One-handed thumb-supported mobile keyboard

• US 7,307,620 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shaknel Technologies, LC
• Original Assignee: Shakoor N. Siddeeq
• Inventors: Siddeeq, Shakoor N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US11/051,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0221 the switches being fixed to the operator's hand, e.g. integrated in a glove or fixed to a ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held

Abstract

A one-handed thumb-supported mobile input device for a computing device includes an input mechanism and a thumb loop or an elastic band in which a thumb of a hand may be inserted. The thumb loop or elastic band is attached to an adjustable thumb loop holder that is enclosed within a thumb loop holder and is adjustable with respect to the thin sections of the input mechanism. The thumb loop holder is attached to one of the sections of the input mechanism. The input mechanism has a folded position and an unfolded position, and includes a number of thin sections containing a number of keys, and which may have one or more folds. The device may further include a display mechanism having a folded position and an unfolded position, and including a thin section containing a display and that is foldable with respect to the sections of the input mechanism.

Claims

1. A one-handed thumb-supported mobile input device for a computing device comprising:

an input mechanism comprising one or more thin sections, each section containing a plurality of keys, the thin sections having one or more folds with an unfolded position and folded position;

one of a thumb loop and an elastic band into which a thumb of a hand of a user is inserted;

an adjustable thumb loop holder to which the one of the thumb loop and the elastic band is attached; and

,

a thumb loop holder section enclosing the adjustable thumb loop holder and within which the adjustable thumb loop holder is able to rotate, the thumb loop holder section being attached to the input mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys of the plurality of thin sections comprise a plurality of alphanumeric keys organized in QWERTY fashion.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display mechanism having a folded position and an unfolded position, the display mechanism comprising a thin section containing a display, the thin section foldable with respect to the thin sections of the input mechanism.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a first of the thin sections of the input mechanism is foldable over a second of the thin sections of the input mechanism, and the thin section of the display mechanism is foldable over the first of the thin sections of the input mechanism.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein in the folded position the sections of the input mechanism are one of collapsed and folded on top of one another such that the plurality of keys of each section is one of compressed and sandwiched in between the sections,

and wherein in the unfolded position the sections of the input mechanism are unfolded such that the plurality of keys of each section is exposed and useable by the user in the one-handed manner,

lateral movement of the thumb rotating the sections of the input mechanism about an axis perpendicular to a plane of the sections such that lateral movement of the fingers of the hand substantially decreases.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrated into a mobile phone.

7. A thumb-held mobile computing device comprising:

an input mechanism having a folded position and an unfolded position, the input mechanism comprising one or more thin sections, each section containing a plurality of keys, the thin sections having one or more folds;

a display mechanism having a folded position and an unfolded position, the display mechanism comprising a thin section containing a display, the thin section foldable with respect to the thin sections of the input mechanism; and

,

one of a thumb loop and an elastic band into which a thumb of a hand of a user is inserted attached to an adjustable thumb loop holder, the adjustable thumb loop holder being enclosed within a thumb loop holder section within which the adjustable thumb loop holder is able to rotate, the thumb loop holder section being attached to one of the sections of the input mechanism.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of keys of the plurality of thin sections comprise a plurality of alphanumeric keys organized in QWERTY fashion.

9. The computing device of claim 7, wherein a first of the thin sections of the input mechanism is foldable over a second of the thin sections of the input mechanism, and the thin section of the display mechanism is foldable over the first of the thin sections of the input mechanism.

10. The computing device of claim 7, wherein in the folded position the sections of the input mechanism are one of collapsed and folded on top of one another such that the plurality of keys of each section is one of compressed and sandwiched in between the sections,

and wherein in the unfolded position the sections of the input mechanism are unfolded such that the plurality of keys of each section is exposed and useable by the user in the one-handed manner,

lateral movement of the thumb rotating the sections of the input mechanism about an axis perpendicular to a plane of the sections such that lateral movement of the fingers of the hand substantially decreases.

11. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the computing device is a mobile phone.