WO2001065167A1

WO2001065167A1 - Inflatable structure for supporting an article of manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO2001065167A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/006787
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul J. Weber; Kenneth V. Luu; Michael R. Weber; Luiz B. Da Silva
Original assignee: Pearl Technology Holdings, Llc
Priority date: 2000-03-02
Filing date: 2001-03-01
Publication date: 2001-09-07
Also published as: AU2001241944A1

Abstract

Minimal inflation material (250), in combination with a geometric structure of limited size containing and partitioning the inflating material, is used to maintain rigidity and shape of an article of manufacture such as a flexible or keyboard or screen. Ergonomic shapes are thus more easily manufactured at lower costs. Additionally, ergonomic wrist rests are provided that are filled with inflation material and, therefore, are easy on the wrists, reducing carpal tunnel problems and are able to be connected to the structures supporting the article of manufacture. Other additional devices are incorporated into the present invention, including an acoustic means sandwiched between layers of the inflatable material, so that a screen or keyboard may become, in effect, a speaker. The present invention is lightweight, easily transportable, easy to ship, and of extremely low cost, as well as being, ergonomically superior.

Description

INFLATABLE STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE OF

MANUFACTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to inflatable objects designed to partially or completely encase rigid, non-rigid and semi-rigid articles of manufacture such as keyboards, personal digital assistants (PDA's), cell-phones, screens, palmtop computers, laptop computers, and e-book reading devices. Description of Related Art Most small computer screens are active matrix in nature and thus rigid and are fixed to a flat portion of a laptop that overlies or abuts the keyboard. In the past, the concept and use of the rigid screen has worked in concert with the rigid keyboard, both being restricted in size and shape, usually to a planar size and shape, which fit and overlie each other for a two-plane compaction method. Unfortunately, most laptops are not ergonomically designed, and the screen and keyboard, when open in concert, do not fit well into many places where laptops are often used, e.g., current coach passenger seats of an airplane. Additionally, because the keyboard is affixed to the screen in a relatively pre-defined arc of movement around hinges, it is not capable of being moved away from the screen, and adds a weight to the overall device. It is desirable to have a lightweight screen that is relatively detachable from a keyboard and would have little mass.

Keyboards, PDA's, palmtops, screens, and e-book reading devices are usually made out of rigid and firm plastic, having some weight and a fixed structure. Although rigidity and lriMaturization are desirable to a certain extent in these structures, they also present a number of disadvantages, including stringent shipping requirements and limitations on size diminution while mamtaining visual or tactile practicality as well as shape deformation. Collapsible and foldable keyboards have been constructed in order to reduce their bulky size. Unfortunately, such features as the size of the keyboard can be reduced by only a certain factor, even by overlapping keys and having sliding arrangements, as in the IBM think pad. Roll-up and fold-over keyboards do not provide clear, crisp key movement, because they are in direct contact with an underlying surface or are made to be extremely thin. Crisp key movement and easy hand placement for ergonomic stability are thus usually lacking in the roll-up or fold-up versions of keyboards, as they are meant to be thin and be placed against a supporting structure, such as a table, with very limited space or ability to be angled. Thus, the user is subject to an increased chance of carpal tunnel syndrome with many of these compact and flattened devices. It would be desirable to be able to have various inflatable support mechanisms that may partially or completely encase firm, non-rigid or semi-rigid articles of manufacture, such that a limited number of breaths provide sufficient and desirable rigidity in the inflatable structure and thus its included and encased components. The inflatable structures should allow the rigidity to be easily released through an opening or port. Additionally, it would be desirable for such inflatable devices to serve an ergonomic function. Inflatable devices may provide lightweight, esthetically pleasing support via various tubular and braced designs of said invention. With the advent of the organic Mght-enύtting diode screens, otherwise known as OLEDs, it is now possible to make screens that are flexible, hghtweight, and low-cost These screens are, however, very flexible and have been very difficult to support It would be desirable to have a low-cost mechanism to rigidity the collapsible OLED screens, which can literally be wadded up into balls like Baggies®, or folded over neatly and placed in one's pocket OLED screens require less consumption of energy, are more efficient and more durable than the current active matrix screens, which may fracture or break on bending.

Prolonged typing at keyboards has been shown to cause pain and swelling of the wrist and hands due to improper support and orientation of the forearm and wrists. This problem has increased along with the increased use of computers in the workplace. It is desirable to provide a device that helps prevent hyperextending the wrists and compressing the vital structures of the carpal tunnel. If one stops at the onset of these symptoms and moves the hands around, these physiological problems resolve without i-nfhcting permanent damage. If one ignores these symptoms and perseveres, then permanent damage to the nerves and other vital stractures can occur. SUMMARY OF THE J-NVΕNπON

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable structure for supporting a variety of non-rigid, semi-rigid, flexible and partially rigid articles of manufacture. Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable structure for supporting the wrists and arms particularly for such activities as typing and computer use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the disclosure herein. An inflatable structure is provided for supporting articles of manufacture.

The inflatable structure includes a means for mamtaining the inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape. A variety of articles of manufacture are covered by the scope of this invention, and generally include non-rigid articles, semi-rigid articles, flexible and partially rigid articles. The articles of manufacture include a roll-up keyboard, a foldable keyboard, a solid keyboard, a LED, an OLED, a FOLED, a foldable active matrix, an electronic ink screen, a data input device, an e-book, a bulletin board, an advertisement sign, a computer screen, a sound speaker, and a television screen. The inflatable support structures described herein may be used to provide support for other non-rigid, semi-rigid and partially rigid articles of manufacture, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art

The inflatable support structures of the present invention may also contain thin film solar/light-converting/ photovoltaic converting cells. These devices may also contain thin film batteries or capacitors that would allow positive power input into the overall electromc-inflatable system. An embodiment of the present invention includes an inflatable structure for supporting the wrists and arms when they are positioned to use a computer keyboard or a typewriter and includes a means for mamtaining the inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape. One embodiment of the present invention includes an inflatable wrist support with an air insertion valve. The inflatable support may be permanently or detachably attached to a keyboard support plate that may be detachably connected to the inflatable wrist rest with a Velcro® strip. The support includes a series of tubular members that run the width of the support BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1A shows an embodiment having an inflatable structure configured to form a generally square shape.

Figure IB shows an inflatable structure formed like a book. Figure 2A shows a keyboard that is foldable into four sections.

Figure 2B shows a three-fold keyboard.

Figure 2C shows a two-fold keyboard.

Figure 2D shows an e-book.

Figure 2E shows a flexible screen such as an OLED or bubble screen. Figure 2F shows a touch pad.

Figure 2G shows a book configuration.

Figure 3 shows an internal compartment folded upon itself and bonded using a bonding agent.

Figure 8A shows a tubular structure bonded with a bonding agent at places where the tubes fold and touch.

Figure 8B shows the tubular support of Figure 8A internally bonded within a screen.

Figures 5A-C depict a variety of means for automatically inflating or manually inflating the inflatable compartment Figure 6 shows the connection of a central processing unit between the keyboard and the screen.

Figure 7 shows a type of inflation port that allows air in, but does not allow air to escape.

Figure 8 shows an inflatable structure including a thin-member speaker or speakers imbedded within the structure and further including LEDs.

Figure 9A shows a top view of a completely encompassing inflatable structure for a keyboard.

Figure 9B shows a side view of the device of Figure 5 A, and reveals the gas valve located on the rear of the device. Figure 10 shows an oblique view of a completely encompassing inflatable structure for a keyboard.

Figure 11 shows a personal digital assistant. Figure 12 shows a PDA resting in the open bed of an inflatable structure.

Figure 13 shows a PDA completely encased on all edges by the rounded tense inflated object.

Figure 14 shows an E-book reading device. Figure 15 shows an E-book reading device resting in the open bed of an inflatable support structure.

Figure 16 shows an E-book reading device completely encased on all edges by the rounded tense inflated support structure.

Figure 17 shows a laptop computer or large PDA with an inflatable support structure.

Figures 18A and 18B show a device for air delivery that includes compressible material.

Figure 19 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention and includes an inflatable wrist support with an air insertion valve. Figure 20 shows a top view of a wrist rest and illustrates one way of partitioning the inner lumen of the support structure with septae.

Figure 21 shows an example of a contoured inflatable wrist rest.

Figure 22A illustrates a top view of a writs rest with an attached or detachable mouse pad. Figure 22B shows an inflatable mouse pad including a static touch mouse pad.

