Typewriting machines – Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-22
2003-02-18
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism
C016S342000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520698
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keyboard input unit for use with, for instance, a personal computer for family use, and more particularly to a keyboard input unit whose cover member covering the top of the keyboard is hinged onto the keyboard body and is divided into a plurality of segments to be foldable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been a keyboard input unit whose cover member
100
, covering the top of the keyboard body as illustrated in
FIG. 9
, is divided into, for instance, a first segment
101
and a second segment
102
, and in which the two segments are foldably connected to each other by a connecting section
103
and the cover member
100
is hinged onto the keyboard body (not shown).
FIG. 10
shows an enlarged section of the connecting section
103
. As illustrated therein, a first cylindrical part
104
formed integrally with the first segment
101
and a second cylindrical part
105
formed integrally with the second segment
102
are arranged coaxially in the vicinities of the junction between the first segment
101
and the second segment
102
.
A connecting pin
106
is inserted from the first cylindrical part
104
through the second cylindrical part
105
, and a thinner part
107
is provided in the space between the first cylindrical part
104
and the second cylindrical part
105
, the space corresponding to the middle part of the connecting pin
106
. The thinner part
107
is fitted with a stopper E ring
108
for the connecting pin
106
. Therefore, as indicated by an arrow in
FIG. 9
, the second segment
102
, pivoting on the connecting section
103
(the connecting pin
106
), can be folded over the first segment
101
.
The conventional keyboard input unit, since it uses the connecting pin
106
having the thinner part
107
in its middle part as illustrated in
FIG. 10
, is handicapped by the mechanical strength of the connecting section
103
, especially vulnerable to shocks. Moreover, fitting of the E ring
108
is a troublesome, inefficient procedure, and the use of the connecting pin
106
having the thinner part
107
and of the E ring
108
involves the disadvantage of extra costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to obviate these problems of the prior art, and to provide a keyboard input unit which has a sufficient mechanical strength in the connecting section of the cover member, can be easily assembled and moreover is inexpensive.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, according to the invention, there is provided a keyboard input unit whose cover member covering the top of the keyboard body is divided into at least a first segment and a second segment, the segments being foldably connected by a connecting section.
The connecting section has: a first cylindrical part with a through hole provided on the first segment; a second cylindrical part provided on the second segment, having at one end a pin stopping section, such as a bottom, and arranged on substantially the same axial line as the first cylindrical part; a connecting pin inserted from the first cylindrical part through the second cylindrical part; and an elastic stopper formed integrally with the first segment or the second segment in a position on the first cylindrical part contrary to the second cylindrical part, wherein:
the connecting pin is inserted from the first cylindrical part through the second cylindrical part while subjecting the stopper to elastic deformation; the stopper is returned to its original position by righting moment upon completion of the insertion; and the connecting pin is arranged between the pin stopping section of the second cylindrical part and the stopper.
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patent: 11-024817 (1999-01-01), None
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Cone Darius N.
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
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