US 6,386,773 B1Granted

Ergonomic keyboard

OwnerJoseph Mathiasinventor

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Abstract

The present invention an ergonomic keyboard designed for inputting data wherein said keyboard comprises; a keyboard housing; a plurality of four position finger boxes mounted in said housing and arranged conformably to receive finger tips of a users hand, wherein said finger boxes are responsive to no movement, depression, contraction and extension of said fingertips corresponding to at least 4 distinct finger box positions namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward respectively. The keyboard further has a processor for assigning letters, numerals, symbols and functions to each of said positions of said finger boxes; and contacts at each of the positions of each of said finger boxes such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An ergonomic keyboard for inputting data, said keyboard comprising;

a) a keyboard housing;
b) a plurality of four position finger boxes mounted in said housing and arranged conformably to receive finger tips of a users hand, wherein said finger boxes are responsive to depression, contraction and extension of said fingertips including at least 4 distinct finger box positions namely:
neural, downward backward, and forward respectively;
c) means for assigning letters, numerals, symbols and functions to each of said positions of said finger boxes,
d) means for sensory of each of the positions of each of said finger boxes such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes,
e) wherein said finger boxes include a vertical key with cooperating first contacts, and at least two horizontal lever means each with cooperating second contacts, said vertical key responsive to depression of said fingertip for closing of said first set of contacts, said horizontal lever means responsive to horizontal contraction or extension of said fingertip for closing said second contacts of contacts, and,
f) wherein said horizontal lever means includes at least two horizontal levers operably connected to said second contacts, each lever pivotally attached to said keyboard housing with a slot joint such that said horizontal levers pivot about said slot joint when horizontally urged by a finger tip operably converting lever horizontal motion to lever vertical motion for closing said second contacts;
and
g) further comprising at least one palm/wrist pad elevated above said keyboard top for placement of palm or wrist thereon such that when a users palm or wrist rests on said palm/wrist pad a users finger tips fall namely into said finger boxes, wherein said palm/wrist pad including a three position pad normally positioned in a neutral position, and moveable into a forward position and rearward position;
and further including a means sensory of each of the positions of each of said palm/wrist pads, such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes corresponding to each position of the palm/wrist pad thereby tripling the number of unique signals obtainable from each finger box.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard for inputting data, said keyboard comprising;

a) a keyboard housing;
b) a plurality of four position finger boxes mounted in said housing and arranged conformably to receive finger tips of a users hand, wherein said finger boxes are responsive to depression, contraction and extension of said fingertips including at least 4 distinct finger box positions namely:
neural, downward backward, and forward respectively;
c) means for assigning letters, numerals, symbols and functions to each of said positions of said finger boxes,
d) means for sensory of each of the positions of each of said finger boxes such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes,
e) wherein said finger boxes include a vertical key with cooperating first contacts, and at least two horizontal lever means each with cooperating second contacts, said vertical key responsive to depression of said fingertip for closing of said first set of contacts, said horizontal lever means responsive to horizontal contraction or extension of said fingertip for closing said second contacts of contacts, and,
f) wherein said horizontal lever means includes at least two horizontal levers operably connected to said second contacts, each lever pivotally attached to said keyboard housing with a slot joint such that said horizontal levers pivot about said slot joint when horizontally urged by a finger tip operably converting lever horizontal motion to lever vertical motion for closing said second contacts;
and
g) further comprising at least one palm/wrist pad elevated above said keyboard top for placement of palm or wrist thereon such that when a users palm or wrist rests on said palm/wrist pad a users finger tips fall namely into said finger boxes, wherein said palm/wrist pad including a three position pad normally positioned in a neutral position, and moveable into a forward position and rearward position;
and further including a means sensory of each of the positions of each of said palm/wrist pads, such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes corresponding to each position of the palm/wrist pad thereby tripling the number of unique signals obtainable from each finger box.

7 more elements