PH26039A - Electronic apparatus with keyboard - Google Patents

Description

FLELD OF THE — -

This invention relates to an electronic : ’ apparatus with a keyboard such as a transportable per- sonal computer in which the keyboard can be stored in a case in an upright position in such a manner that ’ its surface mounted with keys faces toward the ine sides

PRIOR ART

Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model

Application (PUUMA) No. 60-158228 [Utility Model Ap- lication (UMA) No. 59-45620/ discloses a storing me~ chanism for a keyboard not in use in which each lower front side of a display case is removably connected to each rear side of the keyboard with a projecting shaft, a groove for guiding the projecting shaft, and a fitting area provided at the end of the groove and fitted with the projecting shaft, so that the keyboard, when it is not in use, can be stored as a 1id for a display screen. : Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model

Application (PUUMA) No. 63-39734 [Utility Model Ap- plication (UMA) No. 61~1298707 discloses a keyboard

Co with a display in which a projection is formed on * either a molded keyboard or a molded body of a disw= play, a rotating projection support member is formed on the other, in which a clearance allowing press fitting of the projection, and a space for rotation allowing rotation of the projection there~ in after the press fitting are provided, and a com- bination of the projection and the rotating projection support member is drranged to function as a hinge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In both of the above two prior arts, the key- board is mounted on the display in such a manner that it is pivoted and stored so that its surface mounted with keys faces inside. However, there is a problem in that the keys are difficult to operate because, when the keyboard is pivoted from the display to a surface on which the display is positioned, it be=~ } comes parallel to the display positioning surface.

The invention intends to solve such a conven- tional problem, and to provide an electronic appa= ratus with a keyboard such as a transportable perw~ sonal computer in which the keyboard can be stored in a case in an upright position in such a manner that its surface mounted with keys faces toward the inside, so that, when the keyboard is pivoted from its upright position to an electronic apparatus posi-

tioning surface, it can be provided with a predew- termined inclination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the above objective, in accordance with this invention, a pair of leg members, each of which has a front end forming a curved surface and . . a recess formed to continue the front end, are pro- vided on both sides of a keyboard respectively, a bottom £8 formed so that it projects forward at the lower portion of the case, and a pair of recesses are provided on both sides of the bottom respectivew ly. Each of recesses has a receiving surface, on which the curved surface of the front end of the leg members can slide, and an end, which can fit into the recess of the leg member.

Therefore, when the keyboard is pivoted from the upright position to a surface on which an elece tronic apparatus is positioned, on a predetermined point of the leg member as a fulcrum by sliding the curved surface of the front end of the leg members . on the receiving surface formed on the recess in the bottom, the recess in the leg member is fitted into the end of the recess in the bottom to provide a pre= determined angle for the keyboard. : loa

: ~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 'DREWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transporte able personal computer in which a keyboard is drawn out according to an embodiment of the invention.

FI4. 2 is a perspective view of the transporte able personal computer in which the keyboard is mounted on its case according to an embodiment of the invention}

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the leg mem=- lu bers of the keyboard;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a re~ cess formed in a side of the case bottom;

FIG. 5 is a partial back view illustrating a stopper actuating slide knob to be provided on the back of the keyboard;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating pivoting : of the keyboard;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a state where the keyboard completes its pivoting and is | positioned on a surface where the personal computer is positioned.

F1G. 8 is an illustration of an operation used to make the leg members pivotable; : FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating pivoting of the leg members; i oo | =.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perpective view . illustrating an example of a mechanism to make the leg members pivotable;

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the key=- board in a state where the leg members are pivoted by 90°; and -

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the method of using the keyboard in the state of FlG. 1l.

EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment where the in- vention applies .to a transportable personal computers

FIG. 1 shows a state where a keyboard is taken out from a case and rests on a positioning surface on which the transportable personal computer is posiw~ _ tioned, while FIG. 2 shows the transportable personal computer ‘in a state where the keyboard is mounted on the case. In these figures, the case 8 of the trans~ portable personal computer 2 is incorpdrated with a flat display 4 consisting of a plasma display, and a floppy disk drive 6. The keyboard 10 is arranged to be freely mounted on and dismounted from the case 8.

In a state where the keyboard 10 is mounted on the . case 8, as shown in FIG. 2, it constitutes a part of the case, so that the transportable personal computer -b6

> ean be carried around by a handle 16.

A pair of leg members 12A and 12B are pro- vided at the rear of one side and the other of the keyboard 10 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the leg members 12A and 12B have round front ends 22A and 22B, as well as recesses 24a and 24B respective- ly, to continue these front ends. Preferably, the round front end 22B has a radius of R same as the width of the side of the keyboard 10. This ensures that, when the keyboard 10 is mounted on the case 8, the leg members 12A and 12B do not project, and suf= ficient strength for supporting the keyboard is pro- vided for the leg members. On the other hand, the lower portion of the case 8 is provided with a bot : 15 tom 14 so that it projects forward from the sides 8A and 8B of the case.

A pair of recesses 18A and 18B are formed on one side and the other side of the bottom 14 res~ ‘a pectively.

FIG. 4 shows the recess 184 in the bottom 1h formed on the side 8A of the case 8. The recess 18A has a receiving surface 32A on which the curved surw= face of the front end 22h of the leg member 24A can glide, and an end 34A that can fit into the recess 24a of the leg member 12A. Similarly, the recess : a

188 in the bottom 14 formed on the side 8B of the case 8 also has a receiving sur face 32B on which . the curved surface of the front end 22B of the leg member 12B can slide, and an end 34B that can fit into the recess 24B for the leg member 12B (see FIG. 10).

The front ends 22A and 22B of the leg members 12A and 12B are mounted on the keyboard 10 so as to project from its rear end 26, They are arranged in such a manner that, when the keyboard 10 is mounted on the case 8 in the upright position as shown in

FIG. 2, they prevent the rear end 26 of the keyboard 10 from contacting the upper surface 28 of the bottom 14 of the case 8.

A power switch 30 is provided on the upper surface 28 of the bottom 14, A projection 31 is » provided on the rear end 26 of the keyboard 10 at a location corresponding to that of the power switch so that the power switch 30 can be turned off 20 when the keyboard 10 is mounted in the upright posie tion as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the projection 31 pushes the power switch 30, and turns it off,

Provided at the rear of the surface of the keyboard 10 mounted with the keys is a groove 18 for receiving a cord 20 so that the cord does not pre-

© clude the rotation of the keyboard 10, that 1s, the mounting or dismounting operation,

A stopper actuating slide knob 35A is provided at the right front portion of the back of the keyboard 10, Correspondingly, a stopper receiving recess 36A is > formed in the side 8A of the case 8, As shown in FIG. 5y when the stopper actuating slide Knob 35A is slid to the

Tight while the keyboard 10 is in the upright position a stopper 38A enters into the recess 36A to wrevent ‘the keyboard 10 from removel fram the case 8; Similarly, a stopper actuating slide knob 35B is also provided at the left front portion of the back of the keyboard 10, Cor- . respondingly, a stopper receiving recess 36B is formed ’

A in the side 8B of the case 8.

When the keyboard 10 mounted upright on the case 8 as shown in FIG, 2 is to be dismounted, the stopper actuat- ing slide knobs 35A and 35B mounted on the back of the key- board 8 are first slid to the left and right, respectively, to extract the stoppers from the recesses 36A and 36B, Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the keyboard 10 is pgvoted toward the . : positioning surface 50, on which the transportable personal computer 2 is positioned, on the center 100 of the front ends 22A and 22B of the leg members 12A and 12B of the key~- , board 10 as a fulcrum by sliding the curved surface of front oo 25 ends 22A and 22B of the leg members 12A and 12B of the key=-

boerd 10 on the receiving surface 32A and 32B of the bottom 14. When the front edge 52 of the keyboard 10 contacts the positioning surface 50, the recesses 24% : and 24B of the leg members 12A and 12B can Tit into the ends 34A and 34B of the recesses in the bottom 14 of the case 8 to hold a predetermined inclination for the key- board 10 as shown in FIG. 7,

As shown in FIG. 8, the leg members 12A end 12B can be pivoted by 90° to the keyboard 10 as shown in FIG. 9 by moving it to the right and left, respectively.

