Rotating plane keyboard

• US 5,351,066 A
• Filed: 07/08/1991
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Geyer
• Original Assignee: Ergologic Enterprises Inc.
• Inventors: Hepworth, Allen B., Rucker, Lance M., Hoyle, Keith W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOLL, KARA FARNANDEZ
• Application Number:
  US07/727,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 400/485, 400/488-490, 400/493, 400/495, 400/492, 400/496, 400/479, 400/715, 400/494, 400/82, 400/703, 400/713, 340/710, 345/168, 341/22, 341/32, 200/4, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/6 R, 200/16 R
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/105 Constructional details of keyboard frames, e.g. adjusting or fixation means
• 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: 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 2217/034 Support for hands or arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/088 actuable from different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections

Abstract

An adjustable keyboard for electronic instruments having a pair of demi-boards which are extendable from a retracted, flat position to an extended, tetrahedal position wherein the distal side of one of the demi-boards is located closer to the other demi-board than the proximate side, the first and second demi-board planes intersect with the base plane to form an acute angle, the first and second demi-board planes intersect with each other at an apex intersecting line being in non-parallel alignment with the base plane and the first and second demi-board planes and the base plane intersect at an intersecting point in space on the distal side of the base member. A split spacebar may be actuated by movement about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the demi-boards in either direction from a normal position and also on lateral movement along the said longitudinal axis. Adjustable hand rests are provided which may be raised or lowered with respect to the keyboard and which may be adjusted laterally to adjust the distance between each of a pair of hand contacting surfaces and a line laterally bisecting the keyboard.

Claims

1. An adjustable keyboard for data input, comprising:

(a) a base member for contact with a support surface, said base member defining a longitudinal base plane extending through said base member, said base member having a distal side intended for orientation away from a user and a proximate side intended for orientation adjacent a user and first and second ends joining said distal and proximate sides;

(b) a first demi-board means having a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user, defining a first demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said first demi-board means, pivotably connected to said base member and constrained for pivotal movement of said first demi-board means for reproducing a pre-determined arc and reproducible positions between a retracted position in which said first demi-board plane is substantially co-planar and parallel with said base plane and an extended position in which said first demi-board means extends at an acute angle with respect to said base member;

(c) a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said first demi-board means, said keys facing away from said base member;

(d) a second demi-board means having a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user, defining a second demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said second demi-board means, pivotably connected to said base member and constrained for pivotal movement of said second demi-board means for reproducing a predetermined arc and reproducible positions between a retracted position in which said second demi-board plane is substantially co-planar and parallel with said base plane and an extended position in which said second demi-board means extends at an acute angle with respect to said base member;

(e) a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said second demi-board means, said keys facing away from said base member;

(f) when in said extended position said base plane, first demi-board plane, second demi-board plane and proximate sides of said first and second demi-board means forming a tetrahedral shape wherein;

(i) the distal side of one of said demi-board means is located closer to the other demi-board means than the proximate side of said one of said demi-board means;

(ii) said first and second planes each intersect with said base plane to form an acute angle;

(iii) said first and second intersect with each other at an apex intersecting line in space, said apex intersecting line being in non-parallel alignment with the base plane; and

(iv) said first, second and base planes intersect with each other at an intersecting point in space beyond the distal side of said base member.

2. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the horizontal rotation angle, being the angle between the outer end of the base member and the outer end of either demi-board means is between about 0° and

30°

; and

(b) the elevation angle, being the angle between the plane of the base member and the plane of either demi-board means is between 0° and

60°

.

3. A keyboard as described in claim 2, wherein the rotation angle is about 1°

and the elevation angle is about 10°

.

4. A keyboard as described in claim 2, wherein the rotation angle is about 2°

and the elevation angle is about 20°

.

5. A keyboard as described in claim 2, wherein the rotation angle is about 7°

and the elevation angle is about 30°

.

6. A keyboard as described in claim 2, wherein the rotation angle is about 16°

and the elevation angle is about 40°

.

7. A keyboard as described in claim 2, wherein the rotation angle is about 26°

and the elevation angle is about 50°

.

8. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein said keys are oriented in rows extending longitudinally along each demi-board means, said keys in each row being offset with respect to keys in adjacent rows, a distance of about one-half a key width and wherein said first and second demi-board means further comprise inner ends adjacent one another when said demi-board means are in said retracted position, said inner ends being offset to correspond with the said offset of key rows.

9. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein said first demi-board means rotates laterally about a first rotation axis located adjacent the proximate side of said base member said first rotation axis being perpendicular to said base plane and wherein said second demi-board means rotates laterally about a second rotation axis located adjacent the proximate side of said base member said second rotation axis being perpendicular to said base plane.

10. A keyboard as described in claim 9, wherein said first demi-board means rotates vertically about a first rise axis adjacent said first rotation axis said first rise axis being parallel with said base plane and wherein said second demi-board means rotates vertically about a second rise axis adjacent said second rotation axis said second rise axis being parallel with said base plane.

11. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein said first demi-board means rotates about a first angular axis being at an acute angle with respect to said base plane and wherein said second demi-board means rotates about a second angular axis being at an acute angle with respect to said base plane.

12. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein said first demi-board means further comprises first lateral constraining means for constraining movement of the outer distal comer of said first demi-board means laterally in a plane parallel with said base plane, and wherein said second demi-board means further comprises second lateral constraining means for constraining movement of the outer distal comer of said second demi-board means laterally in a plane parallel with said base plane.

13. A keyboard as described in claim 12 wherein said first lateral constraining means comprises a first helix screw rotatably connected to said keyboard and extending longitudinally along said keyboard and screw contacting means for contacting said first helix screw and for lateral movement along said first helix screw on rotation of said helix screw and wherein said second lateral constraining means comprises a second helix screw rotatably connected to said keyboard and extending longitudinally along said keyboard and screw contacting means for contacting said second helix screw and for lateral movement along said second helix screw on rotation of said second helix screw.

14. A keyboard as described in claim 13 wherein said first and second helix screws are joined together and wherein the screw blades of the first helix screw are in the opposite direction to the screw blades of the second helix screw.

15. A keyboard as described in claim 1, further comprising indicator means for indicating the extent of horizontal position of the first demi-board means, said indicator means comprising locating means for locating the lateral position of said outer distal corner of said first demi-board means with respect to said base member.

16. A keyboard as described in claim 15, wherein said locating means comprises a visual indicator revealing the position of said outer distal comer of said first demi-board means with respect to said base member.

17. A keyboard as described in claim 1, further comprising a space bar means for indicating a space, located on the proximate side of each of the first and second demi-board means.

18. A keyboard as described in claim 1, further comprising hand resting means for resting the hand of a user, said hand resting means located at the proximate side of said base member and being connected thereto.

19. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein said keys have colour coded control key, shift key and alt key.

20. A keyboard as described in claim 1, further comprising supporting means for supporting the inner sides of the said first and second demi-board means and for joining said first and second demi-board means, said supporting means being rotatably attached to said base member for lateral movement about a support rotation axis extending longitudinally parallel with the longitudinal axis of said base member, said supporting means extendable from a retracted position in which said supporting means is positioned horizontally and an extended position in which said supporting means extends at an angle with respect to said base member.

21. A keyboard as described in claim 20, wherein said supporting means comprises first contact means for contacting and supporting said first demi-board means and second contact means for contacting and supporting said second demi-board means, said first and second contact means being in parallel alignment with said base plane.

22. A keyboard as described in claim 20, wherein said supporting means is rotatably connected to each demi-board means and wherein the distance between the F and J keys of a QWERTY keyboard layout is between about 57 millimeters and 95 millimeters throughout the range of positions of said first and second demi-board means from the retracted to the fully extended positions.

23. A keyboard as described in claim 20, wherein said supporting means is biased in the extended position and wherein said base member further comprises latch means for latching said supporting means in the retracted position, said biasing means extending said supporting means from the retracted position on release of said latching means.

24. A keyboard as described in claim 20, wherein said demi-board means are connected to said supporting means by ball and socket joint.

25. A keyboard as described in claim 1, wherein said keys comprise a first control key, a first shift key and a first alt key located on said demi-board means and a second control key, second shift key and second alt key located on said base member.

27. A keyboard as described in claim 1, further comprising demi-board connecting means for connecting said first and second demi-board means together for symmetrical movement of said demi-board means when moved between said retracted and extended positions of said demi-boards.

28. A keyboard as described in claim 27, wherein said connecting means is rotatably connected to said base member for rotational movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base member.

29. A keyboard as described in claim 28, wherein said first demi-board means further comprises first lateral constraining means for constraining movement of the outer distal comer of said first demi-board means laterally in a plane parallel with said base plane and wherein said second demi-board further comprises second lateral constraining means for constraining movement of the outer distal comer of said second demi-board means laterally in a plane parallel with said base plane.

26. A keyboard for dam input into an electronic device, comprising:

(a) a base member for contact with a support surface, said base member defining a longitudinal base plane extending through said base member, said member having a distal side intended for orientation away from a user and a proximate side intended for orientation adjacent a user when in use, and first and second ends joining said distal and proximate sides;

(b) a first demi-board connected adjacent said first end of said base member at one end of said first demi-board and extending angularly from said base member, said first demi-board defining a first demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said first demi-board and said first demi-board comprising a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said first demi-board said keys facing away from said base member, a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user;

(c) a second demi-board connected adjacent said second end of said base member at one end of said second demi-board and extending angularly from said base member, said second demi-board defining a second demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said second demi-board, said second demi-board comprising a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said second demi-board said keys facing away from said base member, a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user;

(d) pivot means and constraining means communicating with said base member and said first and second demi-boards for pivotal movement of said first and second demi-boards with respect to said base member for reproducing a pre-determined arc and reproducible positions for each of said first and second demi-boards with respect and

(e) said first and second demi-boards oriented such that when in an extended position in which said first and second demi-boards each extend at an acute angle with respect to said base member;

(i) the distal side of one of said demi-board is located closer to the other of said demi-boards than the proximate side of said one of said demi-boards;

(ii) said first and second demi-board planes each intersect with said base plane to form an acute angle;

(iii) said first and second demi-board planes intersect with each other at an apex intersecting line in space, said apex intersecting line being in non-parallel alignment with the base plane; and

(iv) said first demi-board, second demi-board and base planes intersect with each other at an apex intersecting point in space beyond the distal side of said base member.