Wrap-around auxiliary keyboard

Claim 2

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard comprising: (a) housing; (b) keys positioned in said housing; and (c) circuitry means in said housing for input of character set data from said keys and for output of said character set data from said auxiliary keyboard; wherein said housing comprises a base and an extension extending from said base; and wherein said base and said extension are shaped and are positioned with respect to each other so as to be able to wrap-around a primary keyboard.

Claim 3

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: (d) a restraining means for restraining vertical movement of said primary keyboard relative to said housing.

Claim 4

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 2 wherein said restraining means includes a lip extending from said housing.

Claim 5

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 3 wherein said lip extending from said housing is positioned above the area to be occupied by said primary keyboard.

Claim 6

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said primary keyboard is substantially rectangular.

Claim 7

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 5 wherein said extension is substantially perpendicular to said base.

Claim 8

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: (d) circuitry means for the transfer of character set data between said auxiliary keyboard and said primary keyboard.

Claim 9

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a second extension extending from said base; wherein said base and said second extension are shaped and are positioned with respect to each other so as to be able to wrap-around said primary keyboard; and wherein said second extension is positioned to interface the side of said primary keyboard that is opposite the side of said primary keyboard interfaced by said first extension.

Claim 10

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 8 wherein said second extension is substantially parallel to said first extension.

Claim 11

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: (d) a restraining means for restraining vertical movement of said primary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard is substantially rectangular; and wherein said extension is substantially perpendicular to said base.

Claim 12

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard in accordance with claim 10 wherein said housing further comprises a second extension extending from said base; wherein said base and said second extension are shaped and are positioned with respect to each other so as to be able to wrap-around said primary keyboard; wherein said second extension is positioned to interface with the side of said primary keyboard that is opposite the side of said primary keyboard interfaced by said first extension; wherein said restraining means includes a lip extending from said housing; and wherein said housing is a single unitary body.

Claim 13

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing comprising: (a) a base; and (b) an extension extending from said base; wherein said base and said extension form a substantially L-shaped housing; and wherein said housing is shaped and adapted to accommodate keys and circuitry for the input and transfer of character set data.

Claim 14

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing comprising: (a) a base; and (b) an extension extending from said base; wherein said base and said extension form a substantially L-shaped housing; and wherein said housing is shaped and adapted to accommodate keys and circuitry for the input and transfer of character set data.

Claim 15

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing in accordance with claim 12 further comprising: (c) a second extension extending from said base; wherein said base, said first extension and said second extension form a substantially U-shaped housing.

Claim 16

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing in accordance with claim 13 further comprising: (d) a restraining means for restraining the vertical movement of a primary keyboard positioned between said first extension and said second extension.

Claim 17

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing in accordance with claim 14 wherein said restraining means includes a lip extending from at least one member of the group consisting of said base, said first extension and said second extension.

Claim 18

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing comprising: (a) a substantially rectangular base; (b) a substantially rectangular first extension; (c) a substantially rectangular second extension; and (d) a restraining means; wherein said first extension is substantially perpendicular to said base; wherein said second extension is substantially perpendicular to said base; wherein said base, said first extension and said second extension form a substantially U-shaped housing; wherein said housing is shaped and adapted to accommodate keys and circuitry for the input and transfer of character set data; wherein said restraining means is for restraining the vertical movement of a primary keyboard relative to said housing; wherein said restraining means includes a lip extending from said base, said first extension and said second extension to restrain said primary keyboard against upward movement relative to said housing; and wherein said restraining means further includes means for restraining said primary keyboard against downward movement relative to said housing.

Claim 19

A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard housing comprising: (a) a substantially rectangular base; (b) a substantially rectangular first extension; (c) a substantially rectangular second extension; and (d) a restraining means; wherein said first extension is substantially perpendicular to said base; wherein said second extension is substantially perpendicular to said base; wherein said base, said first extension and said second extension form a substantially U-shaped housing; wherein said housing is shaped and adapted to accommodate keys and circuitry for the input and transfer of character set data; wherein said restraining means is for restraining the vertical movement of a primary keyboard relative to said housing; wherein said restraining means includes a lip extending from said base, said first extension and said second extension to restrain said primary keyboard against upward movement relative to said housing; and wherein said restraining means further includes means for restraining said primary keyboard against downward movement relative to said housing.

Claim 20

A keyboard system comprising: a substantially rectangular primary keyboard and a substantially L-shaped wrap-around auxiliary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard are in close physical proximity to each other; and wherein said auxiliary keyboard is positioned to wrap-around said primary keyboard.

Claim 21

A keyboard system comprising: a substantially rectangular primary keyboard and a substantially L-shaped wrap-around auxiliary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard are in close physical proximity to each other; and wherein said auxiliary keyboard is positioned to wrap-around said primary keyboard.

Claim 22

A keyboard system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said auxiliary keyboard includes a means for restraining said primary keyboard against vertical movement, in at least one direction, relative to said auxiliary keyboard.

Claim 23

A keyboard system comprising: a substantially rectangular primary keyboard and a substantially U-shaped wrap-around auxiliary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard are in close physical proximity with each other; and wherein said auxiliary keyboard is positioned to wrap-around said primary keyboard.

Claim 24

A keyboard system comprising: a substantially rectangular primary keyboard and a substantially U-shaped wrap-around auxiliary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard are in close physical proximity with each other; and wherein said auxiliary keyboard is positioned to wrap-around said primary keyboard.

Claim 25

A keyboard system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said auxiliary keyboard includes a means for restraining said primary keyboard against vertical movement, in at least one direction, relative to said auxiliary keyboard.

Claim 26

A keyboard system comprising: a substantially rectangular primary keyboard and an O-shaped wrap-around auxiliary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard are in close physical proximity to each other; and wherein said auxiliary keyboard is positioned to wrap-around said primary keyboard.

Claim 27

A keyboard system comprising: a substantially rectangular primary keyboard and an O-shaped wrap-around auxiliary keyboard; wherein said primary keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard are in close physical proximity to each other; and wherein said auxiliary keyboard is positioned to wrap-around said primary keyboard.