Joints and connections – Biased catch or latch – By separate spring
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-19
2004-01-06
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3677)
Joints and connections
Biased catch or latch
By separate spring
C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06672796
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fastening mechanism for detachable keyboard modules and particularly a fastening mechanism that enables a keyboard module to assemble on or detach from a computer casing easily.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In notebook computers or smaller size computers and processors, the keyboard usually is fastened to the computer casing in a module fashion. The keyboard module may be detached from the computer casing for testing and repairs. The keyboard module generally is fastened to the computer casing by a plurality of button keys.
However, regard the methods for fastening the keyboard module to the computer casing, one of the conventional techniques is using screws to fasten the bottom of the notebook computer. The fastening process includes to dispose the keyboard module in a reserved space, use the upper lid which contains the display device to temporarily fix the keyboard module to prevent skewing, then turn the whole computer set up side down with the bottom side facing upward, finally screw and fasten the keyboard module from the bottom side. While such a fastening method can attain a secure bonding, the fastening and detaching processes are very much inconvenient. For assembling, disassembling or repairing the inner elements of the notebook computers (such as hard disk drive, central processor unit, and other interface cards), the keyboard module has to be removed first. It increases a lot of inconvenience to the repair work and needs more labor and time.
Referring to
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B and
1
C which show a second conventional fastening means for keyboard fastened in a notebook computer disclosed in R.O.C. patent publication No. 356257. The fastening means
20
consists of an upper lid
21
, an anchor block
22
, a spring
23
and a casing
24
. The fastening means
20
is installed at blank key positions of keyboard module
10
(shown by A and B in FIG.
1
A).
The upper lid
21
is a plank structure which has a T-shaped protruding
211
and a plurality of hooks
212
located at the bottom side thereof. The anchor block
22
has a T-shaped cavity
221
and a plurality of latch cavities
222
mating respectively against the T-shaped protruding
211
and hooks
212
. The anchor block
22
further has symmetrical lugs
223
located at two lateral sides thereof. The spring
23
engages with one end of the anchor block
22
. The casing
24
is located on the base of the keyboard module
10
at the blank key position. The front edge of the base has an opening
241
to enable the anchor block
22
to pass through. The two lateral sides of the casing
24
have respectively a L-shaped slot
242
to engage with the lugs
223
of the anchor block. There is a round stub
243
located at the rear side of the casing for holding the spring
23
.
For assembly, disposing the anchor block
22
in the casing
24
with the lugs
223
at two sides slipping into the L-shaped slots
242
of the casing
24
, and with the front section of the anchor block
22
extended outwards through the opening
241
of the casing
24
. The spring
23
is located and compressed between the rear end of the anchor block
22
and the round stub
243
of the casing
24
. Then fasten the upper lid
21
to the anchor block
22
by engaging the T-shaped protruding
211
with the T-shaped cavity
221
, and engaging the hooks
212
with the latch cavities
222
. The upper lid
21
thus may fasten securely to the anchor block
22
for controlling the movement of the anchor block
22
. When the keyboard module
10
is fastened to the computer casing, the spring
23
pushes the front end of the anchor block
22
outwards through the opening
241
for engaging with a snap edge of the computer casing (as shown in FIG.
2
). Push the upper lid
21
rearward, the anchor block
22
will be withdrawn into the casing
24
, then the keyboard module
10
may be detached and removed.
The keyboard fastening means depicted in the second conventional technique set forth above also has disadvantages. For instance, the assembly and molding are quite difficult. As a result, design and fabrication costs are much higher. In order to resolve the foregoing problems, many notebook computer manufacturers have invested a lot of research and development efforts trying to make improvement
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of this invention to provide a fastening mechanism for detachable keyboard modules that is easy to assemble and enables the keyboard module to couple easily with the computer casing.
Another object of this invention is to provide a fastening mechanism for detachable keyboard modules that has a simplified component design such that molding becomes easier, thereby to reduce the costs of design and manufacturing.
The keyboard module according to this invention has at least one fastening seat. Each fastening seat has two sides which have respectively a slide and a closed end which has a stopping flange located thereon. A fastening means is provided to engage with a computer casing. The fastening means includes a body, two slide channels and an elastic element. The body has a front end which has a second fastener located thereon and a chamber located in the rear end. The two slide channels are located respectively at two sides of the body to engage with the slide at two sides of the fastening seat in a slidable manner. The elastic element is restricted between the chamber of the body and the stopping flange of the fastening seat.
When the keyboard module is mounted on the computer casing, the fastening means is pushed forwards by the elastic force of the elastic element such that the second fastener of the body engages with the first fastener of the computer casing to enable the keyboard module fastened to the computer casing. When the fastening means is moved to rearwards by an external force, the second fastener of the body will be moved away from the first fastener of the computer casing to enable the keyboard module be lifted from the computer casing and removed therefrom.
The assembly process of the fastening means and the keyboard module of this invention is relatively simple, and it is easy to fasten to and remove from the computer casing. As a result, operation convenience can be greatly improved. Furthermore, the design of the fastening means is also simpler which makes fabrication and molding easier. The design and manufacturing costs thus may be greatly reduced.
The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be further understood by the following detailed description and drawings. The drawings are only to serve for reference and illustrative purpose, and do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5229757 (1993-07-01), Takamiya et al.
patent: 5510953 (1996-04-01), Merkel
patent: 5642257 (1997-06-01), Saito et al.
patent: 6212066 (2001-04-01), Fetterman
patent: 6379062 (2002-04-01), Chiang
patent: 6493215 (2002-12-01), Chiang et al.
patent: 761126 (1997-03-01), None
Chiang Chih-Hsiang
Wei Wang Chih
Brittain James R.
Darfon Electronics Corp.
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