Locating key for a keyboard or keypad

• US 6,752,552 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alberto B. Sabato
• Original Assignee: Alberto B. Sabato
• Inventors: Sabato, Alberto B
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US09/913,105
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 400/490, 400/472, 400/489, 400/488, 400/486, 400/473, 400/494, 400/483, 341/22, 341/21, 361/680, 345/168, 345/169, D14/391, 364/709.12, 235/145.R, 235/146
• US Class Current: 400/490
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

Key (21) for a keyboard or keypad, having an upper finger engaging surface (2) of generally square or rectangular configurations so as to have a top edge portion (3) remote from a user, a bottom edge portion (4) adjacent the user, a left edge portion (5) and a right edge portion (6), the key further having a ridge (22) adjacent the top edge portion (3) or the bottom edge portion (4) and extending longitudinally generally parallel thereto, and a ridge on the left or right portion (5, 6). The keys may be arranged on a keyboard or keypad to provide tactile identification of rows or blocks of keys.

Claims

1. A keyboard or keyboard including at least three rows of keys including a top row which is remote from a user, a middle row, and a bottom row which is adjacent the user, each row having at least three keys including a left and a right end key, each key having an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and ridge edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, and wherein the keys include:

(i) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(ii) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(iii) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(iv) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(v) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(vi) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(vii) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows, and

(viii) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.

2. The keyboard or keypad of claim 1 wherein any key between said top left end key and said bottom left end key has a right adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows, and any key between said top right end key and said bottom right end key has a ridge adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows.

3. The keyboard or keypad of claim 1 wherein any key between said top left end key and said right top end key has a ridge adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows, and any key between said bottom left end key and said right bottom end key includes a ridge adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.

7. The keyboard or keypad of claim 2 wherein any key between said top left end key and said right top end key has a ridge adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows, and any key between said bottom left end key and said right bottom end key includes a ridge adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.

4. A Qwerty keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in three linear rows including a top row which is remote from a user, a middle row, and a bottom row which is adjacent the user, each row having a left and a right end key, each key having an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right side edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, the keys being positioned in a left first set and a right second set, the first set including the three left end keys and at least the next two or three adjacent keys of each row, the second set including the three right end keys and the next adjacent two or three keys spaced toward the first set so that the two sets are spaced by two, three or four keys, and wherein the keys of said first set include:

(i) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the upper edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(ii) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(iii) a ridge on the middle left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(iv) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(v) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(vi) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent keys to said bottom left end key of the bottom row adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(vii) a ridge on the next adjacent bottom key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(viii) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the ridge edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(ix) a ridge on the middle key next adjacent to said last mentioned key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(x) a ridge on the top key next adjacent said last mentioned key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(xi) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(xii) a ridge on the or each top key between said last mentioned key and said top left end key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows, and

keys of said second set include;

(i) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the upper edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(ii) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the ridge edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(iii) a ridge on the middle key adjacent said top right key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(iv) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(v) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(vi) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent keys to said bottom right end key of the bottom row adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(vii) a ridge on the next adjacent bottom key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(viii) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(ix) a ridge on the middle key next adjacent to said last mentioned key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(x) a ridge on the top key next adjacent said last mentioned key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

(xi) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

(xii) a ridge on the or each top key between said last mentioned key and said top right end key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.

5. The Qwerty keyboard of claim 4 wherein each set includes four keys from each row so that the two sets are spaced by two keys in each row.

6. The Qwerty keyboard of claim 4 wherein the two ridges of each end key meet.

8. The Qwerty keyboard of claim 5 wherein the two ridges of each end key meet.