GB2205205A

GB2205205A - Cable clamp for keyboards

Info

Publication number: GB2205205A
Application number: GB08811562A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kazutoshi Watanabe
Original assignee: Alps Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-22
Filing date: 1988-05-16
Publication date: 1988-11-30
Also published as: GB8811562D0; KR890016627U; JPS63188735U; KR920000702Y1; DE3806133A1

Description

1 1 2205905 V K1 295 CORD RETAINING STRUCTURES FOR KEYBOARDS The present

invention relates to cord retaining structures for keyboards. Cords provide external connections for keyboards which are used with applicances such as personal computers and word processors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cord retaining structure for a keyboard.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cord retaining stucture for a keyboard having a casing including an upper case and a lower case, and a cord connected at an end thereof to a member within the keyboard, the structure comprising a plurality of cord retaining projections provided on an inner face of the lower case opposing to the upper case, the cord having adjacent the end thereof a portion which extends in a zigzag pattern between and around the cord retaining projections on the inner face of the lower case, and a cord fixing projection provided on an inner face of the upper case facing the inner face of the lower case for contacting with the portion of the cord on the inner face of the lower case to fix the cord.

Accordingly, movement of the cord in a direction alongthe casing of the keyboard is prevented by the retaining projections between and around which the cord extends in a-zigzag pattern. Further, movement of the cord in a lateral direction away from the casing of the keyboard is prevented by the cord fixing projection which contacts with.a side of the cord remote from the casing of the keyboard.

With the cord retaining structure for a keyboard, described whether a pull or a push is applied to the cord, the cord is prevented from being K1 29 15 0 cl .I displaced in a direction along the easing of the keyboard and in a lateral direction away from the easing of the keyboard.

mord retaining structures for keyboards embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Pig. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard incorporating a cord retaining structure embodying the present invention; Pig. 2 is under plan view of the keyboard of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a lower case of a casing of the keyboard of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view of a portion A of Fig. 3 to an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is an under plan view of an upper case of the casing of the keyboard of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is under plan view of a previously proposed keyboard having a cord retaining structure thereon; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 6.

A previously proposed cord retaining structure for a keyboard is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model No. 61-12131. Such a cord retaining structure is shown in figs. 6 and 7 which are respectively a botom plan view of the keyboard and a sectional view taken along line CC of Fig. 6.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a pair of cords 10 are led out at the centre of a bottom wall of a keyboard 1 from within the keyboard and extend to opposite longitudinal ends of the keyboard 1 along a U-shaped groove 11 which is defined by the bottom 4.

K1 295 wall of the keyboard 1 and a pair of opposing ribs or walls formed integrally on and extending laterally.LOM the bottom wall. A plurality of cord retaining projections 12 are formed integrally on and extend inwardly from the facing upper portions of the ribs of the U-shaped groove 11. The cord retaining projections 12 prevent the cord 10 from being released from within the U-shaped groove 11.

These retaining projections prevent the cords 10 from moving laterally in a direction away from a casing of the keyboard 1. However, there are no means for preventing the cords 10 from moving in the longitudinal direction, that is, in a direction of the length of the keyboard 1 along the casing.

This has the disadvantage that if a pull is applied in the longitudinal direction to any one of the cords 10, the cords 10 may be displaced in the longitudinal direction and thus be drawn out from within the keyboard 1. On the contrary, if the cord is displaced from a side of the keyboard 1, the cord 10 may be pushed into the inside of the keyboard 1. consequently, in some cases the cord 10 may become disconnected from a connector (not shown) which is provided for establishing an electric connection between the cord 10 and a printed circuit board (notshown) within the keyboard 1, or otherwise such a connector is removed from such a printed circuit board.

In Figs. 1 to 5 parts similar to those in Figs. 6 to 7 are similarly referenced.

The keyboard shown in Figs. I to 5 includes a casing comprising an upper case la and a lower case 1b. A cord 2 for establishing an electric connection to an external electronic appliance such as a microcomputer is led out from within the keyboard 1, K1 295 and a connector 3 is attached to an end of the cord 2.

More particularly, referring to Fig. 2, the cord 2 is led out to a bottom wall of the keyboard 1 from within the keyboard 1, and a portion of the cord 2 outside the keyboard 1 is received in a recess 4 in the form of a groove formed on the bottom wall of the lower case lb and is thus led out to and farther than a side of the keyboard. 1 - Figs. 3 and 4 show the construction of the inner side of the lower case lb of the keyboard 1 As shown a plurality of cord retaining projections 6 are formed in a zone of an upper face of the lower case lb defined by a side of the lower case lb and a convex portion or rib 5 formed on the inner face of the lower case lb. The cord 2 is led through the bottom wall of the lower case lb into the aforementioned zone of the lower case lb, and thus a portion of the cord 2 inside the keyboard 1 extends in a zigzag pattern between and around the retaining projections 6 on an inner face of the lower case lb of the keyboard 1. Another connector 7 to be connected to a printed circuit board (not shown) within the keyboard 1 is attached to the other end of the cord 2 remote from the connector 3 (Fig. 1).

Fig. 5 shows the construqtion of the inner side of the upper case la of the keyboard 1. As shown a pair of cord fixing projections 8 are formed on a bottom face of the upper case la for contacting the cord 2 as it extends between and around the cord retaining projections 6 of the lower case lb. Thus, when the upper case la is mounted in position on the lower case lb, the cord fixing projections 8 make contact with or are pressed against portions of the cord denoted at B in Fig. 4. The cord 2 is thus K1 295 fixed in position by the cord retaining projections 6 of the lower case lb.

Accordingly, even if a longitudinal pull or push is applied to the cord 2, it will not be displaced in the longitudinal direction due to high friction between the cord 2 and the cord retaining projections 6 of the lower case lb. The arrangement of the cord retaining projections 6 which provides a zigzag pattern to the cord 2 is effective to produce such high friction. Additional friction is.provided by the cord fixing projections 8 which press the cord against the inner face of the lower case lb.

It will be appreciated that the term cord as used herein is intended to encompass within its scope not only multicore cable but any flexible elongate element.

1k X1 295

Claims

1 - A cord ret ' aining structure for a keyboard casing having an upper case and a lower case, and a cord connected at an end thereof to a member within said casing, the structure comprising a plurality of cord retaining projections provided on an inner face of one said case and facing the other said case, said cord having adjacent said end thereof a portion which extends in a sinuous or zigzag pattern between and around said cord retaining projections, and a cord fixing projection provided on an inner face of the other said case and facing said one case for engaging said portion of said cord to imprison or retain said cord.

2. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein said cord retaining projections are integral with said one case.

3. A structure according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2, wherein said fixing projection is integral with the other said case.

4. A structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said cord retaining projections and said fixing projection are located in mutually offset positions.

5. A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein said other said other said case has a plurality of cord fixing projections provided on the inner face thereof for engaging said portion of said cord.

6. A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein said portion of said cord is located in a recess defined by a rib formed on said inner face of said one case.

7. A cord retaining structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66171 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Wes Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RLD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.