Computer keyboard control accessory

• US 4,949,080 A
• Filed: 12/12/1988
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Es Beta, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Mikan
• Inventors: Mikan, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/283,548
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 340/710, 340/709, 340/711, 340/700, 340/706, 273/148 B, 248/1 B, 248/918, 341/22, 341/23, 341/24, 200/5 A, 200/6 A
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A computer keyboard control accessory in the form of an enclosure having a bottom entrance opening through which a computer keyboard can be introduced, a top access opening through which the keys of the keyboard extend so as to be operable by the user in the conventional manner, and a joystick fixedly mounted in the top panel of the enclosure and having a position convenient to the right hand of the user. The enclosure has a configuration similar to that of the keyboard, and the arrangement is such that the latter can be clamped between the undersurface of the enclosure'"'"'s top panel and the enclosure'"'"'s removable bottom plate. By virtue of the fact that the keyboard and joystick are housed in the one enclosure, and by the provision of a table space on the enclosure'"'"'s top panel just in front of the joystick to accommodate the right hand of the user, greatly simplified operation is realizeable, as is improved control of the joystick, since the latter is securely held in a fixed position with respect to the keyboard and its keys. Insertion into and removal of the keyboard from the enclosure can be undertaken in only several minutes, and requires no special tools or skilled personnel. Further, no modification of the keyboard per se is required in order to use the accessory.

Claims

1. A keyboard construction for computers and the like, comprising in combination:

(a) a keyboard console consisting of an enclosing housing which forms an enclosed space and which has spaced-apart walls consisting of a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, left and right side walls, and a top wall with a through opening which is spanned by an array of keys,

(b) an electrical control means adapted for electrical connection to said keyboard console, said control means having a manually engageable and operable control member,

(c) an enclosure for the keyboard console housing, said enclosure having an entrance opening in which the keyboard console can be inserted, and having an upper wall containing an access opening through which the keys of the keyboard console can be accessed, said enclosure having abutment surfaces at said access opening, said abutment surfaces being adapted to engage and to butt against said keyboard console to thereby position the console in the enclosure, said upper wall of the enclosure surrounding said access opening and providing a rest on which a user can place his hand, said upper wall of the enclosure being disposed so as to be generally coplanar with the keys of the keyboard console and said control member of the control means being mounted in said upper wall of the enclosure to enable the control member to be conveniently actuated by said hand resting on said upper wall, and

(d) clamping means carried by said enclosure, said clamping means being engageable with the keyboard console, thereby to clamp the keyboard console in position in the said enclosure against the said abutment surfaces of the enclosure.

2. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said electrical control means comprises joystick-operated circuitry.

(b) said control member comprising a joystick.

3. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said clamping means covers at least a portion of the said entrance opening of the enclosure.

4. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said clamping means covers the entire entrance opening of the enclosure and constitutes a bottom wall thereof.

5. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the said enclosure has a bottom portion, and has the said entrance opening in its bottom portion,

(b) said enclosure having front, back, and side walls connected to said upper wall and to each other to form a box which is open at the bottom portion.

6. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

(a) the upper wall of the enclosure is concave upward.

7. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

(a) the access opening of the upper wall has an elongate edge adjacent the back wall, said edge being provided with reinforcement means.

8. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

(a) the reinforcement means on the edge of the access opening comprises an upturned flange.

9. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said keyboard console is constituted as a unitary assemblage, and as a unit is capable of installation in and removal from the said enclosure.

10. A keyboard construction for computers and the like, comprising in combination:

(a) a keyboard console consisting of an enclosing housing which forms an enclosed space and which has spaced-apart walls consisting of a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, left and right side walls, and a top wall with a through opening which is spanned by an array of keys,

(b) an enclosure for the keyboard console, said enclosure comprising a box-like structure having a top panel with an access opening through which the keys of the keyboard console can be accessed,

(c) said top panel having oppositely-disposed edges constituting abutment means for overlying and engaging peripheral portions of the top wall of the keyboard console,

(d) said box-like structure having a bottom portion and an entrance opening at its bottom portion, said entrance opening being of a size sufficient to permit insertion of the keyboard console therethrough, and

(e) a removable bottom plate for covering said entrance opening, said bottom plate having an abutment surface for engagement with the bottom wall of the keyboard console to clamp the latter against the abutment means of the top panel of the enclosure.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10, and further including:

(a) joystick means mounted in said top panel,

(b) said joystick means being fixed with respect to said keyboard console and keys.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 10, and further including:

(a) compression strips constituted of yieldable substance, interposed between the abutment means of the top panel and the keyboard console to provide a cushioning effect therebetween.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

(a) said keyboard console has rubber feet,

(b) the abutment surface of said bottom place engaging the rubber feet of said keyboard console.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 10, and further including:

(a) control means mounted in said box-like structure,

(b) said control means being fixed with respect to said keyboard console and keys.

15. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

(a) said keyboard console is constituted as a unitary assemblage, and as a unit is capable of installation in and removal from the said enclosure.

16. A keyboard construction for computers and the like, comprising in combination:

(a) a keyboard console consisting of an enclosing housing which forms an enclosed space and which has spaced-apart walls consisting of a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, left and right side walls, and a top wall with a through opening which is spanned by an array of keys,

(b) a control member, and

(c) an enclosure for mechanically securing together said control member and keyboard console, said enclosure comprising a box-like structure having means for fixedly mounting the control member,

(d) said box-like structure further having a top panel with an access opening through which the keys of the keyboard console can be accessed,

(e) said box-like structure having an entrance opening sufficiently large to admit the said keyboard console, and

(f) means on said box-like structure providing a releasable support for said keyboard console to hole the same substantially in a fixed position in the enclosure and with respect to the control member, whereby the said keyboard console can be readily installed in or removed from the box-like structure through the said entrance opening, as desired.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

(a) said control member comprises a joystick.

18. A keyboard construction as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

(a) said keyboard console is constituted as a unitary assemblage, and as a unit is capable of installation in and removal from the said enclosure.