Ergonomic apparatus for keyboard

• US 20060291946A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Odell, Daniel Lowry, Lane, David Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/165,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/715
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667

Abstract

A plurality of embodiments of ergonomic apparatus for keyboards are provided for interfacing with a user'"'"'s arms, wrists, hands and fingers in a more natural way, i.e., in ways that are optimally suited to human typing. The ergonomic apparatus for a keyboard includes structures that reduce extension of human hands while typing on the keyboard. An attachable frame component may be provided which, when attached to a keyboard near its front (the front being closest to the user), the frame component elevates the front of the keyboard thereby achieving a reverse slope of an upper surface of the keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard for providing input to a computing device, including:

a substantially planar keyboard mount; and

at least one section of keys extending from an upper surface of the substantially planar keyboard mount for receiving fingered key input from a user of the keyboard,

wherein said substantially planar keyboard mount includes at least one coupling component for coupling a pre-fixed elevation component to a bottom surface of the substantially planar keyboard mount, whereby when the pre-fixed elevation component is coupled to the bottom surface via said at least one coupling component, a portion of the substantially planar keyboard closest to the user is elevated, relative to when the pre-fixed elevation component is not coupled to the bottom surface.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said substantially planar keyboard mount is sloped downwards away from the perspective of the user of the keyboard when the pre-fixed elevation component is coupled to the bottom surface.

3. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said at least one coupling component is located on said bottom surface of said substantially planar keyboard mount.

4. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said at least one coupling component includes a hole defined by a wide hole portion and a narrow hole portion, whereby at least one tab of the pre-fixed elevation component attaches and detaches via said wide hole portion and remains coupled to the substantially planar keyboard mount via said narrow hole portion.

5. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said at least one coupling component is positioned towards the user relative to the center of the substantially planar keyboard as defined by its center of gravity.

6. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said pre-fixed elevation component is a tray upon which the substantially planar keyboard mount rests via gravity and said at least one coupling component is the shape of the substantially planar keyboard mount adhering to the shape of the tray.

7. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said pre-fixed elevation component is a frame component for coupling to the front of the substantially planar keyboard mount.

8. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said pre-fixed elevation component is a frame component for coupling to the front of the substantially planar keyboard mount.

9. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said pre-fixed elevation component is at least one removable non-pivoting leg for coupling to the front of the substantially planar keyboard mount.

10. A keyboard according to claim 9, wherein said at least one removable non-pivoting leg for coupling to the front of the substantially planar keyboard mount is at least one linearly extending leg that extends substantially orthogonally from the bottom surface.

11. An ergonomic apparatus for a keyboard having a substantially planar keyboard mount that provides key input to a computing device, including:

an elevation frame for supporting a front side of the keyboard closest to a user of the keyboard; and

at least one extended component for coupling to at least one coupling component of a bottom surface of the substantially planar keyboard mount, whereby when the elevation frame is coupled to the bottom surface via said at least one extended component coupled to said one coupling component, a portion of the substantially planar keyboard closest to the user is elevated, relative to when the elevation frame is not coupled to the bottom surface.

12. An ergonomic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one extended component is at least one tab that fits into the at least one coupling component at a wide portion thereof and then becomes coupled to the at least one coupling component by slidably engaging the at least one tab with a narrow portion of the at least one coupling component.

13. An ergonomic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said substantially planar keyboard mount is sloped downwards away from the perspective of the user of the keyboard when the elevation frame is coupled to the bottom surface.

14. A keyboard according to claim 11, wherein said elevation frame is a tray upon which the substantially planar keyboard mount rests via gravity and said at least one extended component are the edges of the tray interfacing with the shape of the substantially planar keyboard mount.

15. A keyboard for providing input to a computing device, including:

means for mounting keys of at least one key section of the keyboard,

wherein said means for mounting keys includes at least one means for coupling and decoupling a means for elevating a front of the keyboard from the perspective of a user, whereby when the means for elevating is coupled to a bottom surface of the means for mounting keys via said at least one means for coupling, a portion of the means for mounting keys closest to the user is elevated, relative to when the means for elevating is not coupled to the bottom surface.

16. A keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said means for mounting keys is sloped downwards away from the perspective of the user of the keyboard when the means for elevating is coupled to the bottom surface.

17. A keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said at least one means for coupling is on said bottom surface of said means for mounting keys.

18. A keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said at least one means for coupling is positioned towards the user relative to the center of the means for mounting keys as defined by the center of gravity of the means for mounting keys.

19. A keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said means for elevating is substantially undetachable and unmovable when coupled to the bottom surface of the means for mounting keys.

20. A keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said means for elevating extends along the front side of the means for mounting keys from the perspective of the user, substantially extending across the means for mounting keys.