Computer keyboard

• US 5,410,333 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kevin M. Conway
• Original Assignee: Kevin M. Conway
• Inventors: Conway, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARVEY, MINSUN OH
• Application Number:
  US08/151,509
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 341/22, 341/20, 364/708.1, 364/709, 400/485, 400/488-490, 400/493, 400/492, 400/495, 400/496, 400/479, 400/715, 400/494, 400/82, 400/703, 400/713
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0342 having one double articulated arm
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• 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 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 ergonomic computer keyboard. The computer keyboard includes two keyboard portions having keyboard keys disposed on at least two surfaces of one keyboard portion (e.g., a top side and a bottom side) and on at least one surface of the other keyboard portion (e.g., a top side). The keyboard portions are positionable for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, are interconnected, are positionally adjustable with respect to each other and are mountable on a support mechanism for operation off of a working surface.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard mountable on a support mechanism for operation with respect to a working surface and positionable for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, said computer keyboard comprising:

a first keyboard portion;

said first keyboard portion having two opposing sides;

one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion having at least one key;

said other opposing side of said first keyboard portion having at least one key;

a second keyboard portion;

said second keyboard portion having two opposing sides;

one of said opposing sides of said second keyboard portion having at least one key;

connecting means interconnecting said keyboard portions to enable positional adjustment of said keyboard portions with respect to each other;

said connecting means enabling a computer keyboard operator to access said at least one key disposed on one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion and to access said at least one key disposed on said other opposing side of said first keyboard portion; and

mounting means coupled to at least one of said keyboard portions for mounting said keyboard portions on said support mechanism, said mounting means including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said keyboard portions to a plurality of operating positions off of said working surface and for enabling operation of said keyboard portions in at least a selected one of said operating positions.

2. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said other opposing side of said second keyboard portion includes at least one key disposed on said other opposing side of said second keyboard portion.

3. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising:

a surface disposed between said opposing sides of one of said keyboard portions; and

a key disposed on said surface.

4. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a hinge.

5. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard portions are half portions.

6. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said computer keyboard includes a "QWERTY" keyboard key configuration having left-hand keys, right-hand keys and a space key.

7. A computer keyboard according to claim 6, wherein said left-hand keys are disposed on one of said opposing sides of one of said keyboard portions and said right-hand keys are disposed on one of said opposing sides of said other keyboard portion.

8. A computer keyboard according to claim 6, wherein said space key is disposed on said other opposing side of one of said keyboard portions.

9. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein one of said keyboard portions includes a trackball disposed on one of said keyboard portions.

10. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said key disposed on said other opposing side of said first keyboard portion is a backspace key.

11. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein one of said keys is an on/off switch.

12. A computer keyboard mountable on a support mechanism for operation with respect to a working surface which includes a "QWERTY" keyboard key configuration having left-hand "QWERTY" keys, right-hand "QWERTY" keys and a space key and which is positionable for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, said computer keyboard comprising:

first and second keyboard portions;

each of said keyboard portions having two opposing sides;

each of said opposing sides of each of said keyboard portions having a plurality of keys;

one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion having said left-hand "QWERTY" keys;

one of said opposing sides of said second keyboard portion having said right-hand "QWERTY" keys;

said other opposing side of one of said keyboard portions having said space key;

connecting means interconnecting said keyboard portions to enable positional adjustment of said keyboard portions with respect to each other;

said connecting means enabling a computer keyboard operator to access said keys disposed on one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion and said keys disposed on said other opposing side of said first keyboard portion and to access said keys disposed on one of said opposing sides of said second keyboard portion and said keys disposed on said other opposing side of said second keyboard portion; and

mounting means coupled to at least one of said keyboard portions for mounting said keyboard portions on said support mechanism, said mounting means including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said keyboard portions to a plurality of operating positions off of said working surface and for enabling operation of said keyboard portions in at least a selected one of said operating positions.

13. A computer keyboard according to claim 12, wherein said connecting means includes:

first and second stackable hinges;

said first stackable hinge coupled to said first keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said first keyboard portion with respect to said second keyboard portion; and

said second stackable hinge coupled to said second keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said second keyboard portion with respect to said first keyboard portion.

14. A computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein said connecting means further includes:

first and second connecting rods;

said first connecting rod interconnecting said first keyboard portion and said first stackable hinge; and

said second connecting rod interconnecting said second keyboard portion and said second stackable hinge.

15. A computer keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said connecting means further includes:

an interconnecting member interconnecting said first stackable hinge and said second stackable hinge.

16. A computer keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said mounting means includes a clamping means connected to said interconnecting member.

17. A computer keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said mounting means includes clamping means.

18. A computer keyboard according to claim 17, wherein said clamping means further interconnects said first and second stackable hinges.

19. A computer keyboard according to claim 17, wherein said clamping means includes adjustment means for positional adjustment of said keyboard with respect to said support mechanism.

