Keyboard interface

• US 6,209,845 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boyd Cornell, Earl Brane
• Original Assignee: Klitsner Industrial Design, LLC
• Inventors: Liebowitz, Michael, Argentine, Jeff, Clemens, Brian, Klitsner, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US09/416,649
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 248/694, 248/918, 248/205.2, 248/500, 248/505, 248/510, 248/680, 248/506, 248/459, 248/690, 248/205.1, 248/692, 200/3.3, 200/332.1, 200/4, 24/17 A, 24/16 R, 24/17 R, 24/68 F, 24/17 AP, 24/17 B, 345/156, 463/37
• US Class Current: 248/694
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0205 Lever arrangements for operating keyboard cursor control keys in a joystick-like manner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

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.

Claims

1. A computer input device, comprising:

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 supported by the keyboard to position 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 three-dimensional representational object mounted on the base and coupled to the key-contacting mechanism and a guiding fin extending from the base to align the interface device relative to the keyboard.

2. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the interface device is supported by resting on the keyboard between the front edge of the top surface and the rear edge of the top surface.

3. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the guiding fin extends in a direction generally parallel to the front edge of the keyboard.

4. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the guiding fin extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the front edge of the keyboard.

5. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a continuous surface on which the key-contacting mechanism is mounted.

6. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the support components coupled to the base comprise:

a front standoff having a keyboard-contacting portion resting on the top surface of the keyboard; and

a back standoff having a keyboard-contacting portion spaced from the keyboard-contacting portion of the front standoff such that;

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.

7. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a flexible strap having a first end coupled to the front of the interface device and a second end coupled to the back of the interface device.

8. The computer input device of claim 7, wherein the first end of the flexible strap is permanently attached to the interface device and the second end is removably attached to the interface device.

9. The computer input device of claim 8, wherein:

the flexible strap includes a releasable quick release connector comprising a first interconnecting portion attached to the interface device and a second interconnecting portion attached to the second end of the strap, and

the first interconnecting portion releasably connects with the second interconnecting portion.

10. The computer input device of claim 8, wherein the second end of the flexible strap comprises a first material that releasably connects with a second material on a surface of the base.

11. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein the first material and the second material together define a hook/loop fastener.

12. The computer input device of claim 8, wherein:

the second end of the flexible strap comprises a releasable fastener including a first material coupled to the second end of the flexible strap and a second material coupled to a portion of the flexible strap,

the first material releasably connects with the second material,

the base includes a loop coupled to the base, and

the first end of the strap fits through the loop and contacts the portion of the strap.