Low silhouette keyboard
AssigneeSCM Corporation
InventorHugh St. L. Dannatt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low silhouette keyboard having a plurality of keylevers arranged in rows and in parallel relationship to one another are suspended, guided and biased to restore by opposing flexible support members. The keylevers are "T" shaped which includes a cross arm constrained between the flexible support members, and a leg portion which projects through slots in a single guide comb. The keylevers are suspended in cantilever fashion being biased upward limited by an upstop. Reciprocation of any keylever in any row is a path substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flexible support members. Keytouch of all keylevers is substantially simultaneous and uniformly adjustable by providing means for varying the upward biasing force applied thereto.
Claims10
A keyboard for business machines having a frame, the keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of T-shaped keylevers including a vertical extending cross arm forming a portion of said T-shape;
- a first flexible keylever support member for each of said plurality of keylevers having one end fixedly supported on the frame and horizontally extending straight toward one of said keylevers in one direction;
- a second flexible keylever support member for each of said plurality of keylevers having one end fixedly supported on the frame and horizontally extending straight toward said one keylever in an opposite direction from said first flexible keylever support member;
- a first movable connection means coupling said first flexible keylever support member to said one keylever at one end of said cross arm;
- a second movable connection means coupling said second flexible keylever support member to said one keylever at an opposite end of said cross arm vertically spaced from said one end of said cross arm;
- and
- said first and second movable connection means cooperate in response to depression of said one keylever to nullify horizontal forces effecting the directional movement of said one keylever thereby resulting in controlled movement of said one keylever in a vertical direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.