FIG. 10 shows a mechanism provided in the leg mem~- ber 12B for allowing the pivoting of the leg members.

Projections 63 and 65 for restricting the rotation angle, and a projection 64 for restricting the rotation, located between these projections 63 end 65, are provided in the outer periphery of a pivoting shaft 60 opposite to the front end 22B of the leg member 12B, Grooves 62 and 66 for fixing the leg members are formed at locations between the pivoting engle restricting projection 63 and the pivot— ing restricting projection 64, and between the pivoting angle restricting projection 65 and the pivoting restrict- ing projection 64, respectively. The pivoting shaft 60 ] passes through an opening 74 in a rear member 10R, in which the cord receiving groove 18 of the keyboard 10 is formed, end a cavity 68 formed in the keyboard 10, The portion of the rotating shaft 60 projected from the cavity 68 is wound with a coil spring 78. A threaded hole is formed in the pivoting shaft 60. A ring 80 . is fastened by a sdrew 82 on the front end of the pivoting shaft 60 wound with the coil spring 78, At this time, the groove 62 is in a state where it fits a projection 70 in the cavity 68, and the coil spring 78 is between a wall 84 and the ring 80 to bias the leg member 12B in the direction opposite to that of : 10 arrow A.

To pivot the leg member 12B, it is drawn out along the pivoting shaft 60 in the direction of the arrow A to release engagement of the groove 62 and the projection 70, Thus, the leg member 12B can pivot in the direction of an arrow B. However, when it is pivoted by 90°, the projection 70 abuts against the projection 65. At that moment, if the leg member 12B is released, the projection 70 fits into the groove 66 to fix the leg member 12B at a position after rota- tion of 90°. In FIG. 10, a shaft 72 of the leg member 12B is inserted into the cavity 76 in the rear member 10R of the keyboard 10 to cause the rear member 1OR to pivot by 90° as the leg member 12B rotates.

FIG. 11 shows a state where the keyboard 10 is posi . tioned on the surface for positioning the personal computer 2 after pivoting of the leg members 12A and 12B vy 90%.

Because the angle © between the keyboard 10 and the leg : | member 12A is 908, the angle g of inclination of the keyw board 10 to the positioning surface 50 can be determined if the length W of the side of the keyboard and the length

Y of the leg member 12A ere determined, FIG. 12 shows a . state where the keyboard 10 of the personal computer 2 is in use after rotation of the leg member 12A by 90° as in

FIGs. 11.

As described, according to the embodiment, the first inclination angle of the keyboard 10 cen be set by fitting the recesses 24A and 24B of the leg members 12A end 12B into the endo 34A and 34B of the recesses in the bottom 14, respectively, while mainteining the leg members 12A and 12B parallel to the keyboard 10 (see FIG. 7), The second inclination angle of the keyboard 10 can be set by pivoting the leg members 12A end 17B by 90° (see FIG. 12)o

Although, in the above embodiment, the front ends 922A and 29B of the leg members 12A and 12B are formed to be round, they do not necessarily have to be round, but mgy be of any shape as long as curved surfaces are formed on the front ends 22A and 22B sllowing them to slide on the receiving surfaces 32A end 32B of the bottom 14 to rotate the keyboard 10.

