U.S. patent application number 10/839024 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for foldable keyboard.
This patent application is currently assigned to NMB (USA), Inc.. Invention is credited to Acosta, Richard, Fauble, Charles, Peterson, Casey, Sitalasai, Chatree, Takeda, Toshisada.
Application Number | 20040207979 10/839024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32770978 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040207979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sitalasai, Chatree ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Foldable keyboard
Abstract
A portable foldable keyboard comprised of two housings, each of
which contains a key assembly, and a central hinge. The two
housings can be slid together when the keyboard is unfolded and
they interlock to form a sturdy keyboard having the standard QWERTY
keyswitch layout.
Inventors: |
Sitalasai, Chatree; (La
Crescenta, CA) ; Takeda, Toshisada; (Simi Valley,
CA) ; Acosta, Richard; (Newbury Park, CA) ;
Peterson, Casey; (Saugus, CA) ; Fauble, Charles;
(Canyon Country, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHULTE ROTH & ZABEL LLP
ATTN: JOEL E. LUTZKER
919 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Assignee: |
NMB (USA), Inc.
Chatsworth
CA
|
Family ID: |
32770978 |
Appl. No.: |
10/839024 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10839024 |
May 5, 2004 |
|
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10357229 |
Feb 3, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.15 ;
361/679.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 2223/05 20130101;
H01H 13/86 20130101; G06F 1/1632 20130101; G06F 3/0221
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/683 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A PDA connecting device for a portable keyboard comprising: a
PDA connector; and a means for resiliently and rotatably mounting
said PDA connector to said keyboard.
12. A PDA connecting device for a foldable keyboard comprising: a
PDA connector holder; and a PDA connector; wherein said PDA
connector is mounted in said PDA connector holder such that said
PDA connector pops up when said foldable keyboard is unfolded.
13. A key membrane cable for a foldable keyboard comprising: a
straight region of said cable; and a folded region of said cable.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable keyboard, and
more particularly to a foldable keyboard that is easy to
manufacture and that is sufficiently rigid when unfolded such that
it can be utilized while it is positioned on a user's lap.
Keyboards embodying this invention are particularly useful when
combined with personal data assistants ("PDAs").
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] The need exists for a PDA sized, efficient, low cost
portable keyboard. Although several versions of foldable or
portable keyboards, which are useable with PDAs, have been patented
or introduced into the market, none of the existing keyboards
satisfy the need for a PDA sized, efficient, low cost portable
keyboard. Each of the existing keyboards exhibits one or more of
the following drawbacks: they are substantially larger than a PDA
even when folded; their unfolded length extends substantially
beyond the useable keyswitch area; the keyswitch layouts do not
comply with the standard QWERTY keyswitch layout used by most U.S.
keyboards; they are overly complex and consist of many parts; and
they lack sufficient rigidity for efficient lap-top use.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,648, discloses a foldable
keyboard that can be used with a PDA. The keyboard disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,648 is divided into curved halves connected
together by a single hinge. When this prior art keyboard is
unfolded for use, its keyswitch layout is not in conformance with
the standard QWERTY keyswitch layout. Additionally, it is not
sufficiently rigid to be typed on when in a user's lap. Further,
the keyboard disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,648 is substantially
larger than a PDA even when it is folded
[0004] The Stowaway Portable Keyboard, which is sold by Think
Outside, Inc., discloses a foldable keyboard having four segments
connected together by three hinges. Each segment is comprised of a
housing and a keyswitch assembly. When the Stowaway Portable
Keyboard is unfolded a gap exists between the keys on the first
segment of the keyboard and the keys on the second segment and a
gap exists between the keys on the third segment of the keyboard
and the keys on the fourth segment. The keyswitch assemblies may be
slid together to close the gaps between the keys and to place the
keyswitches into the standard QWERTY keyswitch layout. However, the
housings are not slid together. Accordingly, a substantial amount
of unused space exists on the outer sides of the first segment of
the keyboard and the second segment of the keyboard making the
keyboard unnecessarily long. Additionally, a keyboard having four
segments and three hinges is difficult to manufacturer and requires
a large number of parts, which results in a high manufacturing
cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Embodiments of this invention provide an efficient, low cost
portable keyboard that can be used with a PDA as well as other
portable microprocessor based equipment. The preferred embodiment
of this invention is a keyboard separated into two halves, which
can be folded together when the keyboard is not in use. When the
keyboard is folded, the keyboard is approximately the size of a PDA
and it can be carried in a user's pocket. When the keyboard is
unfolded, the two halves can be slid together using a unique
sliding interlock mechanism. This unique sliding interlock
mechanism, which requires only a few parts and is easy to
manufacture, allows the two keyboard halves to form a single
keyboard that does not flex in the middle and that has a sturdiness
similar to that of a one piece keyboard. Additionally, when the two
halves of the keyboard are slid together, the keyboard's
keyswitches are in a standard QWERTY keyswitch layout and the width
of the keyboard does not extend beyond the useable keyswitch
area.
[0006] Additionally, the preferred embodiment of this invention
utilizes a key membrane cable, which transmits electrical signals
from the keyswitches, that utilizes a folded region to facilitate
sliding the two keyboard halves together and apart.
[0007] Further, the preferred embodiment of this invention utilizes
a PDA connector that automatically pops up when the keyboard is
unfolded to facilitate connecting a PDA to the keyboard.
[0008] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent in light of the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will be more easily understood with
reference to the following drawings.
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded top view of the preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in its closed condition.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in its closed condition.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in its open non-interlocked position.
[0014] FIG. 3A is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in its open non-interlocked position.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of a hinge plate used in the preferred
embodiment of the present invention showing two key membrane
cables.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in its open interlocked position.
[0017] FIG. 5A is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in its open interlocked position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] A description of a preferred embodiment of the present
invention will now be given.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exploded top view of a keyboard embodying
the present invention. The keyboard is comprised of a right housing
1, a left housing 2, a right hinge plate 3, a center hinge 4, hinge
pins 5, right key assembly 6, left key assembly 7, key membrane
cable 8, PCB membrane cable 9, PCB 10, PCB housing 11, PDA membrane
cable 12, PDA connector 13, PDA connector holder 14, screws 15, PDA
support 16, PDA support wire 17, and locking latch 18.
[0020] Right hinge plate 3 is positioned in right housing 1 and
right key assembly 6 is positioned above right hinge plate 3 in
right housing 1. Screws 15, which are inserted from the bottom of
right housing 1, pass through elongated openings 20 in hinge plate
3 and into right key assembly 6. Left key assembly 7 is inserted
into left housing 2 and affixed thereto through the use of screws
15. Center hinge 4 is connected to right hinge plate 3 and left
housing 2 through the use of four hinge pins 5. Locking latch 18 is
affixed to the outer side of left housing 2 through the use of two
pins 25. PDA support 16 is slidably inserted into left housing 2
and PDA support wire 17 is rotatably mounted into PDA support 16.
Key membrane cable 8, which transmits electrical signals from the
keyswitches 19, is connected to the left key assembly 7 and the
right key assembly 6. PCB membrane cable 9, which transmits
electrical signals from the keyswitches 19 to the PCB 10, is
connected to left key assembly 7. PCB 10 is affixed to left housing
2 and it is held in place by PCB housing 11 through the use of
screws 15. PDA membrane cable 12 is connected to left key assembly
7 and to PDA connector 13, which is mounted inside of PDA connector
holder 14. PDA connector holder 14 is rotatably mounted in PCB
housing 11.
[0021] A PDA or other portable microprocessor based equipment can
be connected to the keyboard through the use of PDA connector 13.
When a PDA is connected to the keyboard, PDA support 16 should be
positioned in its extended position as shown in FIG. 5 and PDA
support wire 17 should be rotated to its upright position as shown
in FIG. 1. PDA support wire 17 provides support for the connected
PDA and PDA support 16 maintains PDA support wire 17 in its upright
position against the weight of the PDA. When a PDA is not connected
to the keyboard, PDA support wire 17 should be rotated to its
lowered position and PDA support 16 should be positioned in its
inserted position as shown in FIG. 3.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a top view of the keyboard in its closed condition
and FIG. 2A is a side view of the keyboard in its closed condition.
The keyboard is closed by folding right housing 1 over left housing
2 or vice versa. Center hinge 4 rotates about left housing 2 and
right housing 1 rotates about center hinge 4. Accordingly, in the
closed condition, center hinge 4 is perpendicular to both left
housing 2 and right housing 1. Locking latch 18 latches onto right
housing 1 to securely fasten the two halves of the keyboard
together.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the keyboard in its open
non-interlocked position and FIG. 3A shows a side view of the
keyboard in its open non-interlocked position. The keyboard is
opened by unfolding right housing 1 from left housing 2. Center
hinge 4 rotates about left housing 2 and right housing 1 rotates
about center hinge 4. Accordingly, in the opened non-interlocked
condition, center hinge 4 is in the same plane as and in between
left housing 2 and right housing 1. Additionally, the left edge of
right hinge plate 3, which is connected to center hinge 4, is
coextensive to the left edge of slidable extender portion 21 of
right housing 1. The right edge of right hinge plate 3 is inset
from the right edge of right housing 1 by a distance at least equal
to the length of slidable extender portion 21 of right housing
1.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows right hinge plate 3 and it shows the two key
membrane cables 8. The key membrane cables 8 have a folded area 22
in the cut out slot of right hinge plate 3. This folded area stores
extra cable length to allow sliding of key assembly 6 and right
housing 1 into open interlocked position & open non-interlocked
position. The amount of fold in the folded area 22 is at its
maximum when the keyboard is in its open interlocked position, is
at its minimum when the keyboard is in its closed condition, and is
intermediate when the keyboard is in its open non-interlocked
position.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the keyboard in its open
interlocked position and FIG. 5A shows a side view of the keyboard
in its open interlocked position. The keyboard is changed from the
open non-interlocked position to the open interlocked position by
sliding the right housing 1 and the left housing 2 together.
Slidable extender portion 21 of right housing 1 extends past center
hinge 4 and slides over a portion of left housing 2. Additionally,
when the two halves of the keyboard are slid together, right hinge
plate 3 slides inside right housing 1 such that the right edge of
hinge plate 3 is adjacent to the right edge of right housing 1 when
the keyboard is in its open interlocked position. Accordingly, the
right edge of center hinge 4 is contiguous with the left edge of
right key assembly 6, except that the hinge portions of right hinge
plate 3 extend between center hinge 4 and right key assembly 6. In
the open interlocked position, the keyswitches 19 of the keyboard
are in the standard QWERTY configuration and no part of right
housing 1 or left housing 2 is not covered by either right key
assembly 6 or left key assembly 7.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, PDA connector 13 is mounted inside PDA
connector holder 14 and PDA connector holder 14 is rotatably
mounted in PCB housing 11. This rotatable mounting is accomplished
by inserting insertion pin 23 of PDA connector holder 14 into
opening 24 of PCB housing 11. Insertion pin 23 and opening 24 are
manufactured such that they elastically deform when PDA connector
13 and PDA connector holder 14 are pressed down parallel with the
top of PCB housing 11, such as happens when the keyboard is placed
into its closed position. This elastic deformation causes a
resilient force to be applied to the connector holder 14, thereby,
causing connector holder 14 and PDA connector 13 to rotate upward
(pop up) when the keyboard is opened.
[0027] The drawings and descriptions of the preferred embodiment
are made by way of example rather than to limit the scope of the
inventions, and they are intended to cover, within the spirit and
scope of the inventions, all such changes and modifications within
the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *