Ergonomic laptop computer and ergonomic keyboard

• US 5,644,338 A
• Filed: 03/25/1996
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bowen, James H.
• Original Assignee: Bowen, James H.
• Inventors: Bowen, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIANG, REGINA
• Application Number:
  US08/621,439
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 341/21, 341/25, 400/82, 400/472, 400/485, 400/486, 400/488, 400/489, 400/682, 400/715, 400/716, 400/717, 400/718
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• 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 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/048 Inductive or infrared coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

A keyboard to be used on an operators lap that separates to relieve stress in an operators neck and wrists. The keyboard has a flat surface between the keyboard sides, so while being held on a persons lap, will hold reference material and a second party pointing device that can be used with either hand to keep the neck straight. A notebook computer with keyboards that open up on each side so the operators hands are separated. The keyboards can slide closed or fold closed, and when folded, interleave so full size keys can be used and facilitate a more compact design, and can be unfolded so the keyboards slant down below the computer or keyboard to centralize the computer on a persons lap, and reduce the twist between the hand and wrist. The keyboard includes a device to turn all visual indication of computer operation off to be used in a secure no light area with a speaker to give verbal enunciated messages in response to the keyboard and from a computer. The keyboard also has the ability to transmit and receive RF signals to be wireless.

Claims

1. A stand alone keyboard where the keys are split and separable so a first plurality of alpha characters can be entered with a left hand separated from a second plurality of alpha characters entered with a right hand, said keyboard comprising in combination:

a left hand set of alpha keys for entering said first plurality of alpha characters, said left hand set being housed in a left housing;

a right hand set of alpha keys for entering said second plurality of alpha characters, said right hand set being housed in a right housing;

a flat planar surface forming a top surface of a structure separating said left hand set of alpha keys and said right hand set of alpha keys, said structure spanning substantially from front to rear of said keyboard;

said left and right housings forming left and right keyboards, respectively;

a pivot disposed on left and right sides of said structure separating said left hand and said right hand set of alpha keys, said pivot connecting said left and right housings to maintain alignment between said left and right housings and allowing said left and right housing to be positioned at angles below or above an horizontal plane formed by said planar surface; and

a detent mechanism which interacts with said structure and at least one of said left and right housings for restraining movement of said at least one of said left and right housings, said detent mechanism at least restraining movement when said left and right sets of alpha keys are in said angles below or above said horizontal plane.

2. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, further including

a reference material holder disposed on said structure mounted from a fulcrum with an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said keyboard, said reference material holder moves in an arc which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said keyboard from said fulcrum between a closed position near said flat planar surface to an open position.

3. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

means for generating, and means for transmitting and receiving data by radio frequency signals responsive to said keyboard data entry.

4. A keyboard locking mechanism which allows a keyboard to be locked into at least one open orientation with respect to a housing of a computer processor, comprising:

a keyboard having a first side and a second side with keys positioned on at least said first side of said keyboard, said keyboard having first and second ends which span a distance between said first side and said second side of said keyboard, said second end of said keyboard having a housing engaging surface;

a housing for a computer processor, said housing having a keyboard engaging surface against which said first side of said keyboard is positioned when said keyboard is in a closed orientation, said housing having keyboard end engaging surfaces against which said second end of said keyboard is positioned when said keyboard is oriented in at least one open orientation;

a link having first and second ends, said link connecting said keyboard to said housing by first and second pivot members positioned in said first and second ends of said link, wherein said first pivot member connects said link to said keyboard, and said second pivot member connects said link to said housing;

first and second slots in said housing, said second pivot member connecting said link and said housing being positioned to slide within said first slot in said housing;

a locking pawl connected to said second pivot member, said locking pawl being positioned to slide within said second slot in said housing, said second slot having at least one locking detent region; and

a spring connected to said second pivot member connecting said link and said housing, said spring biasing said locking pawl into said locking detent region of said second slot when said keyboard is oriented in at least one of said open orientations and drawing said housing engaging surface of said second end of said keyboard against said keyboard end engaging surface of said housing.

5. A keyboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein

said first slot is divergent to said keyboard engaging surface;

and

said keyboard first side is locked in said closed orientation by said spring biasing.

6. A stand alone keyboard where the keys are split and separable so a first plurality of alpha characters can be entered with a left hand separated from a second plurality of alpha characters entered with a right hand, said keyboard comprising in combination:

a left hand set of alpha keys for entering said first plurality of alpha characters, said left hand set being housed in a left housing;

a right hand set of alpha keys for entering said second plurality of alpha characters, said right hand set being housed in a right housed in a right housing;

said left and right hand sets of alpha keys being moveable on interconnecting front and rear support members towards a closed position where said left and right hand sets of alpha keys are one contiguous set of alpha keys and in an opposing direction where said left and right hand sets of alpha keys can be in a separated position exposing said support members;

said left and right housings forming said left and right keyboards; and

a reference material holder mounted below said left and right hand sets of alpha keys that moves from an open position to a closed position, said reference material holder open position being vertical to a longitudinal axis of said keyboard, said reference material holder closed position being nested in at least one of said left and right housings enabling said reference material holder to remain with said keyboard in said closed position, said keyboard is operable in said closed position and said keyboard is operable in said separated position with said reference material holder in both said open position and said closed position.

7. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein

said reference material holder is rotatably mounted to said left housing and is nested in said right housing when said keyboard is in said closed position.

8. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein

said reference material holder is rotatably mounted to said right housing and is nested in said left housing when said keyboard is in said closed position.

9. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein

said reference material holder is detachably mounted in said keyboard for storing, and attached to said keyboard in said reference material holder open position.

10. A keyboard as claimed in claim 6, further comprising

means for generating, and means for transmitting and receiving data by radio frequency signals responsive to said keyboard data entry.

11. A stand alone keyboard where the keys are split and separable so a first plurality of alpha characters can be entered with a left hand separated from a second plurality of alpha characters entered with a right hand, said keyboard comprising in combination:

a left hand set of alpha keys for entering said first plurality of alpha characters, said left hand set of alpha keys being housed in a left housing;

a right hand set of alpha keys for entering said second plurality of alpha characters, said right hand set of alpha keys being housed in a right housing;

a flat surface forming a top surface of a structure separating said left hand set of alpha keys and said right hand set of alpha keys, said structure spanning substantially from front to rear of said keyboard;

said left and right housings forming left and right keyboards, respectively;

said structure connecting said left and right housings to maintain alignment between said left and right housings;

a computer processor housed in said structure between said left and right keyboards,

wherein said left housing is detachably disposed on the left side of said structure and said right housing is detachably disposed on the right side of said structure, and wherein said left and right housings have attachment points for a closed position that is over said flat surface and for at least one open position that exposes at least part of said flat surface;

a detent mechanism which interacts with said structure and at least one of said left and right housings for restraining movement of said at least one of said left and right housings, said detent mechanism at least restraining movement when said left and right sets of alpha keys are in said closed position; and

a display rotatably disposed on said rear of said structure on an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said keyboard, said display moves in an arc which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said keyboard from a closed position over said left and right housings when said left and right housings are in said closed position to an open position where said display is at least perpendicular to said structure.

12. A keyboard as claimed in claim 11, further comprising

a second display disposed on said structure.

13. A keyboard as claimed in claim 11, further comprising

means for generating, and means for transmitting and receiving data by radio frequency signals responsive to said keyboard data entry.

14. A stand alone keyboard where the keys are split and separable so a first plurality of alpha characters can be entered with a left hand separated from a second plurality of alpha characters entered with a right hand, said keyboard comprising in combination:

a left hand set of alpha keys for entering said first plurality of alpha characters, said left hand set of alpha keys being housed in a left housing;

a right hand set of alpha keys for entering said second plurality of alpha characters, said right hand set of alpha keys being housed in a right housing;

a flat surface forming a top surface of a structure separating said left hand set of alpha keys and said right hand set of alpha keys, said structure spanning substantially from front to rear of said keyboard;

said left and right housings forming left and right keyboards, respectively;

said structure connecting said left and right housings to maintain alignment between said left and right housings;

a computer processor housed in said structure between said left and right keyboards;

a display disposed on said flat surface,

wherein said left housing is detachably disposed on the left side of said structure and said right housing is detachably disposed on the right side of said structure, and wherein said left and right housings have attachment points for a closed position that is over said flat surface and said display, and for at least one open position that exposes at least part of said flat surface; and

a detent mechanism which interacts with said structure and at least one of said left and right housings for restraining movement of said at least one of said left and right housings, said detent mechanism at least restraining movement when said left and right sets of alpha keys are in said closed position.

15. A keyboard as claimed in claim 14, wherein

said left and right hand set of alpha keys are exposed and operable when said left and right housings are in said closed position and said open position.

16. A keyboard as claimed in claim 14, further including

a reference material holder rotatably disposed at the rear of said structure and moveable from a closed position over said left and right housings to an open position at least vertical to said structure.

17. A keyboard as claimed in claim 14, wherein

said left and right hand set of alpha keys are exposed and operable when said left and right housings are in said closed position and said open position;

and

said left and right housings can be rotated to a stored position, wherein said left and right housings are attached to said structure with said left and right hand set of alpha keys facing said structure.

18. A keyboard as claimed in claim 14, further comprising

means for generating, and means for transmitting and receiving data by radio frequency signals responsive to said keyboard data entry.