Adjustable keyboard

• US 5,454,652 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maxi-Switch Company
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Pollard, Edward E., Mimlitch, Kenneth H., Lingle, Charles H., Reichenbach, Raymond H. Jr., Huellemeier, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YAN, REN LUO
• Application Number:
  US08/151,432
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 400/681, 400/682, 400/82, 400/472, 400/473, 400/486, 400/489, 400/492, 345/168, 345/169, 235/145 R, 235/146
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/105 Constructional details of keyboard frames, e.g. adjusting or fixation means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• 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

A keyboard has two segments connected to each other at their rear ends by a connector. The two segments can be pivoted about the connector through 90° in the plane of a support surface for the keyboard. In one embodiment, each keyboard segment may be disposed at a maximum angle of 45° to its support surface in a plane perpendicular to its support surface. Thus, the two segments may be tilted 90° with respect to each other. The two segments may be separated and supported individually through three pivotally mounted supports on its bottom surface. Two of the supports are disposed adjacent the rear corners and pivot on the same axis while the third support is disposed adjacent a lower inner corner of the segment and pivots on an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of the other two supports. Each of the supports has two legs of different lengths to permit various tilting configurations of each segment with one of the legs having an adjustable length in one embodiment.

Claims

1. A keyboard including:

first and second segments, each of said first segment and said second segment having a plurality of keys;

each of said first segment and said second segment having an abutting surface;

connecting means for connecting said first segment and said second segment to each other for enabling relative movement between said first segment and said second segment, for holding said first segment and said second segment in any position to which first segment and said second segment are moved relative to each other including holding said abutting surfaces of said first segment and said second segment in abutting relation, and for enabling disconnection of said first segment and said second segment from each other;

and said connecting means including;

a ball;

a first element on one of said first segment and said second segment having a partial spherical surface for engaging a portion of said ball;

a second element on the other of said first segment and said second segment having a partial spherical surface for engaging another portion of said ball;

and releasably connecting means for releasably connecting said first element, said ball, and said second element to each other to retain each of said first segment and said second segment in any position to which each of said first segment and said second segment is moved.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1 including:

each of said first segment and said second segment having three pivotally mounted support means disposed on its bottom for supporting each of said first segment and said second segment, each of said three pivotally mounted support means being separately movable between a rest position and a support position in which said pivotally mounted support means extends beyond the plane of the bottom of said first segment or said second segment on which said pivotally mounted support means is pivotally mounted for at least one selected length;

two of said three pivotally mounted support means on each of said first segment and said second segment being disposed adjacent the rear of each of said first segment and said second segment;

and a third of said three pivotally mounted support means on each of said first segment and said second segment being disposed adjacent said abutting surface of each of said first segment and said second segment and the front of each of said first segment and said second segment.

3. The keyboard according to claim 2 in which each of said pivotally mounted support means includes:

a first pivotally mounted support;

and a second pivotally mounted support having a greater length than said first pivotally mounted support, only one of said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support being utilized at any time to raise the portion of said first segment or said second segment to which said pivotally mounted support means is attached.

4. The keyboard according to claim 3 in which said second pivotally mounted support has means for enabling nesting of said first pivotally mounted support within said second pivotally mounted support when said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support are in their rest positions.

5. The keyboard according to claim 4 including:

extension means supported by said second pivotally mounted support for selectively increasing the effective length of said second pivotally mounted support;

and said first pivotally mounted support having receiving means for receiving said extension means when said extension means is retracted within said second pivotally mounted support and said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support are in their rest positions.

6. The keyboard according to claim 2 in which:

each of said three pivotally mounted support means is disposed adjacent a different corner of each of said first segment and said second segment on which said three pivotally mounted support means are mounted;

and said two pivotally mounted support means have the same pivot axis and said third pivotally mounted support means has its pivot axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said two pivotally mounted support means.

7. The keyboard according to claim 6 in which each of said pivotally mounted support means includes:

a first pivotally mounted support;

and a second pivotally mounted support having a greater length than said first pivotally mounted support, only one of said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support being utilized at any time to raise the portion of said first segment or said second segment to which said pivotally mounted support means is attached.

8. The keyboard according to claim 1 in which said releasably connecting means includes:

a shaft;

each of said first element, said ball, and said second element having enabling means for enabling said shaft to extend therethrough;

said shaft having a head on one end to engage said second element;

and a knob attached to the other end of said shaft and engaging said first element to hold said first segment and said second segment in any position to which said first segment and said second segment are moved.

9. The keyboard according to claim 8 in which:

said first element has an outer spherical surface;

and said knob has a spherical surface for engaging said outer spherical surface of said first element to hold said first segment and said second segment in any position to which said first segment and said second segment are moved.

10. The keyboard according to claim 9 in which said knob and said first element have cooperating means for cooperating with each other to prevent separation of said knob and said first element when said spherical surface of said knob is engaging said outer spherical surface of said first element.

11. The keyboard according to claim 10 in which said cooperating means includes:

said first element having a track in its outer surface;

and a circular, cylindrical projection extending from said knob for disposition in said track.

12. The keyboard according to claim 11 in which:

said second element has a spherical outer surface;

and said enabling means of said second element includes;

an arcuate slot in said spherical outer surface of said second element extending for a selected arcuate length to have said shaft extend therethrough;

and a track in said spherical outer surface of said second element on opposite sides of said arcuate slot.

13. The keyboard according to claim 12 in which said knob includes:

an upper gripping means;

an insert attached to the other end of said shaft and engaging said first element to hold said first segment and said second segment in any position to which said first segment and said second segment are moved;

and said upper gripping means having receiving means for receiving said insert to enable said upper gripping means and said insert to turn together.

14. The keyboard according to claim 13 in which said upper gripping means and said insert have cooperating means when said receiving means in said upper gripping means is not symmetrical with respect to said shaft to increase the distance of said upper gripping means from said shaft to increase the torque applied to said insert.

15. The keyboard according to claim 14 in which:

said upper gripping means has a recess having a pair of substantially parallel side walls and a curved wall at each end of said substantially parallel side walls joining the ends of said substantially parallel side walls;

said insert has a pair of diametrically disposed curved slots formed on substantially the same radius of curvature as each of said pair of curved walls of said recess in said upper gripping means;

and said cooperating means of said upper gripping means and said insert include one of said curved walls of said recess and one of said curved slots in said insert.

16. The keyboard according to claim 10 in which said knob includes:

an upper gripping means;

an insert attached to the other end of said shaft and engaging said first element to hold said first segment and said second segment in any position to which said first segment and said second segment are moved;

and said upper gripping means having receiving means for receiving said insert to enable said upper gripping means and said insert to turn together.

17. The keyboard according to claim 16 in which said upper gripping means and said insert have cooperating means when said receiving means in said upper gripping means is not symmetrical with respect to said shaft to increase the distance of said upper gripping means from said shaft to increase the torque applied to said insert.

18. The keyboard according to claim 17 in which:

said upper gripping means has a recess having a pair of substantially parallel side walls and a curved wall at each end of said substantially parallel side walls joining the ends of said substantially parallel side walls;

said insert has a pair of diametrically disposed curved slots formed on substantially the same radius of curvature as each of said pair of curved walls of said recess in said upper gripping means;

and said cooperating means of said upper gripping means and said insert include one of said curved walls of said recess and one of said curved slots in said insert.

19. The keyboard according to claim 1 in which said first segment and said second segment are substantially the same size.

20. The keyboard according to claim 1 in which said abutting surfaces of said first segment and said second segment are straight.

21. A keyboard including:

first and second segments, each of said first segment and said second segment having a plurality of keys;

connecting means for connecting said first segment and said second segment to each other for enabling relative movement between said first segment and said second segment and for enabling disconnection of said first segment and said second segment from each other;

and said connecting means including;

a first element on said first segment;

a second element on said second segment;

a third element disposed between said first element and said second element;

said first element having cooperating means for cooperating with said third element;

releasably connecting means for releasably connecting said first element and said second element to each other and at least said first element and said third element;

said cooperating means of said first element being a ball supported by said first element;

said third element being fixed to said second element;

said third element having a recess to receive said ball;

and said third element having retaining means for releasably retaining said ball in said recess in said third element.

