IP Library Granted Patent US 11,747,913
Granted Patent B2
US 11,747,913 · App. 17/654,959 · Granted Sep 5, 2023

Ergonomic keyboard

Inventor: Harold Eugene Collier (Mankato, MN)
G06F3/0213H01H13/702H01H13/88
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,747,913
App. No.
17/654,959
Granted
Sep 5, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example keyboard can include: a base with a midpoint, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; and a plurality of keys arranged on the base, wherein the plurality of keys is positioned to form a curved shape on the base such that the plurality of keys extend from the midpoint of the base towards a user as the plurality of keys extends towards the first end and the second end of the base.

Claims (26)

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a base with:

a minor axis between a front side nearest a user and a back side farthest from the user;

a major axis perpendicular to the minor axis and between a first end and a second end opposite of the first end; and

a midpoint positioned at the back side farthest from the user along the minor axis and equidistant between the first end and the second end opposite the first end along the major axis;

an input device located at the midpoint of the base; and

a plurality of keys arranged on the base, wherein the plurality of keys is positioned to form a curved shape on the base such that the plurality of keys extend from the input device at the midpoint of the base farthest from the user towards the user as the plurality of keys extends towards the first end in a first set and towards the second end of the base in a second set such that first keys of each of the first set and the second set are closest to the midpoint and are also closest to the back side, and second keys of each of the first set and the second set are closest to either of the first end or the second end and are also closest to the front side.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a numeric keypad.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touchpad.

4. The keyboard of claim 3 , wherein the touchpad includes a touch surface and at least two input buttons.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein a spacebar of the plurality of keys extends across the midpoint of the base.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising a palm rest positioned on the base.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the base increases in height as the base extends from the front side of the base to the back side of the base.

8. A method of forming a keyboard, comprising:

providing a base with:

a minor axis between a front side nearest to a user and a back side farthest from the user,

a major axis perpendicular to the minor axis and between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and

a midpoint positioned equidistant between the first end and the second end along the major axis and at the back side along the minor axis;

providing an input device located at the midpoint of the base; and

arranging a plurality of keys on the base, wherein the plurality of keys is positioned to form a curved shape on the base such that the plurality of keys extend from the input device at the midpoint of the base farthest from the user towards the user as the plurality of keys extends towards the first end in a first set and towards the second end of the base in a second set such that first keys of each of the first set and the second set are closest to the midpoint and are also closest to the back side, and second keys of each of the first set and the second set are closest to either of the first end or the second end and are also closest to the front side, and the midpoint of the base is elevated relative to the first end and the second end of the base.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the input device is a numeric keypad.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the input device is a touchpad.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the touchpad includes a touch surface and at least two input buttons.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein a spacebar of the plurality of keys extends across the midpoint of the base.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising positioning a palm rest on the base.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the base increases in height as the base extends from the front side of the base to the back side of the base.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63163537 · Jun 16, 2021
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