Portable computer keyboard

• US 6,370,018 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miller, William B. Jr., Miller, William S.
• Original Assignee: Miller, William B. Jr., Miller, William S.
• Inventors: Miller, William S., Miller, William B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/641,672
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680-683, 364/708.1, 400/682, 400/82, 345/168, 345/169, 341/22, D14/341, 379/368, 379/258
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• 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 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0257 Multisided remote control, comprising control or display elements on at least two sides, e.g. front and back surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A portable keyboard enables touch typing with both hands without external support. The keyboard includes a first array of keys and a second array of keys on opposite sides of the keyboard. The keyboard is held between the hands and is supported against the palm of one hand for touch typing with both hands.

Claims

1. A portable keyboard which enables touch typing with both hands of a user without an external keyboard support, the keyboard comprising:

a body having a lower side and an upper side, the body being configured to be held in an operative position against a hand or forearm of a user with the lower side of the body facing the hand or forearm;

a lower keypad on the lower side of the body and an upper keypad on the upper side of the body;

one of the keypads comprising a plurality of right-hand QWERTY keys arranged for touch typing by the fingers of the right hand and the other keypad comprising a plurality of left-hand QWERTY keys arranged for touch typing by the fingers of the left hand;

whereby when the keyboard is held in the operative position the fingers of the one hand of a user can access the keys on the lower keypad and the fingers of the other hand of a user can access the keys on the upper keypad for touch typing with both hands.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a connection movably interconnecting the upper and lower keypads for relative motion of one keypad with respect to the other keypad.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein at least one of the keypads defines a plane and is pivotally mounted to the body for rotation about an axis transverse to the plane.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the upper keypad comprises an additional plurality of QWERTY keys duplicating the plurality of QWERTY keys of the lower keypad.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the upper keypad comprises first and second keypad portions and a first foldable connection joining the first and second keypad portions;

whereby the upper keypad can be opened from a closed position wherein the keyboard portions overly each other to an opened position wherein the first foldable connection is between the keyboard portions.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the body includes a docking bay for mounting a portable electronic device.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 including a support for removably attaching a mouse.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the upper keypad includes a mouse pad for mouse inputs from the keyboard.

9. An electronic device comprising the keyboard of claim 1.

10. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the connection defines an axis and pivotally mounts the lower keypad for pivoting about the axis.

11. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the body comprises first and second body portions, the lower keypad on the first body portion and the upper keypad on the second body portion, the connection extending between the body portions.

12. The keyboard of claim 6 wherein the additional plurality of QWERTY keys are configured to provide visual cuing of the plurality of QWERTY keys on the lower keypad.

13. The keyboard of claim 8 wherein the upper keypad comprises a third keypad section and a second foldable connection joining the second and third keyboard sections;

whereby the upper keypad can be opened from the closed position wherein the third keypad portion overlies the first and second keypad portions to the closed position wherein the second foldable connection is between the second and third keyboard portions.

14. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the third keypad portion faces away from the body when the upper keypad is closed to be accessible for typing and includes keys for typing the numbers 0-9.

15. A portable electronic device comprising:

a handheld unit configured to be held in a hand, the unit having front and back sides;

a display on the front side of the unit;

a front keypad on the front side of the unit;

a back keypad on the back of the unit;

one of the keypads comprising a plurality of right-hand QWERTY keys arranged for touch typing by the fingers of the right hand and the other keypad comprising a plurality of left-hand QWERTY keys arranged for touch typing by the fingers of the left hand;

whereby when the keyboard is in the operative position the fingers of the one hand of a user can access the keys on the lower keypad and the fingers of the other hand of a user can access the keys on the upper keypad for touch typing with both hands.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 wherein the device is a computer.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15 wherein the device is a telephone.