US5360280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ergonomic keyboard including arcuate elongated keys
Assignee: Metamorfyx LLC
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Filing: 1993-02-12
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2013-02-12
Abstract
Abstract An ergonomic keyboard having a mount and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows is provided. Each row is comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion, and a right portion. The left and right portions extend tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively. The arcuate portion, of each row is convex to the user side of the keyboard, and at least two keys in each arcuate portion are elongated. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys can be arranged in the QWERTY pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman Camacho
- 👤 Robert Granadino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/10; G06F3/0208; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/807; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/028; H01H2217/034; H01H2225/00; H01H2225/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys on said mount arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows, each row comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively, and said arcuate portion of each unbroken row being convex to the user side of the keyboard and comprising at least two elongated keys, the elongation of said elongated keys increasing as said plurality of rows approach the user side of the keyboard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys on said mount arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows, each row comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively, and said arcuate portion of each unbroken row being convex to the user side of the keyboard and comprising at least two elongated keys, the elongation of said elongated keys increasing as said plurality of rows approach the user side of the keyboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein two keys in the arcuate portion of each unbroken concave row are elongated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly in a direction away from the user side of the keyboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 5° to 40° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claims 3, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 15° to 25° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 3, further comprising: a. a wrist support positioned adjacent to the keyboard on the high side of the downward slope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising: a wrist support pivotally attached to said mount; and b. support legs pivotally attached to said wrist support, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly in a direction away from the user when said support legs are in a down position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 7, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 5° to 40° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claims 7, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 15° to 25° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys arranged in four unbroken adjacent rows and having a QWERTY typing layout, each row comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively, and said arcuate portion of each unbroken row being convex toward the user side of the keyboard and comprising at least two elongated keys, the elongation of said elongated keys increasing as said unbroken rows approach the user side of the keyboard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys arranged in four unbroken adjacent rows and having a QWERTY typing layout, each row comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively, and said arcuate portion of each unbroken row being convex toward the user side of the keyboard and comprising at least two elongated keys, the elongation of said elongated keys increasing as said unbroken rows approach the user side of the keyboard.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 10 wherein two keys in the arcuate portion of each unbroken row are elongated, one key bearing the number 6 and one bearing the number 7 in one of said four rows, one key bearing the letter T and one bearing the letter Y in another of said four rows, one key bearing the letter G and one bearing the letter H in another of said four rows, and one key bearing the letter B and one bearing the letter N in another of said four rows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 10, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly in a direction away from the user side of the keyboard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 12, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 5° to 40° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 12, wherein the upper surface of said amount slopes downwardly from approximately 15° to 25° with respect to horizontal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 12, further comprising: a. a wrist support positioned adjacent to the keyboard on the high side of the downward slope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 10, further comprising: a. a wrist support pivotally attached to said mount; and b. support legs pivotally attached to said wrist support, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly in a direction away from the user when said support legs are in a down position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 16, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 5° to 40° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claims 16, wherein the upper surface of said amount slopes downwardly from approximately 15° to 25° with respect to horizontal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
139 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys on said mount arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows, each row comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively, and said arcuate portion of each unbroken row being convex to the user side of the keyboard and comprising at least two elongated keys, the elongation of said elongated keys increasing as said plurality of rows approach the user side of the keyboard; c. a wrist support pivotally attached to said mount; and d. support legs pivotally attached to said wrist support, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly away from the user when said support legs are in a down position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
