Patent US175251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5486059A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5486059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Keyboard having improved keytop
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1993-02-23
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2013-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard includes a keyboard body, a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns, and switching elements for turning switching elements ON and OFF in response to operations on the plurality of keys. A special key among the plurality of keys has a keytop which is at least a stroke length of the special key higher than keytops of keys arranged in a row in which the special key is located.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiichi Iwasa
- 👤 Hideyuki Motoyama
- 👤 Makoto Yoshioka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/12; H01H13/14; H01H13/70; H01H13/84; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/004; H01H2217/042; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A keyboard comprising: a keyboard body; a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns; and switching means, coupled to the keys, for turning switching elements ON and OFF in response to operations on the plurality of keys, a special key among the plurality of keys having a keytop which is at least a stroke length of the special key higher than keytops of keys arranged in a row in which the special key is located.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A keyboard comprising: a keyboard body; a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns; and switching means, coupled to the keys, for turning switching elements ON and OFF in response to operations on the plurality of keys, a special key among the plurality of keys having a keytop which is at least a stroke length of the special key higher than keytops of keys arranged in a row in which the special key is located.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keytop of the special key comprises an overhang portion partially extending above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein the overhang portion of the keytop of the special key extends above approximately half of said adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keytop of the special key comprises: a first overhang portion partially extending above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located; and a second overhang portion extending toward an operator position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second overhang portion has a downward slope such that a line extending in the plane of the keytop, and out of the keytop from the second overhang portion, extends toward the operator position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first overhang portion and the second overhang portion are an integrally formed portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keytop of the special key comprises: a first keytop body slidably supported by the keyboard body; and a second keytop body fastened on the first keytop body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keytop of the special key comprises: a first keytop body slidably supported by the keyboard body; and a second keytop body detachably fastened on the first keytop body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second keytop body is fastened on the first keytop body by an adhesive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the first keytop body comprises a first engagement member: and the second keytop body comprises a second engagement member which engages the first engagement member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second keytop body comprises an overhang portion which extends above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein the overhang portion of the second keytop body extends above approximately half of said adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second keytop body comprises: a first overhang portion partially extending above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located; and a second overhang portion extending toward an operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second overhang portion has a downward slope extending toward the operator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first keytop body and the second keytop body are an integrally formed body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the first keytop body is made of a first material; the second keytop body is made of a second material different from the first material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second material comprises a shock buffering member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keytop of the special key comprises a shock buffering member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the special key is located outside of an area in which home-position keys among the plurality of keys are arranged.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the special key is located at a position at which the special key is operable with a root portion, or its vicinity of a little finger of a hand.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the special key is a control key used together with alphanumeric keys among the plurality of keys.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys are arranged in a thumb-shift key arrangement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A keyboard comprising: a keyboard body; a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns; and switching means, coupled to the keys, for turning switching elements ON and OFF in response to operations on the plurality of keys, m special keys (m≧1) among the plurality of keys having keytops which are at least a stroke length of the m special keys higher than keytops of keys arranged in at least one row in which the m special keys are located.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A keyboard comprising: a keyboard body; a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns; and switching means, coupled to the keys, for turning switching elements ON and OFF in response to operations on the plurality of keys, m special keys (m≧1) among the plurality of keys having keytops which are at least a stroke length of the m special keys higher than keytops of keys arranged in at least one row in which the m special keys are located.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 23, wherein each of the keytops of the m special keys respectively comprises an overhang portion partially extending above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the same row as the respective special key.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 23, wherein the keytop of each of the m special keys comprises: a first overhang portion partially extending above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located; and a second overhang portion extending toward an operator position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 24, wherein the second overhang portion of the keytop of each of the m special keys has a slope such that a line extending in the plane of the keytop, and out of the keytop from the second overhang portion extends toward the operator position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 23, wherein the keytop of each of the m special keys comprises: a first keytop body slidably supported by the keyboard body; and a second keytop body fastened on the first keytop body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 23, wherein the keytop of each of the m special keys comprises: a first keytop body slidably supported by the keyboard body; and a second keytop body detachably fastened on the first keytop body.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second keytop body is fastened on the first keytop body by an adhesive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 27, wherein: the first keytop body comprises a first engagement member; and the second keytop body comprises a second engagement member which engages the first engagement member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 27, wherein said second keytop body comprises an overhang portion which extends above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second keytop body comprises: a first overhang portion partially extending above an adjacent one of the keys arranged in the row in which the special key is located; and a second overhang portion extending toward an operator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 32, wherein the second overhang portion has a downward slope extending toward the operator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The keyboard as claimed in claim 27, wherein: the first keytop body is made of a first material; the second keytop body is made of a second material different from the first material.
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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) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-22 | 2007-07-24 | 2008-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |