Keyboard interface device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion;
a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array;
the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array,the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard,the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, andthe keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface;
a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; and
a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard;
wherein the base further comprises an aperture for allowing a user to view one of the plurality of keys on the underlying keyboard.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard has a key array including keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface. An interface device for use with the keyboard includes a base, a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion, and a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion. The keyboard-contacting portions are spaced such that, when the base is positioned over the key array, the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portions so as to align the base in a front-to-back orientation relative to the key array. The keyboard-contacting portions are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard. The interface device also includes a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs, and a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the interface device to the keyboard.
78 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a base; a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion; a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array; the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface; a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; and a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard; wherein the base further comprises an aperture for allowing a user to view one of the plurality of keys on the underlying keyboard.
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2. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a base; a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion; a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array; the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface; a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; and a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard; wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a guiding fin extending from the base for preventing the apparatus from sliding away from the keyboard.
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3. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a base; a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion; a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array; the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface; a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard; and a guiding fin extending from the base and positioned to provide side-to-side alignment of the apparatus relative to the key array when the apparatus and the keyboard are coupled together. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a base; a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion; a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array; the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface; a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard; and a support leg coupled to the base in proximity to the back standoff wherein the front standoff and the support leg are operative to support the apparatus when the apparatus is not coupled with the underlying keyboard.
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21. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a base; a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion; a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array; the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface; a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard; and means for adjusting a distance between the front standoff and the back standoff such that the base accommodates the underlying keyboard in a variety of sizes.
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22. An apparatus for interfacing with an underlying keyboard, the keyboard having a key array including a plurality of keys, a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a base; a front standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion; a back standoff coupled to the base and having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that, when the base is positioned over the key array; the key array is positioned between the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff so as to align the base in a predetermined front-to-back orientation relative to the key array, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff are both supported by the top surface of the keyboard, the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff is closer to the front edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff, and is spaced from the front edge of the top surface toward the back edge of the top surface, and the keyboard-contacting portion of the back standoff is closer to the back edge of the top surface than is the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff, and is spaced from the back edge of the top surface toward the front edge of the top surface; a key-contacting mechanism mounted on the base, the base being configured such that the key-contacting mechanism is in a fixed orientation relative to the standoffs; a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the apparatus to the keyboard; and a guiding fin that extends along a side edge of the key array when the base is positioned over the key array; wherein the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff extends along a front edge of the key array when the base is positioned over the key array.
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23. A computer input device, comprising:
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a keyboard including a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, and a key array including keys extending from the top surface, the key array including letter keys and number keys; and an interface device mounted on the keyboard, the interface device including; a base positioned over the key array; support components coupled to the base and resting on the top surface of the keyboard to support the base over the key array; a key-contacting mechanism extending from the base and in a fixed orientation relative to the support components; and a strap extending from a front of the base to a rear of the base and around the bottom surface of the keyboard to secure the interface device to the keyboard, wherein the interface device further comprises a guiding fin extending from the base for preventing the interface device from sliding away from the keyboard.
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24. A computer input device, comprising:
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a keyboard including a top surface having a front edge and a back edge, a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface, and a key array including keys extending from the top surface, the key array including letter keys and number keys; and an interface device mounted on the keyboard, the interface device including; a base positioned over the key array; support components coupled to the base and resting on the top surface of the keyboard to support the base over the key array; a key-contacting mechanism extending from the base and in a fixed orientation relative to the support components; and a strap extending from a front of the base to a rear of the base and around the bottom surface of the keyboard to secure the interface device to the keyboard, wherein the interface device further comprises a guiding fin extending from the base and aligning the interface device relative to the key array in a direction along the front edge of the top surface of the keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification