Ergonomic keyboard

• US 5,160,919 A
• Filed: 09/10/1990
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abilene Keyboard Design Co.
• Original Assignee: Abilene Keyboard Design Co.
• Inventors: Mohler, Jack M., Havice, Jacque L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Jick
• Application Number:
  US07/579,901
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/711, 341/20, 341/22, 400/82, 400/83, 400/472, 400/479, 400/489, 248/918, D14/100, D14/106, D14/114, D14/115, 200/5 A, 225/145 R, 225/146, 358/254
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard which allows the user'"'"'s hands to be placed in an anatomically neutral position with the palms facing each other. The main keys are arranged in vertical rows on opposite sides of a base, with the keys to be engaged by the index fingers being uppermost, and the keys to be engaged by the little fingers being lowermost. Space bars are arranged on side edges of the base such that they may be activated by pressure applied from different directions. Secondary keys, such as function keys, are arranged on inclined surfaces for improved visibility. The keyboard may be a discrete unit, or may be fixed to or integral with a data display monitor.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus for use by a person to manually input of information to a computer, typewriter or other keyboard operated device comprising in combination,

an upstanding unitary main body defining a generally vertical right side, a generally vertical left side separated from the right side by a distance that allows the person to simultaneously place each hand on the side of the main body nearest the hand, the right side being closer to the person'"'"'s right hand and the left side being closest to the person'"'"'s left hand, the right side and the left side having upper extents generally horizontally opposed to each other and extending downwardly from the upper extends to lower extents that are generally horizontally opposed to each other, the main body further defining a base portion extending between the lower extent of the right side and the lower extent o the left side, the base portion extending outwardly from the lower extent of the right side defining a right foot extension of the main body having a right secondary surface extending outwardly and downwardly from the lower extent of the right side and the base portion extending outwardly from the lower extent of the left side defining a left foot extension of the main body having a left secondary surface extending outwardly and downwardly from the lower extent of the left side, the base portion defining a flat bottom generally perpendicular to the sides and extending below the entire base portion, the main body further defining a display surface extending across the upper extents of the right side and the left side and oriented to be easily viewed by a person operating the keyboard;

a plurality of keys mounted to the right side and a plurality of keys mounted to the left side the keys being the type that are activated by application of a force to the key in a direction toward the side to which the key is mounted; and

a plurality of information display devices mounted to the display face;

whereby a person may operate the keyboard with each hand positioned midway between pronation and supination adjacent to a side of the keyboard and the person may view the information display devices while operating the keyboard.

2. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left secondary surface and the right secondary surface extend outwardly from the main body to allow a person operating the keyboard to view the surfaces and further comprising a plurality of secondary keys mounted to the right secondary surface and a plurality of secondary keys mounted to the left secondary surface, the keys being the type that are activated by application of a force to the key in a direction toward the surface to which the key is mounted whereby a person operating the keyboard may view the secondary surfaces while operating the keyboard and may view the secondary surfaces while operating the keyboard and may activate a secondary key by viewing the key and lowering a hand from a position adjacent to a side to the secondary surface to which the secondary key is mounted.

3. The keyboard apparatus of claim 2 wherein the main body defines a front extending between the sides and a recess extending into the front.

4. A keyboard apparatus for use by a person to manually input information to a computer, typewriter or other keyboard operated device comprising in combination:

a main body forming a generally vertical column having a right side and a left side spaced apart from the right side, the right side having a right front edge and the left side having a left front edge, the right side, the left side, the right front edge, and the left front edge being substantially vertical and separated by a distance that allows the person to simultaneously place a hand on the side of the main body nearer the hand, the right side being closer to the person'"'"'s right hand, the left side being closer to the person'"'"'s left hand, and the front edges being edges of the sides nearest to the to the person'"'"'s body;

the main body having a front extending between the right front edge and the left front edge and a display face extending across upper extents of the right side and the left side from an upper extent of the front and the main body is sized to allow a person to view the display face while operating the keyboard;

the main body further having a base portion adjacent to lower extents of the sides including a generally flat bottom surface;

a right bar-type key positioned along the right front edge that is activated by application of a force in a direction along the right side, a force in a direction toward the right side, and a force along a direction generally perpendicular to the right front edge between the direction along the right side and the direction toward the right side;

a plurality of right-side keys that are activated by application of a force in a direction toward the right side and are positioned on the right side adjacent to the right bar-type key at a distance from the right bar-type key that allows the person to activate the right-side keys using the fingers of the right hand with the thumb of the right hand contacting the right bar-type key;

a left bar-type key positioned along the left front edge that is activated by application of a force in a direction along the left side, a force in a direction toward the left side, and a force along a direction generally perpendicular to the left front edge between the direction along the left side and the direction toward the left side;

a plurality of left-side keys that are activated by application of a force in a direction toward the left side and are positioned on the left side adjacent to the left bar-type key at a distance from the left bar-type key that allows the person to activate the left-side keys using the fingers of the left hand with the thumb of the left hand contacting the left bar-type key;

a right foot extension extending outwardly from the right side from the base portion and a left foot extension extending from the left side from the base portion, each extension including a secondary surface extending outwardly from the adjacent side and downwardly toward the bottom surface providing a right secondary surface and left secondary surface having one or more secondary keys mounted on each secondary surface;

whereby the person may operate the keyboard apparatus with each hand in an anatomically neutral position by placing each hand adjacent to a side of the keyboard apparatus in a position that the person feels most comfortably allows the fingers of the hand to activate the side keys and the thumb may activate the bar-type key by any movement toward the bar-type key, the secondary keys may be viewed by the person operating the keyboard, and each foot extension enhances stability by enlarging the bottom surface.