Input keyboard apparatus for information processing device and other keyboard devices

• US 5,067,834 A
• Filed: 07/07/1989
• Issued: 11/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Health Care Keyboard Company
• Original Assignee: Health Care Keyboard Company
• Inventors: Szmanda, Jeffrey P., Szmanda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yan, Ren
• Application Number:
  US07/376,690
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 400/82, 400/472, 400/473, 400/488, 400/489, 400/492, 340/711, 340/712
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• 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: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• 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 input keyboard unit includes a left and right keyboard. A separate universal pivot support unit is secured one to each keyboard and to a base support plate. Each universal pivot unit includes a telescopic shaft with a releasable connector for holding of the shaft in desired extended position. One end of the shaft or post unit is secured to the keyboard through a mounting plate. A ball and socket unit is secured to the opposite end and through a tongue and groove connection to a base plate for lateral positioning of the pivot units and the attached keyboard relative to each other. The ball and socket unit allows universal pivoting of the keyboard about the mounting to the base plate and thereby permits the optimal positioning of the keyboard with respect to the hands of the operator. In one embodiment, the two separate keyboard boards are generally rectangular members. A universal pivot units interconnects the top inner corners of the two keyboards whereby a generally inverted V-shaped spacing is provided between the two keyboards with each keyboard having a front-to-back inclination and a lateral side inclination with the universal pivot units of the keyboards permitting the precise optimal setting for any given individual or group of individuals. The keyboard connecting pivot unit is releasable to allow lateral spacing of the keyboards where desired or necessary for any given individual.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus having a plurality of keys arranged in an array extending over an extended front-to-back and side-to-side of a keyboard support for dual hand operation by an operator, comprising a key support structure for supporting of said keys, said support structure defining a left array section having a first individual support unit secured generally centrally of the section and a right array section having a second individual support unit secured generally centrally of the right array section, each of said array sections including a plurality of individual keys, each of said array sections being a substantially planar member having the keys located in a substantially common plane, each of said support units including a universal support unit for inclined location of the section and for substantially complete rotation of the section in the plane of the section, said left array section located in a laterally inclined plane and having at least portion of said keys arranged in said inclined plane and thereby extending upwardly at a preselected angle from an outer left portion of the keyboard upwardly and inwardly toward said right array section, said right array section located in a laterally inclined plane having a least a portion of said keys located in said inclined plane extending from an outer right portion of said keyboard upwardly and inwardly toward the left array section whereby an operator operating said keyboard can operate the keys in said inclined planes with the hand located in essentially forward aligned projection from the operators arm portion to minimize bodily stress.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said left and right key array sections have all of the keys in each of the arrays located and supported in said inclined planes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said support units includes an extendible support and said universal support unit includes a universal pivot unit for varying the location of the plane of said sections.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a universal support is connected to the top inner portions of said key supports to define an essentially inverted V-shaped keyboard unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said extendible support includes telescopic members connected by a releasable locking nut.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 including a linear adjustable mount unit connected to said individual support units for adjusting the spacing of said extendible supports and thereby said array sections.

7. A keyboard apparatus having a plurality of keys for inputting to a processing unit, comprising a bottom support structure, an upper keyboard plate enclosure unit including said keys located in a substantially common plane, a universal pivot support unit establishing essentially unrestricted rotation of said enclosure unit in said plane for establishing unrestricted inclined orientation of said enclosure unit in space, said enclosure unit having an upper plate structure with a plurality of key positions arranged in a plurality of parallel rows extending from the left to the right side and a plurality of parallel columns extending from the front to the back of said plate structure, said plate structure including a left plate section, said sections a right plate section and extending laterally outwardly and downwardly from a central portion between said plate sections, each of said plate sections being a substantially planar member including a substantially flat plane, a plurality of keys secured to each plate section and located in said key positions for manual manipulation by an operator and locating of said keys in an inclined plane essentially identical to the plane of said corresponding plate section to which the keys are secured, said keyboard plate structure being inclined from the front to the back and thereby providing a dual inclination of said array of keys and permitting the operator to operate the keyboard with the hands projecting essentially in fixed straight line relationship to the wrist and arm of the operator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said universal pivot support unit includes separate universal pivot members connected one each to each of said left and right plate sections, a releasable universal pivot device connected to said plate sections at the top and inner edge thereof to permit placing said plate sections in the form of a V-shaped keyboard configuration with relative adjustment of the depth of the V-shaped keyboard configuration, an adjustable means coupled to said left and right keyboard plate sections and simultaneously adjusting the position of said keyboard plate sections.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 having an adjustment unit providing for essentially continuous and infinite adjustment of the keyboard configuration between a first limit position and a second limit position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said keyboard configuration has an apex at said releasable universal pivot device and said left and right keyboard plate sections are movably coupled to permit varying of the vertical orientation of said apex while maintaining the parallel and in line orientation of said keys, said keys having integrated switch units responsive to key touch by the operation, associated electronics within said enclosure unit for responding to actuation of said keys, a circuit connection means between said keys and said associated electronics to permit movement of said keys with said plate sections to maintain the planar orientation of the keys without interference with the associated electronic circuitry.

11. An input keyboard consisting of a plurality of planar oriented keys in a cartesian coordinate of individual keys in parallel lateral rows and front-to-back columns in a substantially common plane, comprising first and second keyboard sections each having said keys arranged thereon in said cartesian coordinates, a first universal support connected to said first keyboard section generally centrally of said cartesian coordinates to permit free rotation of the keyboard section and a second universal support connected to said second keyboard section generally centrally of said cartesian coordinates to permit free rotation of the keyboard section, said first and second universal supports providing for angular orientation of each of said keyboard sections with lateral inclination as well as front-to-back inclination.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of said universal supports includes a lateral linear support for lateral orientation of said keyboard sections with respect to each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said universal supports each includes a rotating axis for rotation of keyboard sections about a generally vertical axis, said keyboard sections being inclined front-to-back and having a top edge, whereby said keyboard sections can be oriented with a generally inverted V-shaped opening having an apex at the top edge of said keyboard sections.