U.S. patent application number 09/738509 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for computer keyboard enhancement kit.
Invention is credited to Morelos, Rossana Uy.
Application Number | 20010031167 09/738509 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26867813 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010031167 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morelos, Rossana Uy |
October 18, 2001 |
Computer keyboard enhancement kit
Abstract
A computer keyboard enhancement kit consists of detachable key
replacements made to be larger and to have more shapes and colors
than the letter keys of a standard computer keyboard so as to
lessen the level of difficulty for children of preschool ages in
locating such keys on the keyboard as they work on educational
programs. Each of these key replacements takes a specific shape and
color, and displays a specific letter that is on the keyboard in
either uppercase or lowercase form. The shapes and colors follow a
specific pattern scheme wherein the letters of the same hand and
row keys have key replacements with the same color but with varied
shapes. To be in use, these key replacements are attached to the
top surface of a transparent plastic jacket that goes with the kit,
and are positioned on top of their corresponding letter keys on the
computer keyboard.
Inventors: |
Morelos, Rossana Uy; (Quezon
City, PH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rossana Uy Morelos
14435 High Pine St.
Poway
CA
92064
US
|
Family ID: |
26867813 |
Appl. No.: |
09/738509 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60172179 |
Dec 17, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
400/490 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 19/0053 20130101;
G06F 3/0219 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
400/490 |
International
Class: |
B41J 005/08 |
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. a computer keyboard enhancement kit comprising a transparent
plastic jacket that has a width similar to that of a standard
QWERTY computer keyboard, and a length thrice of it, said jacket
has top and bottom surfaces, said top and bottom surfaces include a
plurality of rows of adhesive pile strips and of rubber pads
respectively, said plurality of rows of adhesive pile strips and of
rubber pads are permanently attached to the mid-left section of the
top surface and to the mid-right section of the bottom surface
respectively, said mid sections of both surfaces are between
preprinted reticulated lines on the upper front and lower back
edges of the surfaces, and said upper and lower edges of the
surfaces are syncline and straight respectively.
2. a computer keyboard enhancement kit as in claim #1, further
comprising detached adhesive pile strips and strips of tiny hooks
that will be attached permanently to the edges of the plastic
jacket after measuring the jacket against the computer keyboard to
be used.
3. a computer keyboard enhancement kit as in claim #1, further
comprising two sets of detachable key replacements made of
cardboard-like paper materials whose surfaces are enlarged relative
to those of the keys of a standard keyboard, said paper materials
are of various colors and formed as cutouts in various shapes, said
cutouts display a specific letter on their top surface, and follow
a specific pattern scheme wherein only letters of the same hand and
row keys have cutouts with the same color but of varied shapes,
said letters are preprinted individually in either uppercase or
lowercase form on the top surface of every cutout, said top surface
of every cutout is laminated with transparent plastic, said
transparent plastic covers the bottom surface of every cutout and
holds a strip of tiny hooks attached permanently to it.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This utility model is basically a combination of a computer
keyboard attachment, and a keyboard key replacement and
identification system; but more specifically, is a computer
keyboard enhancement kit.
[0005] We know for a fact that the computer is fast becoming an
educational tool among children with ages 3 to 6. With the present
proliferation, and availability of educational software in the
market for these particular ages, the need for computers to be
user-friendly for children becomes more apparent. Among the
computer devices, the keyboard seems to be the least user-friendly
as far as computing for children is concerned.
[0006] One feature of the computer keyboard mostly used by children
when working on educational software is its letter keys. They are
the keys that have the English letter symbols on them. With the
letter symbols being in uppercase only, typing of lowercase letters
for children can oftentimes be confusing especially if they have
not fully mastered yet their letters. Having to press uppercase
letters when they are given lowercase letters, and having to be
familiar with where these uppercase letters are on the keyboard are
just too much for children to handle at the same time when
keyboarding. With regards to the keys' shapes and colors, they lack
variety, thereby, making all the keys look the same and very hard
to distinguish from each other. At the same time, they become so
plain that they are unattractive and uninteresting for children to
use. Likewise, with the keys being in the standard QWERTY layout
which is very new from the ABC order that they are used to,
children find locating of letters on the keyboard too stressful and
too frustrating to achieve.
[0007] Many keyboards especially made for children may be available
in the market but can be very costly. Their prices can cost double
or even triple the prices of standard keyboards. Thus, they become
an impractical investment since they are useful only while children
are children. Besides, having so may cause inconvenience to those
adults who share a computer system with children since they have to
change to a standard keyboard everytime they need to work on their
computer.
[0008] Several prior art inventions have been found to address the
problems aforementioned but none of them actually possesses all the
advantages this present invention has.
[0009] One of these prior art inventions is the children's computer
keyboard by Kuhlenschmidt with U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,960 (1995). It
includes color-coded, enlarged, square-shaped keys with enlarged
characters but all the alphabet keys have the same color. Thus, the
keys' colors and shapes are still not varied. It also includes an
extension cord for the changing of keyboards. This means an
additional purchase of keyboard has to be made aside from the
standard keyboard normally used with the computer system.
[0010] Another is the computer keyboard educational toy of Hatfield
with U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,160 (1985). It aims to teach small
children alphanumeric characters and their positions on a
conventional keyboard but still retains the standard keyboard-key
shape.
[0011] There is also the keyboard assembly and typing method of
Liljenquist with U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,346 (1990) which makes use of
colors and shapes to form a visual pattern among keys, making
association of a distinct visual pattern with each letter of the
alphabet possible. However, the colors and shapes are on the keys
and not of the keys. Thus, they occupy most of each key's surface,
and make the letter symbols less visible for children to read.
[0012] With the computer keyboard system of Wen-Hung that has U.S.
Pat. No. 5,954,437 (1999), it enables users to locate keys of
letters, radicals, and phonetic symbols quickly but modifies only
the keys' colors to differentiate them from each other. Thus,
problems may still arise then when identifying those keys with the
same color for there are no other distinguishing marks aside from
the symbols on them. The same would be the case with the keyboard
of Allen with U.S. Pat. No. 706,002 (1902) which has keys grouped
and differentiated by colors suggestive of the characters embraced
in the groups.
[0013] It is important to note that the above prior art inventions
are all basically keyboards. None of them works as an attachment
for a standard keyboard. With those that qualify under such
classification, most of them merely serve to protect or cover the
keyboard keys. Among them are: the keyboard guard of Willingham
with U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,163 (1976); the computer key cover
apparatus of Phillippe with U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,317 (1991); the
computer keyboard cover of De Taboada with design U.S. Pat. No.
425,041 (1999); and the key-button cap of a typewriting machine of
Sweeney with U.S. Pat. No. 1,530,146 (1923).
[0014] On the other hand, there are prior art inventions that work
as attachments but serve other purposes than protecting the
keyboard keys. Such are: the finger-key for typewriting and similar
machines of Conklin with U.S. Pat. No. 956,485 (1910), and the
replacement labels for keyboards of McLaughlin with U.S. Pat. No.
4,512,092 (1985). Both are primarily purposed to replace labels on
the keys. The replacements though still take the shape of the
keyboard keys. The one of Vickers which is a keyboard attachment
for typing and computing machines with U.S. Pat. No. 1,673,724
(1925) aims to increase speed and avoid errors in operating keys
but works more for those who can already read letters, numbers, and
symbols.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Therefore, it is the main purpose of this utility model to
enhance for children with ages 3 to 6 the appearance of the keys on
the computer keyboard, and make finding and remembering of keys for
them easier, more fun, and more educational. The logical assignment
of colors and shapes to the key replacements that go with the kit,
and the availability of key replacements with either uppercase or
lowercase letters on them lessen the level of difficulty for
children when using the keys. Likewise, such features can benefit
the adults supervising children on the computer. Giving directions
to children with regard to letter location can be easier since the
shape and color of the key that has the needed letter can be be
described.
[0016] Another purpose of this model is to provide a cheaper but
more effective and more convenient alternative over buying a
special keyboard for children's use on the computer. Instead of
having to spend on one more keyboard aside from the regular
keyboard that normally goes with the computer system, the jacket in
the kit can easily be wrapped around, and removed from any computer
keyboard anytime. The model may be designed to fit all sizes and
shapes of computer keyboards there are in the market at
present.
[0017] Likewise, this model is designed to have an activity in
itself Even if it is not being used for the computer keyboard,
educational games can be performed with it to teach shapes, colors,
letters, and patterns. It is for this reason that the key
replacements are detachable.
[0018] One more purpose of this utility model is to serve as a
protection for the keyboard keys from inevitable banging and
careless pressing children do with them. Since the model can cover
the whole keyboard, all the other keys aside from the letter keys
get protected, too. Besides, the rubber pads at the bottom surface
of the jacket enable children to practice pressing keys
lightly.
[0019] Other purposes and advantages of this utility model will
become evident upon reading the detailed description taken together
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0020] FIG. 1 has the perspective views of the jacket unfolded, and
sans the key replacements, and the adhesive pile strips and strips
of tiny hooks for fastening. FIG. 1A shows the top surface of the
jacket. FIG. 1B shows the bottom surface.
[0021] FIG. 2 contains the detail views of the arrangement of the
key replacements as they appear on the jacket on a smaller scale.