Figure 23 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention that includes an inflatable wrist rest, a keyboard support plate and an inflatable mouse pad. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENΗON

The invention generally consists of an inflatable structure for supporting an article of manufacture, such as an keyboard or OLED, and further consists of a means for maintaining the inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape and includes an inflatable wrist rest. The inflatable structure is able to provide support for a variety of different articles of manufacture, which may be referred to simply as Articles. Articles that are covered by the scope of this invention generally include non-rigid articles, semi-rigid articles, flexible and a partially rigid articles such as a roll-up keyboard, a foldable keyboard, a solid keyboard, a roll-up OLED, a foldable OLED, a foldable LED, a foldable active matrix, a data input device, an e-book, an electronic bulletin board, an electronic advertisement sign, a computer screen, a television screen and other electronic articles of manufacture. The inflatable structures described herein may be used to provide support for other non-rigid, semi-rigid and partially rigid articles of manufacture, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art

Figure 1A shows an embodiment having an inflatable structure 30 that is configured to form a generally square shape. One form of this embodiment provides an inflatable tubular structure that is folded at three corners and attached at the ends (the fourth corner) to form a square. An added membrane 32 may be affixed with or integrally formed with the lower portion of inflatable structure 30 to provide a backing material upon inflation for added support to an Article. An inflation port 34 is shown to be included with inflatable structure 30. An Article such as an OLED may be operatively attached to the inner portion of the inflatable structure. Another form of this embodiment may be prefabricated as an integrally connected tube, having a square shape. Figure IB shows an inflatable structure 40 that is formed like a book and can be used, e.g., to hold an e-book. Such a structure may conform to the legs of a user and may include a backing material or membrane 42. The inflatable structure may be fabricated by injection molding, pressure molding, vacuum formation processes, thermo formation processes, blow molding material and material extrusion. Plastic and polymers are preferred materials in the fabrication process. Other fabrication process will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this disclosure. Embodiments of a flexible keyboard are described in U.S. Patent No.

5,616,897, titled "Flexible Keyboard" by Weber et al. Such flexible keyboards are supportable by the present invention. The computer screen may be planar or three- dimensionally configured. Figure 2A shows keyboard 80 which is foldable into four sections. A three-fold keyboard 82 is shown in Figure 2B. Inflatable and collapsible screens are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 09/166,502, titled "Inflatable and Collapsible Screens" by Weber et al. A two-fold keyboard 84 is shown in Figure 2G Figure 2D shows an e-book. A flexible screen 86 such as a flat OLED or having a three dimensional contour is shown in Figure 2E. Figure 2F shows a touch pad 88 and Figure 2G shows a book configuration 90. In all of the figures 2A-G, the dashed line 92 indicates potential or possible borders of the inflatable structure used to support the article of manufacture. An organic light emitting diode (OLED), also called an organic eϊectioluminescent (EL) device, is comprised of a layer of organic luminescent material conductively sandwiched between an anode, typically comprised of a transparent conductor such as indium-tin oxide and a cathode, typically a low work- function metal such as magnesium, calcium, aluminum, or the alloys thereof with other metals. The EL device functions on the principle that under an electric field, positive charges (holes) and negative charges (electrons) are respectively injected from the anode and cathode into the luminescent layer and undergo recombination to form excitonic states which subsequently emit light. Prior art organic EL devices have been constructed from a laminate of an organic luminescent material and electrodes of opposite polarity, which devices include a single crystal material, such as single crystal anthracence, as the luminescent substance as described, for example, in U.S. Pat No. 3,530,325. However, these devices require excitation voltages on the order of 100 volte or greater. Subsequent modifications of the device structure through incorporation of additional layers, such as charge injecting and charge transport layers, have led to performance improvements. Illustrative examples of these type of EL devices have been disclosed in publications by Tang et al. in J. Appl. Phys. vol. 65, pp.3610 to 3616 (1989) and Saito et al. in Mol. Cryst Liq. Cryst vol. 253, pp. 125 to 132 (1994).

An organic EL device can be fabricated with an organic dual layer structure comprising one layer adjacent to the anode supporting hole injection and transport, and another layer adjacent to the cathode supporting electron injection and transport. Another alternate device configuration is comprised of three separate layers, a hole transport layer, an emission layer, and an electron transport layer, which layers are laminated in sequence and are sandwiched as a whole between an anode and a cathode. Optionally, a fluorescent material can be added to the emission layer to induce recombination of charge carriers and emission of tight within the fluorescent material, leading to improved luminescence efficiency. A flexible, transparent plastic substrate for OLED applications is described by P.E. Burrows et al., in Proc. SPIE Vol.4105, titled "Gas Permeation and Lifetime Tests On Polymer-Based Barrier Coatings." This article describes a process where a flexible, composite thin film barrier is deposited under vacuum onto commercially available polymers, restricting moisture and oxygen permeation rates to undetectable levels. The film is capped with a thin film of transparent conductive oxide yielding an engineered substrate (Barix™) for next generation, rugged, lightweight of flexible OLED displays. Barix is a trademark of Vitex Systems, Sunnyvale, CA. The invention provides means, internal to the inflatable structure, for mamtaining the inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape. This means for mamtaining the desired shape comprises a support system operatively placed within the inflatable structure. Such support system comprises at least one inflatable compartment that, in some embodiments, is connected to the inner surface of the inflatable structure. In other embodiments, the compartment is not fixedly attached but may "float". Within the inflatable support structure, the means for mamtaining the desired shape may include the use of geometric tubes or geometric structures with internal lumens smaller than the unobstructed lengths, width or depth of the support structure or article of manufacture to be supported. The tubular structures may be arranged in such a fashion that they mimic the architecture of a skyscraper or other supported architecture using cross-beams etc., in order to maintain the shape. As shown in Figure 3, means for mamtaining the inflatable structure in a desired shape, shown as the internal compartment 128, may be folded upon itself and bonded using a bonding agent 130. External tethers may be available to bond or bind the tubular structures together in order to reduce volume wasted. Figure 4A shows a tubular structure 132 bonded with a bonding agent 134 at places where the tubes fold and touch. The tubular support 132 is shown in Figure 4B internally bonded within a screen 138.

Figures 5A-C depict a variety of means for automatically inflating or manually inflating the inflatable compartment, shown generally as reference numeral 160. Figure 5A shows a compressible foam 162 which will automatically inflate to a nearly rigid state. The compressible foam may be an open cell foam material, e.g. 1.8 lb, 341.F.D. open cell polyurethane. Inflatable compartment 160 can then be fj-nally inflated to a desired state of rigidity by about a half of one volume of a breath through inflation port 164. A second method of automatic inflation is shown as a C02 cartridge 166 in Figure 5B. A manual pump 168 for inflation of compartment 160 is shown as a third embodiment in Figure 5G In one embodiment, an entire keyboard or an entire screen is inflated, rigidified, or backed up by less than one-half of a breath of air, with additional breaths or air supplies being added in order to maintain firmer rigidification.

Figure 6 shows the connection of a central processing unit 230, consisting of a Pentium chip or AMD chip or other typical chip, between the keyboard 232 and the screen 234. However, this is not necessarily the case, as in the devices there would be some input/ output devices like web TV in which the keyboard would be connected by fiberoptic cable, telephone wiring, television wiring, or possibly even transmitted by radio frequency signal or infrared signal to a unit which then transmife data to a central location by the internet or some other means in which that data then appears back on the screen continuously without passing through a local central processing unit The computing devices of the future may be capable of their own computing or may utilize distant computing and/ or storage capacity, the present device, two embodiments will be those with CPU and storage unit placed in relatively close proximity to the interfaces (screen and/ or keyboard); and those unite in which the screen communicates separately from the keyboard. However, both are hooked to some formation of Internet or LAN or other type of communicatory device with computing and storage potential. In one embodiment shown in Figure 8, inflatable structure 240 may include a thin-member speaker or speakers 242 imbedded witriin the structure and may further include LEDs 244 to provide night- tight (or neon-like effects for evening typing).

An inflation port may be necessary in the inflating means, either of the keyboard or the screen. The inflation port could be similar to that used in basketballs, footballs, or volleyballs. Figure 7 shows type of inflation port 200 that allows air in, but does not allow air to escape. Air blown into the opening at end 202 will force the valve cover 204 to open, and back-pressure will cause valve cover 204 to remain sealed. Other types of valves are usable, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art The randomized pattern, especially, of the formation of the tubules can be made by the end user to fit the desired area; e.g., some people may wish to have their keyboards sitting on a folded knee or lap.

Figure 9A shows a top view of a completely encompassing inflatable support for a keyboard. This embodiment includes an inflatable tube 250 that surrounds the periphery of a lightweight backing plate 252. A keyboard (not shown) may be placed within the bay formed by the inflatable tube 250 and the backing plate 252. To further rigidity the inflatable support of this embodiment, a pair of straps 254 is connected from one side of the support structure to the other side. The backing plate 252 may be formed from plastic and may have sections that are cut out to allow the keyboard cables to pass, to reduce the overall weight of the assembled device and to decrease storage space. Figure 9B shows a side view of the device of Figure 9A, and reveals the gas valve 256 located on the rear of the device. The figure shows the inflatable keyboard 258 attached to the inflatable support tube 250. Figure 10 shows an oblique view of the completely encompassing inflatable structure of figures 9A and 9B.

