GB293990A - Improved keyboard for typewriting machines and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

293,990. Allen, C. F. Aug. 2, 1927. Keyboards.-In a keyboard for typewriters, type-setting machines, and the like of the kind having the keys arranged in curved banks conforming to the fingers and thumbs, the vowelkeys are contained in one half-bank and the consonant-keys are so distributed that the work is divided with approximate equality between the two hands. In the keyboard shown in Fig. 1, the vowel-keys I, A, E, O, U are contained in one half of the bank 11, and the group of five consonants-keys S, N, T, R, H of the highest frequency is contained in the opposite half of the bank. The two groups of five consonantkeys C, L, D, M, F, and P, B, G, W, Y of the second and third order of frequency are contained in the two halves of the bank 12. The group of five consonant-keys Z, Q, V, J, X of the lowest order of frequency is contained in one half of the bank 10, the consonant-key K and keys for frequently used symbols being contained in the opposite half of the bank. The numeral-keys are contained in the bank 9, and extra thumb-keys 18 for spacing and printing are arranged in the middle of the banks. Key-locks.-The above-described keyboard is provided at each side with a shift key 30, Fig. 1, and a shift lock key 32 which are carried by levers 19, Fig. 3, having cams 25 engaging a spring-pressed pivoted plate 28, the lever of the key 32 also having a notch 29 for engaging the plate. On depressing and releasing the key 30 the carriage is shifted and returned, whilst on depressing the key 32 the carriage is shifted and locked, release being effected by depressing the key 30.