Spherical keyboard with built-in mouse

• US 6,088,022 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Charles Rakoski
• Original Assignee: Robert Charles Rakoski
• Inventors: Rakoski, Robert Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/019,818
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/163, 345/164, 345/166, 345/167, 400/489, 340/825, 361/680, D14/115, 84/719
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard includes a spherical body that is molded with cavities in its outer surface for receiving depressible function keys. The cavities are arranged in arcuate rows, with the rows corresponding to the positions and varied lengths of the fingers on a human hand. Keys are arranged in the cavities in a standard keyboard format such that users with conventional typing skills can use normal fingering for data entry without lifting their hands from the spherical body. Specifically, letter and function keys typically positioned on the left two-thirds of conventional keyboards are arranged in forwardly converging side cavities in a standard QWERTY format, with additional function and specialty keys positioned thereunder. Numeric and mathematical function keys are provided in cavities positioned on the back side of the spherical body which generally faces away from the user. Mouse "clicker" keys are positioned in a front side of the spherical body between the converging letter keys. The spherical body rests in a circular base equipped with a roller ball-type mouse mechanism in its bottom and a connector cable. To allow for adjustment of angle and position of the keys relative to a user'"'"'s height or position, the spherical body is adjustably connected to the base by means of a dovetail joint provided along the bottom surface of the spherical body and a dovetailed slot provided in a top of the base. During data entry, users'"'"' fingers and hands rest in anatomically neutral positions along the surface of the spherical body, with the on-screen pointer being moved by gliding the spherical body/base combination over the work surface while keeping both hands on the spherical body. As no separate mouse, mouse pad or wrist rest is required, the device can be safely and comfortably used at remote locations and in limited work space environments.

Claims

1. An ergonomic keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a base having a bottom;

a pointer-control mechanism mounted in said base, said control mechanism comprising a roller ball extending beyond said bottom of said base; and

a generally spherical body having a curved outer surface and input keys provided along said outer surface, said keys further comprising alphabetic keys arranged in a standard keyboard format along said curved outer surface, and said body being rotatably connected to said base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottom of said base is generally circular.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said base has a height of about 1.625 inches, wherein said bottom of said base has a diameter of about 4.75 inches, and wherein said spherical body has a diameter of about six inches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector cable having a first end connected to said control mechanism, and a second end opposite said first end having means for connecting said cable to a pin port of a central processing unit, and a keyboard cable having a first end connected to said keys of said spherical body and a second end connected to said control mechanism.