US5536170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interchangeable symbolic language overlay system for push button operated device
Assignee: MURPHY JANICE L
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Filing: 1994-08-15
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2014-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A tactile recognition language overlay system includes a piece of pliable material for covering a pressure sensitive or push button operated device, such as a keyboard or control panel. The piece of pliable material includes depressible portions which move below the piece of pliable material to contact detection regions disposed on the pressure sensitive device, such as keys on a keyboard. Each depressible portion has an engaging region which is adapted to engage a tactile recognition language block having at least a tactilly recognizable character, such as a Braille character. The tactile recognition language blocks may also include visual indicia. The depressible portions and engaging regions are spaced and oriented in a predetermined pattern corresponding to detection regions on the pressure sensitive device. A plurality of tactile recognition language blocks may be selectably and removably engaged with the engaging regions to form an interchangeable combination of tactilly recognizable characters which overlay and correspond to the pressure sensitive device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin C. Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:53
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/04; G09B21/001; G09B21/003; H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/18; H01H2009/189
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A tactile recognition language overlay for use with a pressure sensitive device, said tactile recognition language overlay comprising: a piece of pliable material adapted to cover at least a portion of at least one pressure sensitive device, said piece of pliable material including at least one depressible portion movable below a plane of said piece of soft pliable material and towards said at least one pressure sensitive device to contact a pressure detection region disposed on said at least one pressure sensitive device; and a tactile recognition language block engaging region disposed on a top surface of said at least one depressible portion of said piece of pliable material, said tactile recognition language block engaging region removably engagable with a tactile recognition language block having at least a tactilly recognizable region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A tactile recognition language overlay for use with a pressure sensitive device, said tactile recognition language overlay comprising: a piece of pliable material adapted to cover at least a portion of at least one pressure sensitive device, said piece of pliable material including at least one depressible portion movable below a plane of said piece of soft pliable material and towards said at least one pressure sensitive device to contact a pressure detection region disposed on said at least one pressure sensitive device; and a tactile recognition language block engaging region disposed on a top surface of said at least one depressible portion of said piece of pliable material, said tactile recognition language block engaging region removably engagable with a tactile recognition language block having at least a tactilly recognizable region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, further including at least one tactile recognition language block engaged with said tactile recognition language block engaging region disposed on said at least one depressible portion of said piece of pliable material, wherein said at least one tactile recognition language block includes both a tactilly recognizable region and a visually recognizable region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 2, wherein said tactilly recognizable region includes at least one protrusion having a rounded top portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 2, wherein said at least one tactile recognition language block includes a rounded corner portion, for orienting said at least one tactile recognition language block with respect to a corresponding said at least one depressible portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 2, wherein said tactilly recognizable region includes a tactilly recognizable character and said visually recognizable region includes a visually recognizable character corresponding to said tactilly recognizable character.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 5, wherein said tactilly recognizable character is a Braille character.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 2, further including a plurality of tactile recognition language blocks removably and selectably engaged with a plurality of tactile recognition language block engaging regions disposed on said piece of pliable material, for forming an interchangeable combination of characters corresponding to pressure detection regions disposed on said pressure sensitive device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said tactile recognition language block engaging region includes a hook/pile coupling region disposed on said top surface of said at least one depressible portion for engaging a corresponding hook/pile coupling region on said tactile recognition language block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said at least one depressible portion includes at least one detached edge which is detached from said piece of pliable material for allowing said at least one depressible portion to move below said plane of said piece of pliable material and toward said pressure sensitive device to contact said pressure detection region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said at least one depressible portion includes a single hinged edge integral with said piece of pliable material and a plurality of remaining edges detached from said piece of pliable material, for allowing said at least one depressible portion to bend along said single hinged edge and to move below the plane of said piece of pliable material and towards said pressure sensitive device to contact said pressure detection region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, further including a plurality of depressible portions and corresponding tactile recognition language block engaging regions spaced and oriented in a predetermined arrangement on said piece of pliable material, said predetermined arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of pressure detection regions disposed on said pressure sensitive device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said piece of pliable material has a generally rectangular shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said piece of pliable material is adapted to overlay a computer keyboard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said tactile recognition language block engaging region includes block engaging members disposed on said top surface of said at least one depressible portion for frictionally engaging corresponding engaging members on a tactile recognition language block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said piece of pliable material includes one material selected from the group consisting of nylon and acrylic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said piece of pliable material is approximately 1/8 inches thick.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tactile recognition language overlay of claim 1, wherein said piece of pliable material is adapted to overlay a tactile language teaching device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
A tactile recognition language overlay system for use with a pressure sensitive device, said tactile recognition language overlay system comprising: a piece of pliable material adapted to cover at least a portion of at least one pressure sensitive device, said piece of pliable material including a plurality of depressible portions movable below a plane of said piece of soft pliable material and towards said at least one pressure sensitive device to contact a plurality of respective pressure detection regions disposed on said at least one pressure sensitive device; and a plurality of tactile recognition blocks disposed on said plurality of depressible portions of said piece of pliable material in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to predetermined pressure detection regions of said plurality of respective pressure detection regions of said pressure sensitive device, wherein each tactile recognition block includes at least a tactilly recognizable region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
143 words
A tactile recognition language overlay system for use with a pressure sensitive device, said tactile recognition language overlay system comprising: a piece of pliable material adapted to cover at least a portion of at least one pressure sensitive device, said piece of pliable material including a plurality of depressible portions movable below a plane of said piece of soft pliable material and towards said at least one pressure sensitive device to contact a plurality of respective pressure detection regions disposed on said at least one pressure sensitive device; and a plurality of tactile recognition blocks disposed on said plurality of depressible portions of said piece of pliable material in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to predetermined pressure detection regions of said plurality of respective pressure detection regions of said pressure sensitive device, wherein each tactile recognition block includes at least a tactilly recognizable region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
A tactile recognition language overlay system for use with a pressure sensitive device, said tactile recognition language overlay system comprising: at least one pressure detection region, for activating said pressure sensitive device, said at least one pressure detection region including a tactile recognition block engaging region; and at least one tactile recognition block removably engaged with said tactile recognition block engaging region on said at least one pressure detection region, wherein said at least one tactile recognition block includes at least a tactilly recognizable region, wherein at least a portion of one corner region of said at least one tactile recognition block includes a tactilly recognizable deviation for orienting said at least one tactile recognition block with respect to a corresponding said at least one pressure detection region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
128 words
A tactile recognition language overlay system for use with a pressure sensitive device, said tactile recognition language overlay system comprising: at least one pressure detection region, for activating said pressure sensitive device, said at least one pressure detection region including a tactile recognition block engaging region; and at least one tactile recognition block removably engaged with said tactile recognition block engaging region on said at least one pressure detection region, wherein said at least one tactile recognition block includes at least a tactilly recognizable region, wherein at least a portion of one corner region of said at least one tactile recognition block includes a tactilly recognizable deviation for orienting said at least one tactile recognition block with respect to a corresponding said at least one pressure detection region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
The tactile recognition language overlay system of claim 19, including a plurality of pressure detection regions and a plurality of tactile recognition blocks removably engaged with corresponding tactile recognition block engaging regions on said plurality of pressure detection regions, wherein tactilly recognizable regions on said plurality of tactile recognition blocks form an interchangeable series of tactilly recognizable characters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
The tactile recognition language overlay system of claim 19, wherein said tactile recognition block engaging region includes a hook/pile coupling region on said at least one pressure detection region, and said at least one tactile recognition block includes a corresponding hook/pile coupling region, for removably engaging said tactile recognition block engaging region on said at least one pressure detection region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tactile recognition language overlay system of claim 19, wherein said at least one tactile recognition block includes a visually recognizable region corresponding to said at least a tactilly recognizable region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The tactile recognition language overlay system of claim 19, wherein said tactilly recognizable deviation of said at least one tactile recognition block includes a rounded corner portion, for orienting said at least one tactile recognition block with respect to a corresponding said at least one pressure detection region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |