Field of Invention.

[001] The present invention relates generally to the field of computer accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting documents at an adjustable position above a keyboard.

Background

[002] In modern society the use of computers and laptops is ubiquitous, with the majority of relevant information for work and study activities in particular now being presented on-screen rather than through paper. However, users still find it useful in many situations to annotate information and write their own notes through paper, and will often have a stack of documents next to their keyboard as they work. This creates a situation where the user must constantly shift their eyes back and forth between the screen of their device and their documents, which is tiring and can cause loss of focus.

[003] The ideal position for placing note documents while studying or working from screen information is right in front of the screen, so that both the documents and the screen are within the same line of view, but for most devices that space is generally occupied by the keyboard and/or trackpad. Resting the documents on top of the keyboard is problematic, as it obstructs the view of the keyboard and, if the user is writing on the documents or puts pressure on them in any way, keys can be unintentionally pressed which in the worst cases cause loss of work on the user device.

[004] Some solutions have been proposed for these problems in the prior art. For example, US application No. US2004065801A1 describes a free-standing computer document holder, having a rectangular viewing surface with a front top flange, and supported by right and left quadrilateral side structures having longer rear side edges and shorter front side edges.

[005] However, both this and other prior art disclosures fail to account for the various environments and sitting positions a user may find themselves studying in. A more ergonomically adaptable and portable solution is required.

[006] It is within this context that the present invention is provided. Summary

[007] The present disclosure provides an adjustable document support apparatus configured to provide an elevated surface above a keyboard so that a user can keep their documents within easy reach and eyeline of a computer screen without obstructing the keyboard itself. The legs of the apparatus are adjustable, allowing for ergonomic placement of the documents to suit users of different sizes and in different sitting positions. The support panel atop which the documents rest may also be transparent to ensure a clear view of the keyboard beneath and the adjustable legs of the apparatus may be adapted to coupled to the corners of a laptop device.

[008] Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a document support apparatus comprising: a support panel comprising a first flat surface configured to support one or more documents; and two or more adjustable legs of variable length, each adjustable leg having a first end attached to an edge of the support panel and being configured to hold the support panel in an elevated position above a keyboard.

[009] In some embodiments, the support panel is rectangular and the apparatus comprises four adjustable legs arranged at each corner of the support panel.

[010] In such examples, an opposing second end of each adjustable leg may comprise a connector element configured to connect to a corner of a laptop device.

[Oil] The four adjustable legs may also divided into a first pair arranged at a first pair of adjacent corners of the support panel and a second pair arranged at a second pair of adjacent corners of the support panel, the first pair having a first maximum length and the second pair having a second maximum length, the first maximum length being greater than the second maximum length.

[012] In some embodiments, the support panel is transparent.

[013] A document support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support panel is formed of transparent acrylic.

[014] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a clip mechanism disposed on the support panel for securing one or more document in place on the first surface. [015] In some embodiments, the adjustable legs are each formed of two or more leg elements coupled to one another by hinged connections, and the length of the legs is adjusted by varying the angle between the leg elements.

[016] In some embodiments, the adjustable legs are telescopic.

[017] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock the length of the adjustable legs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[018] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[019] FIG.l illustrates an isometric view of an example configuration of a support apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[020] FIG.2 illustrates an isometric view of the example configuration of FIG.l installed in position above a laptop keyboard, supporting a document while providing space for a user to access the keyboard underneath.

[021] Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

Detailed Description and Preferred Embodiment

[022] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

[023] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

[024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[025] Referring to FIG.l, an example configuration of the apparatus 100 is shown.

[026] As can be seen, the example configuration comprises a rectangular transparent support panel 102, which in some examples may be formed of acrylic plastic. The transparency ensures that the panel 102 does not obstruct a user's view of either the keyboard or a device screen. The only obstructions to view would be the documents placed atop the panel 102, which can be positioned as a user desires.

[027] The support panel 102 has an adjustable leg 104 affixed to each corner by a hinged connection, allowing the angles of the legs to be changed with respect to the panel 102.

[028] Each adjustable leg 104 is formed of two smaller elements, a top element 106 and a lower element 108, which are in turn connected together by a hinged connection. This allows the distance between the distal ends of the adjustable legs and the proximal ends connected to the support panel 102 to be varied dynamically, which in turn allows the elevation and angle of the panel 102 to be adjusted according to a user's requirements. It will be understood by the skilled person that other types of adjustable leg assemblies could also be employed, such as telescopic legs, the present example is merely illustrative.

[029] Although not illustrated here, there may be a locking mechanism for the hinged connections to secure the adjustable legs in a desired position. Alternatively, the hinges could be arranged with a suitable level of resistance so that a conscious effort is needed form a user to move them. [030] In the present example, at the lower end of each adjustable leg 104 is a connector element 110 which can function as a base portion that rests on a table/desktop surface, but which is also configured to couple to the corner of a laptop device, so that the support apparatus 100 can be supported directly on a laptop and thus used without a table if needed. These connector elements 110 also help to centre the device above the laptop keyboard as shown in FIG.2. The connector elements 110 are shown as curved pieces that fit around the corners of the laptop 200. In some examples they may incorporate magnets or other coupling mechanisms for securing to the laptop more firmly.

[031] The adjustable legs 104 are divided into a front pair and a rear pair, with the length of the rear pair being slightly greater than the length of the front pair, so that the support panel 102 can more easily be angled with a small forward incline, which is more ergonomic for both writing and reading.

[032] In FIG.2 the apparatus 100 is shown with a document 300 supported on top. The document 300 is held firmly in place by a clip mechanism 112 atop the support panel 102. The clip mechanism may be a hinged clip with a spring mechanism as is commonly found on standard clipboards.

[033] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[034] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the support apparatus have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

[035] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.