Computer keyboard overlay

• US 20090029329A1
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Ackloo
• Original Assignee: Andrew Ackloo
• Inventors: Ackloo, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/227
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 13/04 Devices used in association with a real typewriter, teleprinter, or the like

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention provides a keyboard overlay adapted to indicate which one of a plurality of menu commands provided by a particular software application is invoked when an alphanumeric key is pressed together with a modifier key on a computer keyboard. In this embodiment, the keyboard overlay has a portion overlaying the modifier key and displaying a predetermined color thereby associating the color with the modifier key. The keyboard overlay has a portion overlaying the alphanumeric key and displaying the predetermined color together with closely associated indicia identifying the menu command. More complex arrangements are described that indicate keyboard equivalents that involve pressing an alphanumeric key together with more than one modifier key.

Claims

1. A keyboard overlay adapted to indicate which one of a plurality of menu commands provided by a predetermined software application is invoked when an alphanumeric key is pressed together with a modifier key on a computer keyboard overlaid by the keyboard overlay and coupled to a computer that is actively executing the software application, the keyboard overlay comprising:

a portion adapted to overlay the modifier key and displaying predetermined indicia thereby associating the modifier key with the predetermined indicia; and

,

a portion adapted to overlay the alphanumeric key and displaying the predetermined indicia together with closely associated indicia indicating the predetermined menu command.

2. The keyboard overlay of claim 1 in which the closely associated indicia comprise at least one of text and a symbol that indicates the nature of the menu command.

3. The keyboard overlay of claim 1 in which:

the predetermined indicia comprise a background area of a predetermined color; and

,

the closely associated indicia comprise text formed in a neutral color and located within the background area.

4. The keyboard overlay of claim 1 further adapted to indicate another of the menu commands invoked when the alphanumeric key and the modifier key are pressed together with another modifier key, in which:

the keyboard overlay comprises a portion adapted to overlay the other modifier key and displaying other predetermined indicia thereby associating the other modifier key with the other predetermined indicia; and

,

the portion of the alphanumeric key overlaying the alphanumeric key not only displays the predetermined indicia in close association with indicia indicating the predetermined menu command but also separately displays the predetermined indicia in combination with the other predetermined indicia and other closely associated indicia indicating the other menu command.

5. The keyboard overlay of claim 4 in which:

the predetermined indicia comprise a predetermined color;

the other predetermined indicia comprise another predetermined color;

the separately displayed combination comprises parallel stripes of the predetermined color and the other predetermined color; and

,

the other closely associated indicia comprise text in a neutral color spanning the parallel stripes.

6. The method of claim 4 in which:

the predetermined indicia comprise a predetermined color;

the other predetermined indicia comprise another predetermined color;

the separately displayed combination comprises a background area formed in the predetermined color; and

,

the other closely associated indicia comprise text formed in the other predetermined color and located within the background area.

7. A keyboard overlay adapted to indicate which one of a plurality of menu commands provided by a predetermined software application is invoked when an alphanumeric key is pressed together with a modifier key on a computer keyboard overlaid by the computer overlay and coupled to a computer that is actively executing the software application, the keyboard overlay comprising:

a portion adapted to overlay the modifier key and displaying a predetermined color thereby associating the modifier key with the predetermined color; and

,

a portion adapted to overlay the alphanumeric key and displaying the predetermined color together with closely associated indicia indicating the predetermined menu command.

8. The keyboard overlay of claim 7 in which the closely associated indicia comprise at least one of text and a symbol that indicates the nature of the menu command.

9. The keyboard overlay of claim 7 in which the portion overlaying the alphanumeric key comprises:

a background area of the predetermined color; and

,

the closely associated indicia comprise text formed in a neutral color within the background area.

10. The keyboard overlay of claim 7 further adapted to indicate another of the menu commands invoked when the alphanumeric key and the modifier key are pressed together with another modifier key, in which:

the keyboard overlay comprises a portion adapted to overlay the other modifier key and displaying another predetermined color thereby associating the other predetermined color with the other modifier key; and

,

the portion of the alphanumeric key overlaying the alphanumeric key not only displays the predetermined color in close association with the indicia indicating the predetermined menu command but also separately displays the predetermined color in combination with the other predetermined color and other closely associated indicia indicating the other menu command.

11. The keyboard overlay of claim 10 in which:

the separately displayed combination comprises parallel stripes of the predetermined color and the other predetermined color; and

,

the other indicia comprise text spanning the parallel stripes.

12. The keyboard overlay of claim 10 in which:

the separately displayed combination comprises a background area formed in the predetermined color; and

,

the other closely associated indicia comprise text formed in the other predetermined color and located within the background area.