Patent Application
20070236672
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to computer keyboards.
The proliferation of personal computers in homes and office environments has resulted in devices such as the computer keyboard being commonly used as convenient and affordable data input devices; as such, computer keyboards are commonly found in the home and office environments.
Businesses have recognized the potential benefits of placing various matter, including brands and advertising, on the surfaces of computer keyboards as a means of promoting their brands as well as a means of educating computer users and consumers concerning their products. Following this, businesses have been attempting to find new ways of displaying their trademarks and advertisements in or around these peripheral devices of the personal computers. Trademarks are commonly inscribed or printed at the side or corner of the housing of the keyboard, in prominent view of the computer user.
Further, computer users have sought to personalize their computer peripherals by placing their names or pictures onto the peripherals. This is usually performed by inscribing a name or by affixing a sticker onto the peripherals.
Once matter is printed, inscribed or affixed onto a keyboard housing, however, it would be difficult or inconvenient to change such matter. Stickers involve some manner of adhesive, which may leave a residue when removed.
Further, matter printed on a keyboard housing is susceptible to fading through everyday wear and tear; this is so especially for the case of a computer keyboard, which the computer user is in constant physical contact with.
As matter is physically imprinted or affixed by means of adhesive onto the computer keyboard, the physical size of the matter is limited to the amount of physical space available on the keyboard. In addition, the matter would generally be placed in a corner of computer keyboard or other areas where the matter would not impede the proper use and operation of computer keyboard.
The standard QWERTY computer keyboard features 101 keys; other modern computer keyboards feature additional keys or buttons on the keyboard housing, used in a multiplicity of ways, including gaining quick access to documents, application programs, the internet and the like. The addition of printed matter, including trademarks and personalized names, to the modern computer keyboards would serve to contribute towards visual ‘clutter’ of the keyboards.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that displays in a prominent manner matter, including advertising, trade marks and names within the view of a person using a computer and within the proximity of a keyboard or other peripheral such as a mouse or printer for example attached to the computer.
It is a further object to provide an apparatus as described in the previous paragraph and without the need for physically limiting the display of the matter to the available surface area of the housing of the keyboard, and possibly resulting in a generally cluttered appearance of the keyboard.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that enables the changing of the matter in a clean, quick and convenient manner.
A further object of the present invention is to enable the user of the invention to change, adjust and control, within limits, the size and position of the matter.
To achieve the above objects, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a computer keyboard with an alpha-numeric section, the housing of the computer keyboard features an aperture over which resides an image insert, a light source residing within the housing of the computer keyboard and of adjustable angle and position, a reflector of adjustable angle residing within the housing, a block residing within the housing and a surface external to the housing upon which a resultant image is projected.
In a preferred embodiment, light emanating from the light source is directed to the reflector, and subsequently reflected through the aperture and image insert, resulting in a projected image on the image surface.
In order for clarity in projected image, it is desirable that a projected image is primarily the result of light reflected off the reflector and passing through the image insert, as ambient light from the light source may serve to compromise clarity in the projected image. The block serves to primarily prevent light from the light source to directly reach the aperture, resulting in a clearer projected image on the surface external to the housing of the keyboard.
In a preferred embodiment, an image insert is of transparent or semi-transparent material and may have matter printed inscribed on its surface, the matter being opaque or semi-transparent or being a combination of opaque and semi-transparent. The combination of some light passing through the image insert and some light being absorbed by the matter results in a desired projected image on the image surface.
Within the present invention, light source 20 is a durable source of light with low power consumption, and is of a predetermined brightness while generating minimal heat which would have little or no effect on any other components within the keyboard housing 28. In a preferred embodiment, light source 20 consists of a light-emitting diode or a plurality of light-emitting diodes. In an alternate embodiment, light source 20 consists of any other light emitting device. Light and heat from light source 20 should have no effect nor should it interfere with the workings of any printed circuit board or any other components within keyboard housing 28. The light emanating from light source 20 is of sufficient intensity for the resultant projected image 26 to appear clearly. The light emanating from light source 20 may be of any color. The light emanating from light source 20 is of uniform color and intensity.
The light source 20 is connected to, and draws electricity from a source of electrical power, including a standalone battery or a universal serial bus connection or computer powerbox.
In one embodiment, the intensity and brightness of light emanating from light source 20 may be adjusted by a user of the invention through the use of a dimmer connected to wire 30, the dimmer controlling the level of electricity flowing through light source 20. In further embodiments, the intensity and brightness of light is controlled and adjusted by a switch or a series of switches or by software controlling the level of electricity flowing through light source 20.
The intensity and brightness of light emanating from light source 20 correspondingly affects the intensity and brightness of projected image 26, and may serve to create greater visual contrast between the portions of projected image 26 in shadow and the portions of projected image 26 in light.
As displayed in
From the point of view of
Where light emanating from light source 20 is pointed above the upper edge 502 of block 50, the light is reflected off reflector 22 through protective sheet 40, aperture 38 and image insert 24, and a resultant projected image 26 appears. The angle ‘A’ of light source 20 will bear an effect on the size and position of projected image 26.
