Abstract:
A computer keyboard with a keyboard housing having an aperture, a light source of adjustable position and angle, the light source located within the keyboard housing, an image insert located over the aperture and a reflector of adjustable angle located within the keyboard housing. The light source directs light to the reflector which then redirects the light through the aperture and image insert, resulting in an image being projected onto a surface exterior to and within the proximity of the computer keyboard.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention relates to computer keyboards.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The proliferation of personal computers in homes and office environments has resulted in devices such as the computer keyboard being commonly used as convenient and affordable data input devices; as such, computer keyboards are commonly found in the home and office environments.  
         [0006]     Businesses have recognized the potential benefits of placing various matter, including brands and advertising, on the surfaces of computer keyboards as a means of promoting their brands as well as a means of educating computer users and consumers concerning their products. Following this, businesses have been attempting to find new ways of displaying their trademarks and advertisements in or around these peripheral devices of the personal computers. Trademarks are commonly inscribed or printed at the side or corner of the housing of the keyboard, in prominent view of the computer user.  
         [0007]     Further, computer users have sought to personalize their computer peripherals by placing their names or pictures onto the peripherals. This is usually performed by inscribing a name or by affixing a sticker onto the peripherals.  
         [0008]     Once matter is printed, inscribed or affixed onto a keyboard housing, however, it would be difficult or inconvenient to change such matter. Stickers involve some manner of adhesive, which may leave a residue when removed.  
         [0009]     Further, matter printed on a keyboard housing is susceptible to fading through everyday wear and tear; this is so especially for the case of a computer keyboard, which the computer user is in constant physical contact with.  
         [0010]     As matter is physically imprinted or affixed by means of adhesive onto the computer keyboard, the physical size of the matter is limited to the amount of physical space available on the keyboard. In addition, the matter would generally be placed in a corner of computer keyboard or other areas where the matter would not impede the proper use and operation of computer keyboard.  
         [0011]     The standard QWERTY computer keyboard features 101 keys; other modern computer keyboards feature additional keys or buttons on the keyboard housing, used in a multiplicity of ways, including gaining quick access to documents, application programs, the internet and the like. The addition of printed matter, including trademarks and personalized names, to the modern computer keyboards would serve to contribute towards visual ‘clutter’ of the keyboards.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that displays in a prominent manner matter, including advertising, trade marks and names within the view of a person using a computer and within the proximity of a keyboard or other peripheral such as a mouse or printer for example attached to the computer.  
         [0013]     It is a further object to provide an apparatus as described in the previous paragraph and without the need for physically limiting the display of the matter to the available surface area of the housing of the keyboard, and possibly resulting in a generally cluttered appearance of the keyboard.  
         [0014]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that enables the changing of the matter in a clean, quick and convenient manner.  
         [0015]     A further object of the present invention is to enable the user of the invention to change, adjust and control, within limits, the size and position of the matter.  
         [0016]     To achieve the above objects, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a computer keyboard with an alpha-numeric section, the housing of the computer keyboard features an aperture over which resides an image insert, a light source residing within the housing of the computer keyboard and of adjustable angle and position, a reflector of adjustable angle residing within the housing, a block residing within the housing and a surface external to the housing upon which a resultant image is projected.  
         [0017]     In a preferred embodiment, light emanating from the light source is directed to the reflector, and subsequently reflected through the aperture and image insert, resulting in a projected image on the image surface.  
         [0018]     In order for clarity in projected image, it is desirable that a projected image is primarily the result of light reflected off the reflector and passing through the image insert, as ambient light from the light source may serve to compromise clarity in the projected image. The block serves to primarily prevent light from the light source to directly reach the aperture, resulting in a clearer projected image on the surface external to the housing of the keyboard.  
