US6594142B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding keyboard for a personal digital assistant
Assignee: Pocketop Computers Corp
•
Filing: 2001-05-08
•
Granted: 2003-07-15
•
Expires: 2021-05-08
Abstract
Abstract Prior collapsible keyboards for personal digital assistants are overly complex and large. The present invention provides a folding keyboard for a personal digital assistant which folds up simply and in a small size and which is useful for standard typists. It is divided into two halves hingedly connected along a fold line. While the central or home row keys are standard size, the other two rows of keys are of reduced transverse dimension and are preferably so shaped as to allow a touch typist to use existing movements without missing the keys of reduced size.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Katz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/23; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1626; G06F1/1632; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1656; G06F1/166; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/72409; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/163; G06F2200/1632; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A folding keyboard comprising a plurality of keys generally corresponding to the keys of a standard personal computer keyboard comprising three parallel, lengthwise rows of keys forming a central row, an upper row and a lower row, and comprising two halves hingedly connected along a fold line extending transversely across said keyboard, each half thereby comprising a portion of said plurality of keys, whereby said keyboard is folded from a first open position in which said plurality of keys forms said generally standard personal computer keyboard, to a closed position in which said two halves are in opposed parallel relationship and wherein said central row comprises keys of standard size, and said upper and lower rows comprise keys which are reduced in size in the transverse direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A folding keyboard comprising a plurality of keys generally corresponding to the keys of a standard personal computer keyboard comprising three parallel, lengthwise rows of keys forming a central row, an upper row and a lower row, and comprising two halves hingedly connected along a fold line extending transversely across said keyboard, each half thereby comprising a portion of said plurality of keys, whereby said keyboard is folded from a first open position in which said plurality of keys forms said generally standard personal computer keyboard, to a closed position in which said two halves are in opposed parallel relationship and wherein said central row comprises keys of standard size, and said upper and lower rows comprise keys which are reduced in size in the transverse direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which are less than 75% of the standard dimension in the transverse dimension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which are less than 50% of the standard dimension in the transverse dimension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which have upstanding edges along the top and bottom edges thereof respectively which are raised above the upper surface of said central row.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which have upper horizontal surface portions which are raised above said central row.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 further comprising means for electrically connecting a personal digital assistant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 further comprising infrared means for communicating with a personal digital assistant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein at least one of said keys is split along said fold line to permit folding of said keyboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 further comprising hinge means for hingedly attaching a personal digital assistant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which are configured to redirect a finger of a typist to the surface of the key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which have an upper surface a portion of which slopes upwardly away from said center row.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which comprise vertically extending hinged tabs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which comprise a horizontal surface hingedly connected to a vertically extending hinged tab.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The folding keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keys in the top and bottom row have upper surfaces which are configured to reduce the likelihood of a typists' fingers overrunning the keys.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The folding keyboard of claim 4 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which have a curved upper surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The folding keyboard of claim 4 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which have a uniformly sloping upper surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The folding keyboard of claim 4 wherein said reduced size keys comprise keys which have an upper surface which forms an angle less than 180 degrees with the plane of said central row.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding keyboard of claim 9 further comprising means for supporting a personal digital assistant when said personal digital assistant is attached to said folding keyboard.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer keyboard of claim 14 wherein said keys in the top and bottom row each have a scalloped upper surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The folding keyboard of claim 17 wherein said means for supporting a personal digital assistant when said personal digital assistant is attached to said folding keyboard comprises a stylus-shaped element having a first end sized to fit in a stylus-receiving cavity of a personal digital assistant, and a rigid elongated element pivotally connected thereto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
A computer keyboard, comprising a plurality of keys generally corresponding to the keys of a standard personal computer keyboard, arranged in at least three longitudinal rows, wherein the keys in the central row are of a standard size, and the keys in the top and bottom row are of reduced size and have upper surfaces which are configured to reduce the likelihood of a typists' fingers overrunning the keys.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
A computer keyboard, comprising a plurality of keys generally corresponding to the keys of a standard personal computer keyboard, arranged in at least three longitudinal rows, wherein the keys in the central row are of a standard size, and the keys in the top and bottom row are of reduced size and have upper surfaces which are configured to reduce the likelihood of a typists' fingers overrunning the keys.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said upper surfaces of the keys in the top and bottom row have upstanding edges along the top and bottom edges thereof respectively which are raised above the upper surface of said central row.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said keys in the top and bottom row each have a curved upper surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said keys in the top and bottom row each have a uniformly sloping upper surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said keys in the top and bottom row each have a scalloped upper surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said keys in the top and bottom row each have an upper surface which is raised above said upper surface of said central row.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5251163A
Cited
US5872557A
Cited
EP0640489A2
Cited
DE19502704A1
Cited
US6081207A
Cited
US5941648A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-14 | 2007-01-13 | 2007-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-14 | 2011-01-13 | 2011-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-14 | 2015-01-13 | 2015-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |