Universal binary keyboard system

Claim 2

A key comprising: a substantially rectangular-shaped body portion for receiving a depression force on the top surface thereof; a first leg portion extending along the bottom surface of said body portion having an outside edge substantially aligned with one outside lateral edge of said body portion, said first leg portion extending beyond one orthogonal edge of said body portion by a distance greater than the lateral edge dimension of said body portion, said first leg portion having a bore at the end thereof having its axis substantially parallel to said one orthogonal edge and at a distance from said one orthogonal edge greater than the lateral edge dimension of said body portion, said first leg portion having a bore at the end thereof having its axis substantially parallel to said one orthogonal edge and at a distance from said one orthogonal edge greater than said lateral edge dimension; and a second leg portion extending along said bottom surface of said body portion having an outside edge recesses from the opposite outside lateral edge of said body portion by a distance slightly greater than the orthogonal thickness of said first leg portion, said second leg portion extending beyond said one orthogonal edge by a distance substantially equal to the extension of said first leg portion and having a bore coaxial with the bore of said first leg portion, said second leg portion further including a projection extending along said bottom surface of said body portion for a distance toward said first leg portion which leaves a groove between said first leg portion and said projection which has an orthogonal thickness slightly greater than the orthogonal thickness of said second leg portion.

Claim 3

The key of claim 1 further comprising an alignment pin protruding from said projection in a direction parallel to, and opposite to the direction of said leg portions.

Claim 4

A key and chassis assembly comprising: at least one pair of actuatable keys, each of said keys comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped body portion for receiving a depression force on the top surface thereof, a first leg portion extending along the bottom surface of said body portion having an outside edge substantially aligned with one outside lateral edge of said body portion, said first leg portion extending beyond one orthogonal edge of said body portion by a distance greater than the lateral edge dimension of said body portion, said first leg portion having a bore at the end thereof having its axis substantially parallel to said one orthogonal edge and at a distance from said one orthogonal edge greater than said lateral edge dimension, a second leg portion extending along said bottom surface of said body portion having an outside edge recessed from the opposite outside lateral edge of said body portion by a distance slightly greater than the orthogonal thickness of said first leg portion, said second leg portion extending beyond said one orthogonal edge by a distance substantially equal to the extension of said first leg portion and having a bore coaxial with the bore of said first leg portion, said second leg portion further including a projection extending along said bottom surface of said body portion toward said first leg portion for a distance which leaves a groove between said first leg portion and said projection having an orthogonal thickness slightly greater than the orthogonal thickness of said second leg portion, and an alignment pin protruding from said projection in a direction parallel to, and opposite to the direction of, said leg portions; a chassis having guide holes coaxially aligned with said bores, guide slots for receiving said alignment pins and means for receiving a plurality of switches to be activated by said keys; and a plurality of hinge pins extending through said coaxial bore and guide holes.

Claim 5

A key and chassis assembly comprising: at least one pair of actuatable keys, each of said keys comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped body portion for receiving a depression force on the top surface thereof, a first leg portion extending along the bottom surface of said body portion having an outside edge substantially aligned with one outside lateral edge of said body portion, said first leg portion extending beyond one orthogonal edge of said body portion by a distance greater than the lateral edge dimension of said body portion, said first leg portion having a bore at the end thereof having its axis substantially parallel to said one orthogonal edge and at a distance from said one orthogonal edge greater than said lateral edge dimension, a second leg portion extending along said bottom surface of said body portion having an outside edge recessed from the opposite outside lateral edge of said body portion by a distance slightly greater than the orthogonal thickness of said first leg portion, said second leg portion extending beyond said one orthogonal edge by a distance substantially equal to the extension of said first leg portion and having a bore coaxial with the bore of said first leg portion, said second leg portion further including a projection extending along said bottom surface of said body portion toward said first leg portion for a distance which leaves a groove between said first leg portion and said projection having an orthogonal thickness slightly greater than the orthogonal thickness of said second leg portion, and an alignment pin protruding from said projection in a direction parallel to, and opposite to the direction of, said leg portions; a chassis having guide holes coaxially aligned with said bores, guide slots for receiving said alignment pins and means for receiving a plurality of switches to be activated by said keys; and a plurality of hinge pins extending through said coaxial bore and guide holes.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 3, including a plurality of nested key pairs arranged in a matrix and wherein each key pair shares at least one hinge pin with its vertical and horizontal neighboring nested key pairs.