Abstract:
The present invention relates to an overlay for a touchscreen piano keyboard implemented on an iPad or similar touchscreen device. It includes a screen covering sheet, that has a top surface pitted with hollows, such that it blocks activation of the touchscreen piano keys when lightly pressed, but not when more firmly pressed, thereby emulating the pressing of physical piano keys.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/224,625, filed Mar. 25, 2014 which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/491,045 filed Jun. 7, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,710,344. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed toward an overlay for a touchscreen piano keyboard, and more particularly, toward an overlay that enables a touchscreen to more effectively emulate a physical piano keyboard by providing a means to distinguish multiple screen pressing force levels, so as to simulate the tactile feedback associated with physical key pressing. While this invention is particularly applicable to keyboards, it is equally applicable to any touchscreen application that will benefit from this capability. 
         [0003]    There are numerous apps for iPads, and similar touchscreen devices, that emulate physical devices; however, due to their inability to distinguish multiple screen pressing force levels, such emulations can be extremely limited in their effectiveness. There is, therefore, a need for a touchscreen attachment that will enable emulations to overcome this deficiency. The present invention accomplishes this with a touchscreen overlay that blocks activation of the touch screen when lightly pressed, but not when more firmly pressed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to an overlay for a touchscreen piano keyboard implemented on an iPad or similar touchscreen device. It includes a screen covering sheet, that has a top surface pitted with hollows, such that it blocks activation of the touchscreen piano keys when lightly pressed, but not when more firmly pressed, thereby emulating the pressing of physical piano keys. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    To illustrate the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms that are presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the touchscreen overlay of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the touchscreen overlay in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the touchscreen overlay in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the touchscreen overlay in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0010]    Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a touchscreen overlay  100 , as viewed from a top, bottom, back, and front perspective, respectively, which is of a size approximating that of the touchscreen piano keyboard for which it will be used. 
         [0011]    As shown from a back perspective in  FIG. 3  and a front perspective in  FIG. 4 , overlay  100  consists of sheet  301  having an approximate thickness of 1/16 to ⅛ inches, sheet  301  top surface  101 , sheet  301  bottom surface  201 , and ridge  103  protruding from top surface  101  having a rounded top and an approximate height and width of 1/16 to ⅛ inches each. 
         [0012]    As shown from a top perspective of overlay  100  in  FIG. 1 , top surface  101  is pitted with hollows  102  having openings approximately 1/16 to ⅛ inches square. For the purposes of illustration only, the openings are shown as square; however, they could have been shown as round, or any other shape.  FIG. 1  further shows ridge  103  having a layout that outlines the keys of the touchscreen piano keyboard for which overlay  100  will be used. 
         [0013]    As shown from a bottom perspective of overlay  100  in  FIG. 2 , hollows  102  are holes that pass through sheet  301  to bottom surface  201 . Again, for illustration purposes only, hollows  102  are shown as holes in sheet  301 ; however, depending on the type of touchscreen for which overlay  100  will be used, they could have been shown as indentations in top surface  101 . 
         [0014]    Proceeding now to the functionality of the preferred embodiment in detail, with overlay  100  in place atop the touchscreen piano keyboard so that bottom surface  201  is in full contact with the keyboard and ridge  103  outlines its keys, presses directed at the piano keyboard cannot strike the touchscreen directly. 
         [0015]    In order for the touch screens used by iPads and similar devices to detect and locate a finger press, they must be contacted at the press point by the skin of the pressing finger, either directly, or indirectly through a thin, conductive layer. If the thin layer were instead non-conductive, activation of the touchscreen would be blocked, and finger presses would go undetected. 
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment, overlay  100  is fabricated from transparent, non-conductive plastic. Thus, sheet  301  is a thin, non-conductive layer covering the touchscreen piano keyboard, such that light presses (i.e., presses with a pressing force below the range normally used when playing a physical piano keyboard) will be blocked from directly, or indirectly, contacting the touch screen in the manner required to activate the touch screen for detection. 
         [0017]    However, due to the multitude of hollows  102  throughout top surface  201 , slightly firmer presses will cause the skin of the pressing finger to be wedged down into at least one hollow  102  in the contact vicinity, such that finger presses having a pressing force within the range normally used in the playing of a physical piano keyboard will be firm enough to wedge the skin of the pressing finger completely through at least one hollow  102 , thereby enabling the skin of the pressing finger to contact the touch screen directly, so as to activate the touchscreen for detecting the press at the contact point. 
         [0018]    While the preferred embodiment depicts overlay  100  being of a particular size, shape, and material, hollows  102  being of a particular size, shape, spacing, and type (i.e., hole versus indentation), ridge  103  being of a particular size, shape, and layout, and overlay  100  functionality being of a particular capability. (i.e., distinguishing two press force levels versus many press force levels, as determined by the thickness and material properties, such as conductance, elasticity, etc., of sheet  301 , the size, spacing, and type of hollows  102 , and the material properties of overlay  100 , such as conductance, elasticity, etc., all of which can be varied to achieve varied functionality at specific locations of overlay  100 ), it would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these choices.