20. A computer keyboard mountable on a support mechanism for operation with respect to a working surface and positionable for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, said computer keyboard comprising:

a first keyboard portion;

said first keyboard portion having two opposing sides;

one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion having at least one key;

said other opposing side of said first keyboard portion having at least one key;

a second keyboard portion;

said second keyboard portion having two opposing sides;

one of said opposing sides of said second keyboard portion having at least one key;

connecting means interconnecting said keyboard portions and enabling a computer keyboard operator to access said at least one key disposed on one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion and to access said at least one key disposed on said other opposing side of said first keyboard portion;

said connecting means having first and second stackable hinges;

said first stackable hinge coupled to said first keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said first keyboard portion with respect to said second keyboard portion;

said second stackable hinge coupled to said second keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said second keyboard portion with respect to said first keyboard portion; and

mounting means for mounting said keyboard portions on said support mechanism, said mounting means including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said keyboard portions to a plurality of operating positions off of said working surface and for enabling operation of said keyboard portions in at least a selected one of said operating positions.

21. A computer keyboard mountable on a support mechanism for operation with respect to a working surface and positionable for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, said computer keyboard comprising:

first and second keyboard portions;

each of said keyboard portions having a top side and an adjacent side surface;

each of said keyboard portions having a plurality of keys disposed on said top side;

one of said keyboard portions having at least one key disposed on said adjacent side surface;

connecting means interconnecting said keyboard portions and enabling a computer keyboard operator to access said keys disposed on said top side of one of said keyboard portions and to access said key disposed on said adjacent side surface of that keyboard portion;

said connecting means having first and second stackable hinges;

said first stackable hinge coupled to said first keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said first keyboard portion with respect to said second keyboard portion;

said second stackable hinge coupled to said second keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said second keyboard portion with respect to said first keyboard portion; and

mounting means for mounting said keyboard portions on said support mechanism, said mounting means including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said keyboard portions to a plurality of operating positions off of said working surface and for enabling operation of said keyboard portions in at least a selected one of said operating positions.

22. A computer keyboard according to claim 21 which includes a "QWERTY" keyboard key configuration having left-hand "QWERTY" keys, right-hand "QWERTY" keys and a space key, wherein

said first keyboard portion includes said left-hand "QWERTY" keys disposed on said top side;

said second keyboard portion includes said right-hand "QWERTY" keys disposed on said top side; and

one of said keyboard portions includes said space key disposed on said adjacent side surface of that keyboard portion.

23. A computer keyboard mountable on a support mechanism for operation with respect to a working surface and positionable for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, said computer keyboard comprising:

a first keyboard half portion having a front side, a back side and a generally vertical connecting edge;

said front side and said back side of said first keyboard half portion bearing at least one keyboard key;

a second keyboard half portion having a front side, a back side and a generally vertical connecting edge;

said front side of said second keyboard half portion bearing at least one keyboard key;

means for connecting said first keyboard half portion and said second keyboard half portion along said generally vertical connecting edges to provide an angled relationship between said two keyboard half portions, wherein when said keyboard halves are positioned for operation between a user'"'"'s fingers and thumb, said keyboard keys on said keyboard half portions front sides are accessible to said user'"'"'s fingers and said at least one keyboard key on said first keyboard half portion back side is accessible to at least one of said user'"'"'s thumbs; and

mounting means coupled to at least one of said keyboard half portions for mounting said keyboard half portions on said support mechanism, said mounting means including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said keyboard half portions to a plurality of operating positions off of said working surface and for enabling operation of said keyboard half portions in least a selected one of said operating positions.

24. A computer keyboard mountable on a support mechanism for operation with respect to a working surface, said computer keyboard comprising:

a first keyboard portion;

said first keyboard portion having two opposing sides;

at least one of said opposing sides of said first keyboard portion having keys;

a second keyboard portion;

said second keyboard portion having two opposing sides;

at least one of said opposing sides of said second keyboard portion having keys;

connecting means interconnecting said keyboard portions for positional adjustment of said first and second keyboard portions with respect to each other; and

mounting means for mounting said keyboard portions on said support mechanism, said mounting means including adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said keyboard portions to a plurality of operating positions off of said working surface and for enabling operation of said keyboard portions in at least a selected one of said operating positions.

25. A computer keyboard according to claim 24, wherein said connecting means includes:

first and second stackable hinges;

said first stackable hinge coupled to said first keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said first keyboard portion with respect to said second keyboard portion; and

said second stackable hinge coupled to said second keyboard portion for positional adjustment of said second keyboard portion with respect to said first keyboard portion.

26. A computer keyboard according to claim 25, wherein said connecting means further includes:

first and second connecting rods;

said first connecting rod interconnecting said first keyboard portion and said first stackable hinge; and

said second connecting rod interconnecting said second keyboard portion and said second stackable hinge.

27. A computer keyboard according to claim 26, wherein said connecting means further includes:

an interconnecting member interconnecting said first stackable hinge and said second stackable hinge.

28. A computer keyboard according to claim 27, wherein said mounting means includes a clamping means connected to said interconnecting member.

29. A computer keyboard according to claim 26, wherein said mounting means includes clamping means.

30. A computer keyboard according to claim 29, wherein said clamping means further interconnects said first and second stackable hinges.

31. A computer keyboard according to claim 29, wherein said clamping means includes adjustment means for positional adjustment of said keyboard with respect to said support mechanism.