US6174097B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible keyboard
Assignee: MOBILITY CALIFORNIA Inc
•
Filing: 1999-09-21
•
Granted: 2001-01-16
•
Expires: 2019-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible keyboard that is collapsible between a deployed configuration in which the keyboard is generally planar and a collapsed configuration, the keyboard being foldable about three substantially parallel axes between the deployed and collapsed configurations, the keyboard having four rigid subframes for supporting keys, each subframe being pivotally connected at a folding axis to an adjacent subframe. The keyboard preferably has support frames supporting keys thereon. The keys are slidable and are connected by flexible connectors that span the axes. The keyboard can be locked in either the collapsed or deployed configuration and can be combined with a remote communication unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Simon Richard Daniel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0221; G10; G10H; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/221; G10H2220/256; H; H01; H01H; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/046; H01H2223/05; H01H2223/052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A collapsible keyboard comprising: four substantially rigid subframes arrayed in a row, each pair of adjacent subframes being relatively pivotably connected together along a folding axis, said folding axes being substantially mutually parallel; and a plurality of keys mounted on said subframes; the keyboard being foldable about said folding axes between a deployed configuration in which the keyboard is generally planar and a collapsed configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A collapsible keyboard comprising: four substantially rigid subframes arrayed in a row, each pair of adjacent subframes being relatively pivotably connected together along a folding axis, said folding axes being substantially mutually parallel; and a plurality of keys mounted on said subframes; the keyboard being foldable about said folding axes between a deployed configuration in which the keyboard is generally planar and a collapsed configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the keyboard is foldable in opposite directions on adjacent folding axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of said keys are slidable relative to a subframe in a direction transverse to said folding axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The keyboard according to claim 3 , further including at least one flexible connector connecting at least some of said slidable keys to other keys across one of said folding axes such that said at least some of said slidable keys slide relative to said subframe as the keyboard is folded into the collapsed configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The keyboard according to claim 3 wherein at least some of said slidable keys are shifted into their deployed position when the keyboard is unfolded to the deployed configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard according to claim 1 , further comprising a support structure for said keys.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The keyboard according to claim 6 wherein said support structure comprises a matrix of cells, each cell accommodating a respective key.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The keyboard according to claim 7 wherein at least some of said keys are depressed when the keyboard is in its collapsed configuration and said support structure encases each depressed key when the keyboard is in the collapsed configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The keyboard according to claim 1 , further comprising a support structure for said keys, wherein at least some of said keys are mounted so as to be slidable relative to a subframe in a direction transverse to said folding axes, and wherein portions of the support structure are slidable with said slidable keys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard according to claim 1 , further comprising a lock for maintaining the keyboard in its deployed configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The keyboard according to claim 10 wherein said lock comprises locking elements that are biased into recesses in said subframes in the keyboard.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The keyboard according to claim 10 wherein said lock includes a button and is releasable by operation of said button.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The keyboard according to claim 1 , further comprising a lock for locking the keyboard in its collapsed configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3499515A
Cited
US3576569A
Cited
US3574335A
Cited
US3703040A
Cited
US3693123A
Cited
US3893559A
Cited
US3940758A
Cited
US4066850A
Cited
US4092527A
Cited
US4336530A
Cited
US4517660A
Cited
US4368364A
Cited
USRE32419E
Cited
US4366463A
Cited
US4560844A
Cited
US4633227A
Cited
US4661005A
Cited
US4638151A
Cited
US4735520A
Cited
EP0235733A1
Cited
US4914999A
Cited
US4939514A
Cited
US4818828A
Cited
US4996522A
Cited
US5398326A
Cited
US5398326B1
Cited
US5210846B1
Cited
US5210846A
Cited
US5164723A
Cited
WO1991003012A1
Cited
US5252971A
Cited
US5141343A
Cited
US5044798A
Cited
US5575576A
Cited
US5122786A
Cited
US5424728A
Cited
US5543790A
Cited
US5227615A
Cited
US5198991A
Cited
US5267127A
Cited
US5212473A
Cited
US5187644A
Cited
US5341154A
Cited
US5557057A
Cited
US5398585A
Cited
US5137384A
Cited
US5163765A
Cited
US5457453A
Cited
US5278779A
Cited
US5383138A
Cited
US5481074A
Cited
US5329079A
Cited
US5422447A
Cited
US5287245A
Cited
US5494363A
Cited
GB2279617A
Cited
US5644338A
Cited
US5502460A
Cited
US5459461A
Cited
US5648771A
Cited
EP0640489A2
Cited
US5591927A
Cited
US5454652A
Cited
US5574481A
Cited
US5612691A
Cited
US5543787A
Cited
US5659307A
Cited
US5646817A
Cited
US5596480A
Cited
US5476332A
Cited
US5602715A
Cited
US5519569A
Cited
US5590020A
Cited
US5654872A
Cited
US5587875A
Cited
US5677826A
Cited
US5532904A
Cited
US5635928A
Cited
US5653543A
Cited
US5706167A
Cited
US5687058A
Cited
US5800085A
Cited
US5788386A
Cited
US5774384A
Cited
US5588759A
Cited
US5712760A
Cited
US5733056A
Cited
US5703578A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-07-17 | 2005-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-16 | 2008-07-17 | 2009-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-16 | 2012-07-17 | 2013-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |