Keyboard device

Abstract

This ergonomic keyboard features a consistent key spacing on both sides and a three-dimensional arched shape, allowing it to be compact when stored while uniquely determining its optimal configuration when deployed. [Solution] The left and right keyboard units are connected by a first hinge that allows them to pivot freely at their opposing ends. The axis of rotation of the first hinge has an upper part that is tilted forward relative to the vertical. When the first hinge is rotated to create an opening angle between the left and right keyboard units, the central part lifts up, and the entire structure takes on an arched shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a keyboard device used in a computer.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to reduce the physical burden during long - time typing, an ergonomic keyboard with a certain opening angle between the left and right key arrangements and a three - dimensional arch - shaped design has been known. Due to the three - dimensional arch shape and other factors of the ergonomic keyboard with an ergonomic design, the keyboard housing naturally becomes large. To improve this, an ergonomic keyboard has been proposed that connects the left and right units with a multi - degree - of - freedom joint so that it can be made compact when not in use (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above - mentioned prior art, since the left and right two units are connected by a multi - degree - of - freedom joint, when expanding from the storage state to the use state, it cannot be uniquely determined to the optimal form, and position adjustment is required.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an ergonomic keyboard in which the left and right key arrangements have a constant opening angle and a three-dimensional arched shape, which can be compact when stored and uniquely determined to an optimal form when unfolded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problem, The invention described in claim 1 is a keyboard device comprising two keyboard units, a left and a right, wherein the left and right keyboard units are connected by a first hinge so as to be rotatable at their opposing ends. In the first state in which the left and right keyboard units are arranged horizontally, the rotation axis of the first hinge has an upper part that is tilted forward relative to the vertical. As a result, when the first hinge is rotated to a second state in which the left and right keyboard units are opened at an angle, the central part lifts up and the entire structure takes on an arched shape.

[0007] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the keyboard device described in claim 1, in the first state, the rotation axis of the first hinge has an inclination angle such that the upper part is tilted forward at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees relative to the vertical.

[0008] Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 3, in the keyboard device described in claim 1, the left and right keyboard units are each attached to the back side of a left leg and a right leg, respectively, and the left leg and the right leg are pivotally supported to the left and right keyboard units by folding left leg hinges and right leg hinges, respectively. In the first state described above, the rotation axes of the left leg hinge and the right leg hinge are at an angle of less than 180 degrees, and both legs are folded inward and stored. At the center of the keyboard, the left and right legs are also rotatably connected by a leg connecting hinge, and the three axes of rotation of the left leg hinge, the right leg hinge, and the leg connecting hinge intersect at a single point, and this intersection lies on the axis of rotation of the first hinge. This is characterized in that, when the second state is reached, the left and right legs rise up, thereby supporting the arch shape.

[0009] Each of the above means works as follows: According to the invention described in claim 1, since the axis of rotation of the first hinge is not vertical, when the first hinge is rotated to open the left and right keyboard units from the stored position to an open angle, the left and right keyboard units can naturally be made into an arched shape rather than horizontal.

[0010] Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 2, when the first hinge is rotated, the opening angle and arch shape of the left and right keyboard units can be arranged in an ergonomically suitable configuration.

[0011] Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 3, when the first hinge is rotated to open the left and right keyboard units, the legs also rise in response to the movement, making it possible for the legs to stand upright to support the arch shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, an ergonomic keyboard that is compact when stored, yet has a consistent key layout on both sides and a three-dimensional arched shape when in use, can be easily and easily configured to its optimal form without any adjustments, despite its simple configuration. Furthermore, it becomes possible to mount the ergonomic keyboard on a laptop computer. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] A diagram of the keyboard device of the embodiment in its stored state. (A) Top view, (B) Side view, (C) Front view. [Figure 2] Diagram of the keyboard device in the embodiment in the deployed state. (A) Plan view, (B) Side view, (C) Front view. [Figure 3] Rear view of the keyboard device in the embodiment in the stored state [Figure 4] Deployed state of the keyboard device in the embodiment. (A) Rear view, (B) Back view. [Figure 5] State where the keyboard device of the present invention is incorporated into a laptop computer [Figure 6] Diagram when the position of the first hinge is moved. (A) Plan view in the stored state, (B) Plan view in the deployed state.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are examples of forms to which the present invention is applied, and the present invention is not limited by the contents of these embodiments.

[0015] Hereinafter, a keyboard device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 shows the stored state of the keyboard device in the embodiment. (A) is a plan view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a front view. As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard device 100 of the embodiment is divided into a left unit 10 and a right unit 20, and the left unit 10 and the right unit 20 are pivotally connected via a first hinge 30.

