Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-22
2004-01-06
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C345S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06674636
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a keyboard device for personal digital assistants, more particularly to a keyboard device for personal digital assistants that is convenient to carry and use.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional keyboard device
1
for personal digital assistants is shown in
FIG. 1
to include a keyboard module
11
and a cover module
12
coupled to a rear end of the keyboard module
11
such that the cover module
12
is pivotable from a closed position, where the inner surface of the cover module
12
overlies the keyboard module
11
, to an open position, where the cover module
12
is oriented at an angle relative to the keyboard module
11
. The keyboard module
11
has a top side
110
provided with a keypad unit
13
. A receiving slot
14
of the keyboard device
1
connects a personal digital assistant
2
to the keypad unit
13
such that the user can input data into the personal digital assistant
2
through the keypad unit
13
.
When the keyboard device
1
is used for inputting data into the personal digital assistant
2
, the cover module
12
is opened first, and the personal digital assistant
2
is then positioned in the receiving slot
14
. Upon finishing the data input operation, the personal digital assistant
2
should be removed before the cover module
12
can be closed to overlie the keyboard module
11
. The aforesaid opening, positioning, removing and closing steps are performed each time the keyboard device
1
is used for inputting data into the personal digital assistant
2
. Therefore, the conventional keyboard device
1
is not convenient to use and is also inconvenient to carry since it lacks a facility for storing the personal digital assistant
2
therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device for personal digital assistants that is convenient to use and carry.
Accordingly, the keyboard device for a personal digital assistant with an I/O port of this invention includes a first casing member, a second casing member, a pivot unit, a keyboard module, a support frame and a connector unit.
The first casing member has an inner surface, a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion opposite to the first longitudinal portion in a transverse direction. The inner surface is divided in the transverse direction into a first keyboard mounting part and a frame mounting part. The second casing member has a third longitudinal portion and a fourth longitudinal portion opposite to the third longitudinal portion in the transverse direction. The second casing member further has an inner surface with a second keyboard mounting part. The pivot unit interconnects pivotally the first and third longitudinal portions, thereby permitting relative movement between the first and second casing members from an open position, where the first and second keyboard mounting parts are substantially coplanar, to a closed position, where the first and second keyboard mounting parts are disposed one on top of the other. The keyboard module includes a first keyboard unit mounted on the first keyboard mounting part, and a second keyboard unit mounted on the second keyboard mounting part. The support frame is mounted pivotally and adjustably on the inner surface of the first casing member at the frame mounting part, and is adapted to support the personal digital assistant at an inclined angle relative to the inner surface of the first casing member. The connector unit is mounted on the support frame and is connected electrically to the keyboard module. The connector unit is adapted to connect electrically with the I/O port of the personal digital assistant.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6457996 (2002-10-01), Shih
Lin et al., “Keyboard Assembly With Positioning Function”, 27, Feb. 2003, U.S. patent application Publication Pub. No. 2003/0039503 A1.
Chang Yean-Hsi
Grossman Tucker Perreault & Pfleger PLLC
Lin Jyh-Tsung
Schuberg Darren
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