A variety of electronic articles may be supported by the present invention. Figurell shows a personal digital assistant (PDA) 290, (e.g., a Palm Pilot) with control buttons 292 and a screen 294 in its natural shell of manufacture right off the shelf before being inserted or rested into an inflatable support of the present invention. Figure 12 shows a PDA 300 resting in the open bed of an inflatable support 302. The PDA 300 is shown with its case boundaries demarcated by dashed lines resting in the open bed of the inflatable support structure 302. Note the inflation valve 304 at top right Figure 13 shows a PDA 310 completely encased on all edges by the rounded tense inflated support 312. Figure 14 shows an E-book reading device. In Figure 13, the PDA boundaries are demarcated by dashed lines completely encased on all edges by the rounded tense inflated object Note the inflation valve 314 at top right Figure 14 shows an E-book reading device 320. An example of such devices is the Rocket™, with control buttons and screen in its natural shell of manufacture right off the shelf before being inserted or rested into an inflatable support structure. Figure 15 shows an E-book reading device 320 of Figure 14 resting in the open bed of an inflatable support structure 330. Figure 16 shows an E-book reading device of Figure 14 completely encased on all edges by the rounded tense inflated support structure 340.

Figure 17 shows a laptop computer with a large PDA, OLED or FOLED 154 with an inflatable support structure. Note the inflatable OLED or FOLED screen support 350 with attendant valve and solar/photovoltaic cells 352 in various positions with connections to various energy storage modes including thin film capacitors and batteries (not shown).

The importance of the development of high efficiency, stable, lightweight and flexible solar cells has been emphasized for terrestrial and space appUcations. A novel process has been developed to make solar cells on flexible polymer sheets. The total thickness of the solar cell including polymer substrate is less than 25 micron. A thin layer of Cu(In, Ga)Se₂ (also called QGS) compound semiconductor is used for the absorption of solar light and generation of electrical current As published in the Progress in Photovoltaics, 7, 393-397 (1999) journal, the solar electricity conversion efficiency of 12.8% is the highest efficiency reported for a solar cell grown on a polymer sheet The measurements were independently confirmed by FhG/ISE, Freiburg, Germany (an authorized center for certification in Europe).

Referring still to Figure 17, the central folding keyboard 356 such as the Palm Keyboard™, is seen encased in an inflatable support that contains thin film speakers 358. The device may include internal OLEDs or FOLEDs (not shown) so that the inflatable support structure 360 surrounding the keyboard can glow at night or display visually pleasing signals within the inflatable keyboard holder or its wrist rests 362. Methodologies for electrically mtercormecting the screen, keyboard, CPU and the other devices disclosed herein are known in the art Some examples follow.

U.S. Patent No. 5,956,235, titled "Method And Apparatus For Flexibly Connecting Electronic Devices", incorporated herein by reference, describes a flexible interconnect for flexibly connecting an integrated circuit chip to a substrate. The flexible interconnect includes a flexible core, formed of a polymeric material, fully covered by a layer of an electrically conductive metal. A layer of a compliant material is provided beneath the input/ output pad of the substrate and/ or integrated circuit chip to reduce mechanical stresses on the flexible interconnect The substrate and integrated circuit chip may include depressions to receive ends of the flexible interconnect. In one embodiment, the flexible interconnect may be tubular in shape and positioned on a protrusion formed on the substrate. U.S. Patent No.4,987,516, titled "Substrate Carrier Device", incorporated herein by reference, discloses a substrate carrier device, which is used to mount and electrically connect a plurality of electrical substrates to a carrier substrate. The substrate carrier device includes a substrate tray having planar top and bottom surfaces. The top surface is adapted to have a plurality of electrical substrates mounted thereon. Substrate guide rails extend from the major perimeter edges of the bottom surface of the substrate tray and are adapted to be inserted and accepted within a pair of substrate guides, found on the carrier substrate. Electrical connection devices, mountable to the tray between each electrical substrate, engage associated electrical connectors on the carrier substrate. A flexible circuit interconnects each electrical connection device to an adjacent and associated electrical substrate, thereby providing an electrical path between an electrical substrate and the carrier substrate.

