Adjustable, curved keyboard

• US 6,059,470 A
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Myint, Soe
• Original Assignee: Myint, Soe
• Inventors: Myint, Soe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANISKO, LESLIE J
• Application Number:
  US09/162,027
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/488, 400/489, 400/491.3, 400/715, 400/492
• US Class Current: 400/488
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• 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 2217/044 Repetitive strain injury [RSI] considerations

Abstract

There is provided an adjustable, curved keyboard having arcuately arranged keys to complement naturally to a user'"'"'s wrists, hands and fingers. The keyboard is supported by a bracket, which extends from underneath the desktop of a desk, for pivotal, elevational and horizontal adjustment of the keyboard'"'"'s position relative to the user. The keyboard comprises an elongated base and alphanumeric keys positioned at an upper surface of the base. The base has a longitudinal axis disposed below the upper surface of the elongated base, and the upper surface is curved about the longitudinal axis. Also, the alphanumeric keys are arranged about the longitudinal axis of the base to form an arcuate typing surface that provides a comfortable typing surface for the user and reduces the risks of repetitive stress injury.

Claims

1. An adjustable curved keyboard assembly comprising:

a curved keyboard including an elongated base having a longitudinal axis and an upper surface disposed above said axis, said upper surface forming a convex curve about said longitudinal axis, said upper surface having a first side corresponding to a keyboard length and a second side corresponding to a keyboard depth, wherein said first side is longer than said second side and said longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to said first side;

a plurality of rows of keys positioned on said upper surface and about said longitudinal axis, each of said plurality of rows of keys being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, each key of said plurality of rows of keys including an arcuate upper surface, wherein the arcuate upper surface of each key of said plurality of rows of keys are curved about said longitudinal axis to form a convex typing surface; and

an adjustable bracket for supporting said base, said bracket being adapted to pivot said keyboard to a position in which said base slants away from a user.

2. The adjustable keyboard assembly of claim 1 wherein said adjustable bracket is adjustable in elevation and horizontal position relative to a user'"'"'s lap.

3. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein said convex typing surface has a radius of curvature.

4. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 3, wherein said radius of curvature is from about 2 inches to about 10 inches.

5. The curved assembly keyboard of claim 4, wherein said radius of curvature is about 21/2 inches.

6. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 3, wherein said convex typing surface has a semi-circular cross-section.

7. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein said convex typing surface is symmetrically curved about said longitudinal axis.

8. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein said convex typing surface has a semi-elliptical cross-section.

9. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein said convex typing surface has a semi-parabolic cross-section.

10. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein said convex typing surface has a curvature angle of about 90 degrees.

11. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of keys includes a plurality of alphanumeric rows; and

adjacent rows of said plurality of alphanumeric rows have different surface textures.

12. The curved keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of keys includes a plurality of alphanumeric rows and a group of function keys adjacent to one end of said plurality of alphanumeric rows.

13. An adjustable computer of typewriter curved keyboard assembly comprising:

a curved keyboard including an elongated base having a longitudinal axis and an upper surface disposed above said axis, said upper surface forming a convex curve about said longitudinal axis, said upper surface having a first side corresponding to a keyboard length and a second side corresponding to a keyboard depth, wherein said first side is longer than said second side and said longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to said first side;

a plurality of rows of keys positioned on said upper surface and about said longitudinal axis, each of said plurality of rows of keys being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; and

an adjustable bracket for supporting said base, said bracket being adapted to pivot said keyboard to a position in which said base slants away from a user.

14. The adjustable curved keyboard assembly of claim 13, wherein said adjustable bracket is adjustable in elevation and horizontal position relative to a user'"'"'s lap.