WO2002021808A2

WO2002021808A2 - Keypad operating accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2002021808A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emmeranthia Tersia Philander
Original assignee: Emmeranthia Tersia Philander
Priority date: 2000-09-06
Filing date: 2001-09-04
Publication date: 2002-03-14
Also published as: AU2001284334A1; WO2002021808A3

Abstract

A keypad operating accessory is provided for aiding in the operating of relatively small keypads of electronic units such as mobile telephones and remote controls. The accessory comprises a base adapted to be secured relative to an electronic unit having a keypad, an arm pivotally attached to the base in a manner enabling it to sweep over the keypad, a slide member movable along the length of the arm, a finger grip whereby the slide member can be physically held and an operating member carried by the slide member and directed, in the operative orientation, towards the keypad for selective engagement with a key of the keypad as a result of movement thereof towards the keypad. The arm is generally biased to a position spaced above the keypad so that the arm is moved against the bias to engage the operating member with a key of the keypad.

Description

KEYPAD OPERATING ACCESSORY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a keypad operating accessory that is adapted to assist persons, particularly, but not exclusively, persons who have some disability or limited physiological functionality, in operating a keypad of relatively small size. Keypads of the type under consideration include those associated with a cellular or other type of mobile telephone or certain other types of telephone; a remote control unit, for example for a television set, video cassette recorder or audio equipment; a calculator; or other electronic device having relatively small keys, and pressure pads or the like which need to be pressed in order to operate the device.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The individual keys or equivalent operating members of the keypads of electronic devices are often difficult to press without sometimes pressing the wrong key inadvertently or pressing more than one key at the same time. This is due primarily to the fact that the keys are generally small and positioned rather close together. The problem becomes substantially more severe in instances in which the person operating the keypad has a physiological problem in accurately positioning a finger on a desired key and pressing it without simultaneously, or unintentionally, pressing one or more adjacent keys. The situation arises particularly in cases in which the person operating the keypad has a tendency to shake, for whatever reason, or has a physical limitation such as rather large or injured fingers. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a keypad operating accessory that will facilitate, at least some extent, the operation of a keypad by persons finding it difficult to do so without some form of aid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a keypad operating accessory comprising a base adapted to be secured relative to a casing of an electronic unit having a keypad or forming a part of the casing, an arm pivotally attached to the base in a manner enabling it to sweep over the keypad, a slide member movable along the length of the arm and having a finger grip whereby the slide member can be physically held, and an operating member carried by the slide member and directed, in the operative orientation, towards the keypad for selective engagement with a key of the keypad as a result of movement thereof towards the keypad.

Further features of the invention provide for the finger grip to be located on one side of the slide member with the operating member located on the opposite side thereof; for the arm to be resiliently biased to a position in which it is spaced outwardly of the keypad, in use, so that the operating member can be engaged with a key of the keypad by flexing the arm against its resilient bias; for the resilient bias to be created by either a hinged connection of the arm to the base combined with a separate resilient member providing the necessary bias or, alternatively, for the arm itself to be a resilient arm; and for the base to either include a band adapted to encircle at least a particular electronic unit and, more particularly, a mobile telephone or a remote control unit, or for the base to have one or more areas of adhesive material for adhesively securing the base to the electronic unit, conveniently with at least one area positioned on a front face of the unit and another area on the rear face thereof.

The finger grip could be of many different types and may, in particular, be a simple upwardly projecting tab or it may assume the form of a socket for receiving the tip of an operating finger very much in the manner of a thimble. The operating member is preferably made of a rubber or rubber-like material so that it does not tend to slide off a key in use.

In the case in which the base is to be adhesively secured to the electronic unit, the adhesive areas may simply be covered with removable cover sheets to protect the adhesive prior to attachment of the accessory to the electronic unit.

It will be understood that the accessory enables a person to control the slide member by moving it along the length of the arm and swinging the arm sideways as necessary in order to align the operating member with a required key of the keypad of an associated electronic unit such as a mobile telephone. The slide member may be pressed downwards in order to operate a key with the same hand as that which moves the slide member along the arm or, alternatively, one hand, typically the left hand, could hold the electronic unit whilst the other hand moves the slide member and the thumb of the hand holding the electronic unit could be used to depress the arm.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood different embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a cellular telephone fitted with a keypad operating accessory according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the accessory alone;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating an alternative form of base;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the keypad operating accessory illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the base attached to a different type of mobile telephone and in a different location; and,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a different form of finger grip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the accessory, generally indicated by numeral (1), is adapted for use on a cellular telephone (2) having a keypad (3) of the usual type. The accessory has a base (4) in the form of a shaped band adapted to encircle the cellular telephone body at one end thereof with the two ends (5) of the band overlapping at one side of the cellular telephone body, conveniently the right-hand side for right-handed users. Clearly the band could be reversed so that the overlapping ends (5) are located on the left-hand side for left-handed users.

