US 4,067,431 A · Combinational keyboard with movable keys and adapted for one-handed keying of numerical information

Abstract

Combinational keyboards generally have 10 keys positioned to fall naturally under the fingertips of the two hands when the hands are in operating position. The present invention provides a keyboard with movable keys in order to accommodate the hand configurations of various operators. Combinational keyboards are generally arranged so that mathematics may be performed by the right hand only. An expanded one-handed character set results if the two thumb keys are placed adjacent each other so that the right thumb can operate both. This desirable feature is attained by (1) making the left thumb key sufficiently movable that it may be positioned adjacent the right thumb key, or (2) positioning the left hand keys so that the thumb keys are adjacent, or (3) providing an additional key operable by the right thumb.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A combinational data keyboard adapted for operation by the fingers of a human operator and comprising:

a magnetic base, a set of keys, means for permitting said operator to place each key at a selectable position on said base, said means comprising a set of magnets, each of said magnets being affixed to the base of a respective key, wherein the keys are moved on the base to positions corresponding to the natural hand configuration of the operator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combinational keyboard with movable keys and adapted for one-handed keying of numerical information

Life of this patent

Combinational keyboard with movable keys and adapted for one-handed keying of numerical information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5