Keyboard with interconnected keys

Claim 2

Keyboard comprising a row of key means, each including a finger piece, a connecting arm, and a support arm, said support arm of each key means being located under said finger piece of the respective adjacent preceding key means of said row and having guide means for guiding said connecting arm of said preceding key means; and a plurality of mounting means for mounting said support arms of said key means for angular movement, respectively, and being located under a preceding key means, respectively.

Claim 3

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide means is a portion of said supporting arm forming an opening through which said connecting arm of said preceding key means passes.

Claim 4

Keyboard as claimed in claim 2 wherein said portion of said support arm is formed with two parallel edges bounding said opening on opposite sides and being spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the width of the connecting arm passing therethrough for guiding the same during movement of the respective preceding key means so that said key means are guided and interconnected to form a straight row.

Claim 5

Keyboard as claimed in claim 3 wherein said portion of said support arm is a forked end portion including two prongs having said parallel edges; and wherein each mounting means includes a shaft passing through the free ends of said prongs and closing said opening.

Claim 6

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting arms of said key means have the same length; and wherein each mounting means includes a shaft passing through the free ends of said support arms, said shafts being parallel and spaced from each other the same distance so that said finger pieces are spaced said distance from each other in the direction of said row.

Claim 7

Keyboard as claimed in claim 5, comprising a plurality of parallel rows of key means having supporting arms and being parallel with said row of key means so that the key means of all rows form lines of key means transverse to the direction of said rows; and wherein each of said shafts supports the supporting arms of all key means which are located in the same line for angular movement independently of each other.

Claim 8

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein each mounting means includes a shaft passing through the free end of the respective connecting arm; and wherein each connecting arm has two spaced stop portions located on opposite sides of the shaft supporting the respective adjacent successive key means of said row so that said first and second stop portions abut said shaft in two end positions of the respective key means.

Claim 9

Keyboard as claimed in claim 7 wherein said supporting arm has a forked end portion including two prongs having parallel edges bounding an opening, and being formed with aligned bearing bores; wherein said shaft passes through said aligned Bearing bores and has a free shaft portion between said prongs crossing said opening and closing the same; wherein said first and second stop portions are located on opposite sides of said free shaft portion; wherein said connecting arm of said preceding key means passes through said opening; and wherein said edges constitute said guide means for said connecting arm.

Claim 10

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 comprising a row of movable elements respectively located under the key means of said row; wherein said connecting arms of said key means have actuator end portions respectively cooperating with movable elements located under the respective following key means of said row of key means.

Claim 11

Keyboard as claimed in claim 9 wherein said movable elements are switches having a spring biased contact engaged and operated by said actuator portion in an operative position of the respective key means, and urging said key means resiliently into a normal position.

Claim 12

Keyboard as claimed in claim 9 wherein the distance between each mounting means and the respective correlated finger piece along said supporting arm is less than the distance between each mounting means and said actuator portion of the respective connecting arm so that the stroke of said finger piece is less than the stroke of said actuator portion for operating said movable element.

Claim 13

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of rows of key means parallel with said row of key means so that the key means of all rows form lines of key means transverse to the direction of said rows; and wherein said finger pieces of selected adjacent key means are combined in at least one large finger piece.

Claim 14

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting arms of said key means have the same length; wherein each mounting means includes a shaft passing through the free ends of said support arms, said shafts being parallel and spaced from each other the same distance so that said finger pieces are spaced said distance from each other in the direction of said row; comprising a plurality of parallel rows of key means having supporting arms and being parallel with said row of key means so that the key means of all rows form lines of key means transverse to the direction of said rows; wherein each of said shafts supports the supporting arms of all key means which are located in the same line for angular movement independently of each other; and comprising a pair of supporting brackets located on opposite sides of said lines of key means, and supporting the ends of said shafts, respectively.

Claim 15

Keyboard as claimed in claim 13 wherein said brackets and shafts are located in a plane slanted to a horizontal plane; and wherein said finger pieces have top surfaces located in an other plane parallel to said plane.

Claim 16

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein each mounting means supports the end of said support arm of the respective key means, and is located under the finger piece of the respective adjacent preceding key means.

Claim 17

Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support arm, said connecting arm, and said finger piece of each key means form an integral piece.