Keyboard Patents

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A gallery of patents that describe technologies or illustrate designs relating to IBM and family keyboards, typewriters and keypunches. This includes keyswitch/actuator designs, ornamental designs (overall appearance), integrated pointing devices such as TrackPoints, and host systems such as PCs, laptops, terminals, consoles and electronic typewriters. All illustrations provided are from the patents themselves, which are believed to be within the public domain. A total of 93 patents have been recorded.

U.S. Utility Patent 682,197 (US682197A)

A patent diagram depicting Herman Hollerith's apparatus for perforating record-cards from a top-down perspective

Applied 17 May 1901

Published 10 Sep 1901

Expired 10 Sep 1918

Name	Apparatus for perforating record-cards
Inventors	Herman Hollerith
Description	An invention of a hand-operated keypunch (punched-card recording device) that can mechnically advance column automatically upon punching. This was implemented as the Hollerith and later IBM 001 Mechanical Card Punch.

Name	Typewriter
Inventors	Russell G. Thompson
Assignees	Electromatic
Description	An ornamental design depicting an Electromatic electric typewriter and its later IBM Model 01 Electric Formsholder derivative.

Name	Composite keyboard
Inventors	Reynold B. Johnson
Assignees	IBM
Description	An invention of an alphanumeric keypunch keyboard layout that integrates a telephone-arrangement overlay numeric keypad, numeric shift and keypunch-specific function keys onto a keyboard's typewriter section. It was first implemented on the IBM 024 Card Punch and 026 Printing Card Punch Combination Keyboards. It also serves as the basis for many IBM data entry terminal keyboard layouts.

Name	Key punch
Inventors	George H. Kress, Carl W. Sundberg
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 024 Card Punch.

Name	Single element printing head
Inventors	John E. Hickerson, Ralph E. Page, James A. Weidenhammer
Assignees	IBM
Description	An invention of a single, spherical device that can be used for typewriting and printing. Its surface is covered in characters in predictable locations, so the device can be rotated to select a desired character before being strunk against paper. This was implemented as the "golfball" printing element used by IBM Selectric family typewriters and printers.

Name	Computer keyboard
Inventors	Walter Furlani, William H. Harkins, Vestal, Louis H. Sedaris
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 610 Auto-Point Computer Manual Keyboard.

Name	Computer console
Inventors	Jack W. Stringer, Walter Furlani, David G. Moore
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting the IBM 7150 Console Typewriter & Operating Keyboard.

Name	Intelligence transmitter and receiver
Inventors	Eliot F. Noyes
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM Selectric I/O Keyboard Printer.

Name	Data processing system console
Inventors	Walter Furlani, Edward J. Sabella, Vestal
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design appearing to depict an IBM 1052 I/O Printer-Keyboard.

Name	Keyboard controlled card punch
Inventors	Loring C. Bixler, Vestal, Rae F. Tankard
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design appearing to depict an IBM 1057 Card Punch or 1058 Printing Card Punch.

Name	Standard keyboard divided into two mirror-image fields for controlling the drive of functional devices on typewriters and similar machines
Inventors	Jim Ladue, Werner Seydel
Assignees	IBM Deutschland
Description	An invention of a keyboard that is split into two parts and mirrored in shape, with the keys placed in columns angled from each other to allow the user to position their arms and hands at more natural positions and rotation. It was intended for typewriters or similar machines. Whilst IBM never brought this exact product to market, this patent will be cited by well-known ergonomic keyboard companies such as Kinesis and Maltron (Lillian Malt).

Name	Combined keyboard input terminal and output display terminal therefor
Inventors	Ronald I. Conway, Robert V. Jones, James J. La Due, John J. Natoli
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3277 Model 1 Display Station with a 327X-66 type Model A keyboard. The keyboard design has extra keys and slightly different unit sizing compared to the production version.

Name	Combined keyboard input terminal and output display terminal therefor
Inventors	Ronald I. Conway, Robert V. Jones, James J. La Due, John J. Natoli
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3277 Model 2 Display Station with a 327X-78 type Model A keyboard. The keyboard design has extra keys and slightly different unit sizing compared to the production version.

Name	Catastrophically buckling compression column switch and actuator
Inventors	Richard H. Harris
Assignees	IBM
Description	An invention of a keyswitch actuator comprised of a metal coilspring that buckles after some compression, providing an immediate force to actuate something with. This is the original buckling spring patent, which was refined in 1977 (US4118611A) and 1983 (US4528431A).

Name	Electronic computer console or similar article
Inventors	Donald A. Moore
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting the IBM 1130 Computing System Console Keyboard.

Name	Typewriter or the like
Inventors	Eliot F. Noyes
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM Selectric Composer phototypesetting electric typewriter.

Name	Data display console
Inventors	Seton Cottier, Walter F. Kraus, Ernest Wittner
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 2260 Display Station with its Card Punch derived keyboard.

Name	Control console
Inventors	Eliot F. Noyes
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an original IBM Mag Card Unit for various IBM Mag Card Selectric Typewriters (specifically contemporary with IBM Mag Card I Typewriter).

Name	Data printer keyboard console
Inventors	Loring C. Bixler, Arnold M. Davis, Walter S. McCormick, Jr., Edward R. Wiener
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3215 Console Printer-Keyboard.

Name	Printer
Inventors	Loring C. Bixler, Arnold M. Davis, Walter S. McCormick, Jr., Edward R. Wiener
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3210 Model 2 Console Printer-Keyboard.

Name	Toggle mechanism
Inventors	Richard H. Harris, Robert J. Wolfrom
Assignees	IBM
Description	An invention of a keyswitch that uses a cantilever snap mechanism to provide an actuator for a capacitance-sensing PCB. The mechanism is a leaf spring and a blade spring coupled together; the former is bent to push a capacitive plate towards at rest and then snaps to an inverted position to lift the plate when force is applied. This was implemented as the IBM beam spring used on all Model B family keyboards.

Name	Data-entry station for automatic data processing
Inventors	Charles A. Pycha, Frank Wilkey, Jr.
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3742 Dual Data Station and its 374X type Model B keyboard.

Name	Data entry station for automatic data processing
Inventors	Charles A. Pycha, Frank Wilkey, Jr.
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3741 Data Station and its 374X type Model B keyboard.

Name	Magnetic card reader-recorder or similar article
Inventors	Eliot F. Noyes
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting a revised IBM Mag Card Unit for various IBM Mag Card Selectric Typewriters (specifically contemporary with IBM Mag Card II Typewriter).

U.S. Utility Patent 682,197 (US682197A)

U.S. Design Patent 86,067 (USD86067S)

U.S. Design Patent 160,139 (USD160139S)

U.S. Utility Patent 2,641,320 (US2641320A)

U.S. Design Patent 160,720 (USD160720S)

U.S. Design Patent 179,041 (USD179041S)

U.S. Utility Patent 2,895,584 (US2895584A)

U.S. Design Patent 183,926 (USD183926S)

U.S. Design Patent 189,186 (USD189186S)

U.S. Design Patent 192,829 (USD192829S)

U.S. Design Patent 194,856 (USD194856S)

U.S. Design Patent 198,879 (USD198879S)

U.S. Design Patent 197,334 (USD197334S)

German Utility Patent 1,279,693 (DE1279693B)

U.S. Design Patent 202,189 (USD202189S)

U.S. Design Patent 206,467 (USD206467S)

U.S. Design Patent 211,578 (USD211578S)

U.S. Design Patent 207,978 (USD207978S)

U.S. Design Patent 215,938 (USD215938S)

U.S. Design Patent 217,106 (USD217106S)

U.S. Design Patent 223,762 (USD223762S)

U.S. Design Patent 228,460 (USD228460S)

U.S. Design Patent 227,256 (USD227256S)

U.S. Design Patent 224,605 (USD224605S)

U.S. Utility Patent 3,699,296 (US3699296A)

British Utility Patent 1,363,777 (GB1363777A)

U.S. Design Patent 233,043 (USD233043S)

U.S. Design Patent 233,759 (USD233759S)

U.S. Design Patent 234,302 (USD234302S)

U.S. Design Patent 232,126 (USD232126S)

U.S. Design Patent 232,945 (USD232945S)

U.S. Design Patent 235,652 (USD235652S)

U.S. Design Patent 243,460 (USD243460S)

U.S. Design Patent 244,464 (USD244464S)

U.S. Design Patent 247,239 (USD247239S)

U.S. Design Patent 251,592 (USD251592S)

U.S. Design Patent 253,600 (USD253600S)

U.S. Design Patent 250,022 (USD250022S)

U.S. Utility Patent 4,118,611 (US4118611A)

U.S. Design Patent 258,826 (USD258826S)

U.S. Design Patent 258,432 (USD258432S)

U.S. Design Patent 261,002 (USD261002S)

