U.S. patent application number 10/422184 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for keyboard mount.
Invention is credited to Klimke, Jens, Merz, Rudolf.
Application Number | 20040089783 10/422184 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29286137 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040089783 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klimke, Jens ; et
al. |
May 13, 2004 |
Keyboard mount
Abstract
A system of mounting a keyboard on a keyboard mount having a
U-shape includes a lateral guide on each interior side of the
keyboard mount. The lateral guides engage corresponding lateral
projections on exterior sides of the keyboard such that the lateral
projections, when inserted into the lateral guides, secure the
keyboard in a transport mode. The keyboard has a first section
extending from the rear that has a narrower width than a second
section, the exterior sides of the first section resting against
the interior sides of the keyboard mount and the second section
extending above the interior sides. A cavity formed between the
rear of the keyboard and the end of the keyboard mount when in the
transport mode includes terminals for electrical connection of the
keyboard to the keyboard mount, and is enclosed by a removable
cover.
Inventors: |
Klimke, Jens; (Falkensee,
DE) ; Merz, Rudolf; (Berlin, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TEKTRONIX, INC.
Francis I. Gray,
MS 50-LAW
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton
OR
97077
US
|
Family ID: |
29286137 |
Appl. No.: |
10/422184 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.01 ;
400/489 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1613 20130101;
G06F 3/0202 20130101; G06F 1/1669 20130101; G06F 1/1656
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.01 ;
400/489 |
International
Class: |
B65D 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 22, 2002 |
EP |
02 011 296.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for mounting a keyboard on an essentially U-shaped
keyboard mount comprising: a lateral guide on an interior side
surface of the U-shaped keyboard mount; and a lateral projection on
an exterior side surface of the keyboard, the lateral projection
engaging the lateral guide to secure the keyboard to the keyboard
mount in a transport mode.
2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the lateral guide
comprises a slot in which the lateral projection is guided.
3. The system according to claim 2 wherein lateral guide is in a
region of the interior side surface away from an end of the
keyboard mount.
4. The system according to claim 2 wherein the lateral guide
comprises a resilient snapping mechanism which is formed to
cooperate with the lateral projection to secure the keyboard in the
transport mode.
5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the resilient snapping
mechanism is formed such that the keyboard is released from the
keyboard mount by pulling in a direction parallel to the lateral
guide.
6. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a second
lateral projection on an opposing side exterior surface of the
keyboard which is formed to cooperate with a second lateral guide
on an opposing interior side surface of the keyboard mount to
secure the keyboard in the transport mode.
7. The system according to claim 4 wherein the resilient snapping
mechanism comprises: a resiliently supported projection mounted in
the slot; and a recess in the lateral projection into which the
resiliently supported projection is pressed when in the transport
mode.
8. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a cavity
formed between the keyboard mount and a rear end of the keyboard
when in the transport mode.
9. The system according to claim 8 further comprising a terminal
mounted on the keyboard mount in the cavity for providing
electrical connection of the keyboard to the keyboard mount.
10. The system according to claim 8 further comprising a removable
cover for covering the cavity.
11. The system according to claim 1 wherein a display is covered by
the keyboard when in the transport mode.
12. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a grip
disposed centrally at an underside surface of the keyboard by means
of which the keyboard is pulled out of the keyboard mount when in
the transport mode to place the keyboard in an operational
mode.
13. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a first
section of the keyboard having a first width which is in contact
with the interior side surfaces of the keyboard mount when in the
transport mode, and a second section of the keyboard having a
second width greater than the first width which extends above the
interior side surfaces of the keyboard mount when in the transport
mode.
14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the first section
extends from a rear end of the keyboard.
15. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a rear end
projection on the keyboard which cooperates with a retainer in an
interior end of the keyboard mount to secure the keyboard in the
transport mode.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to keyboard mounting systems,
and more particularly to a system for mounting a keyboard on a
keyboard mount which provides ease of use in transitioning the
keyboard from a transport mode to an operational mode, and vice
versa.