U.S. Patent No.5,942,185, titled "Lead-Free Solder Used For Connecting Electronic Parts On Organic Substrate And Electronic Products Made Using Same", incorporated herein by reference, provides a lead-free solder for connecting LSI and parte on organic substrates, which can provide soldering at a maximum temperature of 220.degree,-230.degree. C. and which has a sufficient reliability in mechanical strength even at a high temperature of 150.degree. G Also provided are electronic products prepared using this lead-free solder. The lead-free solder has a solder composition including 3-5% Zn and 10- 23% Bi, the balance being Sn. Preferably, the solder composition is a composition (Sn, Zn, Bi) surrounded by lines connecting A and B, B and C and C and A, where A is (85, 5, 10 ), B is (72, 5, 23) and C is (76, 3, 21), of a ternary diagram having pure Sn, pure Zn and pure Bi at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Through use of this solder, it is possible to solder parts, etc. on conventionally employed organic substrates at reflow temperatures equivalent to those for conventional Pb— Sn eutectic solders. The solder does not damage the environment, can be stably supplied and is low in cost. Figure 18A show a device for air delivery that includes compressible material. Each figure shows a segment of a separate "foot" attachment 368 with oneway valves 372 for air input and pressurization and a valve 374 for air delivery into the remainder of the device to be inflated. The inflating segment is preferably made of material thin enough to allow the internal springs, or air-conditioning filter-fiber- floss 376 in Figure 18B, or reticulated foam (not shown in this diagram) to expand easily against the walls thus opening them and driving in air to be pressurized by manual gripping. The centrally placed valve 374 at the crease point of a linear "foot" allows air to come from both sides of a creased or squeezed foot and exit through the tented path below the valve since the valve base is thicker than the surrounding plastic. Thin-film speakers, batteries or photovoltaics can also be used in the present invention. Alternately, a pneumatic compressor may be used to inflate the structures, and can be configured to provide a fluxuating pressure, resulting in a "massaging" effect on a user. An embodiment of the invention includes an inflatable structure for supporting the wrists and arms when they are positioned to use a computer keyboard or a typewriter and further consists of a means for maintaining the inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape. Figure 19 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention and includes an inflatable wrist support 410 with an air insertion valve 412. The inflatable support 410 may be permanently or detachably attached to a keyboard support plate 414. Keyboard support plate 414 may be detachably connected to the inflatable wrist rest 410 with a Velcro® strip 416. The support 410 includes a series of tubular members 418 which run the width of the support 410. Four tubular members 418 are shown in the figure; however, any number of tubular and/or other structures are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the support structure 410 may form into a flat, slanted and/ or contoured surface in accordance. The wrist rest may include a bottom layer 419 functioning as an anti-slip layer in contact ith a ground in the form a working- table-top, desk-top and the tike and consisting of, e.g., a foamed thermoplastic synthetic material.

Figure 20 shows a top view of a wrist rest 20 and illustrates one way of partitioning the inner lumen of the support structure 420 with septae 422. In this example, the septae 422 are opened at one end to atiow air conduction. Many other configurations of septae may be substituted for the example.

An example of a contoured inflatable wrist rest is shown in Figure 21. The figure shows a side view of the rest 30 having a raised senti-cyUndrical portion 32, stabitizers 34, an input valve and an attached or detachable keyboard support plate 36. The wrist rest 30 may include the stabitizers 34 or other additional raised structures to provide additional user support and stability. Also shown is the keyboard support plate 35. The present invention may be inflated by a variety of means such as blowing into the inflation valve, by the attachment of a CO2 cartridge or by using a detachable pump.

Figure 22A illustrates a top view of a write rest 450 with an attached or detachable mouse pad 452. In this embodiment, the wrist rest 450 is shown with four wrist support tubules and the mouse pad support 452 is shown with nine support tubules. A hard surface may be provided on the mouse pad support 452 to make it easier to operate the mouse. The hard surf ace may be formed from plastic, tile, wood, etc. Alternately, a conventional mouse pad may be affixed to the top of the mouse pad support 454. The mouse pad support 454 may include a raised portion near the user side of the support to help maintain a user's wrist position in an ergonomic manner. Figure 22B shows an alternate mouse pad. In this embodiment, the inflatable mouse pad 452 includes a static touch mouse pad 458. Touch sensing devices are weU known, and take a number of different forms. Perhaps the best known are resistive-membrane position sensors, which have been used in a number of different appUcations for many years. Such devices have been used as keyboards, position indicators, and so forth. Other types of touch sensing devices include resistive tablets, surface acoustic wave devices, touch sensors based on strain gages or pressure sensors, and optical sensors. Examples of touch sensitive devices are described in U.S. Patent No.5,825,352, U.S. Patent No. 5,982,302 and U.S. Patent No. 5,327,161. Figure 23 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention that includes an inflatable wrist rest 470, a keyboard support plate 472 and an inflatable mouse pad 474. The keyboard support plat may have a rigid construction or it may be flexible. Where the support plate is flexible, by deflating the inflatable wrist rest and the inflatable mouse pad, the entire structure may be rolled up into a compact structure such as a cylinder, or folded into a compact shape that is easily packed or stored for mobility.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of iUustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to Umit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in tight of the above teaching. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the foUowing claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising: an inflatable structure for supporting an article of manufacture; and means for mamtaining said inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article of manufacture is selected from a group consisting of a roU-up keyboard, a foldable keyboard, a soUd keyboard, a roU-up OLED, a foldable OLED, a foldable LED, a sound speaker, a foldable active matrix, a data input device, an e-book, an electronic bulletin board, an electronic advertisement sign, a computer screen, a television screen.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article of manufacture comprises an electronic article of manufacture.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inflatable structure comprises material selected from a group consisting of plastic and polymers.

