Hand movement controller
Filing Information
- Patent Number: US4650934
- Application Number: US6772112
- Filing date: 09/03/1985
- Issue date: 03/17/1987
- Predicted expiration date: 11/08/2004
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analyzing 100 million+ documents to uncover your network...- U.S. Classifications: 200/5R · 200/5A ·
- International Classifications: H01H 1370 ·
- International Classifications: 2005 R;5 A;6 A ·
- Related U.S. Application Data:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 669,546 filed Nov. 8, 1984 now abandoned. - View document at: (opens new window):
USPTO · PAIR · esp@cenet · Patent Family* Related patent documents may or may not exist on these sites
Abstract
A hand movement controller is described which permits a variety of control functions to be performed by single left or right handed operation, and is particularly suitable for handicapped persons. The controller comprises a base which is generally wedge-shaped in side elevation with a sloping top surface on which is located a movable palm support on which the hand rests. One or two rows of keys are symmetrically spaced about the front edge of the palm support for engagement by the fingers of the hand. The distance between the movable palm support and keys is adjustable so that it can support the fingers to permit them to pivot freely about the knuckles with minimal strain over a prolonged period of time. The spacing of the row or rows of keys about the palm support is designed to optimize reaction time for fast operation. In a preferred embodiment an outer row of five keys and an inner row of three keys are used and permit control of movement in three dimensions. The palm support can be moulded from a plastic thermoplastic material to be custom suited to the individual.References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| Document Number | Assignees | Inventors | Issue/Pub Date |
|---|---|---|---|
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| US4360892 | Microwriter Limited | Endfield | Nov 1982 |
| US4385215 | EECO Incorporated | Lemberg | May 1983 |
| US4433217 | Koala Technologies Corporation | Griffith | Feb 1984 |
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Foreign Patent Documents
| Document Number | Assignees | Inventors | Issue/Pub Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO20WO8400518 | Feb 1984 | ||
| GB1016993 | IBM | Jan 1966 | |
| GB1480243 | POST OFFICE | Jul 1977 | |
| GB2076743A | Dec 1981 | ||
| GB2131746A | Jun 1984 |
Other Publications
| IBM Tech. Disc. Bull.; J. Greenfield et al.; "Keyboard Assembly", vol. 25, No. 8, Jan., 1983 pp. 4265-4267. |
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Referenced By
| Document Number | Assignee | Inventors | Issue/Pub Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US5754168 | Maynard, Jr.; Stuart Tyrus | May 1998 | |
| US5764164 | Reality Quest Corp. | Michael C. Cartabiano et al. | Jun 1998 |
| US5581277 | Akira Tajiri | Dec 1996 | |
| US4905173 | BIANCO JAMES S | James S. Bianco | Feb 1990 |
| US6369797 | Stuart Tyrus Maynard, Jr. | Apr 2002 | |
| US5260696 | MAYNARD JR STUART T | Maynard, Jr.; Stuart T. | Nov 1993 |
| US5712460 | Linvatec Corporation | Raymond A. Carr et al. | Jan 1998 |
| US6965789 | Vertu Limited | Michael Harry Spencer Hauge et al. | Nov 2005 |
| US7499032 | Peter J. Mikan | Mar 2009 | |
| USD354735 | Seth R. McCloud | Jan 1995 | |
| US5063376 | CHANG RONALD G | Ronald G. Chang | Nov 1991 |
| USD315896 | Northern Telecom Limited | Michael Brown | Apr 1991 |
| USD361983 | Linvatec Corporation | David A. Cianciolo et al. | Sep 1995 |
| US6928350 | Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. | Borys Joseph Melnyk et al. | Aug 2005 |
Patent Family
The current document is not in a family.View Drawings
Independent Claims | See all claims (12)
- 1. A hand movement controller comprising:a base having a rear portion and a front portion and an upper surface between the front and rear portions;an elevated palm support movably mounted on the base upper surface to extend upwardly therefrom, the palm support having a support upper surface on which rests the palm of either a right or left hand in extended relaxed position;a first row of five switch keys mounted on the base between the said rear portion and the palm support, the row being arcuate as seen in plan from above, symmetrically disposed about the centre key, and concave toward the palm support, for engagement by the fingers and the thumb of either a right hand or a left hand resting on the palm support;means mounting the palm support on the base for longitudinal movement toward and away from the said arcuate row of keys for selection by said longitudinal movement of the spacing between the support and the keys to accommodate fingers of different lengths, and so that the fingers and the thumb engage all the keys in the row with the hand in said extended relaxed position and movable freely about the knuckles without longitudinal movement of the hand on the palm support; andmeans for fastening the palm support to the base with the selected spacing between the support and the keys.
