The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
May. 17, 1993
Alan H Grant, Chevy Chase, MD (US);
Ergonomics, Inc., Chevy Chase, MD (US);
Abstract
A computer keyboard is designed such that a user may acquire total tactile familiarity with the keyboard, thus enabling the user to copy written material and look at the screen while typing without looking at the keyboard. One embodiment of the keyboard of the invention is divided at its midpoint by a central peak and the outer portions slant downwardly and away from the central peak and upwardly away from the user to form a shallow V-shape. The V-shaped keyboard configuration lessens ulnar abducted deviation and permits a relatively straight hand-wrist orientation. The center-peak design also lessens the amount of hand pronation, i.e. the rotation of the hands from a comfortable vertical posture into an uncomfortable horizontal posture. Further, the V-shaped arrangement enables the forearms to be separated, allowing for unobstructed visual access to a copy-viewing area. Strain on the hands and wrists is minimized and occupationally-induced injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, are avoided. The space bars are placed on the front edge of the keyboard surfaces and are activated by thumb pressure either vertically (conventionally), horizontally or at a selected angle. When the space bars are activated horizontally, the thumb moves in a natural grasping motion toward the forefinger.