Keyboard for Typewriting Machines and other similar Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DR. A. VON KUNOWSKI, of Mockernstrasse
No. 121, Berlin, Germany.]
Keyboard for Typewriting Machines and other similar Apparatus.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the keyboards of known construction for typewriting machines and similar
apparatus, the keys are generally arranged in several parallel rows side by side, and
they can only be actuated by the fingers under simultaneous movement of the hand
and arm.
The present invention has for its object, to obviate the tiring motion of
the lower part of the arm, by constructing a keyboard in which the keys are so
arranged that they can be reached and actuated by the sole movement of the
fingers of both hands, that is to say, by a simple striking motion (which may be
combined with a slight stretching, bending or spreading motion) while the lower
part of the arms are supported on suitable rests and consequently do not partake of
such motion. This is effected by arranging the keys in two curved lines arranged
symmetrically to the centre line of the keyboard, curving forward and having their
inner ends situated in close contiguity to each other. The said curves have a con-
figuration which is about the same as that of a line drawn through the points of the
fingers of a hand placed in the most convenient position upon a plane surface.
Upon or near this curve, which in the following will be called the "guiding curve
or guiding line of the fingers, the keys are so arranged that they can be reached
and actuated by the separate fingers by a simple motion when in the most
convenient position of rest over the most used keys. The different keys are reached
by a spreading and drawing together of the fingers while the finger points remain
on the said curves. In particular the thumb comes into account with this arrange-
ment, as it is capable of describing a somewhat extended curve; this is also the
case with the fore and little fingers. These keys are designated as
"main keys."
If a greater number of keys is required, there are added subsidiary keys which are
arranged on each side of the guiding curve, that is to say, both on the nearer side
and the farther side relatively to the writer, in such manner that they can be
reached by merely moving inwards and outwards the finger joints.
"
The level of the keys on the farther side is suitably raised above that of the main
keys.
The
The accompanying drawing shews by way of example a keyboard constructed
according to this invention, in which there are the usual 48 keys for 88 types &c.
On each side of the keys are cushions K (adjustable if required), on which the
rear part of the palm of each hand is so placed that the lower arms forin an angle
of about 90° with each other, this being their most convenient position. The
cushions K are somewhat raised, so that the hand lies free above the keys.
latter are, in the example shewn, arranged on or close to the above mentioned
guiding curves in positions corresponding to the four fingers and the thumb as
determined, on the one hand, by the anatomy and physiology of the hand, and on
the other hand, by the construction of the language, that is to say, the keys for the
letters mostly used are placed in those positions on which the points of the strongest
and most agile fingers rest or which they can easily reach. Thus for example the
vowels and dipthongs are apportioned to the thumbs, the most used e and i being in
the best positions. The keys for the consonants and space keys are apportioned to
гр

page_text: the fingers. Those most frequently used occupy the best places on the guiding
curves, which correspond to the most convenient (slightly bent) positions of these
fingers. The less used letters are arranged on the subsidiary keys, as are also the
numerals and other seldom used symbols.
In the arrangement shewn, the diagram for the right hand is shewn for greater
clearness. The fingers with the turning points I to V are situated when in the
most convenient position of rest as indicated by the full lines the points of the
fingers resting upon the main keys. By moving the fingers inwards or outwards or
spreading them as indicated by the dotted lines the subsidiary keys marked with
circles and ellipses can be reached.
The altering key "Alt." and the space key
duplicated.
"
Sp." are advantageously
The transmission of motion from a keyboard of the above described kind to the
type-levers or the type wheel can be effected, for example, by two crossing systems
of wire pulls, which are connected at one end to the keys and at the other end to
the levers or the brake device for the type wheel.
The relative position of the keys shewn on the drawing are only indicated as a
particularly practical one for my invention as applied to German. I do not how-
ever limit myself to this or any other arrangement of keys, which can be selected
and placed to suit the various languages to which the invention may be applied.
Dated this 10th day of March 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Keyboard for Typewriting Machines and other similar Apparatus.
1, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The key-boards for typewriting machines commonly used have the disadvantage
that, on account of the rectangular or semi-circular shape of the board, in actuating
the typewriting machine, the lower arm has to be shifted because the keys cannot
be reached by the sole movement of the fingers, while the arm is at rest.
This disadvantage is avoided in the so-called stenographic typewriting machines
in which the keys are arranged in two curved lines symmetrically to the centre-line
of the key-board. Arrangements of this kind, however, permit of employing only
a comparatively restricted number of keys and therefore cannot be used for
ordinary type-writing machines.
My invention relates to an improved key-board in which both inconveniences
are obviated by:
1. Arranging the keys in four curved lines which I call guiding-lines; the two
innermost of which are the guiding lines of the thumbs and correspond to a curve
described by the point of the thumb when spreading it away from the hand. The
two outer guiding-lines have a configuration which is about the same as that of a
line drawn through the points of the four fingers of the hand placed in the most
convenient position upon a plane surface.
2. I place the main-keys, which correspond to the mostly used characters, exactly
co-incident with the said guiding-lines and make them of a greater size than is
given to the by-keys, which correspond to the less used characters and
which I place partly before and partly behind the main-keys. The by-keys
lying on the farther side of the main-keys are preferably elevated
position. By arranging the keys in this manner, all of them can be touched and
depressed by the sole movement of the fingers while the hand may be at rest on a
in

