Ergonomic keyboard

• US 6,042,282 A
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metamorfyx LLC
• Original Assignee: Metamorfyx LLC
• Inventors: Camacho, Herman, Granadino, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US09/132,018
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 400/486, 400/487, 400/488, 400/489, 400/472, 400/482, 400/483, 400/484, 400/82, 400/88, 400/715, 341/22, 341/23, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5
• US Class Current: 400/486
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• 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 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/034 Support for hands or arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard having a mount and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows is provided. Each row is comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion, and a right portion. The left and right portions extend tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively. The arcuate portion, of each row is convex to the user side of the keyboard, and at least two keys in each arcuate portion are elongated. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys can be arranged in the QWERTY pattern.

Claims

1. An ergonomic keyboard supportable by an underlying support surface, said keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge closest to the user and a rear edge;

a plurality of keys on said top surface, said keys having a key top surface;

an adjustable support leg attached to and extending from said housing to said support surface for altering the slope of said keyboard housing relative to said underlying support surface; and

said top key surface being sloped generally downward from said rear edge to said front edge relative to the support surface.

2. The keyboard as defined in claim 1 further including a wrist support extending from said front edge.

3. The keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said keys are arranged in at least one unbroken row comprised of an accurate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the accurate position, respectively, and said accurate portion of said at lease one unbroken row being convex to said from edge.

4. The keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said keys have a QWERTY typing layout.

5. The keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg is attached to said bottom surface generally towards said front edge.

6. An ergonomic keyboard supportable on an underlying support surface, said keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge closest to the user and a rear edge;

a plurality of keys on said top surface, said keys are arranged in at least one unbroken row comprised of an accurate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the accurate portion, respectively, and said accurate portion of said at lease one unbroken row being convex to said front edge, said keys each having a key top surface;

an adjustable support leg attached to and extending from said housing to said support surface for altering the slope of said keyboard housing relative to said underlying support surface; and

said top key surface being sloped generally downward from said rear edge to said front edge relative to the top surface of said housing.

7. The keyboard as defined in claim 6 further including a wrist support extending from said front edge.

8. The keyboard as defined in claim 6 wherein said keys have a QWERTY typing layout.

9. The keyboard as defined in claim 6 wherein said leg is attached to said bottom surface generally towards said front edge.

10. An ergonomic keyboard supportable on an underlying support surface, said keyboard comprising:

a house having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge closest to the user and a rear edge;

a plurality of keys on said top surface, said keys each having a key top surface;

an adjustable support leg attached to and extending from said housing to said support surface for altering the slope of said keyboard housing relative to said underlying support surface;

said top key surface being sloped generally downward from said rear edge to said front edge relative to the support surface; and

a wrist support extending from said front edge.

11. The keyboard as defined in claim 10 wherein said keys are arranged in at least one unbroken row comprised of an accurate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the accurate portion, respectively, and said accurate portion of said at least one unbroken row being convex to said front edge.

12. The keyboard as defined in claim 10 wherein said keys have a QWERTY typing layout.

13. The keyboard as defined in claim 10 wherein said leg is attached to said bottom surface generally towards said front edge.

14. An ergonomic keyboard supportable on an underlying support surface, said keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge closest to the user and a rear edge;

a plurality of keys on said top surface, said keys each having a key top surface;

an adjustable support leg attached to said bottom surface generally towards said front edge for altering the slope of said keyboard housing relative to said underlying support surface; and

said top key surface being sloped generally downward from said rear edge to said front edge relative to the support surface.

15. The keyboard as defined in claim 14 further including a wrist support extending from said front edge.

16. The keyboard as defined in claim 14 wherein said keys are arranged in at least one unbroken row comprised of an accurate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the accurate portion, respectively, and said accurate portion of said at least one unbroken row being convex to said front edge.

17. The keyboard defined in claim 14 wherein said keys have a QWERTY typing layout.

18. An ergonomic keyboard supportable on an underlying support surface, said keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge closest to the user and a rear edge;

a plurality of keys on said top surface, said keys each having a top key surface;

said top key surface being sloped generally downward from said rear edge to said front edge relative to the support surface; and

a wrist support extending from said front edge.

19. The keyboard as defined in claim 18 wherein said keys are arranged in at least one unbroken row comprised of an accurate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the accurate portion, respectively, and said accurate portion of said at least one unbroken row being convex to said front edge.

20. The keyboard as defined in claim 18 wherein said keys have a QWERTY typing layout.

21. The keyboard as defined in claim 18 wherein said leg is attached to said bottom surface generally towards said front edge.

22. The keyboard as defined in claim 18 further including an adjustable support leg attached to and extending from said housing to said support surface for altering the slope of said keyboard housing relative to said underlying support surface.