One-hand prehensile keyboard

• US 5,500,643 A
• Filed: 08/26/1993
• Issued: 03/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan H. Grant
• Original Assignee: Alan H. Grant
• Inventors: Grant, Alan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Application Number:
  US08/112,195
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/20, 341/23, 345/165, 345/157, 345/158, 345/168, 345/212, 200/86.5, 400/489, 400/485, 400/486, 364/709.11-709.15
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A one hand, QWERTY keyboard angles the rows of keys away from the top and bottom parallel axes of the keyboard so as to eliminate ulnar-deviation of the actuating hand. This permits the orientation of the device to be parallel to the frontal plane of the body. Further, by positioning one or more keys on a front vertical surface of the keyboard, the thumb can actuate these keys in a natural-grasping, prehensile movement towards the fingers. The keyboard operates in two basic function modes. In a first mode, textual letters and symbols are input and in a second mode, numbers or symbols as for mathematical or scientific calculation are input. Once the user has turned on the device, the user can either press the "L" portion of a switch for letter usage or the "N" portion of the switch for number usage.

Claims

1. A keyboard for use by one hand of an operator, said keyboard comprising:

a housing including an upper surface, two side surfaces, a top surface and bottom surface,

display means on said upper surface of said housing for display of indicia,

a plurality of keys located on said upper surface in a QWERTY keyboard pattern with rows of said keys arranged in an arc initiating from one of said two side surfaces and terminating adjacent to the other of said two side surfaces and said bottom surface for actuation by the fingers on one hand of an operator,

some of said plurality of keys including a letter of the alphabet and numeric indicia,

means for switching actuation of said some of said plurality of keys between causing a letter of the alphabet display on said display means in a first mode and numeric display on said display means in a second mode, and

a switch located on said bottom surface for actuation by a thumb of the operator in a prehensile position when the fingers of the operator are located on said plurality of keys, said switch performing different functions dependant upon the mode selected by said means for switching.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said side surface is perpendicular to said upper surface.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said display means is on said upper surface.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said plurality of keys are in four rows.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said switch on said side surface controls three different functions.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein said rows are aligned transverse to a top and bottom edge of said housing.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a plurality of control keys are positioned on said upper surface.

8. A keyboard for use by one hand of an operator, said keyboard comprising:

a housing including an upper surface, two side surfaces, a top surface and bottom surface,

said upper surface of said housing including rows of keys arranged in a QWERTY pattern with rows of said keys arranged in an arc initiating from one of said two side surfaces and terminating adjacent to the other of said two side surfaces and said bottom surface with some of said keys including both numeric and letter legends for producing a numeric display upon actuation in a first mode and for producing a letter display upon actuation in a second mode, and a display for displaying numeric and letter indicia produced by actuation of said keys,

means for switching between said first mode and said second mode, and

a switch positioned on said bottom surface of said housing for engagement by a thumb of an operator when the operator'"'"'s fingers engage said keys so that the fingers and thumb of the operator are in a prehensile position and the hand and wrist of the operator are positioned so as to eliminate ulnar deviation of the actuating hand, said switch performing different functions dependent upon the mode of operation of said keys.

9. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein there are four rows of keys.

10. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein said some keys are arranged in a calculator pattern.

11. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein said rows of keys are arranged transverse to said bottom surface of said housing.

12. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein a plurality of control keys are positioned on said upper surface.