Data processing device with liquid discharge capability

Details Data processing device with liquid discharge capability Data processing device with liquid discharge capability

2002-05-08

2003-09-30

Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S679090, C361S689000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06628507

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 090215525, filed on Sep. 10, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data processing device, more particularly to one having a liquid discharge capability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional data processing device
81
, such as a portable computer, is shown to comprise a main body
82
, a display unit
83
, and a keyboard unit
84
. The display unit
83
and the keyboard unit
84
are coupled electrically to the main body
82
. The main body
82
includes a casing
823
and a circuit board
825
disposed in the casing
823
. The casing
823
includes an upper case
821
and a lower case
822
. The upper case
821
has a top side
8211
formed with a downwardly extending rectangular tray receiving recess
8212
. The circuit board
825
is disposed on a bottom wall
8221
of the lower case
822
. The keyboard unit
84
includes a tray
87
which is mounted in the tray receiving recess
8212
, and a plurality of keys
85
arranged in the tray
87
. The tray
87
has a size and shape that complement those of the tray receiving recess
8212
.
When liquid
86
, such as water, is accidentally spilled on the keys
85
, the liquid
86
accumulates in the tray, and may affect functioning of the circuit board
825
since the capacity of the tray
87
is very limited, and since the tray
87
is not capable of discharging the liquid
86
that accumulated therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a data processing device with a liquid discharge capability to overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the invention, a data processing device comprises a main body, a display unit, a keyboard unit, and a liquid discharge path. The main body includes a casing and a circuit board disposed in the casing. The casing includes an upper case and a lower case connected to the upper case. The upper case has a top side formed with a downwardly extending tray receiving recess that is confined by an upright peripheral wall. The display unit is coupled electrically to the main body. The keyboard unit is coupled electrically to the main body, and includes a tray and a plurality of keys arranged in the tray. The tray includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall that extends uprightly from a periphery of the bottom wall. The tray is mounted in the tray receiving recess. The liquid discharge path is formed through the surrounding wall and the peripheral wall, and is adapted to permit discharge of liquid that spills into the tray.
According to another aspect of the invention, a data processing device comprises a main body, a display unit, a keyboard unit, and a liquid discharge path. The main body includes a casing and a circuit board disposed in the casing. The casing includes an upper case and a lower case connected to the upper case. The upper case has a top side formed with a downwardly extending tray receiving recess. The display unit is coupled electrically to the main body. The keyboard unit is coupled electrically to the main body, and includes a tray and a plurality of keys arranged in the tray. The tray includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall that extends uprightly from a periphery of the bottom wall. The tray is mounted in the tray receiving recess. The liquid discharge path is formed through the bottom wall of the tray and further through the upper case and the lower case of the casing, and is adapted to permit discharge of liquid that spills into the tray.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5490036 (1996-02-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5754395 (1998-05-01), Hsu et al.
Crosby (US 2002/0145847 A1), “Portable Computer”, Oct. 10, 2002.*
Merz et al. (US 2002/0154474 A1), “Computer Component Protection”, Oct. 24, 2002.

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