Thrust bearing and use of same with apparatus for reducing repetitive stress injury
US5863132A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47B2021/0321
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thrust bearing for bearing a load along a force vector includes at least two roller elements in rolling contact with one another and arranged along the force vector such that the load is borne through the roller elements. The roller elements are retained within a retainer such that they remain aligned along the force vector while subjected to loads. The retainer used to house the roller elements may be designed to abut the roller elements at minimum points of contact, or alternatively to distribute the load borne by one or both of the roller elements across a greater surface area. One application of the preferred thrust bearings is in an apparatus such as a keyboard support for reducing repetitive stress injuries. A main disk is rotatably coupled to a base and supports a support member on a plurality of the thrust bearings. Rotation of the main disk varies the tilt of the support member relative to the base, thereby adjusting the position of a keyboard supported on the support member relative to an operator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.