US5411341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard for choice of symbols having hand supports
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-03-03
•
Granted: 1995-05-02
•
Expires: 2014-03-03
Abstract
Abstract Keyboard for choice of symbols having keys for the highly frequently used symbols divided in two groups, which has a position for placing the fingers except for the thumb for the left hand of the keys to the one group, and for the right hand on the keys of the other group. The groups are arranged at each side of the middle plane for an operator in such a way that the common plane of the key surfaces slope against the horizontal plane by their upwardly turned edges in against each other, and form an angle to the horizontal plane for each of the key planes, preferably about 30° and at an angle to each other by their edges turned away from the operator. The keys in each group are divided in a number of vertically extending rows, having four keys in each row. At the upper side of the key plane, longitudinal supports have been arranged for the thumb of each hand along which support the thumb can slide. The keys and the support for the thumbs are mutually so arranged that at support with the thumb in a displacement position of the hand, a position for said fingers are obtained each opposite one of the four keys in a first row, and a second displacement position opposite the keys in a second row etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Johan M. Ullman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/10; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213; H; H01; H01H; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/028; H01H2217/034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A keyboard comprising: a body comprising at least two side surfaces symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a center plane perpendicular to a horizontal plane when said keyboard is placed in its intended position in front of an operator, said at least two side surfaces being disposed along side surface planes; a plurality of keys disposed on said body; and at least one hand displacement surface means connecting said hand displacement surface to said body, said hand displacement surface allowing for movement of a hand of a operator relative to said body in a substantially straight line along a hand displacement plane, said hand displacement surface having means for supporting a hand of an operator in a plurality of supported positions above said body and said at least two side surfaces said hand displacement plane being substantially coextensive with said side surface planes for manipulation of said plurality of keys by an operator as a hand is moved along said hand displacement planes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A keyboard comprising: a body comprising at least two side surfaces symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a center plane perpendicular to a horizontal plane when said keyboard is placed in its intended position in front of an operator, said at least two side surfaces being disposed along side surface planes; a plurality of keys disposed on said body; and at least one hand displacement surface means connecting said hand displacement surface to said body, said hand displacement surface allowing for movement of a hand of a operator relative to said body in a substantially straight line along a hand displacement plane, said hand displacement surface having means for supporting a hand of an operator in a plurality of supported positions above said body and said at least two side surfaces said hand displacement plane being substantially coextensive with said side surface planes for manipulation of said plurality of keys by an operator as a hand is moved along said hand displacement planes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting comprises a pair of longitudinal thumb support guides positioned on said body to carry and guide the thumbs of the operator's hands along said at least two side surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein said thumb support guides are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition indicating different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein said thumb support guides comprise a pair of elongate thumb receiving grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein said grooves are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition to indicate different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting comprises two upwardly directed resting surfaces for supporting the operator's hands substantially at the thenar areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said resting surfaces is attached to said body by an elongate support arm having an upper end and a lower end, said resting surfaces being disposed on said upper end and said lower end being swingably hinged to said body to allow for movement of said support arms along said hand displacement planes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein said support arms are insertable into said body of said keyboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said resting surfaces have a hemispherical shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side surface planes are arranged so as to slope upwardly inwards towards one another and toward said center plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for supporting comprises a pair of longitudinal thumb support guides positioned on said body to carry and guide the thumbs of the operator's hands along said at least two side surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thumb support guides are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition indicating different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thumb support guides comprise a pair of elongate thumb receiving grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 13, wherein said grooves are provided with reference surfaces for tactile recognition to indicate different displacement positions of the hands of the operator with respect to said keyboard.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for supporting comprises two upwardly directing resting surfaces for supporting the operator'hands substantially at the thenar areas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said resting surfaces is attached to said body by an elongate support arm having an upper end and a lower end, said resting surfaces being disposed on said upper end and said lower end being swingably hinged to said body to allow for movement of said support arms along said hand displacement planes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 16, wherein said support arms are insertable into said body of said keyboard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 17, wherein said resting surfaces have a hemispherical shape.
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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) | 1998-05-01 | 1998-10-31 | 1999-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-10-31 | 2003-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-01 | 2006-10-31 | 2007-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |