Expandable keyboard for small computers and the like

• US 5,938,353 A
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert B. Butler
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Butler
• Inventors: Butler, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/040,550
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/489, 400/492, 341/22, 361/630, 345/168
• US Class Current: 400/492
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• 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: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

An alphanumeric keyboard whose keys have interlocking side edges and are mounted on a scissor-linkage that allows said keyboard to contract to a width that is much narrower than the width of a standard desktop computer keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard composed of several rows of essentially horizontal and electrically activated alphanumeric and operational keys that are used to enter data into a computer or other device on which said keyboard is installed, in which said keys have indented side edges and are mounted on an essentially horizontal scissor-linkage in a manner that enables said keys to be expanded or contracted laterally into an `open` or `closed` position, with said open position having the approximate width of a standard-sized computer keyboard and said closed position being considerably narrower;

in which

said indented side edges of said keys have interlocking profiles that enable the center-to-center dimensions of any two adjacent keys to be less when touching each other than if said keys had side edges that were straight;

said scissor-linkage includes a plurality of essentially parallel and equidistant microbusbars, each of elongate shape, each of which supports several of said keys on its top, and each of which includes circuitry for conducting electricity from said mounted keys to the operational circuitry of said computer or other device on which said keyboard is installed;

said scissor-linkage includes a plurality of essentially parallel and equidistant braces, each of elongate shape, each of which is interconnected to said microbusbars in a way that stabilizes said microbusbars and said keys upon said microbusbars whether said keyboard is in open or closed position; and

said scissor-linkage includes a plurality of connectors that hold together said microbusbars and braces at their backs, centers, and fronts in a way that interstabilizes said microbusbars and braces and allows them to rotate against each other in a manner that forms an expandable and contractible multiple-X assembly of said microbusbars, braces, and connectors.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which said keys are mounted so that they rotate in a manner that enables said interlocking profiles of any two adjacent keys to provide every key except the end keys in each row with a top surface that is symmetrical side-to-side.

3. A keyboard according to claim 1 that includes a pivot anchor whose lower portion connects to said computer or other device on which said keyboard is installed and whose upper portion fixes in one place a laterally central point of said keyboard while allowing all other parts of said keyboard to move inward or outward.

4. A keyboard according to claim 1 that includes movable positional guides on or near the underside of said keyboard in which said guides accurately locate said keys and keep them from moving whether said keyboard is in open or closed position.

5. A keyboard according to claim 1 that includes electrical contacts on or near its underside in which said contacts conduct electricity from said keys to the operational circuitry of the computer or other device in which said keyboard is installed whether said keyboard is in open or closed position.

6. A keyboard according to claim 1 that includes movable supports that extend from under the sides of said keyboard and support its outermost keys when in open position.

7. A keyboard according to claim 6, in which said movable supports contain positional guides that accurately locate said keyboard'"'"'s outermost keys and keep them from moving when in open position.

8. A keyboard according to claim 6, in which said movable supports contain electrical contacts that conduct electricity from said keyboard'"'"'s outermost keys to the operational circuitry of said computer or other device on which said keyboard is installed when said outermost keys are in open position.

9. A keyboard according to claim 1 that includes two projecting handles, one on each side of said keyboard, that aid the opening or closing of said keyboard, in which said handles include indents, pads, and/or projections that further aid the opening or closing of said keyboard.