Compact one-handed typing keyboard having keys corresponding to a standard two-handed keyboard

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A portion of a compact computer keyboard 10, with a plurality of first or left hand keys 12 and a plurality of second or right hand keys 14, is shown in FIG.
1.
The first and second keys 12 and 14 of each pair are positioned side by side so that they can be bridged and operated by one finger with minimal lateral finger movement.
The first and second keys are supported on a mounting frame including a face plate 16 having an opening through which the keys project.
The face plate 16 is attached to a face board 18 (FIG.
3).
The face plate 16 and the face board 18 together form a mounting plate 20, a portion of which is shown in FIG.
2.
The face plate 16 and the face board 18 could be one part rather than multiple parts if desired.
A first pivot pin 22 is mounted in a recess in the face board 18.
A second pivot pin 24 is also mounted in a recess in the face board 18.
The first and second pivot pins 22 and 24 have parallel spaced apart axes 26 and 28 (FIG.
4).
Both the first and the second pivot pins 22 and 24 are positioned adjacent to the face plate 16 to position the first and second pivot pin axes 26 and 28 as high as possible.
Each first key 12 includes a body portion 30 and a key face surface 32 (FIG.
3).
The body portion 30 is pivotally attached to the first pivot pin 22 by arm members 34 (FIG.
4) which extend laterally to one side of the key face surface 32.
Each second key 14 includes a body portion 36 and a key face surface 38.
The body portion 36 is pivotally attached to the second pivot pin 24 by arm members 40 which extend laterally to one side of the key face surface 38.
The arm members 34 are integral parts of the body portion 30 and extend under the key face surface 38 of the companion second key 14.
The arm members 40 are integral parts of the body portion 36 and extend under the key face surface 32 of the companion first key 12.
The arm members are maintained in position on the respective pins 22 and 24 by spacers 23 and 25 (FIG.
4).
The first pivot pin 22 passes through an aperture 42 in the second key 14 as shown in FIGS