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US 7,030,323 B2Granted
Expandable and contractible keyboard with adjustable key sizes
AssigneeRAST Associates, LLC
InventorRoy J. Lahr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keyboard which may be utilized in either an expanded or contracted state. A keyboard is comprised of an expandable and compressible housing which supports a plurality of elastic belts. Keyswitch assemblies are fastened to the elastic belt. When the keyboard housing is expanded, the elastic belts are stretched, and the distance between the keys is increased. The keytops can be of variable size so that upon expansion, they increase in size.
Claims59
A method of operating a keyboard device, which includes a frame, keytops, keyswitch assemblies and an elastic member extending between the keytops, comprising the steps of:
- selectively adjusting a key pitch between adjacent keytops of the keyboard device by expanding and contracting the elastic member in at least one direction while maintaining relative rigidity of the frame, which provides support for the keyboard device, in a direction perpendicular to the at least one direction of expansion and contraction;
- and
- entering data by operation of at least one keyswitch assembly of the keyboard device when a keytop is in a position corresponding to the selectively adjusted key pitch.
A keyboard device, comprising:
- at least one elastic belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position, a plurality of keytops attached to the elastic belt so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the elastic belt than in a contracted position of the elastic belt;
- a housing extendible in a substantially single plane between a contracted position and an expanded position and including components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt movable relative to one another, the housing arranged to maintain the elastic belt in at least an expanded position of the elastic belt and a contracted position of the elastic belt.
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of elastic belts extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position, a plurality of keytops carried by each elastic belt so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the elastic belts than in a contracted position of the elastic belts;
- and
- a housing extendible in a substantially single plane between a contracted position and an expanded position and including components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt movable relative to one another, the housing arranged to maintain the elastic belts in at least an expanded position of the elastic belts and a contracted position of the elastic belts.
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keyswitch assemblies;
- at least one elastic belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position arranged on at least one of a top side of the keyswitch assemblies and a bottom side of the keyswitch assemblies, the keyswitch assemblies attached to the elastic belt so that a key pitch between adjacent keyswitch assemblies is greater in an expanded position of the elastic belt than in a contracted position of the elastic belt;
- and
- a support structure relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the elastic belt in at least an expanded position of the elastic belt and a contracted position of the elastic belt;
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the elastic belt and in a contracted position of the elastic belt.
2 more elements
An expandible keyboard, comprising:
- a keyboard housing which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- at least one elastic belt, the elastic belt attached to the housing;
- a plurality of keytops attached to the elastic belt so that when the elastic belt is extended from a contracted position to an expanded position the pitch between keytops is increased;
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt movable relative to one another.
1 more element
An expandible and contractible keyboard, comprising:
- a housing which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- a plurality of elastic belts attached to the housing;
- a plurality of keytops attached to the elastic belt, forming rows of keys;
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt movable relative to one another.
1 more element
An expandible and contractible keyboard, comprising:
- a housing which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- a supporting framework which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position attached to the housing;
- a plurality of elastic belts attached to the supporting framework;
- a plurality of keytops mounted on the elastic belts;
- a conductive circuit arrangement connected to the keytops to provide an electrical response when a keytop is depressed;
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belts movable relative to one another.
3 more elements
An expandible keyboard, comprising:
- a keyboard housing which is extendible in at least one dimension in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- at least one elastic belt attached to the housing;
- a plurality of keytops attached to the elastic belt so that when the elastic belt is extended from a contracted position to an expanded position the pitch between keytops is increased;
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt movable relative to one another.
1 more element
An expandible and contractible keyboard, comprising:
- a housing which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- a supporting framework which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position attached to the housing;
- a plurality of elastic belts attached to the supporting framework;
- a plurality of keytops mounted on the elastic belts;
- a conductive circuit arrangement connected to the keytops to provide an electrical response when a keytop is depressed;
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belts movable relative to one another.
3 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keytops;
- at least one elastic belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position, the keytops attached to the elastic belt so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the elastic belt than in a contracted position of the elastic belt;
- and
- a support structure relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the elastic belt in at least an expanded position of the elastic belt and a contracted position of the elastic belt;
- wherein the keytops are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the elastic belt and in a contracted position of the elastic belt.
2 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keytops;
- a plurality of elastic belts extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position, each elastic belt corresponding to a respective row of keys of the keyboard device, the keytops attached to the elastic belts so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the elastic belts than in a contracted position of the elastic belts;
- and
- a support structure of components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belts extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the elastic belts in at least an expanded position of the elastic belts and a contracted position of the elastic belts;
- wherein the keytops are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the elastic belts and in a contracted position of the elastic belts.
2 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keytops;
- at least one belt stretchable between a contracted position and an expanded position, the keytops attached to the belt so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the belt than in a contracted position of the belt;
- and
- a support structure of components relatively rigid as compared to the belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the belt in at least an expanded position of the belt and a contracted position of the belt;
- wherein the keytops are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the belt and in a contracted position of the belt.