139 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys on said mount arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows, each row comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion and a right portion, said left and right portions extending tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively, and said arcuate portion of each unbroken row being convex to the user side of the keyboard and comprising at least two elongated keys, the elongation of said elongated keys increasing as said plurality of rows approach the user side of the keyboard; c. a wrist support pivotally attached to said mount; and d. support legs pivotally attached to said wrist support, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly away from the user when said support legs are in a down position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 19, wherein two keys in the arcuate portion of each unbroken row are elongated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 19, wherein: said plurality of keys is arranged in four unbroken rows; and the keys in said four rows are arranged in a QWERTY typing layout.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
93 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 21, wherein two keys in the arcuate portion of each unbroken row are elongated, one key bearing the number 6 and one bearing the number 7 in one of said four rows, one key bearing the letter T and one bearing the letter Y in another of said four rows, one key bearing the letter G and one bearing the letter H in another of said four rows, and one key bearing the letter B and one bearing the letter N in another of said four rows.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 19, wherein the upper surface of the mount slopes downwardly from approximately 5° to 40° with respect to the horizontal when the support legs are in the down position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 23, wherein: the stroking surface of the keys within a row of said plurality of rows lie in a common oblique plane that slopes upwardly in a direction away from the user; and each row of said keys has an upward slope that is greater than or equal to 0° with respect to the horizontal when the support legs are in the down position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 24, wherein: the back of the keys in a particular row of keys is lower than the front of the keys in the adjacent row on the user side of the keyboard; and the further a row of keys is from the user side of the keyboard, the greater its upward slope.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 19, wherein the upper surface of the mount slopes downwardly from approximately 15° to 25° with respect to the horizontal when the support legs are in the down position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 27, wherein: the stroking surface of the keys within a row of said plurality of rows lie in a common oblique plane that slopes upwardly in a direction away from the user; and each row of said keys has an upward slope that is greater than or equal to 0° with respect to the horizontal when the support legs are in the down position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 27, wherein: the back of the keys in a particular row of keys is lower than the front of the keys in the adjacent row on the user side of the keyboard; and the further a row of keys is from the user side of the keyboard, the greater its upward slope.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claims 19, wherein: the stroking surface of the keys within a row of said plurality of rows lie in a common oblique plane that slopes upwardly in a direction away from the user; and each row of said keys has an upward slope that is greater than or equal to 0° with respect to the horizontal when the support legs are in the down position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 29, wherein: the back of the keys in a particular row of keys is lower than the front of the keys in the adjacent row on the user side of the keyboard; and the further a row of keys is from the user side of the keyboard, the greater its upward slope.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
65 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys located on said mount and arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows; c. a wrist support pivotally attached to said mount; and d. support legs pivotally attached to said wrist support, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly away from the user when said support legs are in a down position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
65 words
An ergonomic keyboard, comprising: a. a mount; b. a plurality of keys located on said mount and arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows; c. a wrist support pivotally attached to said mount; and d. support legs pivotally attached to said wrist support, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly away from the user when said support legs are in a down position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 31, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 5° to 40° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
70 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 32, wherein: the stroking surface of the keys within a row of said plurality of rows lie in a common oblique plane that slopes upwardly in a direction away from the user; and each row of said keys has an upward slope that is greater than or equal to 0° with respect to the horizontal when said support legs are in the down position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 33, wherein: the back of the keys in a particular row of keys is lower than the front of the keys in the adjacent row on the user side of the keyboard; and the further a row of keys is from the user side of the keyboard, the greater its upward slope.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
70 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 32, wherein: the stroking surface of the keys within a row of said plurality of rows lie in a common oblique plane that slopes upwardly in a direction away from the user; and each row of said keys has an upward slope that is greater than or equal to 0° with respect to the horizontal when said support legs are in the down position.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 35, wherein: the back of the keys in a particular row of keys is lower than the front of the keys in the adjacent row on the user side of the keyboard; and the further a row of keys is from the user side of the keyboard, the greater its upward slope.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 31, wherein the upper surface of said mount slopes downwardly from approximately 15° to 25° with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
70 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 31, wherein: the stroking surface of the keys within a row of said plurality of rows lie in a common oblique plane that slopes upwardly in a direction away from the user; and each row of said keys has an upward slope that is greater than or equal to 0° with respect to the horizontal when said support legs are in the down position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ergonomic keyboard according to claim 38, wherein: the back of the keys in a particular row of keys is lower than the front of the keys in the adjacent row on the user side of the keyboard; and the further a row of keys is from the user side of the keyboard, the greater its upward slope.
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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) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |