Computer keyboard overlay

• US 7,967,189 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Ackloo
• Original Assignee: Andrew Ackloo
• Inventors: Ackloo, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/878,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 235/145.R, 715/765, 715/810, 715/773, 715/769, 345/172, 345/173, 341/23
• US Class Current: 235/145.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 13/04 Devices used in association with a real typewriter, teleprinter, or the like

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention provides a keyboard overlay adapted to indicate which one of a plurality of menu commands provided by a particular software application is invoked when an alphanumeric key is pressed together with a modifier key on a computer keyboard. In this embodiment, the keyboard overlay has a portion overlaying the modifier key and displaying a predetermined color thereby associating the color with the modifier key. The keyboard overlay has a portion overlaying the alphanumeric key and displaying the predetermined color together with closely associated indicia identifying the menu command. More complex arrangements are described that indicate keyboard equivalents that involve pressing an alphanumeric key together with more than one modifier key.

Claims

1. A keyboard overlay adapted to indicate which one of a plurality of menu commands provided by a predetermined software application is invoked when a first key is pressed together with a second key on a computer keyboard overlaid by the keyboard overlay and coupled to a computer that is actively executing the software application, the keyboard overlay comprising:

a first portion adapted to overlay the first key, the first portion comprising a first label identifying the first key, the first portion further comprising a first indicia, such that the first label and the first indicia are associated with the first key; and

,

a second portion adapted to overlay the second key, the second portion comprising a second label identifying the second key, the second portion further comprising the first indicia and a second indicia indicating the menu command invoked when the first key is pressed together with the second key, such that the second label, the first indicia and the second indicia are associated with the second key.

2. The keyboard overlay of claim 1 in which the second indicia comprise at least one of text and a symbol that indicates the nature of the menu command.

3. The keyboard overlay of claim 1 in which:

the first indicia comprise a background area of a predetermined color; and

,

the second indicia comprise text formed in a neutral color and located within the background area.

4. The keyboard overlay of claim 1 further adapted to indicate another of the menu commands invoked when the first key and the second key are pressed together with a third key, in which:

the keyboard overlay comprises a third portion adapted to overlay the third key, the third portion comprising a third label and a third indicia, such that the third label and the third indicia are associated with the third key; and

,

wherein the second portion further comprises a combination of indicia separate from the first and second indicia the combination comprising the first indicia, the third indicia and a fourth indicia indicating the other of the menu commands.

5. The keyboard overlay of claim 4 in which:

the first indicia comprise a predetermined color;

the third indicia comprise another predetermined color;

the combination comprises parallel stripes of the predetermined color and the other predetermined color; and

,

the fourth indicia comprise text in a neutral color spanning the parallel stripes.

6. The keyboard overlay of claim 4 in which:

the first indicia comprise a predetermined color;

the third indicia comprise another predetermined color;

the combination comprises a background area formed in the predetermined color; and

,

the fourth indicia comprise text formed in the other predetermined color and located within the background area.

7. The keyboard overlay of claim 1, wherein the first key is a modifier key selected from the group comprising Control, Shift, Option and Command.

8. The keyboard overlay of claim 7, wherein the second key is an alphanumeric key.

9. A keyboard overlay adapted to indicate which one of a plurality of menu commands provided by a predetermined software application is invoked when a first key is pressed together with a second key on a computer keyboard overlaid by the computer overlay and coupled to a computer that is actively executing the software application, the keyboard overlay comprising:

a first portion adapted to overlay the first key, the first portion comprising a first label identifying the first key, the first portion further comprising a first color, such that the first label and the color are associated with the first key; and

,

a second portion adapted to overlay the second key, the second portion comprising a second label identifying the second key, the second portion further comprising the color together with a second indicia indicating the menu command invoked when the first key is pressed together with the second key, such that the second label, the first color and the second indicia are associated with the second key.

10. The keyboard overlay of claim 9 in which the second indicia comprise at least one of text and a symbol that indicates the nature of the menu command.

11. The keyboard overlay of claim 9 in which the second portion comprises:

a background area of the first color; and

,

the second indicia comprise text formed in a neutral color within the background area.

12. The keyboard overlay of claim 9 further adapted to indicate another of the menu commands invoked when the first key and the second key are pressed together with a third key, in which:

the keyboard overlay comprises a third portion adapted to overlay the third key, the third portion comprising a third label and a third color, such that the third label and the other color are associated with the third key; and

,

wherein the second portion further comprises a combination of indicia separate from the first color and the second indicia, the combination comprising the first color, the third indicia and a fourth indicia indicating the other of the menu commands.

13. The keyboard overlay of claim 12 in which:

the combination comprises parallel stripes of the first color and the third color; and

,

the fourth indicia comprise text spanning the parallel stripes.

14. The keyboard overlay of claim 12 in which:

the combination comprises a background area formed in the first color; and

,

the fourth indicia comprise text formed in the third color and located within the background area.