Keyboards

Abstract

The device of this invention has a housing disposed to fit over the nine keys or push-buttons, numbered 1 through 9 of a push-button array of a calculator or push-button telephone, or the like. Push-button operating means are provided with U-shaped members for receiving human digits. Three of such push-button operating means are disposed along columnar openings in the housing and are resiliently held in a position which corresponds to the second row of the three rows of push-buttons in a standard array. A push-button is movably secured to the U-shaped member and extends therethrough to a finger element. When the push-button is depressed, the finger element to which it is connected depresses the push-button in the center row of the array. When the human finger is pushed against one of the concave-shaped walls of the U-shaped member, the push-button operating means moves along the column to one of the other rows. Within the housing is a wheel which is resiliently connected to the push-button operating means. The wheel engages a track member secured to a housing wall. As the wheel is guided along the track, it moves downwardly until it contacts the push-button in an outer row of the push-button array. The push-button operating means further comprises a slide which is integrally connected to the U-shaped member. The slide is resiliently held in its position by a coil spring. In another context of this invention, the push-buttons are arranged along walls of a U-shaped housing as an integral part of a calculator or the like. At the base of the U is the center row of push-buttons and on the opposed walls of the U-shaped housing are the two other rows of push-buttons. These devices enable the user to move along either one of two predetermined paths to operate any one of three rows of push-buttons, thereby reducing the movement to operate the push-buttons.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.