One handed sequential alpha numerical keyboard

• US 6,142,687 A
• Filed: 03/16/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen J. Lisak
• Original Assignee: Stephen J. Lisak
• Inventors: Lisak, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cone, Darius N.
• Application Number:
  US09/270,036
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/489, 400/486, 400/474, 400/87, 341/22, 235/145 R, 235/146, 361/679
• US Class Current: 400/472
• 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 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A keyboard permitting data entry with only one hand in which the keys are arranged in several clusters or banks, distinctly separated from one another. Each bank contains keys with similar functions (i.e., numerical keys, numerical function keys, alphabetic keys, punctuation keys, program function keys and screen function keys.) The bank of numerical keys are arranged in four (4) rows of keys with three (3) keys in each row. The numerical keys are arranged in numerical sequence from left to right and bottom to top. The bank of alphabet keys are arranged in seven (7) rows of keys with four (4) keys in each row. The alphabet keys are in alphabetical sequence from left to right and bottom to top. Banks of various other keys are also arranged to be easily operated with one hand.

Claims

1. A keyboard arrangement for use by one hand of an operator, allowing for efficient data entry, comprising:

at least three banks of related keys distinctively separated wherein;

a first bank of alphabet keys arranged in seven rows with four columns in alphabetical sequence from left to right and bottom to top, including a space bar key and a backspace key;

a second bank of numerical keys arranged in four rows with three columns in ascending order from left to right and bottom to top, including a decimal point key and an enter key; and

a third bank of numerical notation keys arranged in four rows with three columns, including a shift key and a tab key.

2. The keyboard as recited in claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises a bank of punctuation keys arranged in eight rows with three columns.

3. The keyboard as recited in claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises a bank of program function keys arranged in one row with thirteen keys, including an escape key.

4. The keyboard as recited in claim 3, wherein said keyboard further comprises a bank of screen function keys arranged in four rows with three columns.

5. The keyboard as recited in claim 3, wherein said keyboard further comprises a computer mouse pad.

6. The keyboard as recited in claim 3, wherein said keyboard further comprises a bank of four directional cursor keys.