         [0019]     In a preferred embodiment, an image insert is of transparent or semi-transparent material and may have matter printed inscribed on its surface, the matter being opaque or semi-transparent or being a combination of opaque and semi-transparent. The combination of some light passing through the image insert and some light being absorbed by the matter results in a desired projected image on the image surface. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view showing an alpha-numeric section  44 , keyboard housing  28 , a light source  20 , a vertical bracket  62 , adjustor wheel  48 , rod  63 , platform  56 , block  50 , housing track  64 , push knob  66 , stop knob  68 , reflector  22  affixed to lever  226 , a wire  30  connected to the light source  20 , an image insert  24  held over an aperture  38  by brackets  36 , and a protective sheet  40 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view showing internal surface of a side of keyboard housing  28 , reflector  22 , rod  224 , brackets  223  and protective sheet  40 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view showing the back surface  221  of reflector  22  affixed to the middle portion  2241  of rod  224 ; the back surface  221  is also affixed to the flat section  2261  of lever  226 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a view showing an external surface of keyboard housing  28 , lever  2262  protruding out of the keyboard housing  28  through side slot  46 , and image insert  24 . Image  26  is formed on the surface ‘s’ upon which the keyboard housing  28  is sitting.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a side view showing platform  56 , block  50 , upper edge of block  502 , adjustor wheel  48 , cogwheel  484  affixed to surface  482 , bracket  60 , eye  601 , and rod  63 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a further isometric side view displaying platform  56 , block  50 , adjustor wheel  48  and side surface  481 , light source  20 , wire  30 , back stopper  54 , front stopper  52 , bracket  62 , eye  621 , a rod  63  and housing track  64 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a view of the external surface of the base of keyboard housing  28  showing stop knob  68 , platform  56 , push knob  66 , housing track  64  and adjustor wheel  48 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a top view showing platform  56 , stop knob  68 , push knob  66 , housing track  64 , adjustor wheel  48 , light source  20 , bracket  60 , bracket  62 , and wire  30 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a top view of stop knob  68 , push knob  66 , protrusion lock  682 , cavity  669  and circular knobs  667 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a side view showing platform  56 , the back of light source  20 , adjustor wheel  48 , stopper  483 , cogwheel  484 , bracket  62 , bracket  60  and a rod  63 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment, including a keyboard housing  28  with an aperture  38  covered by protective sheet  40 , a light source  20  directing light to a reflector  22 , an image insert  24  held in place over the aperture  38  by brackets  36 .  
         [0031]     Within the present invention, light source  20  is a durable source of light with low power consumption, and is of a predetermined brightness while generating minimal heat which would have little or no effect on any other components within the keyboard housing  28 . In a preferred embodiment, light source  20  consists of a light-emitting diode or a plurality of light-emitting diodes. In an alternate embodiment, light source  20  consists of any other light emitting device. Light and heat from light source  20  should have no effect nor should it interfere with the workings of any printed circuit board or any other components within keyboard housing  28 . The light emanating from light source  20  is of sufficient intensity for the resultant projected image  26  to appear clearly. The light emanating from light source  20  may be of any color. The light emanating from light source  20  is of uniform color and intensity.  
         [0032]     The light source  20  is connected to, and draws electricity from a source of electrical power, including a standalone battery or a universal serial bus connection or computer powerbox.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, the intensity and brightness of light emanating from light source  20  may be adjusted by a user of the invention through the use of a dimmer connected to wire  30 , the dimmer controlling the level of electricity flowing through light source  20 . In further embodiments, the intensity and brightness of light is controlled and adjusted by a switch or a series of switches or by software controlling the level of electricity flowing through light source  20 .  
         [0034]     The intensity and brightness of light emanating from light source  20  correspondingly affects the intensity and brightness of projected image  26 , and may serve to create greater visual contrast between the portions of projected image  26  in shadow and the portions of projected image  26  in light.  
         [0035]     As displayed in  FIG. 6 , one side of light source  20  is supported by bracket  62 ; a further and opposite side of light source  20  is supported by and affixed to adjustor wheel  48  in a position so as to enable light source  20  and adjustor wheel  48  to rotate around the center axis (at rod  63 ) of adjustor wheel  48 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lateral center of light source  20 , the center of adjustor wheel  48 , eye  601  of bracket  60  and eye  621  of bracket  62  are in horizontal alignment. Adjustor wheel  48  rotates around the axis of its center.  
         [0036]     From the point of view of  FIG. 6 , the rotation of adjustor wheel  48  in a clockwise direction will result in light source  20  pointing at a greater angle ‘A’ to the horizontal. Conversely, the rotation of adjustor wheel  48  in an anti-clockwise direction will result in light source  20  pointing at a smaller angle ‘A’ to the horizontal.  
         [0037]     Where light emanating from light source  20  is pointed above the upper edge  502  of block  50 , the light is reflected off reflector  22  through protective sheet  40 , aperture  38  and image insert  24 , and a resultant projected image  26  appears. The angle ‘A’ of light source  20  will bear an effect on the size and position of projected image  26 .  
         [0038]     Bracket  60  and bracket  62  are right-angled brackets made of any hard, rigid material. As displayed in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , each base of bracket  60  and bracket  62  is affixed to the top surface of platform  56  at a predetermined distance from block  50 .  
         [0039]     As displayed in  FIG. 10 , rod  63  is supported by bracket  60  and bracket  62  through eye  601  and eye  621  respectively. Further, rod  63  is a straight rod that supports and runs through light source  20 , the center axis of adjustor wheel  48 , and the center of cogwheel  484 .  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , front stopper  52  and back stopper  54  are each a short cylindrical block made of any hard and rigid material of light weight, one end of each being affixed to surface  481  of wheel  48  at a predetermined position so that one surface of each may make contact with the top surface of platform  56  limiting rotation of wheel  48 .  
         [0041]     The presence of front stopper  52  prevents light source  20  from being rotated by a user below a predetermined forward angle ‘A’ to the horizontal. Similarly, the presence of back stopper  54  prevents light source  20  from being rotated by a user above a predetermined forward angle ‘A’ to the horizontal.  
         [0042]     In  FIG. 5 , one side of cogwheel  484  is affixed to surface  482  of adjustor wheel  48  in a position such that the center of cogwheel  484  and the center of adjustor wheel  48  are in horizontal alignment. Both adjustor wheel  48  and cogwheel  484  are supported by horizontal rod  63  through their respective centers of axis. Further, both adjustor wheel  48  and cogwheel  484  may rotate around their centers of axis; the rotation of adjustor wheel  48  in one direction by a user of the invention will result in a corresponding rotation of cogwheel  484  in the same direction.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 5 , stopper  483  is affixed to the top surface of platform  56  and engages between the teeth of cogwheel  484 , preventing cogwheel  484  from rotating due to arbitrary forces such as the vibrations experienced by the invention when a user types on alpha-numeric section  44 . Stopper  483  is sufficiently flexible to bend and give way to the rotational movement of cogwheel  484  when a user intentionally rotates adjustor wheel  48 . In one embodiment of the invention, stopper  483  comprises a flexible foil of a metal such as aluminum with both ends of the foil affixed to the top surface of platform  56 .  
         [0044]     Platform  56  is a flat, solid, rectangular block made of any rigid and hard material which is light in weight. Affixed to the top surface of platform  56  are the base of bracket  60 , the base of bracket  62 , the base of front stopper  52  and the base of block  50 . Affixed to the base surface of platform  56  is the top surface of push knob  66 .  
         [0045]     The invention provides for platform  56  to be positioned and to slide longitudinally along housing track  64  where stop knob is in an ‘unlocked’ position, as shown in  FIG. 8 . Conversely, where stop knob is in a ‘locked’ position, as displayed in  FIG. 9 , platform  56  is prevented from any longitudinal movement along housing track  64 . The weight of push knob  66 , platform  56  and all elements supported by platform  56 , including light source  20 , bracket  60 , bracket  62  and adjustor wheel  48 , are sufficiently low so as not to impede or have an undesired effect on its movement along housing track  64 . The underside of platform  56  is affixed to the top surface of push knob  66 , as displayed in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0046]     The position of platform  56  along housing track  64  determines the distance of light source  20  from reflector  22  and aperture  38 , and in turn, determines the size, sharpness and location of projected image  26 .  
         [0047]     As displayed in  FIG. 9 , push knob  66  consists of a top surface  668 , extensions  662 , circular knobs  667 , protrusions  664 , cavity  669 , angled surface  661  and main body  663 .  
         [0048]     Push knob  66  is made of a sufficiently rigid and hard material as to support the weight of itself, platform  56  and all elements supported by platform  56 , including light source  20 , bracket  60 , bracket  62  and adjustor wheel  48 .  
         [0049]     As displayed in FIGS.  5  to  8 , on either longitudinal side of housing track  64  is a row of guiding teeth  646  which are aligned so that each crest on one side is directly opposing a corresponding crest on the other. Housing track  64 , groove  642  and guiding teeth  646  collectively form a guideway for pushknob  66  to slide longitudinally along housing track  64 .  
         [0050]     Extensions  662  of push knob  66  are sufficiently flexible to be pushed inward by guiding teeth  646  and to spring back outwards as it slides along housing track  64 , such motion due to the wave-like shapes of guiding teeth  646  to either side of housing track  64 .  
         [0051]     In  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , stop knob  68  is fitted to push knob  66  in a manner so that the height of protrusion lock  682  is slightly shorter than the width of cavity  669  and so as to enable protrusion lock  682  to slide longitudinally within cavity  669 .  
         [0052]     In  FIG. 9 , stop knob is in a ‘lock’ position, preventing extensions  662  from being pushed inwards by guiding teeth  646  and preventing the movement of push knob  66  along housing track  64 . The result of this is that the position of light source  20  in relation to reflector  22  and aperture  38  is fixed, thus fixing the size and position of projected image  26 .  
         [0053]     Conversely, in  FIG. 8 , stop knob is in an ‘unlock’ position, allowing extensions  662  to be pushed inwards by guiding teeth  646  as push knob  66  slides longitudinally along housing track  64 . The result of this is that a user of the invention may adjust the position of light source  20 , thus changing the size and position of projected image  26 .  
         [0054]     In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2  the reflector  22  comprises a back surface  221  and a reflecting surface  222 . Reflecting surface  222  is a surface capable of reflecting light in a predictable and consistent manner and includes a conventional smooth mirror or smooth glass. As shown in  FIG. 1 , reflector  22  resides within the keyboard housing  28  and is oriented so that light from light source  20  may directly reach reflecting surface  222  and so that reflecting surface  222  is facing is a direction towards light source  20 .  
         [0055]     In a preferred embodiment, the two ends of rod  224  are cylindrical in shape and the middle shaft  2241  of rod  224  is flat and rectangular in shape, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Middle shaft  2241  is affixed to the back surface  221  of the reflector  22 . Middle shaft  2241  is flat so as to increase the area of contact between middle shaft  2241  and back surface  221 . This would facilitate the affixation of middle shaft  2241  to back surface  221 , whether such affixation is by means of glue, cement or otherwise. The plane and angle of middle shaft  2241  corresponds with the plane and angle of reflector  22 . Rod  224  is to be made of a sufficiently strong and rigid material so as to be able to durably support the weight of both lever  226  and reflector  22  and the movement of both lever  226  and reflector  22 .  
         [0056]     Each end of rod  28  is fitted sufficiently tightly in cavity  2231  so as to provide moderate stability to the position and angle of reflector  22  as well as to prevent any unintentional movement of reflector  22  due to factors such as the following: the weight of lever  226 ; the weight of reflector  22 ; and movement and vibration caused by user typing on alpha-numeric section  44 . The angle ‘B’ of reflector  22  should not change unless a user of the invention moves lever  226 . However, each end of rod  28  should not be fitted so tightly in cavity  2231  as to require that a user of the invention has to use undue strength or force in moving lever  226  or so that it becomes difficult to move lever  226 .  
         [0057]     Brackets  206  are affixed to the interior side of keyboard housing  28  and are made of sufficiently hard, rigid and strong material as to support the weight of rod  224 , reflector  22  and lever  226  and any angular movement of these elements.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , lever  226  is affixed to the back surface  221  of reflector  22 . The flat section  2261  of lever  226  is flat and rectangular in shape, as can be seen in  FIG. 5 , so as to increase the area of contact between flat section  2261  and back surface  221 .  
