Handy keystroke rotary guide for computer programs

A universal design of a handy rotary keystrokes guide that simplifies the tasks of personal computer users who prepare spreadsheets, documents, graphs, presentations, reports, etc. It reduces the requirement to remember a multitude of keystrokes and mouse clicks needed to perform hundreds of computer operations and tasks. It provides a convenient display of keystrokes and mouse clicks in a unique, compact, shorthand symbology form and format that is always in the field of view of the computer operator. A one piece cradle supports the rotary guide and enables quick, simple interchange of the rotary keystrokes guides unique to various software programs. Line registration or line magnifier is accomplished by simple attachment to the cradle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The personal computer has become an indispensible tool for many businesses 
and home users, and is dependent on a large and growing number of special 
computer programs. Operation of these programs accurately and efficiently 
burdens the users with a need to remember hundreds of special keystroke 
and mouse click combinations in order to perform many tasks including 
tasks of calculating a spreadsheet, adding and deleting columns, erasing 
or moving data, or recalling data in various files, etc. 
If an operator cannot remember the correct combinations of keystrokes and 
mouse clicks for an operation, he has to interrupt his work, reach for a 
handbook, consult an index, find the page(s), juggle the book, move his 
sight from book to keyboard, to monitor, in order to continue work. 
Computer and software manufactures have lessened this burden by providing 
menus, icon, tools, etc., which frequently obscure areas of the monitor 
screen and require moving amongst menus, sub menus, etc. These are very 
beneficial. However, in effort to cover all needs and situations, these 
aids sometimes become unwieldy--like a dictionary filled with so many 
words than most persons ever use. 
Thus, a need remains for quick, reliable access to essential keystrokes and 
mouse clicks required to perform the many computer operations and tasks. 
The general object of this invention is to provide a simple, rotary guide 
displaying essential keystrokes and mouse clicks for computer software 
programs in an unique, compact, easily understood "keystrokes shorthand", 
and, which is constantly in the operator's field of view, and which is 
easily interchangeability in seconds with other programs guides. Optional 
vision enhancement and line register is also provided. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
The only prior art discovered to date is a type of aid variously referred 
to as "keyboard templates". The intent of the "templates" appears similar 
to this invention, however, they are presented in radically different 
physical form and keystroke guidance. Just as the "Quick Reference" 
booklets are different from templates. The templates are long, flat, thin, 
narrow plastic strips with assorted keystroke guides for different 
software programs. The template keystrokes guides do not appear to be as 
efficient in shorthand symbology. In addition, a rotary cylinder (as in 
this invention) with a diameter equal to the height of the template 
provides three times more keystroke area as the template. Additionally, 
the template presentations is felt to lack the ease and convenience of 
this invention. 
A review of the following computer related patent classes and subclasses 
did not reveal any devices similar to that described herein. 
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Class Sub Class 
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395 326, 340, 348, 352 
434 118 
D14 100 
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to: 
Provide a simple, universal design of a rotary guide for personal computer 
operators that presents essential keystrokes and mouse clicks for use and 
execution of their program(s) quickly and efficiently, and without need to 
interrupt their work to refer to use manuals and books. 
Provide the keystroke guides in a form and format that uniquely addresses 
the myriad of computer programs, such as spreadsheets, charts, word 
processing, etc. The keystroke guides employ a unique, compact, shorthand 
symbology that typically reduces essential operations to one to four 
keystrokes and/or mouse clicks--all presented in easy to read form. 
Provide the keystroke guides in physical form with stand or cradle that 
enables the user to interchange one program guide with another in seconds. 
Provide the keystroke guides assembly in a physical form to fit compactly 
and unobtrusively between the keyboard and the monitor, or on a desktop 
computer, or monitor, and thereby, is always in the operator's field of 
view. 
Provide the simple attachment of either of two operational clip-on aids: 
a) a horizontal line register to ensure the intended set of keystrokes is 
followed, or 
b) a horizontal line magnifier for users with less than normal eyesight. 
Provide the keystroke guide data to be printed directly on the cylinder, or 
printed on an adhesive backed label then applied to the cylinder, or 
printed on cylindrical thermal film which is then heat shrunk onto the 
cylinder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 represents the preferred embodiment of the universal rotary 
keystrokes and mouse clicks guide, where the cylinder is imprinted with 
the essential keystrokes in a unique, compact, shorthand symbology for 
computer software programs. Most essential operations are performed in 
typically one to four keystrokes. A sample of the essential keystrokes 
follows: 
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TASK ESSENTIAL KEYSTROKES 
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Erase contents of a cell 
"delete" 
Add borders around cells 
d/a "format" "cells" `border` (choose) 
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The appropriate software program cylinder or roller is placed into the 
stand or cradle. It has an integral thumb wheel which enables the operator 
to rotate and select the desired set of keystrokes. The keystrokes and 
mouse clicks are printed directly onto the surface of the cylinder, or 
onto adhesive backed labels, or cylindrical thermal shrink films which are 
then applied to the cylinder surface. 
There are two optional clip-on accessories. One is a linear line register 
and the other is a linear line magnifier. 
The cylinder is normally maintained in its position by gravitational force. 
The line register or magnification accessories are maintained in either 
the "use" position or "retract" position by gravitational or spring 
forces. The complete assembly may be placed between the keyboard and 
monitor, or on top a desk top computer, or on top of the monitor. It is 
maintained in its positions by gravity or by adhesive. 
FIG. 1 shows the complete rotary keystrokes guide as comprised of: the 
cylinder or roller (1) with the integral thumb wheel (6), integral 
extended stub axles (7), essential keystrokes (3), the stand or cradle 
(2), and optionally installed line magnifier (4). 
FIG. 2 shows the cylinder or roller (1) vertically displaced from the stand 
or cradle (2) (to illustrate the ease of insertion or removal), essential 
keystrokes (3), the integral thumb wheel (6), the integral extended stub 
axles (7), the stand or cradle (2), and optionally installed line register 
(5). The cylinder is a one piece, thin walled, molded plastic unit. The 
cradle is also plastic. The optional accessories are made of a combination 
of plastic and thin metal rods formed to shape. 
The complete assembly of the preferred embodiment is of such dimensions as 
to display the essential keystrokes and mouse clicks for various software 
programs and presented in easily readable symbology and print size, and is 
also be geometrically compatible with the space between the monitor and 
keyboard for typical personal computer configurations. 
FIGS. 3(a) and (b) illustrate the easy and convenient location of the 
rotary keystrokes guide with the computer (10), between the monitor (8), 
and keyboard (9), and how the invention is integrated into the operators 
field of view during use. In certain cases the assembly may be mounted on 
top of the monitor. 
FIG. 4(a) illustrates the simple snap-in installation of the line register 
(5) to the stand or cradle (2). The dimensions and weight are such that 
the line register (5) is retained in either of two positions by force of 
gravity or springs. The "use" position hold the horizontal line register 
just off the surface of the cylinder or roller (1), and serves as a visual 
underlining register to which operator brings the desired keystrokes for 
easy reference. The stowed position moves the horizontal metal rod away 
from the cylinder or roller, and enables easy removal of the cylinder or 
roller and replacement. 
FIG. 4(b) illustrates the same simple snap-in installation of the linear 
line magnifier (4). It has the same two positions as the line register and 
is used the same way. Each of these is adjustable for the comfort of the 
operator by selecting the appropriate sets of snap-in-holes. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the rotary keystrokes guide in a typical work position 
relative to a personal computer, keyboard and monitor. 
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not only by 
the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal 
equivalents.