Hitherto, there have been many forms of key covers proposed for use with the keys of a computer keyboard, a piano, a typewriter, a telephone handset and, indeed, any control device that comprises keys that are operated by tapping the keys with the fingertips.

Therefore, prior key covers have been concerned with: (a) cushioning the impact felt by the fingers of an operative when using a keyboard; or, (b) highlighting the legends on the keys to make them more legible; or, (c) amending the legends on the keys of a keyboard where a personal computer is to be programmed to operate in an alternative language.

Thus, in United States Patent No. 5,290, 115, a cushion pad is disclosed, which cushion pad is intended to relieve the impact on the fingers of a typist. The cushion pad of US'115 comprises a layer of material that is softer than the material from which the keys of a keyboard are made, the cushion pad being attached to a key by a layer of adhesive. The upper surfaces of the cushion pads are provided with a legend to facilitate the attachment of pads marked with a legend to appropriate keys of a keyboard.

In United States Patent No. 6,331, 083, there is disclosed a key pad for removable attachment to a key of a computer keyboard, an upper surface of the key pad being coloured and having legends provided thereon in fluorescent material. Like the pad of US'115, the pad of US'083 is attached to a key of a keyboard by a suitable adhesive.

A key cap of plastic material is disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,183, 346, which key cap is provided with one legend on an upper surface representing a legend to be typed upon depression of the key. The key cap also has a second legend provided on an underside surface, which legend corresponds to that of the keyboard key to which it is to be attached. The purpose of the key caps is to facilitate the use of the keyboard on which they are used for typing in another language following re- programming of an associated computer.

None of the key covers or key caps disclosed hitherto display, on a visible surface in use of the cover or cap, a design or configuration in addition to a legend corresponding to the legend on which the key cover or key cap is attached. However, with US'115 and US'083 this is of no consequence. With the key caps of US'346, however, in order to revert to typing any script according to the base key legends, one has to re-programme the computer and remove the key caps from the keyboard keys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key cover whereby a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys may be customised to the users requirements.

Thus, the present invention conveniently provides a key cover for attachment, in use, to a key of a keyboard, the key cover comprising a planar portion, which overlies an upper surface of a key of a keyboard, the planar portion comprising an upper surface, which may be provided with a customising legend, pattern, an image of a cartoon character or an image of a real life character.

Conveniently, the key cover may further comprise a depending portion extending, in use, over a front surface of a key to which the key cover is attached, the depending portion bearing a legend corresponding to the legend on said key.

Preferably, the key cover may be a sticker, which may be attached to a key of a keyboard by an adhesive.

Conveniently, the sticker may be pre-coated with adhesive on an underside surface thereof.

Preferably, the sticker may be formed as a delineated component on a sheet comprising a plurality of stickers and the sheet may also be configured to represent the keyboard to which the stickers may be attached in use.

In one convenient arrangement provided by the present invention, the keyboard may be that of a personal computer.

The present invention further provides a sheet of stickers, which bear the images of cartoon characters and/or real life characters.

The sheet, and thus the stickers, may conveniently be coated on an underside thereof with an adhesive, the sheet being mounted on a carrier of release material for packaging and storage.

In a further arrangement, conveniently provided by the present invention, the key cover may be provided by a key cap attachable, when in use, to a key of a keyboard, the key cap preferably being moulded from plastic material and having an inverted box shape configured for push fit attachment on said key.

The present invention also conveniently provides a key sticker for use on a key of a keyboard, the key sticker comprising a layer of material pre-coated on an underside thereof with an adhesive to facilitate the attachment of the sticker to an upper surface of a keyboard key, characterised in that the key sticker may be provided with a customising legend, pattern, an image of a cartoon character and/or an image of a real life character, the key sticker further comprising a depending portion extending, in use, over a front surface portion of a key to which the key sticker is attached, the depending portion bearing a legend corresponding to the legend on said key.

The present invention also conveniently provides a key cover, characterised in that. the customising legend, pattern or image comprises the name or logo of a commercial organisation and thereby constitutes advertising on the key.

The present invention further provides a method of advertising a commercial organisation which has an identifying name or logo, in which said name or logo is placed on a key cover for attachment to a key of a keyboard, the key cover comprising a planar portion adapted to overlie an upper surface of the key of the keyboard, the planar portion comprising an upper surface containing said name or logo, the key cover also bearing a legend, visible in use, which legend corresponds to the legend of the key to which the key cover may be attached, said method comprising attaching said key cover to said key so that a name or logo, as well as the legend of the key, will be visible when said keyboard is used.

