Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7248202 | Finger feeling numerical buttons for commercial electronic remote control The present invention offers a finger feeling numerical buttons for commercial electronic remote control. The altitude of the five even number buttons 0,2,4,6 and 8 is higher than the altitude of the other buttons 1,3,7,9, * and #. On the upper, lower, right and lef... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7238907 | Keyboard with key supporting structure In a keyboard including a plurality of keys, each key has a key top, a guiding structure that includes linking units pivotally movable in response to vertical motion of the key top, an elastic member to be pressed down by the vertical motion of the key top, and a co... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7126498 | Keypad construction An IACK keypad with independent key regions arranged in an array of multiple rows and columns, and combination key regions defined between rows and columns of the array of independent key regions. A trace matrix underlying the keymat either includes, in addition to ... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7056042 | Cover structure for a keypad A top structure for a keypad, comprising a number of key caps. The structure comprises a solid flexible layer, which is placed above the key caps or directly on them, and arranged to yield when the key is felt. The material, properties and thickness of the flexible ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 6958458 | Key switch device having high drawability A key switch device has a cap support that supports a key cap on a base. The cap support includes intersecting first and second frames which are connected pivotally to each other. The first frame has a pair of through holes, whereas the second frame has a pair of re... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6948868 | Keyboard structure A word transcription keyboard utilizing at least one keypad which is available for access by a finger of the user. A second keypad accessible to the finger of the user is extended and terminated in a press pad for allowing contact of the palm region of the hand simu... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6869239 | Compact keyboard with sliding motion key actuation A keyboard allowing typists to use approximate QWERTY finger movements on a more compact, collapsible, and portable keyboard. The keyboard size is made more compact by using thin capacitance-responsive surfaces as key switches for the rows above and below the home r... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6869240 | Keyboard input device A keyboard input device equipped with a pointing device featuring excellent water-proof performance and is capable of highly precisely detecting the angle of tilt and the direction of tilt of the operation body of the pointing device. The pointing device has a cylin... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6688790 | Keyboard input device A keyboard input device comprises a lever-mounting plate for supporting the lower ends of a pair of lever members in an engaged manner, a circuit board on which the lever-mounting plate is placed and is forming a circuit pattern on a surface facing the le... | 02/10/2004 |
| 6680677 | Proximity detector to indicate function of a key An input device with a user-selectable key that includes a proximity detector associated with the key. The proximity detector detects the proximity or touch of a user's finger and provides user feedback related to the function of the key, without actually... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6572289 | Pushbutton structure of keyboard A pushbutton of a keyboard includes a cap supported on a base board by a linkage comprising first and second links pivoted together whereby the cap is movable from a released to a depressed positions when depressed. Each link has upper and lower pivots re... | 06/03/2003 |
| 6497521 | No-impact keyboard A no-impact keyboard for decreasing the risk of a repetitive stress injury to the user. The keyboard comprises a plurality of keys having a key cap and a stem, an impact absorbing mechanism which prevents any part of a key from striking a hard surface dur... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6400285 | Ergonomic keyboard A keyboard system is provided for use in data entry. The keyboard generates signals indicative of key closures, and also generates signals indicative of the pressure with which the user has pressed the keys. If the pressure exceeds a threshold, such as 20... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6059470 | Adjustable, curved keyboard There is provided an adjustable, curved keyboard having arcuately arranged keys to complement naturally to a user's wrists, hands and fingers. The keyboard is supported by a bracket, which extends from underneath the desktop of a desk, for pivotal, elevat... | 05/09/2000 |
| 5988902 | Touchpad overlay with tactile response A computer system includes a touchpad with one or more overlays providing the computer system with various input control functions. The overlay preferably includes tactile response elements to provide tactile feedback to the operator as an indication that... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5887995 | Touchpad overlay with tactile response A computer system includes a touchpad with one or more overlays providing the computer system with various input control functions. The overlay preferably includes tactile response elements to provide tactile feedback to the operator as an indication that... | 03/30/1999 |