[0016] When viewed from the side, the rotation axis 30a of the first hinge has an inclination angle θ such that the upper part is inclined forward by 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the vertical.

[0017] Figure 2 shows the deployed state of the keyboard device according to the embodiment. (A) is a top view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a front view. As shown in Figure 2, when the first hinge 30 is rotated to provide an opening angle φ of 20 to 26 degrees so that the angle of the arm becomes natural, due to the effect of the inclination angle θ of the rotation axis of the first hinge, a natural arch angle ψ of 8 to 16 degrees occurs, and a natural wrist angle can be obtained during typing, making it easier to press the keys.

[0018] If the rotation angle at the rotation axis 30a of the first hinge is φ0, the opening angle φ and the arch angle ψ are determined by the following equations.

Equation

Equation

[0019] Figure 3 shows the rear view of the keyboard device according to the embodiment in the stored state, and Figure 4 shows the (A) rear view and (B) rear view in the deployed state. The leg 21 of the right unit is rotatably attached to the right unit 20 by the right leg hinge 22, and the leg 11 of the left unit is rotatably attached to the left unit 10 by the left leg hinge 12. The rotation axis 22a of the right leg hinge and the rotation axis 12a of the left leg hinge are in an angular relationship of less than 180 degrees and are in an inverted V-shaped positional relationship. Also, the leg 21 of the right unit and the leg 11 of the left unit are also rotatably connected by the leg connection hinge 31. The rotation axis 22a of the right leg hinge, the rotation axis 12a of the left leg hinge, and the rotation axis 31a of the leg connection hinge intersect at one point, and the intersection point is on the rotation axis 30a of the first hinge.

[0020] With this arrangement, when the first hinge 30 of the keyboard device is rotated to open the left unit 10 and the right unit 20, a force to push down the left and right legs acts, and as shown in Figure 4, the left and right legs naturally rise, and the arch shape of the keyboard can be supported.

[0021] If necessary, separate legs can be installed on the front side or the like separately from the above legs.

[0022] If not necessary, it's perfectly fine to have no legs at all.

[0023] Even when stored, it can be used as a regular flat keyboard.

[0024] As shown in the embodiment in Figure 3, the contact angle when the structure is unfolded into an arch shape can also be adjusted by cutting the left and right ends diagonally.

[0025] Figure 5 shows an example of the present invention being incorporated into a laptop computer.

[0026] Figure 6 shows an example where the first hinge is located in the center, with Figure 6(A) being a plan view in the stored state and Figure 6(B) being a plan view in the unfolded state. Thus, the position of the first hinge is not limited to the rear side as shown in Figure 1.

[0027] As a variation 1, the moving parts of the first hinge and leg hinges can be made to operate automatically using springs or the like.

[0028] As a second variation, the first hinge can be made detachable, allowing the left and right keyboard units to be used as a detachable keyboard.

[0029] Although the keyboard device according to the present invention has been described above, the configurations to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to those shown in the drawings of this specification, and the present invention can be applied to a variety of configurations. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 10. Left unit 11. Legs of the left unit 12. Left leg hinge 12a...Axis of rotation of the left leg hinge 20...Right unit 21...Right unit leg 22. Right leg hinge 22a...Axis of rotation of the right leg hinge 30. First hinge 30a...Axis of rotation of the first hinge 31. Leg connecting hinge 31a...Axis of rotation of the leg connecting hinge 100...Keyboard device

Claims

1. It consists of two keyboard units, left and right, and the left and right units are connected by a first hinge at their opposing ends so as to be rotatable. In the first state in which the left and right keyboard units are arranged horizontally, the rotation axis of the first hinge has an upper part that is tilted forward relative to the vertical. This keyboard device is characterized in that, when the first hinge is rotated to a second state in which the left and right keyboard units are opened at an angle, the central part lifts up and the entire device takes on an arched shape.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the first state, the axis of rotation of the first hinge has an inclination angle such that the upper part is tilted forward at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the vertical.

3. The left and right keyboard units are each fitted with a left leg and a right leg on their undersides, and these left and right legs are pivotally supported to the left and right keyboard units, respectively, by folding left leg hinges and right leg hinges. In the first state described above, the rotation axes of the left leg hinge and the right leg hinge are at an angle of less than 180 degrees, and both legs are folded inward and stored. At the center of the keyboard, the left and right legs are also rotatably connected by a leg-connecting hinge, and the three axes of rotation of the left leg hinge, the right leg hinge, and the leg-connecting hinge intersect at a single point, and this intersection lies on the axis of rotation of the first hinge. The keyboard device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the second state is reached, the left and right legs can be raised to support the arch shape.

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