Keyboard device fixed on a portable computer

Details Keyboard device fixed on a portable computer Keyboard device fixed on a portable computer

2000-11-03

2002-12-10

Feild, Lynn D. (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C400S682000, 36

Reexamination Certificate

active

06493215

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly, to a keyboard device that can be fixed on a portable computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is a research goal of portable computers to make them more durable and easier to use. In a prior art method, screws are used to install a keyboard device to a portable computer. These screws are drilled into a lower side of the portable computer for fixing the keyboard device. The method is secure, but it is inconvenient for installation, or for removal during maintenance.
Another prior art keyboard device
10
(Taiwan Patent Number 356257) is designed to solve this problem. Please refer to FIG.
1
.
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a prior art keyboard device
10
. The keyboard device
10
comprises a base plate
12
, a plurality of key caps
13
, and two fastening devices
14
. Each fastening device
14
comprises a housing
16
, an upper cover
18
, a sliding portion
20
, and a spring (not shown) installed inside the housing
16
. The sliding portion
20
is retractably installed in the housing
16
. When installing the keyboard device
10
in a portable computer, the upper cover
18
is pulled backward and thereby causes the sliding portion
20
to retract into the housing
16
. After placing the keyboard device
10
in a sunken socket (not shown) on the upper side of the housing of a portable computer, the upper cover
18
is released and the sliding portion
20
extends from the housing
16
because of the spring. Thus, an end of the sliding portion
20
is inserted into an aperture of the sunken socket, and the keyboard device
10
is fixed into the sunken socket. When removing the keyboard device
10
, the upper cover
18
is pulled backwards again and thereby causes the sliding portion
20
to retract into the housing
16
, and the keyboard device
10
can be removed from the housing of the portable computer.
The prior art keyboard device
10
uses a spring to push the sliding portion
20
and fix the keyboard device
10
. However, since the portable computer is often carried and moved, the keyboard device
10
can unexpectedly release from the portable computer due to vibration or impact. That is very inconvenient for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a keyboard device to solve the above the mentioned problems.
Briefly, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a portable computer comprises a sunken socket on an upper plane of the portable computer for accommodating a keyboard device. A front end and a rear end fixing mechanisms are installed at a front and rear end of the sunken socket respectively for fixing the keyboard device. The rear end fixing mechanism comprises an aperture. The keyboard device comprises a base plate, a front edge clamping mechanism installed at the front edge of the base plate for clamping with the front end fixing mechanism of the sunken socket to fix the front edge of the base plate, and a rear edge clamping mechanism installed at the rear edge of the base plate. The rear edge clamping mechanism comprises at least one fastening device. The fastening device comprises a track installed at the rear edge of the base plate, a sliding cap slidingly installed on the track along a front-and-rear direction, and a locking device for locking the sliding cap on the track to prevent the sliding cap from moving forward. Thus, a rear protrusion at the rear end of the sliding cap can be fixed in the aperture of the rear end fixing mechanism.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the keyboard device can be easily installed onto a portable computer and, furthermore, securely fixed on the portable computer. Thus, the portable computer is more convenient and more reliable.
These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5510953 (1996-04-01), Merkel
patent: 5966284 (1999-10-01), Youn et al.
patent: 6320743 (2001-11-01), Jin et al.
patent: 256382 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 352167 (1999-02-01), None

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