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 Title: |
US5943041:
Folding keyboard
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Allison, Jeffery Daniel; Seattle, WA
Burleson, Winslow Scott; Palo Alto, CA
May, Kim Wesley; San Jose, CA
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| Assignee: |
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY
other patents from INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (280070) (approx. 44,393)
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| Published / Filed: |
1999-08-24
/ 1997-04-23
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| Application Number: |
US1997000842138
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G06F 1/16;
Core:
more...
IPC-7:
B41J 5/10;
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| ECLA Code: |
G06F1/16P2K4;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
345/168;
345/156;
400/472;
400/479;
400/492;
Original:
345/168;
345/156;
400/472;
400/479;
400/492;
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| Field of Search: |
345/168,156
400/472,479,492,682
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| Priority Number: |
| 1997-04-23 |
US1997000842138 |
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| Abstract: |
Disclosed is a folding keyboard of at least two sections, each having an opening therein which is open on the facing ends thereof, and a multilayer sheet for making the electrical connections upon actuation of the keys, the multilayer sheet having substantial stiffness in the flat, planar direction and limited flexibility perpendicular to the planar direction which allows bending about a curvature, the multilayer sheet being fixed in only one of the sections, whereby when the sections are in the open, unfolded position, the multilayer sheet is straightened into a flat, planar shape and registered with the keys of the other sections, and when in the closed, folded position is curved in the perpendicular, cylindrical direction between the sections and slid from the registered position in the other section towards the open facing end thereof. Additionally, the multilayer sheet is cut along any keys which protrude beyond the folding axis so as to allow the cylindrical curving thereof. Further, a coating is provided to assist in the slidability of the multilayer sheet.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Holcombe, John H. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Powell, Mark R.; Kovalick, Vincent E
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| Maintenance Status: |
E2 Expired Check current status
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 23 claims |
We claim:
1. A folding keyboard comprising:
- at least two sections, each said section supporting a subset of keys and having an opening therein which is open on the facing ends thereof, said sections being mechanically coupled to each other so as to allow rotation about each other along an axis of rotation between an open, unfolded position in which the sections are substantially coplanar, and a closed position folded over to be substantially adjacent to and parallel to each other; and
- a multilayer sheet for making electrical connections upon actuation of said keys, said multilayer sheet having substantial stiffness in the flat, planar direction and limited flexibility perpendicular to said planar direction which allows bending about a curvature, said multilayer sheet being fixed in only one of said sections and registered with said keys thereof, whereby when said sections are in said open, unfolded position, said multilayer sheet is straightened into said flat, planar shape and registered with said keys of said other sections, and when in said closed, folded position is curved in said perpendicular direction between said sections and slid from said registered position in said other sections towards said open facing end thereof.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 16 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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