5. The apparatus of claiml, wherein said means for mamtaining said inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape comprises a support system operatively placed within said inflatable structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said support system comprises at least one inflatable compartment within said inflatable structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one inflatable compartment comprises a polymer.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one inflatable compartment comprises a shape having a cross-section selected from a group consisting of a tube, a cylinder, a rectangle and a bladder.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for automatically inflating said inflatable compartment.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for automaticaUy inflating said inflatable compartment is selected from a group consisting of compressible foam and a C02 cartridge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said compressible foam comprises an open cell foam material.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said open ceU foam material comprises 1.8 lb, 341.F.D. open ceU polyurethane.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said inflatable structure to a fixed structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said article of manufacture comprises a keyboard, said apparatus further comprising wrist reste operatively attached to said keyboard, wherein said wrist rests comprise means for mflating said at least one inflatable compartment

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said means for inflating said at least one inflatable compartment is internal to said wrist reste, automatically returns said wrist reste to their uncompressed state and is selected from a group consisting of a spring, memory foam and a sponge.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wrist rests are ergonomicaUy shaped.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article of manufacture comprises a keyboard, wherein said inflatable structure is molded to conform to an object upon which said apparatus is placed.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one speaker for producing sound, wherein said at least one speaker is placed within said inflatable structure.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one tight entitling diode embedded within said inflatable structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inflatable structure comprises a tube folded into a geometric pattern.

21. An inflatable support structure for supporting an electronic article of manufacture, comprising: at least one inflatable article configured to support an electronic article of manufacture; and an inflation valve connected to said at least one inflatable article, wherein said inflatable support structure further comprises a gas conducting path from said inflation valve to said at least one inflatable article.

22. The inflatable support of claim 21, wherein said at least one inflatable article comprises a plurality of inflatable tubes.

23. The inflatable support of claim 22, wherein said pluratity of inflatable tubes are further configured to operate as a wrist rest

24. The inflatable support of claim 21, wherein said at least one inflatable article is configured to form an opening or bay, wherein an electronic article of manufacture may be positioned within said opening or bay.

25. The inflatable support of claim 21, wherein said at least one inflatable article is configured to form an opening or bay, wherein an electronic article of manufacture may be positioned within said opening or bay.

26. The inflatable support of claim 25, wherein said opening is configured to limit the possible lateral movement of said electronic article of manufacture.

27. The inflatable support of claim 25, wherein said opening is configured to hold the edges of said electronic article of manufacture and prevent lateral movement of said electronic article of manufacture.

28. The inflatable support of claim 22, wherein said plurality of inflatable tubes are configured to support an electronic article of manufacture at an angle to a user.

29. The inflatable support of claim 26, wherein said rectangular opening is configured to Umit the possible lateral movement of said electronic article of manufacture in a first plane, wherein said inflatable support further comprises at least one strap to further prevent movement of said electronic article in any direction away from said first plane.

30. The inflatable support of claim 29, wherein said at least one strap comprises a pair of straps.

31. The inflatable support of claim 21, further comprising a flexible backing plate, wherein said at least one inflatable article is configured to surround the periphery of said flexible backing plate to form a bay.

32. The inflatable support of claim 31, further comprising a pair of straps connected from one side of said inflatable support structure to the other side.

33. The inflatable support of claim 21, further comprising means for injecting a gas through said inflation valve to inflate said at least one inflatable article.

34. The inflatable support of claim 33, wherein said means for injecting a gas comprises a squeeze tube with an outlet valve at a point about half the length of said squeeze tube, wherein said squeeze tube further comprises a one way gas inlet vale at each end of said squeeze tube.

