US 5,351,066 AGranted

Rotating plane keyboard

AssigneeErgologic Enterprises Inc.

InventorsLance M. Rucker, Keith W. Hoyle, Allen B. Hepworth

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An adjustable keyboard for electronic instruments having a pair of demi-boards which are extendable from a retracted, flat position to an extended, tetrahedal position wherein the distal side of one of the demi-boards is located closer to the other demi-board than the proximate side, the first and second demi-board planes intersect with the base plane to form an acute angle, the first and second demi-board planes intersect with each other at an apex intersecting line being in non-parallel alignment with the base plane and the first and second demi-board planes and the base plane intersect at an intersecting point in space on the distal side of the base member. A split spacebar may be actuated by movement about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the demi-boards in either direction from a normal position and also on lateral movement along the said longitudinal axis. Adjustable hand rests are provided which may be raised or lowered with respect to the keyboard and which may be adjusted laterally to adjust the distance between each of a pair of hand contacting surfaces and a line laterally bisecting the keyboard.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An adjustable keyboard for data input, comprising:

(a) a base member for contact with a support surface, said base member defining a longitudinal base plane extending through said base member, said base member having a distal side intended for orientation away from a user and a proximate side intended for orientation adjacent a user and first and second ends joining said distal and proximate sides;
(b) a first demi-board means having a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user, defining a first demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said first demi-board means, pivotably connected to said base member and constrained for pivotal movement of said first demi-board means for reproducing a pre-determined arc and reproducible positions between a retracted position in which said first demi-board plane is substantially co-planar and parallel with said base plane and an extended position in which said first demi-board means extends at an acute angle with respect to said base member;
(c) a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said first demi-board means, said keys facing away from said base member;
(d) a second demi-board means having a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user, defining a second demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said second demi-board means, pivotably connected to said base member and constrained for pivotal movement of said second demi-board means for reproducing a predetermined arc and reproducible positions between a retracted position in which said second demi-board plane is substantially co-planar and parallel with said base plane and an extended position in which said second demi-board means extends at an acute angle with respect to said base member;
(e) a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said second demi-board means, said keys facing away from said base member;
(f) when in said extended position said base plane, first demi-board plane, second demi-board plane and proximate sides of said first and second demi-board means forming a tetrahedral shape wherein:
(i) the distal side of one of said demi-board means is located closer to the other demi-board means than the proximate side of said one of said demi-board means;
(ii) said first and second planes each intersect with said base plane to form an acute angle;
(iii) said first and second intersect with each other at an apex intersecting line in space, said apex intersecting line being in non-parallel alignment with the base plane;
and
(iv) said first, second and base planes intersect with each other at an intersecting point in space beyond the distal side of said base member.

8 more elements

A keyboard for dam input into an electronic device, comprising:

(a) a base member for contact with a support surface, said base member defining a longitudinal base plane extending through said base member, said member having a distal side intended for orientation away from a user and a proximate side intended for orientation adjacent a user when in use, and first and second ends joining said distal and proximate sides;
(b) a first demi-board connected adjacent said first end of said base member at one end of said first demi-board and extending angularly from said base member, said first demi-board defining a first demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said first demi-board and said first demi-board comprising a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said first demi-board said keys facing away from said base member, a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user;
(c) a second demi-board connected adjacent said second end of said base member at one end of said second demi-board and extending angularly from said base member, said second demi-board defining a second demi-board plane extending longitudinally through said second demi-board, said second demi-board comprising a plurality of user activated keys extending from a face of said second demi-board said keys facing away from said base member, a distal side for orientation away from a user and a proximate side for orientation adjacent a user;
(d) pivot means and constraining means communicating with said base member and said first and second demi-boards for pivotal movement of said first and second demi-boards with respect to said base member for reproducing a pre-determined arc and reproducible positions for each of said first and second demi-boards with respect and
(e) said first and second demi-boards oriented such that when in an extended position in which said first and second demi-boards each extend at an acute angle with respect to said base member:
(i) the distal side of one of said demi-board is located closer to the other of said demi-boards than the proximate side of said one of said demi-boards;
(ii) said first and second demi-board planes each intersect with said base plane to form an acute angle;
(iii) said first and second demi-board planes intersect with each other at an apex intersecting line in space, said apex intersecting line being in non-parallel alignment with the base plane;
and
(iv) said first demi-board, second demi-board and base planes intersect with each other at an apex intersecting point in space beyond the distal side of said base member.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/727,810Filed 8 Jul 1991
Granted: 27 Sep 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06F 3/0216
Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device: arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard
B41J 5/105
Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition: constructional details of keyboard frames, e.g. adjusting or fixation means
H01H 13/84
Having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard: characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for…
H01H 2217/028
Facilitation of operation; Human engineering: on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane