GB2272405A - Telephone keypad. - Google Patents

Telephone keypad. Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2272405A
GB2272405A GB9323326A GB9323326A GB2272405A GB 2272405 A GB2272405 A GB 2272405A GB 9323326 A GB9323326 A GB 9323326A GB 9323326 A GB9323326 A GB 9323326A GB 2272405 A GB2272405 A GB 2272405A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
keys
key pad
console
front surface
end portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9323326A
Other versions
GB9323326D0 (en
GB2272405B (en
Inventor
Anthony J Dezonno
John P Lenihan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Boeing North American Inc
Original Assignee
Rockwell International Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rockwell International Corp filed Critical Rockwell International Corp
Publication of GB9323326D0 publication Critical patent/GB9323326D0/en
Publication of GB2272405A publication Critical patent/GB2272405A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2272405B publication Critical patent/GB2272405B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/84—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/028—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2231/00—Applications
    • H01H2231/022—Telephone handset

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

A control console (10) for a telephone system having a key pad (12) having an inclined front surface (14) such that the surface (14) tapers downwardly towards a front end portion (16) of the key pad (12). The console (10) has a plurality of keys (18) disposed on the front surface (14) of the key pad (12) such that the keys (18) may be depressed in order to enter data into the system, with the keys (18) having an inclined outer surface (22) from a front portion of the keys to a rear portion of the keys such that the outer surface (22) of the keys (18) is inclined relative to the front surface of the key pad. <IMAGE>

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A feature of the present invention is the provision of an improved control console for a telephone system.
The console of the present invention comprises, a key pad having an inclined front surface such that the surface tapers downwardly toward a front end portion of the key pad, and a plurality of keys disposed on the front surface of the key pad such that the keys may be depressed in order to enter data into or control the system.
A feature of the present invention is that the keys have an inclined outer surface from a front portion of the keys to a rear portion of the keys such that the outer surface of the keys is inclined relative to the front surface of the key pad.
Another feature of the invention is that this configuration of the keys provides mote comfort to a user while depressing the keys, and over an extended period of time.
A further feature of the invention is that the outer surface of the keys may be slightly curved inwardly to provide additional comfort to the user.
Another feature of the invention is that the outer surface of the keys is tapered approximately 5 degrees from the front portion to the rear portion of the keys.
Still another feature of the invention is that the front surface of the key pad is tapered approximately 20 degrees from a lower surface of the key pad.
Further features will become mote fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments of this invention, and from the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a control console for a telephone system of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the console of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the console and a key taken on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a control console generally designated 10 for a telephone system. The console 10 has a key pad or housing 12 having an inclined front surface 14, such as approximately 20 degrees from a lower surface 15 of the key pad 12, such that the front surface 14 tapers downwardly towards a front end portion 16 of the key pad 12. The system may have a suitable computer or CPU having a Random Access memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM), and a display 28 on the console 10 for displaying indicia to the user.
The key pad 12 has a plurality of keys 18 disposed thorough associated openings 20 of the console 10 on the front surface 14 of the key pad 12, such that the keys 18 may be depressed in the console 10 in order to enter data or control the telephone system.
As shown in Figs 2-4, the keys 18 have an inclined outer surface 22, such as 5 degrees from a front end portion from a front end portion 24 of the keys 18 to a rear end portion 26 of the keys 18, such that the outer surface 22 of the keys 18 is inclined relative to the front surface 14 of the key pad 12. Thus, the front surface 14 of the key pad 12 may define an angle phi relative to the lower surface 15 of the key pad 12, and the outer surface 22 of the keys 18 may define an angle theta relative to the front surface 14 of the key pad 12.
As shown in Fig. 4, the outer surface 22 of the keys 18 is slightly curved inwardly from a line extending between the front end portion 24 of the keys 18 and the rear end portion 26 of the keys 18 to provide comfort to the user.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the outer surface 22 of the keys 18 is inclined from the front surface 14 of the key pad 12 to provide comfort and ease of use of the keys even though the front surface 14 of the key pad 12 is inclined to the horizontal.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims (4)

What is claimed is:
1. A control console for a telephone system, comprising: a key pad having an inclined front surface such that the surface tapers downwardly towards a front end portion of the key pad; and a plurality of keys disposed on the front surface of the key pad such that the keys may be depressed in order to enter data into the system, said keys having an inclined outer surface from a front portion of the keys to a rear portion of the keys such that the outer surface of the keys is inclined relative to the front surface of the key pad.
2. The console of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the keys is slightly curved inwardly from a line between the front and rear portion of the keys.
3. The console of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the keys is tapered approximately 5 degrees from the front portion to the rear portion of the keys.
4. The console of claim 3 wherein the front surface of the key pad is tapered approximately 20 degrees from a lower surface of the key pad.
GB9323326A 1992-11-12 1993-11-11 Control console for a telephone system Expired - Fee Related GB2272405B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US97524292A 1992-11-12 1992-11-12

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9323326D0 GB9323326D0 (en) 1994-01-05
GB2272405A true GB2272405A (en) 1994-05-18
GB2272405B GB2272405B (en) 1995-12-06

Family

ID=25522820

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9323326A Expired - Fee Related GB2272405B (en) 1992-11-12 1993-11-11 Control console for a telephone system

Country Status (3)

Country Link
JP (2) JPH06217022A (en)
CA (1) CA2102994C (en)
GB (1) GB2272405B (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2070518A (en) * 1980-02-27 1981-09-09 Int Standard Electric Corp Type-printer keyboard
US5001307A (en) * 1988-08-12 1991-03-19 Mannesmann Kienzle Gmbh Keyboard

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2070518A (en) * 1980-02-27 1981-09-09 Int Standard Electric Corp Type-printer keyboard
US5001307A (en) * 1988-08-12 1991-03-19 Mannesmann Kienzle Gmbh Keyboard

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
I.B.M. Tech. Disc. Bull.;Vol. 19;No. 3;Aug 1976;Pp. 1035-6. *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3042260U (en) 1997-10-14
GB9323326D0 (en) 1994-01-05
CA2102994C (en) 1999-02-02
CA2102994A1 (en) 1994-05-13
JPH06217022A (en) 1994-08-05
GB2272405B (en) 1995-12-06

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20091111