page_text: special cushion. Typewriting machines with my improved key-board can therefore
be used even by blind persons, because the variety of the size of the keys gives a
sufficient direction for actuating them.
In the annexed drawings two key-boards are shown by way of example in Figs. 1
and 2. In the construction shewn in Fig. 1 the number of types is adapted to the
usual one, that is to say, 48. keys with 88 types are provided. On each side of the
keys are cushions on which the rear part of the palm of the hand is so placed that
the lower parts form an angle of about 21° with each other, this being their most
convenient position. The cushions are somewhat raised, so that the hand lies free
above the keys. The latter are, in the example shown, arranged on or close to the
above mentioned guiding-curves in positions corresponding to the four fingers and
the thumb, as determined, on the one hand, by the anatomy and physiology
of the hand, and on the other hand, by the construction of the language,
that is to say, the keys for the letters mostly used are placed in those
positions in which the points of the strongest and most agile fingers rest or
which they can easily reach. Thus for example the vowels and dipthongs are
apportioned to the thumb, the most used e and i being in the best positions.
The keys for the consonants (and if necessary also the spare keys) are apportioned
to the fingers. Those most frequently used occupy the best places on the guiding
curves, which correspond to the next convenient (slightly bent) positions of these
fingers. The less used letters are arranged in the subsidiary keys, as are also the
numerals and other seldom used symbols.
In the arrangement shown the diagram for the right hand is shown for greater
clearuess.
The fingers with the turning points 1 to 5 are situated, when in the most convenient
position of rest, at those points which are indicated by the lines drawn in full and
ending with a cross.
The points of the fingers therefore rest upon the main keys. By spreading or
moving inwards or outwards, the subsidiary keys marked with circles can be
reached, the fingers being then made to assume the positions indicated by dotted
lines.
The reversing key, "Rev." and the space-key "Sp." are advantageously
duplicated.
In Fig. 2 of the annexed drawings, a key-board is shewn which contains 60 keys;
for greater clearness the elevated by-keys are shown shaded.
The relative positions of the types shown on the drawings are only indicated as
examples for my invention; I do not however limit myself to this or any other
special arrangement of types.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A key-board for type-writing machines and similar apparatus having the keys
arranged in two symmetrically placed groups one on each side of the centre-line of
the key-board in curves corresponding to the guiding lines of the four fingers and
of the thumbs, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A key-board for typewriting machines and similar apparatus, having the keys
arranged in two symmetrically placed groups one on each side of the centre-line of
the key-board in curves corresponding to the guiding lines of the four fingers and
of the thumbs, the main keys corresponding to the mostly used characters, lying
exactly in such guiding lines and being of greater size than the by-keys in the
neighbourhood of such guiding lines, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. A key-board for type-writing machines and similar apparatus, having the keys
arranged in two symmetrically placed groups one on each side of the centre-line of
the key board in curves corresponding to the guiding lines of the four fingers and

page_text: of the thumbs, the keys arranged on the farther side of the board being elevated,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 24th day of October 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.