Keyboard protective cover

• US 6,962,454 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pamella A. Costello
• Original Assignee: Pamella A. Costello
• Inventors: Costello, Pamella A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US09/823,430
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 400/714, 400/713, 400691-693, 200/302.2, 200/302.3, 200/302, 235/146, 379/447, 379/451
• US Class Current: 400/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A protective cover or envelope for a keyboard array that prevents entry of contaminants such as water, foodstuffs, chemical compounds, including medical or pharmaceutical compositions in the form of fluids or solids, dust and the like into the interior of the keyboard assembly from the keypad top deck. A membrane of a resilient, substantially transparent, material, such as an elastomeric polyolefin, is used to form a one-piece cover that extends over the keyboard array and preferably at least a portion of the obverse face of the keyboard assembly and acts to drape or enshroud the keyboard assembly on its upper face or deck. Preferably the elastomeric cover is an envelope-like membrane structure of generally uniform thickness and is constructed in a shape that when stretched to receive the keyboard, it covers the top portion of the key array as well as extending at least partially down the side walls of the keyboard and is in proximate contact with the top deck of the keyboard assembly. The “touch” and “feel” of the individual keys is retained with the protective cover in its operative position, including keys of ordinary construction as well as those used with a Braille system of markings on the surfaces of the keys. As a consequence of its elastomeric properties, a single keyboard cover can be used with keyboards having different key patterns, e.g., different models from a single manufacturer or different keyboards from different manufacturers. The attractive economics and broad applicability achievable with the cover of the present invention also permits an individual user to retain a personal keyboard cover for a use with various keyboards.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure or cover for a keyboard assembly having a plurality of keys on a top face thereof, and an obverse face opposite said top face and, optionally, a means to provide communication between said keyboard and an external device;

said enclosure having a stretchable envelope-like structure comprising at least a top panel, two vertical side panels, a vertical front panel and a vertical rear panel, said enclosure of a size to receive said keyboard when said enclosure is minimally stretched, wherein said top panel comprises a thin, elastomeric and substantially transparent membrane in proximate contact with said keys of said keyboard, provided that said top panel cross-section does not correspond to the depressions or elevations of a specific keyboard array, wherein said cover retains a significant level of the touch or feel of the keyboard keys underlying said cover.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 comprising a substantially homogeneous elastomeric composition.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric composition of said side panels has less elasticity and/or transparency than said top panel.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes an obverse face overlaying at least a portion of said obverse keyboard face.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein said obverse enclosure face overlays a substantial portion of said obverse keyboard face and said obverse enclosure face further includes an opening that, when stretched, permits entry of said keyboard.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 wherein at least one of the elastomeric compositions of said obverse enclosure face and/or side panels have less elasticity and/or transparency than said top panel.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said keyboard further comprises at least one communication means between said keyboard and an external device.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein at least one of said panels includes an opening to permit the passage therethrough of an electrically conducting cord or cable, or the transmission of a light beam to or from said keyboard.

9. The enclosure of claim 7 comprising a clear portion through which a light beam can pass.

10. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said elastomer is selected from the group consisting of substantially hydrogenated, block copolymers based on blocks derived from predominantly monovinyl aromatic monomers having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and blocks derived from conjugated diene monomers having 4 to 8 carbon atoms;

elastomeric polyolefin homopolymers or ethylene alphaolefin copolymers; and

thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers wherein said thermoplastic homopolymers or copolymers include a dispersed phase of partially or substantially fully vulcanized rubber.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein said elastomer further comprises an antiblock agent.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 wherein said antiblock agent is selected from the group consisting of small particle size inorganic or organic powders and liquid compositions comprising at least one of wax and silicone.

13. The enclosure of claim 12 comprising a block copolymer of derived from blocks of styrene and butadiene wherein said block copolymer has been substantially hydrogenated.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein said block copolymer is a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer.

15. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein said obverse enclosure face overlays a substantial portion of said obverse keyboard face and said obverse enclosure face further includes an opening that, when stretched, permits entry of said keyboard;

wherein at least one of said vertical panels includes an opening or can be stretched to permit the passage therethrough of an electrically conducting cord or cable, or the transmission of a light beam to or from said keyboard.

16. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the top surfaces of said keys comprises Braille system indicators.

17. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein at least said top panel comprises a low modulus elastomer.

18. A structure comprising a keyboard assembly and a protective enclosure therefore, wherein said keyboard assembly has a plurality of keys on a top face thereof, and an obverse face opposite said top face and, optionally, a means to provide communication between said keyboard and an external device;

and wherein said enclosure has a stretchable envelope-like structure comprising at least a top panel, two vertical side panels, a vertical front panel and a vertical rear panel, said enclosure of a size to receive said keyboard when said enclosure is only minimally stretched, wherein said top panel comprises a thin, elastomeric and substantially transparent or translucent membrane in proximate contact with said keys of said keyboard, provided that said top panel cross-section does not correspond to the depressions or elevations of a specific keyboard array, wherein said cover retains a significant level of the touch or feel of the keyboard keys underlying said cover.

19. A method comprising having said at least one user apply to a keyboard prior to use thereof, and removing prior to use of said keyboard by another user, of a personal, easily removable keyboard cover to said keyboard by said user, said cover comprising a protective enclosure or cover for a keyboard assembly having a plurality of keys on a top face thereof, and an obverse face opposite said top face and, optionally, a means to provide communication between said keyboard and an external device;

said enclosure having a stretchable envelope-like structure comprising at least a top panel, two vertical side panels, a vertical front panel and a vertical rear panel, said enclosure of a size to receive said keyboard when said enclosure is only minimally stretched, wherein said top panel comprises a thin, elastomeric and substantially transparent or translucent membrane in proximate contact with said keys of said keyboard, wherein said cover retains a significant level of the touch or feel of the keyboard keys underlying said cover and wherein said method avoids the transmission of disease carrying organisms between said at least one user and said other users of said keyboard.