2 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keytops;
- a plurality of belts stretchable between a contracted position and an expanded position, each belt corresponding to a respective row of keys of the keyboard device, the keytops attached to the belts so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the belts than in a contracted position of the belts;
- and
- a support structure relatively rigid as compared to the belts extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the belts in at least an expanded position of the belts and a contracted position of the belts;
- wherein the keytops are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the belts and in a contracted position of the belts.
2 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keytops;
- at least one belt stretchable between a contracted position and an expanded position, the keytops movable in accordance with stretch of the belt so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the belt than in a contracted position of the belt;
- and
- a support structure relatively rigid as compared to the belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the belt in at least an expanded position of the belt and a contracted position of the belt;
- wherein the keytops are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the belt and in a contracted position of the belt.
2 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keytops;
- a plurality of belts stretchable between a contracted position and an expanded position, each belt corresponding to a respective row of keys of the keyboard device, the keytops movable in accordance with stretch of the belts so that a pitch between adjacent keytops is greater in an expanded position of the belts than in a contracted position of the belts;
- and
- a support structure relatively rigid as compared to the belts extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the belts in at least an expanded position of the belts and a contracted position of the belts;
- wherein the keytops are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the belts and in a contracted position of the belts.
2 more elements
An expandible and contractible keyboard comprising:
- a housing which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- a supporting framework which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position attached to the housing;
- a plurality of elastic belts attached to the supporting framework;
- and
- a plurality of keytops provided on the elastic belts;
- wherein the keytops are arranged to provide an electrical response when a keytop is depressed;
- and
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belts movable relative to one another.
5 more elements
An expandible and contractible keyboard, comprising:
- a housing which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position;
- a supporting framework which is extendible in a substantially single plane from a contracted position to an expanded position attached to the housing;
- a plurality of elastic belts attached to the supporting framework;
- and
- a plurality of keytops provided on the elastic belts;
- wherein the keytops are operatively connected to a circuit to provide an electrical response when a keytop is depressed;
- and
- wherein the housing includes components relatively rigid as compared to the elastic belts movable relative to one another.
5 more elements
A method of operating a keyboard device, which includes a frame, a keyswitches and an elastic member extending between the keyswitches, comprising the steps of:
- selectively adjusting a pitch between adjacent keyswitches of the keyboard device by expanding and contracting the elastic member in at least one direction while maintaining relative rigidity of the frame, which provides support for the keyboard device, in a direction perpendicular to the at least one direction of expansion and contraction;
- and
- entering data by operation of at least one keyswitch when the keyswitch of the keyboard device is in a position corresponding to the selectively adjusted pitch.
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keyswitch assemblies;
- at least one belt stretchable between a contracted position and an expanded position, the keyswitch assemblies arranged relative to the belt so that a key pitch between adjacent keyswitch assemblies is greater in an expanded position of the belt than in a contracted position of the belt;
- and
- a support structure of components relatively rigid as compared to the belt extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the belt in at least an expanded position of the belt and a contracted position of the belt;
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the belt and in a contracted position of the belt;
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are arranged in an expanded position to accept data entry by touch typing;
- and
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are arranged in a contracted position according to an arrangement that does not permit data entry by touch typing.
5 more elements
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a plurality of keyswitch assemblies;
- a plurality of belts stretchable between a contracted position and an expanded position, each belt corresponding to a respective row of keys of the keyboard device, the keyswitch assemblies arranged with respect to the belts so that a key pitch between adjacent keyswitch assemblies is greater in an expanded position of the belts than in a contracted position of the belts;
- and
- a support structure relatively rigid as compared to the belts extendible between a contracted position and an expanded position and arranged to maintain the belts in at least an expanded position of the belts and a contracted position of the belts;
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are configured to accept data entry in an expanded position of the belts and in a contracted position of the belts;
- and
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are arranged in an expanded position to accept data entry by touch typing;
- and
- wherein the keyswitch assemblies are arranged in a contracted position according to an arrangement that does not permit data entry by touch typing.
6 more elements
A keyboard, comprising:
- a keyboard housing including components movable relative to one another to extend and contract the housing in at least one dimension in a substantially single plane between a contracted position and an expanded position;
- at least one elastic member elastic in the at least one dimension attached to the components of the housing, the components of the housing relatively rigid as compared to the elastic member;
- and
- a plurality of keytops expandible and contractible in accordance with extension and contraction of the elastic member.
1 more element
A keyboard, comprising:
- a keyboard housing including components movable relative to one another to extend and contract the housing in at least one dimension in a substantially single plane between a contracted position and an expanded position;
- and
- an elastic member elastic in the at least one dimension attached to the components of the housing, the components of the housing relatively rigid as compared to the elastic member, the elastic member including a plurality of keytops expandible and contractible in accordance with extension and contraction of the elastic member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.