Input apparatus for people having small hands

• US 20060263136A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis W. Nusser
• Original Assignee: Dennis W. Nusser
• Inventors: Nusser, Dennis W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,354,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 Larger or different actuating area

Abstract

Input apparatus scaled for non-adult humans and adult humans having small hands. The input apparatus are especially well suited for use as computer keyboards for use by schoolchildren. Also disclosed is a computing system including the input apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of teaching data entry comprising providing a keyboard reduced in size to be between 60 to 86% of the adult standard size.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein fixed key input apparatus comprises a plurality of keys to generate input signals corresponding to each letter of the alphabet wherein the keys are arranged with a horizontal key spacing, centerline to centerline, of 10.8 to 16.4 millimeters and a vertical key spacing, centerline to centerline of 10.8 to 18.0 millimeters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alphabet is English and the input apparatus comprises at least 26 keys.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising keys to generate input signals corresponding to each numeral.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the numerals are Arabic numerals and the input apparatus comprises at least 36 keys.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising keys for generating signals corresponding to a function to be undertaken.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the function to be undertaken is selected from the group consisting of:

shift, return, control, alt, tab, caps lock, home, end, page up, page down, clear, scroll lock and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual key width is 7.2 mm to 13 mm.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual key depth is 7.2 mm to 15 mm.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual keys are a ranged in a qwerty layout.

11. An article of manufacture for teaching use of a keyboard to a subject having hands smaller than average adult hands comprising a plurality of keyboards each of which are individually reduced in size to be between 60 to 86% of the adult standard size.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein for each keyboard, the vertical and horizontal distance between keys are reduced by the same amount relative to a standard adult size keyboard.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein for each keyboard, the depth of an individual key surface is reduced by about the same amount as the vertical and horizontal distance between keys.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein for each keyboard, the surface area of at least some of the individual keys are reduced by about the same amount as the vertical and horizontal distance between keys.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein for each keyboard, the keystroke distance of at least some of the individual keys are reduced by about the same amount as the vertical and horizontal distance between keys.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein for each keyboard, at least a portion of the keys arranged in a qwerty layout.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein for each keyboard, at least a portion of the keys are number keys or function keys.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 11, comprising at least two sizes of keyboards.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein the two sizes are about 69% and 76.5% of the adult standard size

20. The article of manufacture of claim 11, comprising at least three sizes of keyboards.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein the three sizes are about 65%, 73%, and 80% of the adult standard size