Abstract:
A cleaning device for cleaning a keyboard includes a cleaning surface and proximal and distal guide arms. The cleaning surface has a transverse width which is large enough to depress one key completely while at least partially depressing a second adjacent key. The longitudinal length of the cleaning surface is equal to the longitudinal length of character keys of the keyboard. The ends of the cleaning surface are curved. The guide arms are for guiding the cleaning surface transversely across the keyboard.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/119,735, filed Dec. 04, 2008 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a cleaning device and method and, more particularly, to a device and method for cleaning the keys of a computer keyboard. 
         [0003]    A main difficulty when cleaning computer keyboards is achieving a continuous movement along rows of keys, especially when cleaning quickly. This difficulty is caused because when a key is cleaned it becomes depressed, making the adjacent keys higher than it. In order to move the cleaner from one key to the next it needs to be lifted and repositioned frequently. The presently described keyboard cleaner allows swift and efficient movement along the keys in a single sweeping motion due to its special adaptation to the particular structure and properties of computer keyboards 
         [0004]    Various attempts have been made to provide a keyboard cleaner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,999 to Levy describes a keyboard cleaner having groups of cleaning substructures which are wedge shaped and convex shaped. In various embodiments, these substructures are grouped either with like substructures or alternate between the two types of substructures. The device as described had a flat head structure from which the cleaning substructures extend. This flat head structure and indeed the design of the substructures, prevent the transverse movement of the cleaning device, meaning that the cleaning device must be continually lifted and moved from place to place in order to clean the entire set of keys on the keyboard. U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,999 to Levy is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0005]    It would be highly advantageous to have a cleaning device that is able to move transversely without obstruction, thereby allowing for the efficient and comfortable manner of cleaning keyboard keys with continuous transverse movements. 
       DEFINITIONS 
       [0006]    The terms ‘keyboard’ and ‘computer keyboard’ as pertaining to the current application are understood to mean any keyboard-like accessory having distinct, raised keys with a slightly sunken top surface, where the body of the key moves downward when depressed and returns to the previous height when no longer depressed. Some non-limiting examples are: typewriters, stenograph machines, telephone keypads, laptop keyboards, detachable keyboards and accounting calculators 
         [0007]    The material Velcro consists of two surfaces, a hook surface and a loop surface. The term ‘Velcro hook surface’ as pertaining to the current application refers to the Velcro surface containing small hooks. The term ‘Velcro loop surface’, as pertaining to the current application, refers to the Velcro surface containing looped fibrous material well known in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning device for cleaning keys of a keyboard including: a) a cleaning surface having: i) a transverse width sufficiently large for simultaneously depressing at least one character key of the keyboard substantially completely and a second adjacent key at least partially; ii) a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of a character key of the keyboard; and iii) curved ends; and b) proximal and distal guide arms for guiding the cleaning surface transversely across the keyboard. 
         [0009]    According to the present invention there is provided a method for cleaning keys of a keyboard including the steps of: a) positioning a cleaning device above a key of the keyboard, wherein the cleaning device includes: i) a cleaning surface having: A) a transverse width sufficiently large for simultaneously depressing at least one character key of the keyboard substantially completely and a second adjacent key at least partially; B) a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of a character key of the keyboard; and C) curved ends; and ii) proximal and distal guide arms for guiding the cleaning surface transversely across the keyboard; and b) depressing the cleaning device relative to the keyboard while moving the cleaning device transversely along the keyboard. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning device for cleaning a keyboard including (a) a cleaning surface and (b) proximal and distal guide aims. The cleaning surface has a transverse width that is large enough to depress one key completely while at least partially depressing a second adjacent key. The longitudinal length of the cleaning surface is equal to the longitudinal length of character keys of a keyboard. The ends of the cleaning surface are curved. The guide arms are for guiding the cleaning surface transversely across the keyboard. 
         [0011]    According to further features in the described preferred embodiment, the cleaning surface is adapted to be covered by a cleaning medium (such as a cloth or moist wipe). Furthermore, it is preferable to have an upper surface with either protrusions on which the cleaning medium is hooked or loop-side or hook-side Velcro patches to which the cleaning medium is attached. 
         [0012]    Alternatively, the cleaning surface includes two slits on opposite ends of the surface for clasping the cleaning medium. In other preferred embodiments, the cleaning medium is an elasticized band that is wider than the cleaning surface so as to encompass the proximal and distal guide arms for cleaning proximal and distal sides of the keys of the keyboard. Preferably the device further includes an upper surface having protruding retention arms and barrier for preventing the elasticized band from slipping off whilst cleaning. 