There now follows, by way of example of the present invention, a detailed description, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a key sticker; Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of the sticker of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 is an upper perspective view of another key sticker; Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of the sticker of Figure 3 in use; Figure 5 is an upper perspective view of three stickers in use on adjacent keys of a personal computer; Figure 6 is an upper perspective view of a key cap; Figure 7 is a section view along the line VII-VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of a sheet of key stickers provided by the invention; and, Figure 9 is a plan view of a personal computer keyboard with key stickers applied thereto.

The present invention provides a novel set of key covers 2 whereby the keys 4 of a personal computer may be covered without hindrance to an operative who can plainly see the legends of the alpha/numeric keys 4 that are to be depressed when inputting data to the computer.

To this end the key covers 2 each comprise, in a first format, a planar key sticker 6, which is generally rectangular in shape and is of a size corresponding to an alpha/numeric key 4 on which it is to be used, see Figures 1 and 2.

The key sticker 6 is provided with a tab 8 on a forward edge 10 thereof, which tab 8 is arranged, in use, to fold over the edge 10 of a key 4 and to adhere to a front face 12 of the key 4. To facilitate the attachment of the key sticker 6 to a key 4, an underside 14 of the sticker 6 is pre-coated with a suitable adhesive 16, see figure 1.

The tab 8 of the key sticker 6 is imprinted with a legend 20 corresponding to the legend on the key to which it is to be attached.

An upper surface 22 of the key sticker 6 is provided with an image of a cartoon character, for example, a smiley face is shown in Figures 1,2, 8 and 9.

It will be readily appreciated that by attaching the key stickers 6 of the present invention to the keys 4 of a personal computer, the operative may customise their keyboard by using cartoon characters that appeal to them. For example one may apply stickers depicting the'Simpsons','Pokemon','Bob the Builder', or any such characters that appeal to the end user.

The stickers 6 are formed as a plurality of such stickers on a sheet 42 that represents the layout, of the keys and bars of a personal computer, see Figure 8.

The individual stickers 6 are delineated by score lines 6a to facilitate the ready removal of the stickers 6 from a sheet 42 thereof.

Some, and maybe all, of the stickers 6 are provided with an appropriate image of a cartoon character as aforesaid and the sheet thereof is supplied on a release paper, not shown.

In an alternative format, the key covers 2 comprise a key cap 30 of inverted box shape, which key cap 30 is moulded from plastic material.

The key cap 30 bears a legend 32 on a front face 34 thereof, see Figure 6, the legend corresponding to the legend on the key to which it is to be attached.

An upper surface 36 of the key cap 30 is provided with an image of a cartoon character, for example, a smiley face.

The key cap 30 is of sufficient size to be a push-fit on the key 4 on which it is to be used.

Both the key stickers 6 and the key caps 30 may be made to fit other sized keys, tabs and bars of a personal computer; thus, Figures 3 and 4 show a key sticker 6 for attachment to a bar 40 of a personal computer.

An operative may simply customise their personal computer by attaching the key covers 2 of the present invention to the keys 4 of the computer keyboard 44, see Figure9.

The operative may continue to use the keyboard in its normal mode of operation because they have sight of the appropriate legends on the front of the key covers.

It is envisaged, however, that the computer may be programmed through appropriate software to facilitate the playing of games linked to the cartoon characters that are provided on the key covers.

The variation of legends, patterns or images used to customise the keys of a keyboard may be extensive and may reflect the personality of the end user.

Legends, designs, logos, etc. may be used by corporate bodies for advertising and promotional purposes.

Whatever format of key covers are used, it is intended that they are readily detachable from the keys on which they are used so that the keyboard may be returned to its normal format or a new set of key covers may be attached thereto.

To this end, the adhesive used on the key stickers is such that the stickers are readily detachable from the upper surfaces of the keys on which they are used.

The use of the key covers of this invention is not limited to their application to the keys of a personal computer; indeed, they may find use on the keys of any device that may be customised as described herein. For example, the key stickers 6 may also be used on the keys of a typewriter, a telephone handset, a play-station console or the like.

Whereas the key stickers 6 have been described as being formed in a sheet 42 of such stickers representing the configuration and layout of a computer keyboard, it will be apparent that the key stickers may be formatted in any way that may be exploited in the commercial market.

For example, and as indicated on the'shift key'of Figure 9, any one or more of the key stickers 6 can contain the'name'or'logo'of a corporate body or other organisation, which wishes to place advertising on the keys 4 of the keyboard. Thus, every time the user looks at the keyboard, he or she will see such advertising, reminding the user of the organisation in question.