Patent EP0219944A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0219944A2
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EP
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Keyboard
Assignee: PCD MALTRON Ltd
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Filing: 1986-08-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard for a typewriter, computer or other information input device includes separate banks of keys (2, 3) for operation by the fingers of the right and left hands, banks of keys (4, 5) for operation by the thumbs, and a further bank of keys (6) between the banks (2, 3). The home keys (12,13,14) for operation by the middle, ring and little fingers lie at the same level but have their faces inclined towards the outside of the rowof keys. Keys (11,15) for operation bytheforefinger lie at a higher level and have their faces inclined towards the outside of the row at a greater angle. Key (16) for operation by the extended little finger has its face horizontal. The key faces of the rows (31 - 37) lie on a surface which is concave in a direction transverse to the rows. The bank (6) is rotatable bodily about a substantially vertical axis. A changeover key or switch provides for selection of new or old letter layouts. Keys that change are dually designated.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen William Hobday
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A keyboard comprising a row (31) of keys in which the keys (12, 13, 14) for operation by the middle, ring and little fingers lie substantially at the same level characterised in that said keys have their faces inclined towards the outside end of the row.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A keyboard comprising a row (31) of keys in which the keys (12, 13, 14) for operation by the middle, ring and little fingers lie substantially at the same level characterised in that said keys have their faces inclined towards the outside end of the row.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A keyboard according to claim 1 chacterised in that the faces of the keys (12, 13, 14) are inclined at an angle of about 12 - 25°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A keyboard according to claim 1 or claim 2 chacterised by at least one further key (11) at the inside end of the row (31) for operation by the forefinger, this key being located at a higher level and having its face inclined towards the outside end of the row at a greater angle than the first-mentioned keys.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A keyboard according to claim 3 chacterised in that the face of the further key is inclined at an angle of about 20 - 35°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims chacterised by at least one further key (16) at the outside end of the row
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
(31) for operation by the extended little finger and having its face substantially horizontal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
(31) for operation by the extended little finger and having its face substantially horizontal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
keyboard chacterised by a plurality of rows (31 - 34) of keys, each in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A keyboard according to claim 6 chacterised in that the faces of the keys lie on a surface which is concave in a direction transverse to the rows.12.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A keyboard according to claim 7 chacterised by numeral, upper, middle and lower rows of keys, and at least one further row (35) including at least one key located below the lower row.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A keyboard comprising a middle row (31) and a lower row (34) of keys, chacterised by a shift key (17) at the outside end, and located at a level intermediate the levels, of the rows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A keyboard comprising a middle row (31) and a lower row (34) of keys, chacterised by a shift key (17) at the outside end, and located at a level intermediate the levels, of the rows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A keyboard comprising two separate banks (2, 3) of keys for operation by the fingers of the right and left hands respectively, chacterised in that each bank includes keys for both letters and numerals, and further comprising an additional bank (6) of keys for numerals located between the first-mentioned banks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A keyboard comprising two separate banks (2, 3) of keys for operation by the fingers of the right and left hands respectively, chacterised in that each bank includes keys for both letters and numerals, and further comprising an additional bank (6) of keys for numerals located between the first-mentioned banks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A keyboard according to claim 10 chacterised in that the additional bank (6) is rotatable bodily about a substantially vertical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A keyboard according to claim 10 or claim 11 chacterised in that the faces of the keys of the additional bank (6) are disposed on a surface which is concave in two orthogonal directions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A keyboard according to any one of the preceeding claims chacterised in that at least some of the keys are dually designated to afford alternative layouts of letters and / or symbols and comprising means to select the preferred layout.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A keyboard according to claim 13 chacterised in that the alternative layouts have letters and / or symbols of different sizes and / or colours.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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