US 8,570,276 B2Granted

Augmented computer keyboard

OwnerDonald W. Calkinsinventor

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Abstract

A computer keyboard with palm support surfaces, and controls providing mouse functions, added to each side of the keyboard. The palm support surfaces are downward sloping, and/or downward curved convex surfaces, on either side of the keyboard, descending from peaks near each top rear corner of the keyboard, laterally away from the keyboard, and towards the front of the keyboard. Outside edges of the palm support surfaces may narrow and curve inward toward the front of the keyboard to allow a more natural hand position. The controls include selection buttons, normally located on a mouse, to the left of the keyboard, and a positioning device normally located on a mouse, to the right of the keyboard, and are generally embedded to the rear of each palm support surface. The controls and palm support surfaces allow a more natural hand placement and avoid pressure on the carpal tunnel area.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A keyboard augmentation comprising:

a Personal Computer (PC) keyboard having keys, a front edge, a rear edge, a right side edge, and a left side edge;
right and left side top surfaces of the keyboard, the side top surfaces flat and continuous, reaching from the front edge of the keyboard to the rear edge of the keyboard;
the right side top surface reaching from proximal to the right edge of the keys, down and to the right, reaching to the right side edge of the keyboard;
and
the left side top surface reaching from proximal to the left edge of the keys, down and to the left, reaching to the left side edge of the keyboard;
right and left controls comprising a pointing device and at least one selection button, the controls residing at a right rear corner of the augmented keyboard and a left rear corner of the augmented keyboard;
a right rest top surface defined on the right side top surface and in front of the right control for supporting the right hand of a user while using the right control to reduce pressure on the right wrist which may contribute to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome;
a left rest top surface defined on the left side top surface and in front of the left control and angled down to the left for supporting the left hand of the user while using the left control to reduce pressure on the left wrist which may contribute to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome;
and
wherein the controls provide functions of a mouse.

7 more elements

An augmented keyboard comprising:

a Personal Computer (PC) keyboard having:
keys;
a front edge towards a user;
and
a rear edge away from a user
a right side edge;
and
a left side edge;
controls comprising:
a pointing device selected from a group consisting of a track ball, a touch sensitive area, and a joy stick and residing at a first rear corner of the augmented keyboard;
and
selection buttons comprising a left selection button, a wheel, and right selection button and residing at a second rear corner opposite the first rear corner of the augmented keyboard;
right and left side top surfaces of the keyboard, the side top surfaces resembling a longitudinal quarter section of a generally frusticonical shape tapering monotonically smaller from proximal to the rear of the augmented keyboard towards the front of the keyboard and continuous reaching from the front edge of the keyboard to the rear edge of the keyboard:
the right side top surface reaching from proximal to the right edge of the keys, down and to the right, reaching to the right side edge of the keyboard;
and
the left side top surface reaching from proximal to the left edge of the keys down and to the left, reaching to the left side edge of the keyboard,
a right rest top surface defined on the right side top surface and residing to the right of a rightmost of the keys, the right rest top surface curving outward to the right and then downward and the right rest top surface tapering narrower towards the front edge of the augmented keyboard, a right cross-section of the right rest top surface being a quarter circle shape, and as the right rest top surface tapers narrower towards the front edge of the keyboard, the right rest top surface forms a quarter cone shape;
and
a left rest top surface defined on the left side top surface and residing to the left of a leftmost of the keys, the left rest top surface curving outward to the left and then downward and the left rest top surface tapering narrower towards the front edge of the augmented keyboard, a left cross-section of the left rest top surface being a quarter circle shape, and as the left rest top surface tapers narrower towards the front edge of the keyboard, the left rest top surface forms a quarter cone shape;
wherein:
the right support is for supporting the right hand of the user by supporting an inside portion of the right of the right hand when the right hand is positioned to control the controls residing at the right rear corner of the augmented keyboard;
the left support is for supporting the left hand of the user by supporting an inside portion of the left of the left hand when the left hand is positioned to control the controls residing at the left rear corner of the augmented keyboard;
and
the pointing device and the selection buttons replace functions of a mouse.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/263,914Filed 3 Nov 2008 · continuation in part
Priority: 28 Feb 2005
Published: US 2009/0060619 A15 Mar 2009
Granted: 29 Oct 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G06F 3/0213
Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner: arrangements providing an integrated…
G06F 3/021
Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device: arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card…
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

Application11/069,689Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Feb 2005
US 2009/0060619 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Mar 2009
US 8,570,276 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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