Portable computer keyboard

• US 7,393,151 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William B. Miller Jr
• Original Assignee: William B. Miller Jr
• Inventors: Miller, William B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colilla; Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HA, NGUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/207,139
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 400/682
• 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 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections

Abstract

A portable keyboard enables full QWERTY touch typing with both hands or full QWERTY typing with one hand without external support. The keyboard includes a number of keypads that are selectively positionable to configure the keyboard in different keyboard configurations for use.

Claims

1. A keyboard configurable for typing in one of three different selectable keyboard configurations, the keyboard comprising:

a base having opposed first and second sides and an end extending between the sides, a first keypad, a second keypad, and a third keypad, each keypad comprising a plurality of keys;

a first connection mounting the first and second keypads on the first side of the base, the first connection selectively positioning the first and second keypads in first and second operating positions on the first side of the base, the first keypad facing away from the first side of the base in the first operating position for typing on said first keypad, the second keypad facing away from the first side of the base when in the second operating position for typing on said second keypad;

a second connection mounting the third keypad to the base, the second connection selectively positioning the third keypad in third and fourth operating positions with respect to the base, the third keypad on the second side of the base and facing away from the base when in the third operating position and adjacent the end of the base and facing the same direction as the first side of the base when in the fourth operating position;

wherein the keyboard can be placed in a first keyboard configuration with the first and second keypads in the first operating position and the third keypad in the third operating position so that the keyboard can be held between opposed right and left hands of a user for typing on the first and third keypads with said opposed hands;

wherein the keyboard can be placed in a second keyboard configuration with the first and second keypads in the first operating position and the third keypad in its fourth operating position for typing with both hands of a user on the same side of the keyboard; and

wherein the keyboard can be placed in a third keyboard configuration with the first and second keypads in the second operating position for typing on the said second keypad by a user.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first keypad comprises a plurality of one of left-hand QWERTY keys or right-hand QWERTY keys, and the third keypad comprises a plurality of the other of left-hand QWERTY keys or right-hand QWERTY keys.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second keypad comprises a plurality of left-hand QWERTY keys and a plurality of right-hand QWERTY keys.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 comprising a fourth keypad on the first one side of the base for typing on said fourth keypad, the fourth keypad in a fixed position relative to the base.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first connection mounts the first and second keypads for conjoint movement between first and second operating positions and mechanically connects the first and second keypads to the base throughout the movement.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first connection comprises a panel rotatably mounted to the base, the panel having opposite sides, the first keypad mounted on one side of the panel and the second keypad mounted on the other side of the panel, the panel rotatable about a first axis to place the first and second keypads in first and second operating positions.

7. The keyboard of claim 6 wherein the first connection comprises the panel being pivotally mounted to the base for rotation about a second axis transverse to the first axis.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a wall defining a recess, the second keypad received in the recess when in the first operating position, the first keypad received in the recess when in the second operating position.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second connection mechanically loins the third keypad and the base and defines the path of movement of the third keypad between third and fourth operating positions.

10. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the second connection comprises an arm comprising opposite end portions, one end portion pivotally mounted to the base and the other end portion attached to the third keypad.

11. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the arm is an adjustable-length assembly.

12. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the third keypad is rotatably mounted to the arm.

13. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first keypad comprises a plurality of keys spaced at a first pitch and the second keypad comprises a plurality of keys spaced at a second pitch different from the first pitch.

14. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first keypad comprises a first number of keys and the second keypad comprises a second number of keys different from the first number.

15. A keyboard selectively configurable for typing in at least two different keyboard configurations, the keyboard comprising:

a base having opposed sides, first and second keypads attached to the base, each keypad comprising a plurality of keys;

a connection movably attaching the first and second keypads to the base, the connection comprising a panel pivotally mounted to the base for movement about a first axis and rotationally mounted to the base to rotate the panel about a second axis transverse to the first axis, the first and second keypads located on opposite sides of the panel, the panel movable with respect to the base between first and second mutually exclusive operating positions, the operating positions representing respective first and second keyboard configurations, the first keypad facing away from one side of the base for typing on said first keypad when in the first operating position and the second keypad facing away from the one side of the base for typing on said second keypad when in the second operating position.

16. The keyboard of claim 15 wherein the keys of the second keypad comprise a first set of keys corresponding to the keys of the first keypad and a second set of keys not included with the first keypad.

17. The keyboard of claim 15 wherein the first keypad comprises a first number of keys and the second keypad comprises a second number of keys different from the first number.

19. The keyboard of claim 15 wherein the keys of at least one of the first and second keypads comprises right-hand QWERTY keys and left-hand QWERTY keys.

18. A keyboard selectively configurable for typing in at least two different keyboard configurations, the keyboard comprising:

a base having opposed sides, first and second keypads attached to the base, each keypad comprising a plurality of keys;

a connection movably attaching the first and second keypads to the base, the first and second keypads movable with respect to the base between first and second mutually exclusive operating positions, the operating positions representing respective first and second keyboard configurations, the first keypad facing away from one side of the base for typing on said first keypad when in the first operating position and the second keypad facing away from the one side of the base for typing on said second keypad when in the second operating position;

wherein the keys of the first keypad are spaced at a first pitch and the keys of the second are spaced at a second pitch different from the first pitch.

20. A keyboard selectively configurable for typing in at least two different keyboard configurations, the keyboard comprising:

a base having opposed sides, first and second keypads attached to the base, each keypad comprising a plurality of keys;

a connection movably attaching the first and second keypads to the base, the first and second keypads movable with respect to the base between first and second mutually exclusive operating positions, the operating positions representing respective first and second keyboard configurations, the first keypad facing away from one side of the base for typing on said first keypad when in the first operating position and the second keypad facing away from the one side of the base for typing on said second keypad when in the second operating position;

wherein the base comprises a recess that receives the inoperative keypad when the keypads are in the first or second operating positions.