Bracket 60 and bracket 62 are right-angled brackets made of any hard, rigid material. As displayed in
As displayed in
As shown in
The presence of front stopper 52 prevents light source 20 from being rotated by a user below a predetermined forward angle ‘A’ to the horizontal. Similarly, the presence of back stopper 54 prevents light source 20 from being rotated by a user above a predetermined forward angle ‘A’ to the horizontal.
In
In
Platform 56 is a flat, solid, rectangular block made of any rigid and hard material which is light in weight. Affixed to the top surface of platform 56 are the base of bracket 60, the base of bracket 62, the base of front stopper 52 and the base of block 50. Affixed to the base surface of platform 56 is the top surface of push knob 66.
The invention provides for platform 56 to be positioned and to slide longitudinally along housing track 64 where stop knob is in an ‘unlocked’ position, as shown in
The position of platform 56 along housing track 64 determines the distance of light source 20 from reflector 22 and aperture 38, and in turn, determines the size, sharpness and location of projected image 26.
As displayed in
Push knob 66 is made of a sufficiently rigid and hard material as to support the weight of itself, platform 56 and all elements supported by platform 56, including light source 20, bracket 60, bracket 62 and adjustor wheel 48.
As displayed in FIGS. 5 to 8, on either longitudinal side of housing track 64 is a row of guiding teeth 646 which are aligned so that each crest on one side is directly opposing a corresponding crest on the other. Housing track 64, groove 642 and guiding teeth 646 collectively form a guideway for pushknob 66 to slide longitudinally along housing track 64.
Extensions 662 of push knob 66 are sufficiently flexible to be pushed inward by guiding teeth 646 and to spring back outwards as it slides along housing track 64, such motion due to the wave-like shapes of guiding teeth 646 to either side of housing track 64.
In
In
Conversely, in
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the two ends of rod 224 are cylindrical in shape and the middle shaft 2241 of rod 224 is flat and rectangular in shape, as shown in
Each end of rod 28 is fitted sufficiently tightly in cavity 2231 so as to provide moderate stability to the position and angle of reflector 22 as well as to prevent any unintentional movement of reflector 22 due to factors such as the following: the weight of lever 226; the weight of reflector 22; and movement and vibration caused by user typing on alpha-numeric section 44. The angle ‘B’ of reflector 22 should not change unless a user of the invention moves lever 226. However, each end of rod 28 should not be fitted so tightly in cavity 2231 as to require that a user of the invention has to use undue strength or force in moving lever 226 or so that it becomes difficult to move lever 226.
Brackets 206 are affixed to the interior side of keyboard housing 28 and are made of sufficiently hard, rigid and strong material as to support the weight of rod 224, reflector 22 and lever 226 and any angular movement of these elements.
As shown in
Lever 226 is sufficiently light in weight so as not affect or change the angle or position of reflector 22. Similarly, reflector 22 should be sufficiently light in weight so as not to affect or change it's own angle ‘B’ by its own weight.
As shown in
As such, a user of the present invention is provided with changing the size of image 26 by moving lever 226 up or down accordingly. Moving lever 226 up results in image 26 being laterally expanded; accordingly, moving lever 226 down results in image 26 becoming laterally contracted. Projected image 26 is laterally skewed in accordance with its lateral expansion or contraction.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The brackets 36 are rectangular in shape, surrounding the aperture 38 and is located on the outside surface of keyboard housing 28, as shown in
In a further embodiment, aperture 38, brackets 36 and image insert 24 may be any other shape, including circular, elliptical, triangular or square.
The image insert 24 is made from any material that is transparent or translucent or with properties that allow the passage of some light through without altering the direction of the light, the material including clear plastics, plastics of any color, cellophane. Image insert 24 is sufficiently thin to be held in place by brackets 36 and may be conveniently inserted or removed from brackets 36.
Image insert 24 may have matter printed or scribed onto either or both of its surfaces, the matter blocking the passage of light through the image insert 24 or allowing only light of a limited band of frequencies through, resulting in a projected image 26 with color. From the viewpoint of facing the aperture 38 from outside the keyboard housing 28, projected image 26 is horizontally inverted to the matter on image insert 24. The specific appearance, color and subject of the matter is immaterial to this invention and may be provided by the manufacturing source of the keyboard or by a user.
The luminosity of projected image 26 is dependent on the amount of light reaching surface 42. The color of projected image 24 is dependent on the color of light from light source 20, the color of the portions of image insert 24 allowing light to pass through and the color of surface 42.
Surface 42 is any surface, whether flat, curved or otherwise, of any color, orientation and material, capable of acting as a surface upon which image 26 is projected. Surface 42 may be horizontal, vertical or otherwise.
Block 17 is affixed to the inside surface of the base of the keyboard housing 28 and is generally located below reflector 22. Block 17 is made of any opaque material capable of preventing any light from passing through it. Block 17 serves to prevent or block any light emanating from light source 20 to travel directly to aperture 38 and possibly result in the compromising of image clarity.
