined positions. The dual palm rests are mounted separately on a common carriage that slides in a plane back and forth relative to a front edge of an item on the apparatus. The manner of mounting the palm rests permits each palm rest to swivel about a generally vertical swivel axis and, additionally, move hingeally about a hinge axis that extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the associated swivel axis. The palm rests are connected to sets of torsion springs or the like to normally bias the palm rests about both the swivel axes and the hinge axes for clamping. Likewise, the sliding action of the carriage is preferably normally biased for clamping as well. Overall, the carriage, dual palm rests and biasing cooperatively effect a multiply adjustable clamping action on the from edge of the item. The support apparatus optionally includes a dual side-pad assembly positionable in either left or right use positions, or in a storage position. Each side panel is independently inclinable, and can carry a clip-on wrist rest. The side panels provide surfaces for use, for example, with a cursor positioning device like a mouse or a trackball. For the cursor positioning device, there is also a storage device which is removably attachable to the edges of the support apparatus, for releasably storing the cursor positioning device during non-use.