KEYBOARD

• US 20090020404A1
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kwok Wai Yeung
• Original Assignee: Kwok Wai Yeung
• Inventors: Yeung, Kwok Wai
• Application Number:
  US11/560,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20090020404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.E
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/803 characterised by the switching function thereof, e.g. normally closed contacts or consecutive operation of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/003 with more than one electrically distinguishable condition in one or both positions

Abstract

A keyboard is disclosed as including at least a key and two switches associated with each key, in which the key includes at least a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth legs, in which only one of the first and second legs is movable to activate a respective of the switches at a time, and the third and fourth legs are movable to each activate a respective of the switches in succession in a first order of activation of the switches, and the said fifth and sixth legs are movable to each activate a respective of the switches in succession in a second order of activation of the switches.

Claims

1. A keyboard including at least a key member and two switches associated with each said key member, wherein said key member includes at least a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth contact members, wherein only one of said first and second contact members is movable to activate a respective of said switches at a time, wherein said third and fourth contact members are movable to each activate a respective of said switches in succession in a first order of activation of said switches, and wherein said fifth and sixth contact members are movable to each activate a respective of said switches in succession in a second order of activation of said switches.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said third and fourth contact members are swivellably movable about a first axis to each activate a respective of said switches in succession in said first order of activation of said switches.

3. A keyboard according to claim 2 wherein said fifth and sixth contact members are swivellably movable about said first axis to each activate a respective of said switches in succession in a second sequence of activation of said switches.

4. A keyboard according to claim 1 further including a seventh and an eighth contact members which are movable to each activate a respective of said switches simultaneously.

5. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein said seventh and eighth contact members are operatively associated with a button member of said key member.

6. A keyboard according to claim 5 wherein said button member is movable relative to a body member of said key member between a first position in which said seventh and eighth contact members are out of contact with said switches and a second position in which said seventh and eighth contact members abut said switches.

7. A keyboard according to claim 6 wherein said button member is biased towards said first position.

8. A keyboard according to claim 7 wherein said button member is biased towards said first position by a spring means.

9. A keyboard according to claim 1 further including means adapted to prevent said first and second contact members from being movable to activate said switches simultaneously.

10. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said first contact member is movable to activate a first of said switches to transmit signals representing a first character, command or instruction.

11. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said second contact member is movable to activate a second of said switches to transmit signals representing a second character, command or instruction.

12. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein said seventh and eighth contact members are movable to activate said switches simultaneously to transmit signals representing a third character, command or instruction.

13. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said third and fourth contact members are movable to each activate a respective of said switches in succession in said first order of activation of said switches to transmit signals representing a fourth character, command or instruction.

14. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said fifth and sixth contact members are movable to each activate a respective of said switches in succession in said second order of activation of said switches to transmit signals representing a fifth character, command or instruction.

15. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said first and second contact members are swivellably movable about a second axis to each activate a respective of said switches.

16. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said first and second contact members are slidably movable relative to said switches in a first direction to abut and activate a first of said switches, and are slidably movable relative to said switches in a second direction to abut and activate a second of said switches.

17. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein said seventh and eighth contact members are movable substantially parallel to a third axis to activate said switches simultaneously.

18. A keyboard according to claim 17 wherein said third axis is substantially perpendicular to said first axis.

19. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein signals representing a sixth character, command or instruction are adapted to be transmitted upon activation of said switches simultaneously by said seventh and eighth contact members, followed by activation of one of said switches by said first contact member within a pre-determined period of time.

20. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein signals representing a seventh character, command or instruction are adapted to be transmitted upon activation of said switches simultaneously by said seventh and eighth contact members, followed by activation of one of said switches by said second contact member within a pre-determined period of time.

21. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein signals representing an eighth character, command or instruction are adapted to be transmitted upon activation of said switches simultaneously by said seventh and eighth contact members, followed by activation of said switches in succession in said first order by said third and fourth contact members within a pre-determined period of time.

22. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein signals representing a ninth character, command or instruction are adapted to be transmitted upon activation of said switches simultaneously by said seventh and eighth contact members, followed by activation of said switches in succession in said second order by said fifth and sixth contact members within a pre-determined period of time.

23. A keyboard according to claim 5 wherein said button member includes an outer part and an inner part in which said inner part is swivelably movable relative to said outer part during movement of said button member relative to said body member between said first position and said second position.

24. A keyboard according to claim 23 wherein during movement of said button member relative to said body member between said first position and said second position, said outer part is slidably movable relative to said body member and said inner part is slidably and swivelably movable relative to said body member.

25. A keyboard according to claim 24 wherein during movement of said button member relative to said body member between said first position and said second position, said inner part is swivelably movable relative to said body member through an angle of up to substantially 90°

.

26. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said key member is of a unitary structure.

27. A keyboard according to claim 26 wherein said contact members are integral with a body member of said key member.

28. A keyboard according to claim 27 wherein said key member includes two protrusions extending generally upwardly from an upper surface of said body member.

29. A keyboard according to claim 28 wherein said protrusions extend generally away from each other.

30. A keyboard according to claim 28 wherein said protrusions are integral with said body member.

31. A keyboard according to claim 1 further including at least two key members, wherein at least one switch is activatable by said at least two key members.

32. A keyboard according to claim 31 wherein said at least one switch is activatable by at least three key members.

33. A keyboard according to claim 32 wherein said at least one switch is activatable by at least four key members.

34. A keyboard according to claim 31 further including at least one key member operable to act on at least two key members to activate a switch member.

35. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein in at least one of said first and second orders of activation of said switches, said switches are adapted to be activated simultaneously.