Input keyboard

• US 4,615,629 A
• Filed: 04/24/1984
• Issued: 10/07/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Power
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Power
• Inventors: Power, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/603,315
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 400/87, 400/88, 400/91, 400/92, 400/93, 400/94, 400/364, 400/472, 400/473, 400/474, 400/477, 400/478, 400/479, 400/482, 400/486, 400/487, 400/489, 400/491.3, 364/200, 364/900, 340/365 R, 340/365 VL
• US Class Current: 400/486
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

An input keyboard arrangement is provided for microcomputers, computer terminals, and other devices for processing alphanumeric information. The keyboard arrangement facilitates entry of information by non-typists, increases keying accuracy, enables use of the three strongest fingers for depressing keys, and minimizes the time needed to master the keyboard. The keyboard is arranged in a vertical layout with a pair of enter keys, and elongate shift and space bars located around the perimeter of the key arrangement. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an individidual key and the alphabetic keys are arranged in alphabetical order in nine rows with three keys per row so as to facilitate human information processing. Specifically, the keys of the first row are arranged, sinistrally, as c-b-a or, dextrally, as a-b-c, the second row f-e-d or d-e-f, and so on, with the pattern continuing to the ninth row which contains the keys "z-y" or "y-z." A number pad, function keys, cursor control keys, and punctuation keys are also placed so as to facilitate use by non-typists.

Claims

1. A keyboard particularly for use by non-typists, said keyboard comprising:

twenty-six letter keys individually designating the twenty-six letters of the alphabet of the English language arranged in alphabetical order in eight rows of three letter keys and one row of two letter keys, and said twenty-six letter keys being arranged in three vertical columns, said keyboard further including a "shift" key which extneds vertically along one side of the keyboard and which is of a length at least as great as the height of the vertical columns of letter keys, and a "space" key which extends vertically along the other edge of the keyboard and which is of a length at least as great of the height of the vertical columns of letter keys, said keyboard further comprising first and second elongate "enter" keys located at the top and bottom of the keyboard and of a width greater than the width of the rows of keys.

2. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the letter keys are arranged in the dextral left-to-right sequence abc, def, ghi, jkl, mno, pqr, stu, vwx, and yz.

3. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latter keys are arranged in the sinistral right-to-left sequence cba, fed, ihg, lkj, onm, rqp, uts, xwv, and zy

4. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the row containing two letter keys further comprises a third key, said third key comprising a punctuation key.

5. A keyboard as claimed in claim 4 wherein said punctuation key comprises a period key.

6. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises a set of ten number keys designating the numberals 0 to 9 and arranged in three rows of three keys and one row of one key, arranged in three vertical columns in alignment with the vertical columns of letters.

7. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6 wherein the said one key in said one row is the "zero" key.

8. A keyboard as claimed in claim 7 wherein said "zero" key is located centrally of the other rows of number keys beneath the "eight" key in the bottom row and two further keys are located on opposite sides thereof.

9. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6 wherein said keyboard further comprises screen control command keys and special function keys, and wherein said screen control command keys, the special function keys and the letter and number keys are color coded.

10. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6 wherein said one key of said one row is the "zero" key and is located beneath the other rows of keys and the remaining keys are arranged in horizontal row containing the keys "1", "2" and "3", the keys "4", "5", and "6" and the keys "7", "8" and "9", arranged in ascending numberical order above said "zero" key.

11. a keyboard which enables ready use by a non-typist using only one hand, said keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns, the width of the rows being substantially less than the length of the columns and being such as to permit spanning thereof with three fingers of one hand to permit typing with one hand only, said plurality of keys comprising a set of twenty-six letter keys individually designating the twenty-six letters of the alphabet of the English language, said set comprising eight rows of three letter keys arranged so as to form three vertical columns, and one row of two letter keys positioned beneath the bottom row of the eight rows in respective alignment with two of said columns, said letter keys being arranged in alphabetical order in groups of three letters at a time with the two letter keys of said one row being the "y" and "z" keys and a further key being located in said one row in alignment with the one of said three columns, said keyboard further comprising an elongate "shift" bar and an elongate "space" bar disposed vertically along opposite sides of the keyboard and extending along the entire vertical distance encompassed by said plurality of letter keys, and first and second elongate "enter" keys located at the top and bottom of the keybard above and below the letter keys and of a width greater than the width of the rows of keys.

12. A keyboard as claimed in claim 11 wherein the letter keys are arranged in the dextral left-to-right sequence abc, def, ghi, jkl, mno, pqr, stu, vwx, and yz.

13. A keyboard as claimed in claim 11 wherein the letter keys are arranged in the sinistral right-to-left sequence cba, fed, ihg, lkj, onm, rqp, uts, xwv, and zy.

14. A keyboard as claimed in claim 11 wherein said plurality of keys further comprises a set of ten number keys designating the numerals 0 to 9 and arranged in three rows of three keys and one row of one key.

15. A keyboard as claimed in claim 14 wherein said one key of said one row is the "zero" key and is located beneath the other rows of keys and the remaining keys are arranged in horizontal rows containing the keys "1", "2" and "3", the keys "4", "5" and "6" and the keys "7", "8" and "9", arranged in ascending numerical order above said "zero" key.