Impact absorbing keyboard, contoured to the natural shape of the hand

Abstract

This invention provides novel keyboards comprising keys disposed such that they minimize the distance a finger typically must travel to effect a keystroke and the force that is applied to effect a keystroke. Accordingly the keyboards require less arm and finger movement to and thereby reduce the likelihood of an operator developing a repetitive stress injury (RSI). In one embodiment the keyboards comprise a plurality of keys disposed such that the alphanumeric keys form a continuous key array defining a key array surface having at least two concave regions wherein a plurality of keys present irregular and/or non-rectilinear striking faces.

1 . A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys disposed such that the alphanumeric keys form a continuous key array defining a key array surface having at least two concave regions.  
   
   
       2 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of keys comprising a concave region in said key array are not stepped.  
   
   
       3 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of keys comprising said keyboard are sloped.  
   
   
       4 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 striking faces of the keys are disposed at varying heights such that the faces in a home row typically struck with the pinky are higher than keys in a home row typically struck by the middle finger;    the angle of the striking faces of the keys varies with the location of the keys in the keyboard; and    the planar projections of the striking faces of a plurality of keys comprising said keyboard are not rectilinear.    
   
   
       5 . The keyboard of  claim 19 , wherein the planar projection of the striking faces of a plurality of keys comprising said keyboard are not rectangular, not circular, not square, and not L-shaped.  
   
   
       6 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein, wherein the planar projection of the striking faces of a plurality of keys comprising said keyboard are substantially ovoid.  
   
   
       7 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein, wherein a row of keys in the keyboard comprises three or more letter keys the striking faces of which have different lateral offsets.  
   
   
       8 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein a row of keys in the keyboard comprises three or more letter keys the striking faces of which have different forward offsets.  
   
   
       9 . The keyboard of  claim 19 , wherein said keyboard comprises a row of keys wherein the orientation of the striking faces of the keys varies along a row.  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation of the major principal axis of the striking faces of the keys in a row varies with the position of the keys in said row.  
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the planar projection of the striking faces of a plurality of keys comprising said keyboard are not square, not circular, not L-shaped, and not rectangular, and wherein the orientation of the striking faces of the keys varies along a row.  
   
   
       14 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein keys in the row above the home row have surfaces angled downward toward the home row so as to physically position the keys closer to the pinky and ring fingers.  
   
   
       15 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the keys in the row below the home row have surfaces angled upward toward the home row so as to physically position the keys closer to the pinky and ring fingers.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical distance between the lower-most striking face of a key comprising one of said concave regions and the uppermost striking face of a key on said keyboard is at most about 10 mm.  
   
   
       18 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein a “D” key forms the lowest point of one of said concave regions.  
   
   
       19 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein a “K” key forms the lowest point of one of said concave regions.  
   
   
       20 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the keys comprising a concave region in said key array have striking faces oriented such that lines normal to the striking faces at least four keys all point in different directions.  
   
   
       21 - 50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . A key for an electronic keyboard, said key comprising at least two striking faces.  
   
   
       52 - 53 . (canceled)  
   
   
       54 . A kit for the fabrication or modification of a keyboard, said kit comprising a plurality of keys or key pillows sufficient to produce a keyboard of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       55 - 63 . (canceled)  
   
   
       64 . A key for a keyboard, said key comprising a key pedestal, and a key pillow wherein said key pillow is shaped to provide a striking face that is not horizontal and not vertical when the key is present in a keyboard and where the striking face has a single topmost point.