U.S. Design Patent 268,109 (USD268109S)

U.S. Design Patent 275,285 (USD275285S)

U.S. Design Patent 267,151 (USD267151S)

U.S. Design Patent 266,768 (USD266768S)

U.S. Design Patent 270,729 (USD270729S)

U.S. Design Patent 278,063 (USD278063S)

U.S. Design Patent 281,246 (USD281246S)

U.S. Design Patent 284,009 (USD284009S)

U.S. Design Patent 281,701 (USD281701S)

U.S. Utility Patent 4,528,431 (US4528431A)

U.S. Design Patent 289,292 (USD289292S)

U.S. Design Patent 290,360 (USD290360S)

U.S. Design Patent 288,204 (USD288204S)

U.S. Design Patent 284,672 (USD284672S)

U.S. Design Patent 284,671 (USD284671S)

U.S. Design Patent 292,801 (USD292801S)

U.S. Design Patent 299,029 (USD299029S)

U.S. Design Patent 305,033 (USD305033S)

U.S. Design Patent 308,360 (USD308360S)

U.S. Design Patent 311,913 (USD311913S)

U.S. Design Patent 308,855 (USD308855S)

U.S. Design Patent 307,748 (USD307748S)

U.S. Utility Patent 4,859,820 (US4859820A)

Japanese Utility Patent 280,929 (JPH0280929U)

U.S. Design Patent 312,625 (USD312625S)

U.S. Utility Patent 5,003,140 (US5003140A)

U.S. Utility Patent 4,980,676 (US4980676A)

U.S. Utility Patent 4,948,281 (US4948281A)

U.S. Design Patent 330,199 (USD330199S)

U.S. Design Patent 325,199 (USD325199S)

U.S. Utility Patent 5,120,923 (US5120923A)

U.S. Design Patent 337,106 (USD337106S)

U.S. Utility Patent 5,521,596 (US5521596A)

U.S. Design Patent 339,112 (USD339112S)

U.S. Design Patent 341,360 (USD341360S)

U.S. Design Patent 328,606 (USD328606S)

U.S. Design Patent 344,724 (USD344724S)

U.S. Utility Patent 5,298,706 (US5298706A)

Name	Teller station
Inventors	Ronald I. Conway, Robert V. Jones, David L. Schanm
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 3604 Model 1 or 2 Keyboard Display with Numeric/Data Entry Keyboard (Model B).

Name	Communications terminal
Inventors	Henry Kapper, Edward J. Sabetla
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting the IBM 3767 Communication Terminal with its 3767 type Model B keyboard.

Name	Portable personal computer
Inventors	John Greenfield, Collan B. Kneale, Frank Wilkey, Jr.
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting the IBM 5100 Portable Computer and its 5100 type Model B keyboard.

Name	Keyboard
Inventors	Charles P. Baechtle, John V. Stram
Assignees	IBM, IBM Information Products
Description	An ornamental design depicting the 327X-75 type Model B keyboard for most notably the IBM 3276 Control Unit Display Station, 3278 Display Station and 3279 Color Display Station.

Name	Console for a data processing system
Inventors	Eugene N. Giancarlo
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting the IBM 3036 Dual Console and its two S370-T5 type Model B keyboards.

Name	Keyboard enclosure for data processing equipment
Inventors	Charles A. Pycha
Assignees	IBM, IBM Information Products
Description	An ornamental design depicting the 525X-83 type Model B keyboard for the IBM 5251 Display Station and 5252 Dual Display Station.

Name	Buckling spring torsional snap actuator
Inventors	Richard H. Harris
Assignees	IBM Information Products
Description	An invention of a buckling spring actuator for use with a capacitance-sensing PCB to make a capacitive keyswitch now typically known as "IBM capacitive buckling springs". It builds upon the work of its predecessor patent from 1971 (US3699296A). It was used for all Model F family keyboards.

Name	Point-of-sale terminal
Inventors	Wayne L. Aderman, Mark C. Agnew, Frank Wilkey, Jr.
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 5265 or 5266 POS Terminal with 34 or 64 keys.

Name	Data processor
Inventors	Wayne L. Aderman
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting an IBM 5381 or 5382 System/38 System Unit with its integrated 538X type Model B keyboard.

Name	Operator console of a telephone switching system
Inventors	Daniel Richelet, Gilbert Pedinielli
Assignees	IBM
Description	An ornamental design depicting the IBM 1750 Switching System's 1755 Operator Console.