US4244659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard arrangement
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-05-31
•
Granted: 1981-01-13
•
Expires: 1998-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A typewriter keyboard arranged to take into account the frequency of occurrence of letters so that the keys for the most frequently occurring letters are positioned for easiest operation by the typist. Account is also taken of the frequency of occurrence of consecutive letters so that one finger or thumb will not have to operate different keys in rapid succession. The keyboard further includes keys to form letters or functional operations operable by the thumb. In one embodiment, two pluralities of keys are provided for operation by the fingers of the left and right hands, respectively, and two further pluralities of keys are provided for operation by the right and left thumbs, respectively.Each of the four pluralities of keys is arranged on a surface which is concave in two orthogonal directions.
Inventors
- 👤 Lillian G. Malt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:23
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
An imput keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on both hands in at least three rows, the center of said three rows containing in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters A, N, I, S, F, D, T, H, O and R, the upper row of said three rows containing in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters Q, P, Y, C, B, V, M, U, Z and X, the lower of said three rows containing in in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters J, G, W, K, and L, and a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumbs, keys for E and the full stop (period) symbol being arranged for operation by the operator's left thumb and keys for the carriage return and spacing operations being arranged for operation by the operator's right thumb.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
An imput keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on both hands in at least three rows, the center of said three rows containing in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters A, N, I, S, F, D, T, H, O and R, the upper row of said three rows containing in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters Q, P, Y, C, B, V, M, U, Z and X, the lower of said three rows containing in in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters J, G, W, K, and L, and a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumbs, keys for E and the full stop (period) symbol being arranged for operation by the operator's left thumb and keys for the carriage return and spacing operations being arranged for operation by the operator's right thumb.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keys for the full stop (period) and the carriage return operation are arranged on the sides of the keys for E and the spacing operation remote from the keys for operation by the operator's fingers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the keys for operation by the operator's left hand are arranged over a first concave surface and at least some of the keys for operation by the operator's right hand are arranged over a second, separate, concave surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 3, wherein for each hand the keys for operation by the thumb are arranged over a concave surface separate from that over which the keys for operation by the fingers are arranged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 3, wherein said surfaces are concave in two directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on one hand in at least five rows, and a second plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb of said one hand, so that the operator can arrange the fingers of said one hand on the keys of one of said rows and the thumb of said one hand on a key of said second plurality of keys, the top row of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters B, P, M, G and X,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on one hand in at least five rows, and a second plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb of said one hand, so that the operator can arrange the fingers of said one hand on the keys of one of said rows and the thumb of said one hand on a key of said second plurality of keys, the top row of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters B, P, M, G and X,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
the next-to-top row of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters R, L, O, D, F and J, the center row of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters N, H, E, T, A and S, the next-to-bottom of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters V, K, C, Y and Z, and the bottom of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters W and Q, the second plurality of keys including keys to operate the letters U and I, and the spacing and carriage return operations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
the next-to-top row of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters R, L, O, D, F and J, the center row of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters N, H, E, T, A and S, the next-to-bottom of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters V, K, C, Y and Z, and the bottom of said five rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters W and Q, the second plurality of keys including keys to operate the letters U and I, and the spacing and carriage return operations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein the keys to operate the letters I and U, and the carriage return operation are arranged to be operated by the thumb when extended further than when the thumb is positioned to operate the space key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of the keys are arranged over a concave surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said concave surface is concave in two directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers are arranged on a first concave surface and the keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb are arranged on a second, separate, surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on both hands in a plurality of rows, the central row of said rows containing in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters A, N, I, S, F, D, T, H, O and R, and a plurality of keys including one for the letter E arranged for operation by the operator's thumbs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on both hands in a plurality of rows, the central row of said rows containing in order from the left as viewed by the operator keys to operate at least the letters A, N, I, S, F, D, T, H, O and R, and a plurality of keys including one for the letter E arranged for operation by the operator's thumbs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on one hand in a plurality of rows, and a second plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb of said one hand, so that the operator can arrange the fingers of said one hand on the keys of one of said rows and the thumb of said one hand on a key of said second plurality of keys, the central row of said rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters N, H, E, T, A and S.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
129 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's fingers on one hand in a plurality of rows, and a second plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb of said one hand, so that the operator can arrange the fingers of said one hand on the keys of one of said rows and the thumb of said one hand on a key of said second plurality of keys, the central row of said rows containing in order from the side of the keyboard adjacent the little finger of said one hand when arranged as above at least keys to operate the letters N, H, E, T, A and S.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: first and second pluralities of keys each arranged in a plurality of rows for operation by the operator's fingers on the right and left hands respectively third and fourth pluralities of keys arranged for operation by the operator's right and left thumbs, respectively, the keys in each of said first through fourth pluralities of keys being arranged on four separate surfaces each concave in two orthogonal directions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: first and second pluralities of keys each arranged in a plurality of rows for operation by the operator's fingers on the right and left hands respectively third and fourth pluralities of keys arranged for operation by the operator's right and left thumbs, respectively, the keys in each of said first through fourth pluralities of keys being arranged on four separate surfaces each concave in two orthogonal directions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a first plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows for operation by the operator's fingers on one hand, and a second plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb of said one hand, so that the operator can arrange the fingers of said one hand on the keys of one of said rows and the thumb of said one hand on a key of said second plurality of keys, wherein the first plurality of keys is arranged on a surface concave in two orthogonal directions, and the second plurality of keys is arranged on a separate surface concave in two orthogonal directions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator comprising: a first plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows for operation by the operator's fingers on one hand, and a second plurality of keys arranged for operation by the operator's thumb of said one hand, so that the operator can arrange the fingers of said one hand on the keys of one of said rows and the thumb of said one hand on a key of said second plurality of keys, wherein the first plurality of keys is arranged on a surface concave in two orthogonal directions, and the second plurality of keys is arranged on a separate surface concave in two orthogonal directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1395049A
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GB1016993A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |