Keyboard divided by central inverted T-shaped entry-space key

• US 5,156,475 A
• Filed: 12/06/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arkady Zilberman
• Original Assignee: Arkady Zilberman
• Inventors: Zilberman, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, Eugene H.
• Application Number:
  US07/623,116
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/473, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489, 400/488, 400/490, 400/495, 235/145 R, 434/227, 434/231
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A keyboard comprises a plurality of regular keys, and an inverted T-shaped key subdividing the regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section preferably for right-hand operation. A keyboard further comprises a trackball and/or two rollers requiring minimal hand movement in using them for mouse emulation.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

and an inverted T-shaped key located in a middle of the keyboard, having a `Space` and an `Enter` function, and subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section preferably for right-hand operation.

2. A keyboard as defined in claim 1, wherein said T-shaped key has a bottom portion provided for a `Space` function and a top portion provided for an `Enter` function.

3. A keyboard as defined in claim 1, wherein said regular keys are arranged in rows of keys, said rows of keys being located on a tilted flat plane.

4. A keyboard as defined in claim 1, wherein said regular keys are arranged in key columns located on a flat tilted surface.

5. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

and an inverted T-shaped key subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section for preferably right-hand operation, said regular keys being arranged in rows of keys, said rows of keys being located on concave cylindrical surfaces.

6. A keyboard as defined in claim 5, wherein said concave cylindrical surfaces have rotation axes extending parallel to said row of keys in the left and in the right section of the keyboard.

7. A keyboard as defined in claim 6, wherein said rotation axes intersect the vertical central line of said inverted T-shaped key at 75°

-90°

from the left and from the right, respectively.

8. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

an inverted T-shaped key subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section preferably for right-hand operation; and

a trackball located at a top part of the keyboard at a vertical central line of said inverted T-shaped key.

9. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

an inverted T-shaped key subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section for preferably right-hand operation; and

two rollers located at a top or a bottom part of a keyboard to the left or to the right of a vertical central line of said inverted T-shaped key.

10. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

an inverted T-shaped key subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section for preferably right-hand operation, said regular keys being arranged in key columns located on concave cylindrical surfaces with a curvature radius of 6 cm or more.

11. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

and an inverted T-shaped key subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section for preferably right-hand operation, each of said regular keys having a top cylindrical depression.

12. A keyboard as defined in claim 11, wherein said top cylindrical depressions in each column of said keys together form a continuous groove with the central line substantially perpendicular to the rows of said keys.

13. A keyboard, comprising a plurality of regular keys;

and an inverted T-shaped key subdividing said regular keys into two sections including one section for preferably left-hand operation and another section for preferably right-hand operation, each of said keys having a key cap provided with a central hole helping to center a finger and develop a finger motor reaction in touch-typing training.

14. A keyboard as defined in claim 13;

and further comprising a key top mountable on each of said key caps and having a snap insert for its fixation in said central hole.

15. A keyboard as defined in claim 14, wherein said central hole and said insert have a truncated-cone shape.