[0002] A prior art keyboard mounting system is shown in FIG. 1. An
information processing apparatus 10, for example a protocol tester,
includes a keyboard mount 12 as well as a keyboard 14. For
transport the keyboard 14 is brought into a so-called transport
mode in which it is fixedly connected to the information processing
apparatus 10. At the same time in transport mode it covers a
display 16 and thereby protects it. In order to operate the
keyboard 14 it is brought into an operational mode, i.e., it is
removed from the information processing apparatus 10 and placed in
front of it. In order to change the keyboard 14 from the
operational mode back into the transport mode two movable feet 18,
20, which serve for raising it at its rear end for easier
operability in the operational mode, are inserted into openings 22,
24 of the keyboard mount 12 provided for this. After inserting the
feet 18, 20 the keyboard 14 is rotated about the rotation axis
formed thereby, wherein a projection 26 of the keyboard mount
engages a recess of the keyboard 14 provided for this and the
keyboard is resiliently retained. Thus unintended detachment of the
keyboard 14 during transport is prevented. For detaching the
keyboard 14 from the projection 26 a region 28 unfolds and thereby
releases the projection 43.
[0003] The disadvantage of this known solution is that, due to the
mobility of the feet 18, 20 it is complicated to mount the keyboard
14 in the keyboard mount 12. On the one hand both feet 18, 20 have
to be equally aligned, on the other hand the region of the openings
22, 24 is difficult to see so that often multiple attempts are
required to insert the feet 18, 20 into the openings 22, 24.
Especially it often happens that during inserting the feet 18, 20
are moved out of their equal alignment and the entire process has
to be repeated. Since the feet 18, 20 cannot carry weight forces
without thereby displacing due to the required inclination, the
keyboard 14 cannot be transferred from the operational mode into
the transport mode with one hand since otherwise the projection 26
is in the way. Further from the projection 43 there is the risk
that the top of the keyboard 14 may be scratched or damaged.
[0004] What is desired is a keyboard mounting system that is easier
to manipulate between transport and operational modes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly the present invention provides a keyboard mount
wherein a keyboard may be transferred from an operational mode to a
transport mode with only one hand. The keyboard mount and keyboard
have cooperating lateral guides and projections on their sides so
that inserting the keyboard into the keyboard mount in an erect
position is possible with only one hand. A lateral guide of the
keyboard mount includes a slot in which a lateral projection of the
keyboard is guided. The keyboard is not necessarily mounted on the
keyboard mount by inserting exactly from above, but may be inserted
initially into the keyboard mount at half height, be leaned against
it and tilted to an erect position. This results in simple
adjustment of the keyboard relative to the keyboard mount.
Subsequently the keyboard may be lowered so the lateral projections
engage the lateral guides to place the keyboard in the transport
mode. The lateral guide of the keyboard mount has a retainer,
preferably a resilient snapping mechanism, which is formed to
cooperate with a counterpart of the keyboard in order to secure the
keyboard in the transport mode. A laterally mounted retainer has
the advantage that in mounting the keyboard on the keyboard mount
there is no risk that the keyboard top is damaged. At the same time
the retainer is activated automatically in inserting the keyboard
into the keyboard mount without additional measures by the operator
being required. The retainer is formed such that it may be released
by pulling at the keyboard in a direction parallel to the lateral
guides. This allows for secure connection between keyboard and
keyboard mount during transport, and yet transferring the keyboard
from the transport mode into the operational mode is accomplished
with one hand. The retainer includes a resiliently supported
projection on the lateral guide and the respective counterpart is a
recess in the lateral projection into which the resiliently
supported projection is pressed in the transport mode. The
resiliently supported projection thus mounted is not a risk for the
surface of the keyboard due to its lateral arrangement at the
keyboard and/or the keyboard mount. When the keyboard is in the
transport mode a cavity is formed between the keyboard mount and
the rear end of the keyboard. This cavity accommodates a connecting
cable of the keyboard within the keyboard mount. Therefore the
keyboard does not have to be disconnected from the keyboard mount
for transport. Also in the region of the cavity a terminal is
provided for electrically connecting the keyboard to the keyboard
mount. This allows the exchange of a defective keyboard or the
connection of another keyboard with minimal effort. The cavity may
be covered by a removable cover, facilitating the access to the
terminal for the keyboard or another terminal disposed in the
cavity. The keyboard mount may be mounted on a processing apparatus
about a display which is covered by the keyboard in the transport
mode. Thereby the display is protected from damages in a simple
manner.
[0006] In order to simply transfer the keyboard from the
operational mode into the transport mode and inversely, on the
underside of the keyboard a grip, preferably disposed centrally, is
present by means of which the keyboard is pulled out of the
keyboard mount if it is in the transport mode. Inversely, the
keyboard is placed in the transport mode using this grip in a
simple manner if it is in the operational mode. In the transverse
direction the keyboard has a first section having a first width so
that the exterior sides contact the interior sides of the keyboard
mount in the transport mode of the keyboard, and a second section
having a second width greater than the first width which extends
above the interior sides of the keyboard mount in the transport
mode. The rear end of the keyboard may have another projection
which cooperates with a retainer in the end of the keyboard mount
and/or the cover to secure the keyboard in the transport mode.
[0007] The objects, advantages and other novel features of the
present invention are apparent from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the appended claims and
attached drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing
apparatus known from the prior art with a known system of keyboard
and keyboard mount.
[0009] FIGS. 2a-2d are perspective views in sequential
representation of the transfer of the keyboard from the transport
mode to the operational mode in a keyboard mounting system
according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2e is an enlarged detail view of a resilient snapping
mechanism for securing the keyboard in the keyboard mount according
to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an information processing
apparatus with a keyboard mounting system according to the
invention where the keyboard is in the operational mode.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 3 where
the keyboard is in the transport mode according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 2a a keyboard 30 and a keyboard mount
32 are shown where the keyboard 30 is in a transport mode. On the
underside of the keyboard 30 a grip 34 is provided centrally in
order to pull the keyboard 30 out of the keyboard mount 32. FIG. 2b
shows the situation after raising the keyboard 30 vertically from
the keyboard mount 32 using the grip 34. The keyboard 30 has a
first width from a rear end 36 to about two thirds of its height
which is less than a second width of the remaining height of the
keyboard. Laterally, a lateral projection or sword 38 is shown
which is guided into a corresponding slot 40 of a lateral guide 42
on the keyboard mount 32. The sword 38 only extends in the upper
region of the part of the keyboard 30 which has the first width.
The lateral guide 42 of the keyboard mount 32 is a resiliently
supported snapping mechanism, illustrated in detail in FIG. 2e,
which serves for securing the keyboard 30 against slipping out
after insertion into the keyboard mount 32. Here a resiliently
supported projection 43 of the keyboard mount 32 engages a
corresponding recess 45 provided at the end of the sword 38. The
spring tension is designed such that by pulling the keyboard 30
upwards, the projection 43 and the recess 45 may be detached from
each other in order to release the keyboard 30 again. As is further
seen from FIG. 2b, a display 44 of the processing apparatus, on
which the keyboard mount 32 is mounted, is covered by the keyboard
30 in the transport mode. Thereby, the keyboard 30 protects the
display 44 from damages in transport. FIG. 2b further shows at the
rear end 36 of the keyboard 30 a projection 41 which is disposed
behind a removable cover 46 coupled to the keyboard mount 32 in the
transport mode, and thus additionally prevents slipping of the
keyboard out of the keyboard mount in the transport mode by
engaging a corresponding retainer in the keyboard mount. FIG. 2c
shows the system of keyboard 30 and keyboard mount 32 in the
operational mode where for reasons of clarity a spiral cable
connecting the keyboard to the keyboard mount has been omitted.
FIG. 2d shows the system of keyboard 30 and keyboard mount 32 also
in the operational mode where the cover 46 is removed to facilitate
access to terminals 48 disposed behind the cover 46 on the keyboard
mount.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an information processing apparatus, such as a
protocol tester, to which the keyboard mount 32 is fixedly mounted.
In the representation of FIG. 3 the keyboard 30 is in the
operational mode where the spiral cable 50 is still to be connected
to the terminal 48 of the keyboard mount 32 by means of a plug 52.
FIG. 4 shows the information apparatus of FIG. 3 with the keyboard
30 in the transport mode.
[0015] Thus the present invention provides a system for mounting a
keyboard to a processing apparatus that has a keyboard mount with a
lateral guide and a resiliently supported snapping mechanism at the
top of the lateral guide into which a sword or lateral projection
on a lateral side of the keyboard engages, the sword having a notch
that engages a projection in the snapping mechanism.
* * * * *