Blind key pad

Abstract

A key pad device provides the same function as a keyboard or keypad with a mistake proof design that allows one hand use and only requires three fingers. Each of the primary two fingers has nine pressure points, or keys, whose location is accessible by moving left to right, up and down, forward and back, side to side, and center. A thumb toggle can operate in one of three positions—up, down or not toggled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A one handed key pad operable by only a thumb and two fingers of a user's hand comprising:
 a housing having a top surface;   a first finger slot formed as a first depression into the top surface of the housing;   a second finger slot formed as a second depression into the top surface of the housing;   the first finger slot and the second finger slot formed from the intersection of two elongate channel wells formed extending into the housing defining a plurality of distinct segments in each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot, the first finger slot configured to receive a first finger therein and the second finger slot configured to receive a second finger of a same user hand therein;   a keys disposed within each of the plurality of distinct segments of each of the first and second finger slots, wherein the plurality of keys are operable by displacement of the user's first and second finger within the plurality of distinct segments of the respective first and second finger slot for positive placement of the user's first and second finger over a selected one of the plurality of keys based on the displacement within the respective first and second finger slot; and   a thumb rocker switch disposed adjacent the first finger slot, the thumb rocker switch causing variable outputs to be generated by each of the plurality of keys when the thumb rocker switched is toggled on and off, wherein the one handed keypad is operable as a full numerical keyboard function while maintaining the first finger and the second finger within the respective first finger slot and second finger slot.   
     
     
         2 . The key pad of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb rocker switch is toggled between a first toggled position, a second toggled position and an untoggled position. 
     
     
         3 . The key pad of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys includes nine keys in each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot. 
     
     
         4 . The key pad of  claim 1 , wherein the first finger slot and the second finger slot are each formed from an orthogonal crossing of two channels formed in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The key pad of  claim 4 , wherein five keys are disposed on a bottom surface portion of each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot. 
     
     
         6 . The key pad of  claim 5 , wherein four additional keys are disposed at sides of each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot, the four additional keys disposed on a side surface at termini of the two channels, wherein the four additional keys are oriented at an offset angle with respect to a lower portion of the side surface at the termini of the two channels. 
     
     
         7 . A one handed key pad operable by only a thumb and two fingers of a user's hand comprising:
 a housing having a top surface;   a first finger slot formed as a first depression into the top surface of the housing;   a second finger slot formed as a second depression into the top surface of the housing;   the first finger slot and the second finger slot formed from the intersection of two elongate channel wells formed extending into the housing defining a plurality of distinct segments in each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot, the first finger slot configured to receive a first finger therein and the second finger slot configured to receive a second finger of a same user hand therein;   a keys disposed within each of the plurality of distinct segments of each of the first and second finger slots, wherein the plurality of keys are operable by displacement of the user's first and second finger within the plurality of distinct segments of the respective first and second finger slot for positive placement of the user's first and second finger over a selected one of the plurality of keys based on the displacement within the respective first and second finger slot; and   a thumb rocker switch disposed adjacent the first finger slot, the thumb rocker switch causing variable outputs to be generated by each of the plurality of keys when the thumb rocker switched is toggled on and off, wherein the one handed keypad is operable as a lowercase alphabetic with numerical keyboard function while maintaining the first finger and the second finger within the respective first finger slot and second finger slot.   
     
     
         8 . The key pad of  claim 7 , wherein the thumb rocker switch is toggled between a first toggled position, a second toggled position and an untoggled position. 
     
     
         9 . The key pad of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of keys includes nine keys in each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot. 
     
     
         10 . The key pad of  claim 7 , wherein the first finger slot and the second finger slot are each formed from an orthogonal crossing of two channels formed in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The key pad of  claim 10 , wherein five keys are disposed on a bottom surface portion of each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot. 
     
     
         12 . The key pad of  claim 11 , wherein four additional keys are disposed at sides of each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot, the four additional keys disposed on a side surface at termini of the two channels, wherein the four additional keys are oriented at an offset angle with respect to a lower portion of the side surface at the termini of the two channels. 
     
     
         13 . A one handed key pad operable by only a thumb and two fingers of a user's hand comprising:
 a housing having a top surface;   a first finger slot formed as a first depression into the top surface of the housing;   a second finger slot formed as a second depression into the top surface of the housing;   the first finger slot and the second finger slot formed from the intersection of two elongate channel wells formed extending into the housing defining a plurality of distinct segments in each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot, the first finger slot configured to receive a first finger therein and the second finger slot configured to receive a second finger of a same user hand therein;   a plurality of keys disposed within each of the plurality of distinct segments of each of the first and second finger slots, wherein the plurality of keys are operable by displacement of the user's first and second finger within the plurality of distinct segments of the respective first and second finger slot for positive placement of the user's first and second finger over a selected one of the plurality of keys based on the displacement within the respective first and second finger slot; and   a thumb rocker switch disposed adjacent the first finger slot, the thumb rocker switch causing variable outputs to be generated by each of the plurality of keys when the thumb rocker switched is toggled on and off, wherein the one handed keypad is operable as an uppercase alphabetic with numerical keyboard function while maintaining the first finger and the second finger within the respective first finger slot and second finger slot.   
     
     
         14 . The key pad of  claim 13 , wherein the thumb rocker switch is toggled between a first toggled position, a second toggled position and an untoggled position. 
     
     
         15 . The key pad of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of keys includes nine keys in each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot. 
     
     
         16 . The key pad of  claim 13 , wherein the first finger slot and the second finger slot are each formed from an orthogonal crossing of two channels formed in the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The key pad of  claim 16 , wherein five keys are disposed on a bottom surface portion of each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot. 
     
     
         18 . The key pad of  claim 17 , wherein four additional keys are disposed at sides of each of the first finger slot and the second finger slot, the four additional keys disposed on a side surface at termini of the two channels, wherein the four additional keys are oriented at an offset angle with respect to a lower portion of the side surface at the termini of the two channels.