         [0013]    According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the cleaning surface includes a protruding section between the proximal and distal arms for cleaning depressed surfaces of the keyboard keys. Preferably the protruding section is formed from rubber hairs or plastic. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment of the cleaning device the cleaning surface includes parallel edges between the proximal and distal arms and converging edges left and right of the proximal and distal arms. 
         [0015]    According to further features in the described preferred embodiment the proximal guiding arm is sufficiently longer than the distal arm to compensate for the slope of the keyboard. 
         [0016]    According to further features in the described preferred embodiment the proximal and distal guide arms have straight bottom edges. 
         [0017]    According to further features in the described preferred embodiment the proximal and distal guide arms have curved bottom edges. 
         [0018]    According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a method for cleaning keys of a keyboard comprising the steps of (a) positioning the cleaning device above a key of the keyboard wherein the cleaning device includes (i) a cleaning surface having: (A) a transverse width sufficiently large for simultaneously depressing at least one character key of the keyboard substantially completely and a second adjacent key at least partially; (B) a longitudinal length substantially equal to the longitudinal length of a character key of the keyboard; and (C) curved edges; and (ii) proximal and distal guide arms for guiding the cleaning surface transversely across the keyboard; and (b) depressing the cleaning device relative to the keyboard while moving the cleaning device transversely along the keyboard. 
         [0019]    The keyboard cleaner of the present invention allows for a method of cleaning the keys in a transverse motion, whereby the bottom surface of the cleaner contacts the top of the key being cleaned. The bottom surface of the cleaner is wider than the surface of a single key. Thus when the key that is being cleaned is depressed, the key adjacent thereto is depressed as well, allowing for a smooth and continuous cleaning movement along the row of keys. The bottom surface of the cleaner has curved edges so that the key or keys adjacent to the key being cleaned are gradually depressed along with the key being cleaned. The depression of the keys is accomplished from the top down, and not from the sides, which would impede the movement along the keys. The bottom surface of the cleaner has a cleaning medium attached to it. This medium is made of any material that is suitable for cleaning keyboards. The medium may be either permanent, reusable or disposable (for example, moist wipes). 
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, the cleaner has two arms which correspond to the shape of the keyboard keys. Each arm has a thin depth (to allow for fitting between the rows of keys) and height and width similar to that of the corresponding side of the key. These arms follow the key as it is being depressed and allow the cleaner to grip the key and clean it. All of the edges of the cleaner (including the cleaning arms) may be rounded so as to enable smooth and continuous movement along the keys. In an alternative embodiment, the cleaner may include arms that cover two or more keys at once, so that the cleaning surface is larger. 
         [0021]    The top surfaces of computer keyboard keys typically are sunken, therefore the area between the two arms on the bottom of the cleaner features a slight protrusion. This protrusion allows thorough cleaning of the top surface of the key and does not impede the movement of the cleaner over the row of keys. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the arms of the cleaner; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a magnified sectional view of one of the sides of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a sectional bottom view of the convex protrusion between the cleaner arms; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary cleaning medium; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative configuration of the upper surface of the cleaner; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7   a  is a bottom view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7   b  is a side view of a second embodiment of the arms of cleaner; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a keyboard. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    The principles and operation of a keyboard cleaner according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. 
         [0034]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1  is a side view of cleaner  10 . Curved surface  100  is the bottom surface of the cleaner. Surface  102  is the upper surface of the cleaner. Front arm  103  of the cleaner is clearly visible, whereas back arm  104  is slightly obscured by the front arm. Arms  103  and  104  have straight bottom surfaces. Front arm  103  extends from bottom surface  100  and is designed to abut the proximal side of computer keyboard keys (closer to the user). Back arm  104  extends from bottom surface  100  and is designed to abut the distal side of computer keyboard keys. Alternatively, front arm  103  and back arm  104  are detachably coupled to bottom surface  100 . It is to be understood that arms of various transverse widths are potentially detachably coupled to bottom surface  100 . In all of the above variations, front arm  103  is slightly longer than back an  104 , to accommodate for the slope of the keyboard. The lengths of the arms are dependent on the slope of the keyboard. For a keyboard with no slope, arms  103  and  104  are of the same height. 