FIG. 2A shows the front view of the key replacements that have
uppercase letters. FIG. 2B shows the front view of the key
replacements that have lowercase letters.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the jacket with the key
replacements and the velcro strips attached on it as it is wrapped
around the computer keyboard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] As shown in the drawing in FIG. 1, a computer keyboard
enhancement kit includes a bib-shaped jacket made of transparent
plastic sheet 10 having the width of a standard QWERTY computer
keyboard and the length thrice of it; with reticulated lines
preprinted on its upper front and lower back edges, and has on the
middle left portion of its top surface twenty-six adhesive pile
strips 11 attached permanently, each measuring approximately
one-fourth inch; and on the middle right portion of its bottom
surface twenty-six rubber pads 12 also attached permanently, each
measuring approximately one-fourth inch in width and at least
one-eighth inch in thickness. The thickness of the pads are to
avoid double striking of keys that are in adjacent rows.
[0024] In FIG. 2, there are a total of fifty-two key replacements
that are made of cardboard-like paper in various colors, are cut in
various shapes, and are laminated with transparent plastic. Each
key replacement should have a measurement of at least five-eighths
inch. Each key replacement has an English letter symbol printed
boldly on it. Twenty-six of them have uppercase letters as in FIG.
2A. The other twenty-six have lowercase letters as in FIG. 2B.
Attached permanently to the bottom surface of each key replacement
is a strip of tiny hooks. Each measures the same as the adhesive
pile strips 11 that are attached permanently on the middle left
section of the top surface of the jacket.
[0025] To use the jacket, first select the set of key replacements
to be used. Attach the strip of tiny hooks behind each key
replacement to the adhesive pile strips 11 that are on the middle
left section of the top surface of the jacket with the top surface
of the key replacement showing the letter it represents. Arrange
the key replacements in the same way as the letters on the keyboard
are arranged.
[0026] In the first row, starting from the left are: yellow circle
with Q 13a/q 13b; yellow triangle with W 14a/w 14b; yellow
rectangle with E 15a/e 15b; yellow square with R 16a/r 16b; yellow
heart with T 17a/t 17b; blue circle with Y 18a/y 18b; blue triangle
with U 19a/u 19b; blue rectangle with I 20a/i 20b; blue square with
O 21a/o 21b; and blue heart with P 22a/p 22b. In the second row,
from the left are: green circle with A 23a/a 23b; green triangle
with S 24a/s 24b; green rectangle with D 25a/d 25b; green square
with F 26a/f 26b; green heart with G 27a/g 27b; orange circle with
H 28a/h 28b; orange triangle with J 29a/j 29b; orange rectangle
with K 30a/k 30b; and orange square with L 31a/l 31b. In the third
row, from the left are: red circle with Z 32a/z 32b; red triangle
with X 33a/x 33b; red rectangle with C 34a/c 34b; red square with V
35a/v 35b; red heart with B 36a/b 36b; purple circle with N 37a/n
37b; and purple triangle with M 38a/m 38b. Assignment of colors and
shapes may be changed as long as the letters of the same hand keys
and row take the same color and varying shapes.
[0027] Then spread the jacket on the keyboard with the top surface
displaying the key replacements on top of their corresponding
letter keys. The rubber pads 12 attached on the back side of the
jacket should touch the center of each key's surface.
[0028] Once the key replacements are in place, fold down the upper
edge of the jacket towards the bottom of the keyboard. Get a pair
of the adhesive pile strips 39 that goes with the kit, and peel off
the cover of their tapes that are attached on their back side.
Place and stick one adhesive pile strip 39 on the lines at the
upper edge of the jacket, and the other on the same lines at the
right upper edge. Afterwards, fold down the lower edge of the
jacket over the upper edge. Be sure the back side of the jacket's
lower edge is touching the adhesive pile strips 39 on the upper
edge. This time, get a pair of the strips of tiny hooks 40. Peel
off the cover of their tapes that are on their back side, and stick
the strips with tiny hooks 40 on the lines at the left and right
ends of the lower edge that are on the bottom surface of the
jacket. The strips of tiny hooks 40 on the lower edge should be
exactly aligned with the adhesive pile strips 39 on the upper edge
of the jacket.
[0029] To lock the jacket, press the strips of tiny hooks 40 on the
lower edge against the adhesive pile strips 39 on the upper edge
until they are fastened together.
[0030] In pressing the key replacements, press only the center of
each until the rubber pad 12 under it touches the key's
surface.
[0031] To remove the jacket from the keyboard, simply detach with
care the tiny hooks that are on the strips 40 of the lower edge
from the adhesive pile that are on the strips 39 of the upper
edge.
[0032] To use as an activity board, wrap the jacket around any
board that has the same size as a standard keyboard and attach the
replacement keys in any order suited to meet the purpose of the
activity.
* * * * *