Keyboard assemblies

• US 20030222800A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan K. Uke
• Original Assignee: Alan K. Uke
• Inventors: Uke, Alan K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/004 Evacuation of penetrating liquid

Abstract

A keyboard assembly having a housing with one or more openings in which keys are located. A circuit board is located inside the housing and adjacent to the keys such that striking the keys causes switches of the circuit board to be switched. A liquid resistant barrier is located between the keys and the circuit board, protecting the circuit board and/or other electronic components from being contacted by liquids spilled on the keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard assembly comprising

a plurality of keys;

a circuit board behind said keys; and

a liquid resistant barrier between said keys and said circuit board.

26. The keyboard assembly of claim 20, said housing having a wall that surrounds a perimeter of said one or more openings, said wall having an edge that sealingly abuts said liquid resistant barrier.

2. The keyboard assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing having an upper side and a bottom side located opposite from said upper side, said upper side having one or more openings in which said plurality of keys are located, said bottom side including a bottom surface upon which the keyboard assembly rests when a user strikes said keys;

wherein said circuit board comprising a plurality of switches actuateable by said plurality of keys is located inside said housing below said plurality of keys; and

a liquid resistant barrier is located between said plurality of keys and said circuit board and is configured such that said circuit board is protected from liquid passing down through said one or more openings.

3. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, wherein said housing has at least one drain channel that communicates an area external of said housing with an interior area of said housing, configured such that liquid that has passed through said openings is directed through said drain channel.

4. The keyboard assembly of claim 3, wherein said drain channel is disposed at a lower level than at least a portion of said liquid resistant barrier when said keyboard assembly rests in a normal use position on a planar and level support, and wherein said liquid resistant barrier is inclined with respect to said support, whereby liquid that has passed through said one or more openings is directed by said barrier to said drain channel.

5. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said circuit board having opposing flexible layers that are separated by a gap.

6. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said liquid resistant barrier covering an entirety of a peripheral edge of said circuit board, said liquid resistant barrier being continuous in at least an area of said liquid resistant barrier that covers said circuit board.

7. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said liquid resistant barrier abutting said circuit board.

8. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said barrier including a curvilinearly contoured surface.

9. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said barrier including a planar surface.

10. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said at least one drain channel being located at or near said bottom side of said housing.

11. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said housing having at least one well located so as to receive liquid that has passed over said liquid resistant barrier, said drain channel communicating said exterior area with said well.

12. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said housing having a plurality of said drain channels.

13. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said liquid resistant barrier being formed of at least one of a polymeric material and a rubber material.

14. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, further comprising a printed circuit board.

15. The keyboard assembly of claim 14, said liquid resistant barrier covering an entirety of said printed circuit board.

16. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said keyboard assembly being a keyboard for a personal computer.

17. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said keyboard assembly including a cord for electrically connecting the keyboard assembly to another device.

18. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said liquid resistant barrier including a plurality of liquid resistant barriers.

19. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said liquid resistant barrier being one continuous piece.

20. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said housing being sealed to said liquid resistant barrier.

21. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, said liquid resistant barrier having a perimeter that is at least as large as a perimeter of said one or more openings.

23. The keyboard assembly of claim 20, said barrier being sealed to said housing at an outermost edge of said liquid resistant barrier.

24. The keyboard assembly of claim 20, said housing having at least one lip that sealingly abuts said liquid resistant barrier.

25. The keyboard assembly of claim 20, said liquid resistant barrier and said housing being sealed at least partially by an adhesive.

27. The keyboard assembly of claim 2, wherein said liquid resistant barrier comprises a plurality of deformable members disposed to resist movement of said plurality of keys, said liquid resistant barrier at least partially defining means for preventing liquid that has passed through said openings from contacting said switches.

28. The keyboard assembly of claim 26, said housing having four transverse sides that are substantially transverse to at least one of said upper side and said bottom side, said drain channel extending from said recess to at least one of said four transverse sides.

29. The keyboard assembly of claim 26, said drain channel including a groove in said upper surface.

30. The keyboard assembly of claim 26, wherein a lower most surface of said drain channel is located at a lower elevation than said recessed surface when said keyboard assembly is resting upon said bottom side.

26-1. A keyboard assembly comprising:

a plurality of keys each having at least one protrusion; and

a housing having an upper side and a bottom side located opposite from said upper side and upon which the keyboard assembly rests when a user strikes said keys, said housing having a recessed surface defining a recess in said upper side of said housing, said upper side facing a user of said keyboard assembly when said keyboard assembly is resting upon said bottom side, said housing including a plurality of protrusions from said recessed surface, each of said protrusions having an opening passing therethrough, at least some of said openings receiving said protrusions of said keys, said housing including a drain channel configured and located to direct liquid that has fallen into said recess to an area external of said housing when said keyboard assembly is resting upon said bottom side.

27-2. The keyboard assembly of claim 26, said housing having an upper portion and a lower portion that are attached to each other, said upper portion including said upper side, said recess, said plurality of members that protrude from said recessed surface, and said drain channel, said bottom portion including said bottom side upon which the keyboard assembly rests when the user strikes said keys.

31. A computer system, comprising

at least one central processing unit;

and

a keyboard assembly comprising a housing having an upper side and a bottom side located opposite from said upper side, said upper side having one or more openings in which a plurality of keys are located, said bottom side including a bottom surface upon which the keyboard assembly rests when a user strikes said keys;

a circuit board inside said housing below said plurality of keys comprising a plurality of switches actuateable by said plurality of keys; and

a liquid resistant barrier located between said plurality of keys and said circuit board, configured such that said circuit board is protected from liquid passing down through said one or more openings.

32. A method for cleaning residue from a computer keyboard, comprising

washing residue-bearing interior upper surfaces of a keyboard with a solvent or solution, wherein said keyboard comprises a liquid resistant barrier under the keys and covering electronic components in said keyboard, and wherein function of said keyboard is not damaged by said washing.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising drying solvent from said keyboard following said washing.

34. A method for preventing computer keyboard damage by spilled liquids, comprising

providing a liquid resistant keyboard functionally connected with a computer, wherein said keyboard comprises

a housing having an upper side and a bottom side located opposite from said upper side, said upper side having one or more openings in which a plurality of keys are located, said bottom side including a bottom surface upon which the keyboard assembly rests when a user strikes said keys;

a circuit board inside said housing below said plurality of keys comprising a plurality of switches actuateable by said plurality of keys; and

a liquid resistant barrier located between said plurality of keys and said circuit board, configured such that said circuit board is protected from liquid passing down through said one or more openings..