         [0035]    Four curved protrusions  105  extend from upper surface  102  at the four corners, to which a non-permanent cleaning medium (not shown) is detachably attached. Alternatively, the attachment of a cleaning medium can be accomplished using any suitable coupling medium such as, for example, Velcro. Optional Velcro patches  105   a  (either hook surface or loop surface) are depicted on opposite ends of surface  102  for detachably attaching a cleaning medium (not shown) featuring corresponding Velcro patches. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  depicts front arm  103  and slightly shorter back arm  104 . Arm  104  is slightly shorter than arm  103  to compensate for the slope of the keyboard. The arms are configured to correspond to the shape of the proximal and distal sides of the keys of a keyboard. Although the current embodiment depicts arm  104  as being slightly shorter than arm  103  it is to be understood that the shape of the arms is determined by the corresponding shape of the keyboard keys. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  depicts a magnified area of an alternative configuration of bottom surface  100 . In this configuration bottom surface  100  features slits  106  across the depth of the surface at points on the left and right sides of the surface above the curve of the surface and perpendicular to the keyboard (not shown). The slits allow for the insertion of a cleaner medium (e.g. moist wipe—not shown) which is secured in place under light pressure. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  depicts a bottom view of a section of the bottom surface  100 . A curved slight protrusion  107  extends from bottom surface  100  corresponding to the sunken part of the top surface of the keys. Protrusion  107  improves the cleaning contact with the top surface of the keys (the dent in the top of the keys is very slight and doesn&#39;t impede the right and left motion). The protrusion may be made of plastic, rubber hairs, or the cleaning medium that covers bottom surface  100 , for example. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary cleaning medium  108 . Medium  108  features four holes  109  by which medium  108  is attached to cleaner  10  of  FIG. 1  via protrusions  105  of  FIG. 1 . Medium  108  features two pockets  110  for containing the arms  103  and  104 . When attached to cleaner  10  of  FIG. 1 , medium  108  covers surface  100  as well as arms  103  and  104  which fit into pockets  110 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative configuration of upper surface  102 . In an embodiment of cleaner  10  with this configuration of upper surface  102 , an elasticized cleaning medium band (not shown) is fitted over the entire cleaner  10 , encompassing surfaces  100  and  102  as well as arms  103  and  104 . This cleaning medium has a wider width than surfaces  100  and  102  in order to cover arms  103  and  104 . Using a wider medium, the proximal and distal sides of the keys are also cleaned by the medium which covers arms  103  and  104  and which is sandwiched between the side of the key being cleaned and the arm. Additionally, the cleaning medium can be rotated along surfaces  100  and  102  so that additional areas of the medium come into contact with the keyboard, making a more efficient use of the medium. In order to ensure that the cleaning medium does not slip off the sides of cleaner  10  during the cleaning process or the rotating process, surface  102  features arms  111  which extend from surface  102  and are of equal or slightly wider width than the width of the elasticized cleaning medium. Small barriers  111   a  extend perpendicular to arms  111  and prevent slippage of the medium. 
         [0041]    Another configuration of the cleaning surface  100  is shown in  FIG. 7   a . Another configuration of the arms  103  and  104  is shown in  FIG. 7   b . In  FIG. 7   b  alternatively configured arms  703  and  704  are shown in a side view. Arms  703  and  704  have rounded corners to enable smooth movement along the keyboard. In  FIG. 7   a  a bottom view of alternative cleaning surface  700  is depicted. Cleaning surface  700  serves the same function as surface  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . In distinction to surface  100 , the sides of surface  700  are only parallel at the section containing the arms  703  and  704 , but converge slightly at sections  701 , providing a rounded as well as curved surface, to ensure smooth movement of the cleaner along the keys of a keyboard. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8   a  depicts an alternative configuration for upper surface  102 . In this configuration, surface  102  features multiple sets of arms  112  (depicted in  FIG. 8   b ) for cleaning the right and left sides of keys of the keyboard. Arms  112  are designed to fit the right and left sides of the keys. The end that is closer to the user is wider than the end further from the user. The length of the arms is slightly greater than the length of a key (to allow space for the cleaning fabric). Two arms  112  can be positioned in the center of surface  102 , and fabric can be attached to them. Alternatively, multiple sets of such arms can be affixed to surface  102 , as depicted in  FIG. 8   a , to allow simultaneous cleaning of multiple keys. In  FIG. 8   a , surface  102  in the current configuration is depicted according to the orientation of use (i.e. downward), this is the opposite orientation of surface  102  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]    The cleaning motion employed when using arms  112  is a forward and backward motion. A computer keyboard with staggered rows of keys does not allow for continuous forward and backward cleaning movements, but rather restricted movements along the length of a single row per movement. For keyboards and keypads where the rows are not staggered, fluid, unobstructed forward and backward cleaning movements are possible. 
         [0044]    An elasticized cleaning medium is used accommodate stretching of the medium in order to encompass the sides of the keys being cleaned. Alternatively, a loose cleaning medium is secured to the cleaning surface via a rubber band, the medium becoming taut when the arms are squeezed between the keys. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  depicts an section of an exemplary keyboard  90  wherein arrow  900  denotes the transverse direction and arrow  902  denotes the longitudinal direction. 
         [0046]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, combinations and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow is not limited to the embodiments described herein.