Flexible foldable keyboard

• US 7,213,991 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Eleksen Limited (Peratech Limited)
• Inventors: Sandbach, David Lee, Walkington, Stuart, Chapman, Christopher, Fitzgerald, Timothy Charles Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): HA, NGUYEN Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ha; Wynn Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/507,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20050238405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 400/88, 400/472, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/179, 345/182
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/01 Mounting on appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A flexible foldable keyboard apparatus includes a flexible foldable keyboard (101) having a key defining plane (102), an interface device and phone supporting device (103). The phone supporting device (103) is arranged to unfold from a storage configuration, in which the phone supporting device (103) is folded onto the key defining plane (102) to allow the key defining plane (102) to be wrapped around the phone supporting device (103), to present a telephone supporting configuration, in which the phone supporting device (103) is configured to receive a mobile telephone (401). The phone supporting device (103) is configured to support a mobile telephone (401) in an orientation in which an electrical connection is provided between the interface device and the electrical connectors of the mobile telephone (401), such that the mobile telephone (401) and the flexible foldable keyboard (101) are in electrical communication.

Claims

1. A flexible foldable keyboard apparatus configured to communicate with a mobile telephone, comprising:

a key defining flexible plane,

an interface device configured to connect with the electrical connectors of a mobile telephone, and

a telephone support, said telephone support including a front portion connected to a rear portion by a hinge, said telephone support being connected to said key defining flexible plane in a manner to unfold from said key defining flexible plane to present a telephone supporting configuration for a mobile telephone in which said telephone support is configured to support a mobile telephone between the front portion and the rear portion and, after removing a secured mobile telephone, said telephone support is arranged to fold onto said key defining flexible plane into a storage configuration, to allow said key defining flexible plane to be wrapped around said folded telephone support, and

said telephone support is configured to receive a mobile telephone between said front portion and said rear portion only when in the telephone support configuration.

2. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key defining flexible plane includes a plurality of textile fabric layers.

3. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key defining flexible plane includes conductive membrane films.

4. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said telephone support includes a base portion and an extension portion arranged in combination with said front portion and said rear portion to produce a substantially quadrilateral configuration.

5. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the base portion comprises a base connecting sub-assembly that provides physical connection between the telephone support and the key defining flexible plane.

6. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said base portion is a sub-assembly arranged to support a circuit board.

7. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flexible foldable keyboard apparatus is configured to communicate with a mobile telephone having features to assist with the generation of text documents and electronic communications.

8. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said keyboard apparatus includes keys on said key defining flexible plane to assist menu navigation.

9. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said telephone support is less thick than a mobile telephone adapted to be used therewith when said telephone support is placed in its folded configuration.

10. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an independent power supply for said key defining flexible plane.

11. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said power supply is constructed in a manner to receive recharging current from an external charging source.

12. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said interface device is connected in a manner such that said recharging current is also used to recharge a mobile telephone device.

13. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard apparatus comprises a storage pocket in said key defining flexible plane.

14. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to allow an electrical connection between electrical connectors of a mobile telephone and said interface device only when the mobile telephone is received between said front portion and said rear portion.

15. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said apparatus is configured to allow an electrical connection only when the mobile telephone is oriented between said front portion and said rear portion in a correct orientation.

16. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said telephone support is configured to guide a mobile telephone into a correct orientation between said front portion and said rear portion.

17. A keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein folding of the telephone support is inhibited when a mobile telephone is received between the front portion and the rear portion.

18. A method of communicating text data to a mobile telephone using a flexible foldable keyboard, comprising the steps of:

unfolding a telephone support having a front portion connected to a rear portion by a hinge from a key defining flexible plane so as to present a telephone supporting configuration for a mobile telephone in which said telephone support is configured to support a mobile telephone between said front portion and said rear portion,

locating said telephone between said front portion and said rear portion in a correct orientation,

manually operating keys defined within said key defining flexible plane to input data,

removing said telephone from said unfolded telephone support,

folding said telephone support onto said key defining flexible plane, and

wrapping said key defining flexible plane around said folded telephone support.