35. The inflatable support of claim 34, wherein said squeeze tube comprises resilient compressible material to return said squeeze tube to an uncompressed state after external pressure is removed from said squeeze tube.

36. The inflatable support of claim 21, further comprising an inflatable screen support connected to said at least one inflatable article.

37. The inflatable support of claim 21, further comprising an electronic component operatively connected to said at least one inflatable article, wherein said electronic component is selected from the group consisting of an antenna, a flexible battery, a solar ceU, a capacitor and a thin film speaker.

38. The inflatable support of claim 23, further comprising an electronic component operatively connected to said wrist rest, wherein said electronic component is selected from the group consisting of an antenna, a flexible battery, a solar cell, a capacitor and a thin film speaker.

39. The inflatable support of claim 36, further comprising an electronic component operatively connected to said inflatable screen support, wherein said electronic component is selected from the group consisting of an antenna, a flexible battery, a solar ceU, a capacitor and a thin film speaker.

40. The inflatable support of claim 34, wherein said squeeze tube is connected to said at least one inflatable article, wherein said squeeze tube can be positioned under said at least one inflatable tube to lift one end of said electronic article of manufacture at an angle for easier viewing by a user.

41. The inflatable support of claim 21, wherein said electronic article of manufacture is selected from the group consisting of a roU-up keyboard, a foldable keyboard, a soUd keyboard, an LED, a flexible LED, an OLED, a roU-up OLED, a foldable OLED, a roU-up active matrix, a foldable active matrix, a data input device, an e-book reading device, a bulletin board, an advertisement sign, a computer screen and a television screen.

42. The inflatable support of claim 36, wherein said gas conducting path is configured to conduct gas from said inflation valve to said inflatable screen support

43. The inflatable support of claim 36, wherein said inflatable article and said inflatable screen support are an integral unit

44. An inflatable support structure for supporting an electronic article of manufacture, comprising: inflatable means for supporting an electronic article of manufacture; and an inflation valve connected to said inflatable means.

45. A method for supporting an electronic article of manufacture, comprising: providing an electronic article of manufacture; and inserting said electronic article of manufacture into a bay that is part of an inflatable means for supporting said electronic article of manufacture.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said electronic article of manufacture is selected from the group consisting of a roU-up keyboard, a foldable keyboard, a sotid keyboard, an LED, a flexible LED, an OLED, a roU-up OLED, a foldable OLED, a roU-up active matrix, a foldable active matrix, a data input device, an e-book reading device, a buUetin board, an advertisement sign, a computer screen arid a television screen.

47. An apparatus, comprising: an inflatable structure for supporting the wrists of a computer keyboard user; and means for mflating said inflatable structure to a positive pressure.

48. The keyboard wrist rest of claim 47, further comprising means for* maintaining said inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said inflatable structure cqmpr es material selected from a group consisting of plastic and polymers.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for mamtaining said inflatable structure in a desired inflated shape comprises a support system operatively placed within said inflatable structure.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said support system comprises at least one inflatable compartment within said inflatable structure,

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said at least one inflatable compartment comprises a polymer.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said at least one inflatable compartment comprises a shape having a cross-section selected from a group consisting of a tube, a cylinder, a rectangle and a bladder.

54. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for inflating said inflatable structure to a positive pressure comprise means for automatically inflating said inflatable compartment

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said means for inflating said inflatable structure to a positive pressure comprises an air insertion valve.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said means for inflating said inflatable structure to a positive pressure further comprises a CO2 cartridge operatively connected to said air insertion valve to inflate said inflatable structure.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said means for inflating said inflatable structure to a positive pressure further comprises an air pump operatively connected to said air insertion valve to inflate said inflatable structure.

58. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a keyboard support plate and means for attaching said keyboard support plate to said inflatable structure.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said means for attaching are selected from a group consisting of Velcro®, snaps, a zipper and a hook.

60. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said apparatus comprises an ergonomicaUy neutral shape for the wrists of a user.

61. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said ergonomicaUy neutral shape comprises a semi-cyUndrical shape.

62. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a mouse pad operatively connected to said inflatable structure.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said mouse pad comprises an inflatable lumen operatively connected to said inflatable structure, wherein said mouse pad witi inflate to a positive pressure with said inflatable structure.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said mouse pad comprises a hard top surface.

65. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a static touch mouse pad operatively connected to said inflatable structure.

66. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said keyboard support plate is flexible.