Rotatable keyboard

• US 3,980,869 A
• Filed: 11/25/1974
• Issued: 09/14/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Triumph-Adler A.G.
• Original Assignee: Litton Marine Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Lombardino, Paul A., Schroeder, Edward E., Wickstead, Jean H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US05/526,527
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 235/145-146, 235/12, 235/55, 235/59, 235/61 PG, 235/61 PJ, 235/61 PK, 235/82 R, 200/5 R, 340/147, 340/365, 197/78, 197/98, 178/79, 178/81, 179/90 R, 179/91 R, 179/178, 179/179
• US Class Current: 235/146
• CPC Class Codes: G06C 7/02 Keyboards

Abstract

A data processing console having a rotatable keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a data processing unit comprising:

a rotatable circular keyboard mask panel, and a keyboard unit, attached to said keyboard mask panel.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable circular keyboard mask panel rotates substantially in a horizontal plane.

3. The keyboard according to claim 1 further comprising:

rotatable supporting means, for supporting said keyboard mask panel thereon and for allowing said mask panel to slide thereon.

4. The keyboard according to claim 3 wherein said rotatable supporting means includes:

rotatably mounted grooved rollers means, a portion of which supports said mask panel.

5. The keyboard according to claim 4, wherein said rotatable supporting means includes:

an eccentric means, connected to the grooved portion of said roller means and overlapping said groove.

6. The keyboard according to claim 3 wherein said rotatable supporting means includes:

a plurality of equally spaces bracket assembly means.

7. The keyboard according to claim 6 wherein each of said bracket assembly means includes:

an upper angle bracket, and

a lower angle bracket having slotted openings in its upper ends, and

securing means, coupled through said slots, for attaching said lower end of said upper angle bracket to the upper end of said lower angle bracket.

8. The keyboard according to claim 5, wherein said grooved roller means engaging portions have a low coefficient of friction.