Pivotally attached to the overlapping ends (5) is one end (6) of an arm (7) that extends over the keypad in the operative position with the arm being raised above the keypad as shown clearly in Figure 2. A slide member (8) is movable along the length of the arm so as to be capable of being located immediately above any particular key by virtue of the slide member being moved along the length of the arm and the arm being rotated about the pivot (9) whereby it is attached to the overlapping ends of the band.

Movement of the slide member along the arm is facilitated by an upstanding finger grip (10) and engagement of the keys of the keypad is achieved by way of an oppositely directed operating member (11) (see Figure 2), secured to the slide member. Preferably the operating member has at least a tip made of rubber or other like material for engagement with a key without slipping off it.

In this embodiment of the invention the arm itself is made of flat metal strip so that it is inherently flexible and maintains itself in its position spaced from the keypad unless it or the slide member are urged towards the keypad either by fingers engaging the finger grip (10) or by the thumb of a persons hand which is holding the cellular telephone.

It will be appreciated that in use the accessory described above provides a real advantage to persons who have difficulty in operating a keypad with their fingers for whatever reason. It also provides a number of different ways in which the slide member and arm can be moved and each user can select the method of use most appropriate to solving the difficulty that he or she has in operating such a keypad. It will also be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from scope hereof. In particular, the base can assume many different forms and could, for example, be a simple pad adapted to be adhesively secured to the body of an electronic unit; it may be an injection moulded plastics socket adapted to receive one or other end of, for example, a cellular telephone; or it may even be made integral with the body of an electronic unit. Also, the arm could be attached to the base by a universal type of joint.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred variation in which the base has an operatively upper plate (12) having an under-surface coated with an adhesive material indicated by numeral (13) (see Figure 4) that is in turn covered, before installation, with a removable cover strip (14). The base also has a lower plate (15) similarly provided with adhesive covered by a cover strip. In use these two plates are secured one to the front and one to the rear face of the electronic unit.

Figure 5 illustrates a base (16) secured to a cellular telephone (17) of the type having a folding mouthpiece (18). In this case the base is conveniently secured to the top of the cellular telephone rather than to the bottom as in the cases illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

Finally, Figure 6 illustrates a variation in that the finger grip (19) assumes the form of a socket very much like a thimble that it is envisaged will be more convenient for certain types of user. Figure 6 also illustrates an arm (20) that is attached to the base by means of a hinge (21) and the arm is biased by a resilient block (22).

The invention therefore provides a simple yet highly effective accessory for facilitating the operation of a keypad of electronic units such as cellular telephones and remote control units in particular.

Claims

1. A keypad operating accessory comprising a base adapted to be secured relative to a casing of an electronic unit having a keypad or forming a part of the casing, an arm pivotally attached to the base in a manner enabling it to sweep over the keypad, a slide member movable along the length of the arm and having a finger grip whereby the slide member can be physically held, and an operating member carried by the slide member and directed, in the operative orientation, towards the keypad for selective engagement with a key of the keypad as a result of movement thereof towards the keypad.

2. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in claim 1 in which the finger grip is located on one side of the slide member with the operating member located on the opposite side thereof.

3. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the arm is resiliently biased to a position in which it is spaced outwardly of the keypad, in use, so that the operating member can be engaged with a key of the keypad by flexing the arm against its resilient bias.

4. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in claim 3 in which the resilient bias is created by a hinged connection of the arm to the base combined with a separate resilient member providing the necessary bias.

5. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in claim 3 in which the arm itself is a resilient arm.

6. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the base includes a band adapted to encircle at least a particular electronic unit.

7. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in either one of claims 1 to 5 in which the base has at least one area of adhesive material for adhesively securing the base to the electronic unit.

8. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in claim 7 in which at least one area of adhesive is adapted to be positioned on a front face of the electronic unit and another area on the rear face thereof.

9. A keypad operating accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the finger grip is in the form of a socket for receiving a finger tip of a user.