Locating key for a keyboard or keypad

• US 6,991,390 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• 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:
  US10/236,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 400/490, 400/494, 400/483, 400/472, 341/21, 341/22, 361/680, 364/709.12, 235/145.R, 235/146, 200/5.R, 200/52.R, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 400/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator

Abstract

A key (21) for a keyboard or keypad, the key (21) having an upper finger engaged surface (2) defining a generally top edge portion (3) remote from the user, a generally bottom edge portion (4) adjacent to the user, a generally left edge portion (5) and a generally right edge portion (6), the key (21) further having a ridge (22) adjacent to the top edge portion (3), the bottom edge portion (4), the left edge portion (5) and/or the right edge portion (6).

Claims

1. A keyboard or keypad including at least three rows of keys including a top row which is remote from the user, a middle row, and a bottom row which is adjacent to the user, each row having at least three keys including a left and a right end key, each key having a finger engaged surface of with a central axis perpendicular to said finger engaged surface, said surface having arcuate top and bottom edge portions extending angularly about said axis and arcuate left and right edge portions also extending angularly about said axis, and wherein the keys include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the finger engaging surface of each key has a round configuration.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein the ridges on the keys are curved.

5. The keyboard of claim 4, wherein

the ridges on the top left end key form an arc extending along a top left portion of the key,

the ridges on the bottom left end key form an arc extending along a bottom left portion of the key,

the ridges on the top right end key form an arc extending along a top right portion of the key, and

the ridges on the bottom right end key form an arc extending along a bottom right portion of the key.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein at least one key between the left end and right end keys in the upper row is provided with a ridge of arc shape at a central top portion of the key, and wherein at least one key between the left end and right end keys on the lower row is provided with a ridge of arc shape at a central bottom portion of the key.

7. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the left end key of the middle row is provided with a ridge of arc shape at a central portion of the left edge of the key, and wherein the right end key of the middle row has a ridge of arc shape at a central portion of the right edge of the key.

2. A QWERTY keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in three linear rows including a top row which is remote from the user, a middle row, and a bottom row which is adjacent to the user, each row having a left and a right end key, each key having a finger engaged surface with a central axis perpendicular to said finger engaged surface, said surface having arcuate top and bottom edge portions extending angularly about said axis and arcuate left and right side edge portions also extending angularly about said axis, 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 to the upper edge portion thereof extending generally in a direction of the rows,

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

(ii) a ridge on the middle left end key adjacent to the left edge portion thereof extending generally in the direction transverse to the rows,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the keys of said second set include;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. The QWERTY keyboard of claim 2, wherein the finger engaging surface of each key has a round configuration.

9. The QWERTY keyboard of claim 8, wherein the ridges on the keys are curved.

10. The QWERTY keyboard of claim 9, wherein the ridges on the keys are of arc configuration.