US5498088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard arrangement to maximize typing speed and ease of transition from a qwerty keyboard
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-07-11
•
Granted: 1996-03-12
•
Expires: 2014-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard arranged for efficiency in learning and in operating. Home keys are assigned according to the frequency of use of the letters. A user can select a new format with eleven or more keys in the same location as the conventional typewriter letter format. The keyboard is suitable for typewriters, personal computer keyboards. Different keyboards can be selected according to the frequency of use of the letters. By concentrating work on the home row, finger extension, flexion, and travel is reduced, allowing increased speed, accuracy and safety. By maintaining the same locations, most of the difficulty in relearning a new keyboard layout can be eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 John I. M. Choate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/10; G09; G09B; G09B13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A keyboard having, a complete alphabet, in at least three rows, each row having nine or more keys; comprising: a home row having the keys corresponding to the letters E, T, A, O, N, I, R, and S; wherein at least two of the keys corresponding to the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; an upper row, adjacent to said home row, having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Q, W, Y, U, and P; at least three keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of F, G, J, K and the key corresponding to the semicolon and colon; wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and a lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least three of the keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of C, V, B, and M; at least two keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, and L; at least two keys corresponding to the punctuation marks selected from the group consisting of the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least five of the selected keys selected from the group consisting of C, V, B, M, Z, X, period, comma, and question mark have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A keyboard having, a complete alphabet, in at least three rows, each row having nine or more keys; comprising: a home row having the keys corresponding to the letters E, T, A, O, N, I, R, and S; wherein at least two of the keys corresponding to the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; an upper row, adjacent to said home row, having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Q, W, Y, U, and P; at least three keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of F, G, J, K and the key corresponding to the semicolon and colon; wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and a lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least three of the keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of C, V, B, and M; at least two keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, and L; at least two keys corresponding to the punctuation marks selected from the group consisting of the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least five of the selected keys selected from the group consisting of C, V, B, M, Z, X, period, comma, and question mark have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
191 words
A keyboard having, a complete alphabet, in at least three rows, each row having nine or more keys; comprising: a home row having the key corresponding to the letter E; wherein at least two of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; an upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, T, Y, U, O and P; wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, T, Y, U, O, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and a lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least five keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least five of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
191 words
A keyboard having, a complete alphabet, in at least three rows, each row having nine or more keys; comprising: a home row having the key corresponding to the letter E; wherein at least two of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; an upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, T, Y, U, O and P; wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, T, Y, U, O, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and a lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least five keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least five of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E and T; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, O and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, O, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, T and O; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, T, O and R; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, I, and R; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, I, R and N; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least five keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least five of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, T, O, I, R and N, the upper row, adjacent to said home row, having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least five keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least five of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: wherein at least three of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of a conventional QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least five keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, T, Y, U, O and P; wherein at least five of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, T, Y, U, O, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least seven keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least seven of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E and T; wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, O and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, O, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, having at least seven keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least seven of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
The keyboard of claim 2 further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, T and O; wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, having at least seven keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least seven of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
173 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, T, O and R; wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, having at least seven keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least seven of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
172 words
The keyboard of claim 2 further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, I, and R; wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of a conventional QWERTY keyboard; the upper row, adjacent to said home row; having at least four keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and the lower row, having at least seven keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least seven of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
The keyboard of claim 2 further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, I, R and N; wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of a conventional QWERTY keyboard; the lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least seven keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least seven of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
179 words
The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising: the home row having keys corresponding to the letters E, T, O, I, R and N; wherein at least four of the remaining keys, selected from the group consisting of the letters A, S, D, H and L, have the same location as in the home row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard; an upper row, adjacent to said home row, having at least five keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P, wherein at least four of the keys corresponding to the letters Q, W, Y, U, and P have the same location as in the upper row of the QWERTY keyboard; and a lower row, adjacent to said home row, having at least nine keys corresponding to the letters selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, M, the period, the comma, and the question mark; wherein at least nine of the selected keys have the same location as in the lower row of the QWERTY keyboard.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-12 | 1999-09-11 | 2000-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-12 | 2003-09-11 | 2004-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-12 | 2007-09-11 | 2008-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |