Locating key for a keyboard or keypad

• US 20030068183A1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B. Sabato, Alberto
• Original Assignee: B. Sabato, Alberto
• Inventors: B. Sabato, Alberto
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/472
• 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 key for a keyboard or keypad, said key having an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have a top edge portion remote from a user, a bottom edge portion adjacent to the user, a left edge portion and a right edge portion, said key further having:

a ridge adjacent said top edge portion or said bottom edge portion and extending longitudinally generally parallel thereto; and

a ridge on said left or said right edge portion.

2. The key of claim 1 wherein the ridges are joined so as to provide an “

L”

shaped configuration.

3. A keyboard or keypad including at least three rows of keys including a top row which is remote from a 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 an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, and wherein the keys include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. The keyboard or keypad of claim 3 wherein any key between said top left end key and said bottom left end key has a ridge adjacent to the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows, and any key between said top right end key and said bottom right end key has a ridge adjacent to the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows.

5. The keyboard or keypad of claim 3 wherein any key between said top left end key and said top right end key has a ridge adjacent to the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows, and any key between said bottom left end key and said bottom right end key includes a ridge adjacent to the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.

6. A QWERTY keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in three linear rows including a top row which is remote from a 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 an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right side edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, 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 parallel to the rows,

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

(iii) a ridge on the middle left end key adjacent to the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,

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

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

(vi) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent to keys to said bottom left end key of the bottom row adjacent to the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(vi) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent to keys to said bottom right end key of the bottom row adjacent to the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,

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

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

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

(xi) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent to the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to 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 parallel to the rows.

7. The QWERTY keyboard of claim 6 wherein each set includes four keys from each row so that the two sets are spaced by two keys in each row.

8. The QWERTY keyboard of claim 6 wherein the two ridges of each end key meet.

9. A key for a keyboard or keypad, said key having an upper finger engaged surface defining a generally top edge portion remote from the user, a generally bottom edge portion adjacent to the user, a generally left edge portion and a generally right edge portion, said key further having:

a ridge adjacent to either said top edge portion or said bottom edge portion, and

a ridge adjacent to either said left edge portion or said right edge portion.

10. A key for a keyboard or keypad, wherein said ridges meet.

11. 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 an upper finger engaged surface of generally square, round, oval or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, and wherein the keys include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. 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 an upper finger engaged surface of generally square, round or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right side edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, 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 parallel to the rows,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(xi) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent to the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to 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 parallel to the rows.