| 5856785 | Computer system having capslock ON audible warning signal An apparatus and method for generating an audible indication during the time that a computer system has been toggled into a mode wherein all the letters of the alphabet a displayed in the upper case or the so-called capslock "ON" mode.... | 01/05/1999 |
| 5735619 | Adjustable, curved keyboard There is provided an adjustable, curved keyboard having arcuately arranged keys to complement naturally to a user's wrists, hands and fingers. The keyboard is supported by a bracket, which extends from underneath the desktop of a desk, for pivotal, elevat... | 04/07/1998 |
| 5667319 | Simplified computer keyboard A simplified keyboard arrangement for use by a child. The simplified keyboard arrangement has a matrix of keys which are so situated to facilitate interaction between the child and a device, such as a computer. The simplified keyboard arrangement also dev... | 09/16/1997 |
| 5213422 | Bicameral pictographic-language keyboard A Bicameral Keyboard is provided for generating pictographic characters wherein twenty keys are sufficient to specify the roughly 3000 characters required for ordinary personal and business correspondence. The Bicameral Keyboard is compatible with pictogr... | 05/25/1993 |
| 4939327 | Keyboard switch A keyboard switch for use with a membrane switch array (20) to provide a tactile feeling and, optionally, a click sound comprises a housing (10) which is positioned on the membrane switch array (20). A plunger (13) is reciprocally mounted within the housi... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4762436 | Bio-mechanical neuro-sensory keyboard structure and operating methods The keys operated by the Middle Fingers in the Second Nearest Row and the Fourth Nearest Row of the Alpha-Numeric Core, i.e. QWERTY D K 3 and 8, and the center key on the Number Pad are provided with hand positioning structures. Hand positioning with the ... | 08/09/1988 |
| 4661005 | Spittable keyboard for word processing, typing and other information input systems A keyboard arrangement for reducing stress and tension experienced by a human operator during communication with an information processing machine. The keyboard, which may have the actuators thereon arranged in a conventional keyboard distribution, such a... | 04/28/1987 |
| 4579470 | Keyboard with keys concentrated in clusters A typewriter keyboard arrangement with keys concentrated in clusters in such a manner so as to be operated by specific fingers designated for specific clusters. Keys are clustered and clusters arranged to allow rapid finger motion with little hand motion.... | 04/01/1986 |
| 4565460 | Convex key top configurations A keyface for increasing the speed and accuracy of an operator of any key-operated or touch-operated system is adapted to be attached in a keystem of a keyboard. The keyboard is equipped with a plurality of keystems arranged in a predetermined order, and ... | 01/21/1986 |
| 4553009 | Keyboard switch with pivotal actuator lever A keyboard switch which is used in combination with a membrane switch array includes a housing adapted to be positioned on the membrane switch array. There is an upright opening in the housing and a plunger is reciprocal in the housing opening. There is a... | 11/12/1985 |
| 4362408 | Means for avoiding accidental actuation of a critical function key A keyboard having a plurality of keys thereon, with each key being moveable from a rest position along an actuation path having a makepoint therealong, whereby completion of an electrical circuit is effected by moving a key with a predetermined force alon... | 12/07/1982 |
| 4311990 | Photo-optical keyboards Photo-optical keyboards for providing electrical signals responsive to the keying of the keyboard. The keyboard structure consists of an arrangement of individual keys disposed and identified in accordance with the particular application and adapted for l... | 01/19/1982 |
| 4292517 | Photo-optical keyboard providing tactile feel The invention relates to a photo-optical keyboard having an improved keyboard housing and keys to provide a tactile feel to the keyboard. The keyboard housing is a molded plastic piece having a matrix of rows and columnsof apertures for keys. Each of the ... | 09/29/1981 |
| 4180336 | Touch checking key tops for keyboard Touch checking key tops for keyboard on a cash register in which the keyboard is provided with a plurality of keys arranged in a generally rectangular matrix with the keys being arranged in three rows extending in one direction and three rows extending in... | 12/25/1979 |
| 4032729 | Low profile keyboard switch having panel hinged actuators and cantilevered beam snap acting contacts A low profile keyboard switch with tactile feel and short key travel is disclosed. The keyboard may be a matrix connected keyboard and includes a lower, fixed contact and an upper, concave contact. The concave contact is supported at one end and operates ... | 06/28/1977 |
| 3964593 | Keyboards A key for an electronic keyboard comprises a plunger in a body which is mounted on the keyboard chassis and striker, with a helical spring within the plunger for engaging the striker. To provide required tactile characteristics, a further spring means, e.... | 06/22/1976 |
| 3940578 | Keyboard structure having panel mounted key actuators with electrical component operating element An electronic keyboard has a chassis with keys each utilising a parallel motion linkage to permit movement of an operating member towards an electric circuit element. The main structure of the keys and linkage may be formed as a unitary plastics moulding.... | 02/24/1976 |
