Alphanumeric section of office machine keyboards

• US 4,509,873 A
• Filed: 05/05/1983
• Issued: 04/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ryan W. Kenneth
• Original Assignee: Ryan W. Kenneth
• Inventors: Ryan, W. Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wiecking, David A.
• Application Number:
  US06/491,752
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 400/82, 400/88, 400/472, 400/488, 400/489, 400/682, 84/423, 84/446, 84/447, 178/17 C, 200/5 A, 235/145 R, 248/166, 248/460, 269/65, 269/324, 269/325, 340/365 R, 340/365 S, 340/365 E, 434/227, 434/231, D17/1-9, D18/1, D18/7
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• 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 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections

Abstract

An adjustable alphanumeric keyboard based on ISO standard format and consisting of two flat key contact mounting boards, one left and one right, corresponding respectively to the section of the alphanumeric keyboard actuated by the left hand and right hand in touch typing, joined by a hinge at a point corresponding to the keyboard C row, between columns 05 and 06, the outermost end of one mounting board connected by a hinge to the keyboard case or chassis, the outermost end of the other mounting board free to move laterally and pivot in the same plane, with means available to position said movable end, in order to give the mounting boards an adjustable angle, peaking the rows of key contacts between columns 05 and 06.

Claims

1. In a keyboard for typewriters, terminals and similar machines in which keys are arranged in general accord with International Organization for Standards recommendations for the alphanumeric sections of keyboards for office machines, an improvement comprising:

one left mounting board and one right mounting board, said mounting boards having front and rear edges, the mounting boards together having adjacent ends and outermost ends, and together corresponding to a standard keyboard, and said left and right mounting boards so shaped that they can be fitted with key contacts and keys as actuated by the left and right hands, respectively, in touch typing;

a hinge between and connecting said left mounting board and right mounting board, said hinge in a position approximately equidistant from the outermost ends of said mounting boards and likewise approximately equidistant from the front and rear edges of said mounting boards, said hinge permitting the adjacent edges of said mounting boards to be raised vertically at said hinge mounting position;

a second hinge connecting the outermost end of one of the said mounting boards to the keyboard chassis or case;

a means of locating the outermost end of the other said mounting board, permitting both lateral and pivotal movement;

a means of maintaining the lateral position of the mounting board outermost end that is permitted lateral and pivotal movement.