In addition, the mechanism causing the leg members 12A end 12B to pivot may be that disclosed in Japenese

Published Unexemined Utility Model Application (PUMA) i

No. 61-164533 tility Model Application (WMA) Fo. 60- 47078/, Japenese Published ®nexamined Btility Model

Application (PUUMA) No, 62-28241 Artility Model Appli- cation (UMA) No, 60-120478/, or Japenese Published Un- examined ¥tility Model Application (PUMA) No, 59-166324 [Btility Model Application (UMA) No 58-605507 in addition to that shown in FIG. 10, This means that any mechanism : enabling the leg members 12A and 12B to pivot by a prdae determined angle, and to be fixed at a predetermined posi- tion mgy be employed,

Furthermore, the invention is riot limited to an arrangement where the leg members 124 and 12B cen be pivoted, but includes an arrangement where the leg members 12A end 12B are fixed, It is because, even if they ere fixed, a predetermined inclination can be provided for the keyboard 10 by fitting the recesses 24A and 24B of the leg members 12A and 12B into the ends 34A and 34B of the recesses in the bottom 14, respectively.

Also, although the above embodiment relates to a tremsportable personal computer, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that it cen be applied to a desk top personal computers

In addition, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that the invention is not Yimi ted to a personal computer, but cen be generally epplied to a larger com-

puter and other electronic apparatus such as a word pro- cessor, .

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

As clearly seen from the above description, accorde ing to the invention; curved surfaces are formed on the front ends of a pair of leg members each of which is pro=- vided on each side of a keyboard, recesses are formed to continue these front ends, and, receiving surfaces, on which the curved surfaces on the front ends of the leg members can slide, @nd ends, which cen fit into the re- cesses in the leg members, are formed on each side of the bottom projecting forward on each side of a case at its lower portion, Therefore, the recesses of the leg members fit into the ends of the recesses in the bottom when the curved surfaces at the front ends of the leg members slide on the receiving surfaces formed on the bottom to pivot the keyboard to the surface or which an electronic apparatus is positioned, smo that a desired inclination can be provided’

Claims (6)

1. WE CLAIM! “ 26039 1, An electronic apparatus with a keyboard in which the keyboard can be mounted in the upright posi tion on a case in such sa manner that the surface mounted with keys of the keyboard faces inside, com= - prising; a pair of leg members, one of which is provided on one side of said keyboard, the other of which is provided on the other side of said keyboard, each of which has a front end forme ing a curved surface and a recess formed to continue said front end, a bottom formed at the lower portion of said case to project forward from each side of said case, and a pair of recesses formed at each side of said bottom, each of which has a receiving sur= face, on which the curved surface of the front end of said leg member can slide, and an end capable to fit into the recess in leg member, / said keyboard being pivoted from the upright position to a surface on which said elec= ‘ tronic apparatus is positioned, on a pre=

   . 26039 determined point of said Teg member as a fulcrum by sliding the curved surface of the front end of said leg member on the receiving surface formed on the recess formed in.said bottom, and when said key board reaches said surface on which said electronic apparatus is positioned, the re- cess in said leg member being fitted into the end of the recess in said bottom to hold a predetermined inclination for said key~ board.
2. 2. An electronic apparatus with a keyboard claimed in Claim 1, wherein said electronic apparatus is a computer,
3. 3, An electronic apparatus with a keyboard claimed in Claim 1, wherein a side of the curved front end of said leg member has a round shape.
4. 4. An electronic apparatus with a keyboard claimed in Claim 1, wherein said leg member projects from the rear end of said keyboard, 5, An electronic apparatus with a keyboard claimed in Claim 1, wherein said leg member is rotate ably mounted on said keyboard.
5. v 26039
6. 6. An electronic apparatus With a keyboard claimed in Claim 1, wherein a projection is provided on the rear end of said keyboard, a power switch bew- ing mounted on the top surface of said bottom, wheree by said projection turns off said power switch when said keyboard is mounted in the upright position on sald case. HIDEO NOMURA MOTOJI TAKEMOTO Inventors “wl? =