Prehensile positioning computer keyboard

• US 5,416,498 A
• Filed: 05/17/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ergonomics, Inc.
• Inventors: Grant, Alan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/061,711
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/167, 345/164, 341/20, 341/21, 341/22, 341/23, 248/917, 248/918, 248/920, 248/922, 400/486, 400/487, 400/489, 400/472, 400/91, 400/92, 400/195, 400/488, 235/144, 235/146, 364/709.14, 364/709.15, D14/107, D14/115
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• 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

Abstract

A computer keyboard is designed such that a user may acquire total tactile familiarity with the keyboard, thus enabling the user to copy written material and look at the screen while typing without looking at the keyboard. One embodiment of the keyboard of the invention is divided at its midpoint by a central peak and the outer portions slant downwardly and away from the central peak and upwardly away from the user to form a shallow V-shape. The V-shaped keyboard configuration lessens ulnar abducted deviation and permits a relatively straight hand-wrist orientation. The center-peak design also lessens the amount of hand pronation, i.e. the rotation of the hands from a comfortable vertical posture into an uncomfortable horizontal posture. Further, the V-shaped arrangement enables the forearms to be separated, allowing for unobstructed visual access to a copy-viewing area. Strain on the hands and wrists is minimized and occupationally-induced injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, are avoided. The space bars are placed on the front edge of the keyboard surfaces and are activated by thumb pressure either vertically (conventionally), horizontally or at a selected angle. When the space bars are activated horizontally, the thumb moves in a natural grasping motion toward the forefinger.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard comprising:

a body having a leading edge closest to the user,

a first keyboard surface of said body,

a second keyboard surface of said body,

a portion of said body dividing said first keyboard surface from said second keyboard surface in a V-shape, said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface rising towards said portion, and

palm rest means of said body angled downwardly and outwardly from said portion of said body for supporting the palms of an operator as the fingers of the operator contact keys on said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface so that a hand-wrist junction and elbow of the operator are guided into a prehensile position with respect to the keyboard,

said body including means for elevating said leading edge of said body from a first position to a second position so that said body is positionable to at least a substantially horizontal orientation.

2. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body includes means for elevating a trailing edge of said body from a first position to a second position.

3. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cursor-mover control button is located on said body.

4. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cursor-mover control button is located at said portion for a prehensile arrangement of the fingers and thumbs of the operator to move said trackball and actuate said cursor-mover control button.

5. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body includes function keys and a numeric keypad.

6. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein said function keys are arranged in a circle.

7. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein said function keys are arranged in a multi-sided arrangement.

8. A computer keyboard comprising:

a body having a leading edge closest to the user,

a first keyboard surface of said body,

a second keyboard surface of said body,

a portion of said body dividing said first keyboard surface from said second keyboard surface in a V-shape, said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface rising towards said portion,

palm rest means of said body angled downwardly and outwardly from said portion of said body for supporting the palms of an operator as the fingers of the operator contact keys on said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface so that a hand-wrist junction and elbow of the operator are guided into a prehensile position with respect to the keyboard, and

trackball means for controlling movement of a cursor with the hands of the operator aligned in a prehensile position,

said body including means for elevating said leading edge of said body from a first position to a second position so that said body is positionable to at least a substantially horizontal orientation.

9. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said body includes means for elevating a trailing edge of said body from a first position to a second position.

10. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said body includes function keys and a numeric keypad.

11. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said function keys are arranged in a circle.

12. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said function keys are arranged in a multi-sided arrangement.

13. A keyboard for a computer for operating with hands of a user disposed in a prehensile position, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body;

keyboard means located at an upper surface of said keyboard body comprising first and second transverse surfaces with a common edge located centrally with respect to a length of said keyboard means, said common edge located through the entire width of said keyboard means, and having keys for depressing by movement of fingers of a user in a first direction;

spacing means mounted at a forward edge of said keyboard means for operating by movement of a thumb of the user;

activating means mounted on said keyboard body on a third surface transverse to each of said first and second transverse surfaces, located centrally with respect to a length of said keyboard means for rotational movement of said activating means in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by movement of at least one thumb of a user in a second direction transverse to said first direction for engagement of said keyboard means and said activating means by the user'"'"'s hands disposed substantially in a prehensile alignment position with the thumb opposed to the fingers in a substantially grasping motion between the thumb and fingers of the user to cause actuation of said keyboard means and said activating means while the thumb and fingers are in close proximity in prehensile alignment when using the keyboard and whereby ulnar abducted deviation and hand-pronation are reduced; and

two lateral ramps of said body angled downwardly from said first and second transverse surfaces with said third surface located between said two lateral ramps.

14. A keyboard for a computer, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

first activating means located on at least one first upper surface of said keyboard body comprising first and second transverse surfaces with a common edge located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means, said common edge located through the entire width of said first activating means, for actuation of said first activating means by movement of fingers of a user;

second activating means fixed and projecting from a third surface of said keyboard body, located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means for rotational movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by at least one thumb of the user,

said third surface extending transverse to said first and second transverse surfaces for engagement of said first activating means and said second activating means by hands of a user positioned in a prehensile alignment so that a substantially grasping motion between the at least one thumb and fingers of the user can cause actuation of both said first activating means and said second activating means while said at least one thumb and fingers are in a close proximity in prehensile alignment; and

two lateral ramps of said body angled downwardly from said first and second transverse surfaces with said third surface located between said two lateral ramps.

15. A keyboard for a computer, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body;

first activating means located on first and second upper slanting keyboard surfaces of said keyboard body comprising keys for depressing by fingers of a user'"'"'s left and right hands respectively, said first and second slanting keyboard surfaces joined at a peak central edge forming a V-shape which slopes downwardly toward the user and laterally away from the user, said peak central edge located through the entire width of said first activating means;

second activating means on a third surface of said keyboard body, located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means for rotational movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by at least one thumb of the user,

said third surface extending transverse to said first and second upper slanting keyboard surfaces for engagement of said first activating means and said second activating means by hands of a user disposed in a substantially prehensile alignment position with substantially straight wrist during use so that a substantially grasping motion between the at least one thumb and fingers of the user can cause actuation of said first activating means and said second activating means while said at least one thumb and fingers are in a close proximity in prehensile alignment; and

two lateral ramps of said body angled downwardly from said first and second transverse surfaces with said third surface located between said two lateral ramps.

16. A computer keyboard comprising:

a body having a leading edge closest to the user and a trailing edge furthest from the user,

a first keyboard surface of said body,

a second keyboard surface of said body,

a portion of said body dividing said first keyboard surface from said second keyboard surface in a V-shape, said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface rising towards said portion, and

palm rest means of said body angled downwardly and outwardly from said portion of said body for supporting the palms of an operator,

said body including means for elevating said leading edge of said body from a first position to a second position so that said leading edge of said body is higher than a trailing edge of said body.

17. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 16, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a substantially horizontal orientation.

18. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 16, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a greater than horizontal orientation.

19. A computer keyboard comprising:

a body having a leading edge closest to the user,

a first keyboard surface of said body,

a second keyboard surface of said body,

a portion of said body dividing said first keyboard surface from said second keyboard surface in a V-shape, said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface rising towards said portion, and

palm rest means of said body angled downwardly and outwardly from said portion of said body for supporting the palms of an operator,

said body including means for elevating said leading edge of said body from a first position to a second position so that said body is positionable in more than one orientation.

20. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 19, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a substantially horizontal orientation.

21. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 19, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a greater than horizontal orientation.

22. A computer keyboard comprising:

a body having a leading edge closest to the user,

a first keyboard surface of said body,

a second keyboard surface of said body,

a portion of said body dividing said first keyboard surface from said second keyboard surface in a V-shape, said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface rising towards said portion, and

a palm resting surface of said body angled downwardly and outwardly with respect to said portion of said body for supporting the palms of an operator,

said body including means for elevating said leading edge of said body from a first position to a second position.

23. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 22, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a substantially horizontal orientation.

24. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 22, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a greater than horizontal orientation.

25. A computer keyboard comprising:

a body having a leading edge closest to the user,

a first keyboard surface of said body,

a second keyboard surface of said body,

a portion of said body dividing said first keyboard surface from said second keyboard surface in a V-shape, said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface rising towards said portion, and

a palm resting surface of said body angled downwardly and outwardly with respect to said portion of said body for supporting the palms of an operator as the fingers of the operator overlie the keys on said first keyboard surface and said second keyboard surface,

said body including means for elevating said leading edge of said body from a first position to a second position so as to change the orientation of said first and second keyboard surfaces.

26. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 25, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a substantially horizontal orientation.

27. A computer keyboard as claimed in claim 25, wherein said body, when the leading edge is in the second position, is in a greater than horizontal orientation.