Keyboard for choice of symbols having hand supports

• US 5,411,341 A
• Filed: 03/03/1994
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johan M. Ullman
• Original Assignee: Johan M. Ullman
• Inventors: Ullman, Johan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Application Number:
  US08/206,035
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 400/482, 400/485, 400/486, 400/488, 400/489, 400/491, 400/492
• US Class Current: 400/489
• 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
• 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

Abstract

Keyboard for choice of symbols having keys for the highly frequently used symbols divided in two groups, which has a position for placing the fingers except for the thumb for the left hand of the keys to the one group, and for the right hand on the keys of the other group. The groups are arranged at each side of the middle plane for an operator in such a way that the common plane of the key surfaces slope against the horizontal plane by their upwardly turned edges in against each other, and form an angle to the horizontal plane for each of the key planes, preferably about 30° and at an angle to each other by their edges turned away from the operator. The keys in each group are divided in a number of vertically extending rows, having four keys in each row. At the upper side of the key plane, longitudinal supports have been arranged for the thumb of each hand along which support the thumb can slide. The keys and the support for the thumbs are mutually so arranged that at support with the thumb in a displacement position of the hand, a position for said fingers are obtained each opposite one of the four keys in a first row, and a second displacement position opposite the keys in a second row etc.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a body comprising at least two side surfaces symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a center plane perpendicular to a horizontal plane when said keyboard is placed in its intended position in front of an operator, said at least two side surfaces being disposed along side surface planes;

a plurality of keys disposed on said body; and

at least one hand displacement surface means connecting said hand displacement surface to said body, said hand displacement surface allowing for movement of a hand of a operator relative to said body in a substantially straight line along a hand displacement plane, said hand displacement surface having means for supporting a hand of an operator in a plurality of supported positions above said body and said at least two side surfaces said hand displacement plane being substantially coextensive with said side surface planes for manipulation of said plurality of keys by an operator as a hand is moved along said hand displacement planes.

2. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting comprises a pair of longitudinal thumb support guides positioned on said body to carry and guide the thumbs of the operator'"'"'s hands along said at least two side surfaces.

3. The keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein said thumb support guides are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition indicating different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.

4. The keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein said thumb support guides comprise a pair of elongate thumb receiving grooves.

5. The keyboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein said grooves are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition to indicate different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.

6. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting comprises two upwardly directed resting surfaces for supporting the operator'"'"'s hands substantially at the thenar areas.

7. The keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said resting surfaces is attached to said body by an elongate support arm having an upper end and a lower end, said resting surfaces being disposed on said upper end and said lower end being swingably hinged to said body to allow for movement of said support arms along said hand displacement planes.

8. The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein said support arms are insertable into said body of said keyboard.

9. The keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said resting surfaces have a hemispherical shape.

10. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side surface planes are arranged so as to slope upwardly inwards towards one another and toward said center plane.

11. The keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for supporting comprises a pair of longitudinal thumb support guides positioned on said body to carry and guide the thumbs of the operator'"'"'s hands along said at least two side surfaces.

12. The keyboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thumb support guides are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition indicating different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.

13. The keyboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thumb support guides comprise a pair of elongate thumb receiving grooves.

14. The keyboard as claimed in claim 13, wherein said grooves are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition to indicate different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.

15. The keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for supporting comprises two upwardly directing resting surfaces for supporting the operator'"'"'hands substantially at the thenar areas.

16. The keyboard as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said resting surfaces is attached to said body by an elongate support arm having an upper end and a lower end, said resting surfaces being disposed on said upper end and said lower end being swingably hinged to said body to allow for movement of said support arms along said hand displacement planes.

17. The keyboard as claimed in claim 16, wherein said support arms are insertable into said body of said keyboard.

18. The keyboard as claimed in claim 17, wherein said resting surfaces have a hemispherical shape.