         [0059]     Lever  226  is sufficiently light in weight so as not affect or change the angle or position of reflector  22 . Similarly, reflector  22  should be sufficiently light in weight so as not to affect or change it&#39;s own angle ‘B’ by its own weight.  
         [0060]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , reflector  22  is placed at an adjustable angle ‘B’ so as to facilitate the reflection of light from light source  20  to aperture  38  at a downward angle in order to facilitate the appearance of the resultant projected image  26  on surface  42 .  
         [0061]     As such, a user of the present invention is provided with changing the size of image  26  by moving lever  226  up or down accordingly. Moving lever  226  up results in image  26  being laterally expanded; accordingly, moving lever  226  down results in image  26  becoming laterally contracted. Projected image  26  is laterally skewed in accordance with its lateral expansion or contraction.  
         [0062]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , lever  2  is positioned through side slot  46  so that handle  2262  sufficiently protrudes out of the external side of keyboard housing  28  and so that a user of the invention has convenient access to handle  2262 . The movement of handle  2262  of lever  2  is limited to vertical angular movements up and down side slot  46 .  
         [0063]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , side slot  46  is a rectangular hole in keyboard housing  28 . Side slot  46  is positioned above and diagonally to the side of aperture  38  and image insert  24 .  
         [0064]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , aperture  38  is a rectangular hole at a side or top surface of the keyboard housing  28  and is covered by protective sheet  40 , which is preferably fixed on the inside surface of the keyboard housing. Protective sheet  40  is photo-transparent and allows light from light source  20  to pass through unaltered but prevents any other foreign matter, including dust and dirt, from entering the keyboard housing  28 , thus protecting the elements within, such as the printed circuit board from the foreign matter. It is preferred that protective sheet  40  be made of transparent plastic, although thin glass and other photo-transparent material may be used, provided that the nature of the material is such that it does not visibly alter the color and direction of light passing through it. In use the image insert  24  might be removed and changed while the protective sheet  40  would remain in place to keep dust out.  
         [0065]     The brackets  36  are rectangular in shape, surrounding the aperture  38  and is located on the outside surface of keyboard housing  28 , as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . Similarly, image insert  24  is rectangular in shape. The brackets  36  are open at the top or a side so as to allow insertion and removal of image insert  24 . In a further embodiment, brackets  36  are located on the inside surface of keyboard housing  28  with an open slot at the top surface or a side surface to allow insertion and removal of image insert  24 .  
         [0066]     In a further embodiment, aperture  38 , brackets  36  and image insert  24  may be any other shape, including circular, elliptical, triangular or square.  
         [0067]     The image insert  24  is made from any material that is transparent or translucent or with properties that allow the passage of some light through without altering the direction of the light, the material including clear plastics, plastics of any color, cellophane. Image insert  24  is sufficiently thin to be held in place by brackets  36  and may be conveniently inserted or removed from brackets  36 .  
         [0068]     Image insert  24  may have matter printed or scribed onto either or both of its surfaces, the matter blocking the passage of light through the image insert  24  or allowing only light of a limited band of frequencies through, resulting in a projected image  26  with color. From the viewpoint of facing the aperture  38  from outside the keyboard housing  28 , projected image  26  is horizontally inverted to the matter on image insert  24 . The specific appearance, color and subject of the matter is immaterial to this invention and may be provided by the manufacturing source of the keyboard or by a user.  
         [0069]     The luminosity of projected image  26  is dependent on the amount of light reaching surface  42 . The color of projected image  24  is dependent on the color of light from light source  20 , the color of the portions of image insert  24  allowing light to pass through and the color of surface  42 .  
         [0070]     Surface  42  is any surface, whether flat, curved or otherwise, of any color, orientation and material, capable of acting as a surface upon which image  26  is projected. Surface  42  may be horizontal, vertical or otherwise.  
         [0071]     Block  17  is affixed to the inside surface of the base of the keyboard housing  28  and is generally located below reflector  22 . Block  17  is made of any opaque material capable of preventing any light from passing through it. Block  17  serves to prevent or block any light emanating from light source  20  to travel directly to aperture  38  and possibly result in the compromising of image clarity.