22. The keyboard according to claim 21 in which said releasably connecting means includes said ball of said first element, said recess in said third element, and said releasably retaining means.

23. The keyboard according to claim 21 in which:

said recess in said third element has its lower portion formed as a hemisphere;

and said ball and said recess in said third element have a common center when said ball is disposed in said recess in said third element.

24. A keyboard including:

first and second segments, each of said first segment and said second segment having a plurality of keys;

connecting means for connecting said first segment and said second segment to each other for enabling relative movement between said first segment and said second segment and for enabling disconnection of said first segment and said second segment from each other;

and said connecting means including;

a first element on said first segment;

a second element on said second segment;

a third element disposed between said first element and said second element;

said first element having cooperating means for cooperating with said third element;

releasably connecting means for releasably connecting said first element and said second element to each other and at least said first element and said third element;

said third element having an outer spherical surface;

said first element having a partial spherical surface for engaging a portion of said outer spherical surface of said third element;

said second element having a partial spherical surface for engaging another portion of said outer spherical surface of said third element;

and said releasably connecting means including means for releasably connecting said first element, said third element, and said second element to each other to retain each of said first segment and said second segment in any position to which each of said first segment and said second segment is moved.

25. A keyboard including:

first and second segments, each of said first segment and said second segment having a plurality of keys;

each of said first segment and said second segment having an abutting surface;

connecting means for connecting said first segment and said second segment to each other for enabling relative movement between said first segment and said second segment, for holding said first segment and said second segment in any position to which first segment and said second segment are moved relative to each other including holding said abutting surfaces of said first segment and said second segment in abutting relation, and for enabling disconnection of said first segment and said second segment from each other;

each of said first segment and said second segment having three pivotally mounted support means disposed on its bottom for supporting each of said first segment and said second segment, each of said three pivotally mounted support means being separately movable between a rest position and a support position in which said pivotally mounted support means extends beyond the plane of the bottom of said first segment or said second segment on which said pivotally mounted support means is pivotally mounted for at least one selected length;

two of said three pivotally mounted support means on each of said first segment and said second segment being disposed adjacent the rear of each of said first segment and said second segment;

and a third of said three pivotally mounted support means on each of said first segment and said second segment being disposed adjacent said abutting surface of each of said first segment and said second segment and the front of each of said first segment and said second segment.

26. The keyboard according to claim 25 in which each of said pivotally mounted support means includes:

a first pivotally mounted support;

and a second pivotally mounted support having a greater length than said first pivotally mounted support, only one of said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support being utilized at any time to raise the portion of said first segment or said second segment to which said pivotally mounted support means is attached.

27. The keyboard according to claim 26 in which said second pivotally mounted support has means for enabling nesting of said first pivotally mounted support within said second pivotally mounted support when said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support are in their rest positions.

28. The keyboard according to claim 27 including:

extension means supported by said second pivotally mounted support for selectively increasing the effective length of said second pivotally mounted support;

and said first pivotally mounted support having receiving means for receiving said extension means when said extension means is retracted within said second pivotally mounted support and said first pivotally mounted support and said second pivotally mounted support are in their rest positions.

29. The keyboard according to claim 28 in which:

each of said three pivotally mounted support means is disposed adjacent a different corner of each of said first segment and said second segment on which said three pivotally mounted support means are mounted;

and said two pivotally mounted support means have the same pivot axis and said third pivotally mounted support means has its pivot axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said two pivotally mounted support means.

30. The keyboard according to claim 25 in which:

each of said three pivotally mounted support means is disposed adjacent a different corner of each of said first segment and said second segment on which said three pivotally mounted support means are mounted;

and said two pivotally mounted support means have the same pivot axis and said third pivotally mounted support means has its pivot axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said two pivotally mounted support means.