Modular keyboard system
First Claim
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1. A keyboard comprising an upper housing and a lower housing;
- a plurality of keys accessible through said upper housing; and
at least one coupling that releasably attaches said upper housing and said lower housing, wherein said keyboard is an openable keyboard and said upper housing is interchangeable with one or more alternate upper housings.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a modular, openable keyboard that provides convenient replacement or substitution of various keyboard components, such as upper housing pieces, keystroke resistance setting components, key sets, liquid resistance barriers, and storage areas. Also described are kits for customizing or modifying the modular keyboards, and methods involving modifying the keyboards.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising
an upper housing and a lower housing; -
a plurality of keys accessible through said upper housing; and
at least one coupling that releasably attaches said upper housing and said lower housing, wherein said keyboard is an openable keyboard and said upper housing is interchangeable with one or more alternate upper housings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18)
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11. A keyboard comprising:
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an upper member and a lower member;
a plurality of keys mounted in said upper member;
a coupling configured to releasably attach said upper member and lower member; and
a plurality of resistance setting members, each resistance setting member setting a different keystroke resistance;
wherein said keyboard is an openable keyboard and each of the plurality of resistance setting members is configured to be replaceably positioned between the upper and lower members. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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19. A keyboard cover, comprising
a thin overlay that conforms to at least the upper surface of a computer keyboard, wherein said overlay is retained in position when installed on said keyboard, covers at least the upper surface of said keyboard, and does not cover the keys in said keyboard.
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29. A set of replaceable computer keyboard members, comprising
a plurality of visually different replaceable keyboard upper housings adapted to fit the same pre-selected openable keyboard design.
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34. A computer keyboard modification kit, comprising
at least one replaceable keyboard upper member configured to fit an openable keyboard and at least one set of key covers.
- 45. A keyboard modification kit, comprising at least one replaceable keystroke resistance setting diaphragm and instructions for modifying an openable keyboard using said kit.
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47. A keyboard kit comprising:
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an openable keyboard comprising a plurality of keys mounted therein; and
a plurality of resistance setting members;
wherein each of the plurality of resistance setting members is configured to be replaceably positioned between the upper and lower members, and each resistance setting member sets a different keystroke resistance.
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48. A method for changing the appearance of an openable computer keyboard, comprising
replacing a replaceable computer keyboard upper member with a replacement upper member having a different appearance.
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53. A method of adjusting a resistance of a plurality of keys mounted in an openable keyboard, comprising
opening said keyboard; -
removing a first resistance setting member located within said keyboard;
installing a second resistance setting member that provides a different resistance to a motion of the keys than the first resistance setting member; and
closing said keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A method of modifying an openable keyboard, said method comprising opening said keyboard;
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substituting or adding at least one replaceable keyboard component selected from the group consisting of an upper keyboard housing piece, a key set, a keystroke resistance setting diaphragm, a liquid resistant barrier, and a storage area; and
closing said keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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Specification