Keyboard, preferably for electronic payment terminals

• US 20040013456A1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prehkeytec GmbH
• Original Assignee: PREH GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hochgesang, Gerhard, Schmoeger, Klaus, Malinowski, Andrzej
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/006 Bank automat; Cash register; Vending machine

Abstract

A keyboard having a housing, which is designed as one piece and wherein a top open housing shell is designed in conjunction with a keypad such that the top shell is traylike and is attached within the housing at an angle. A bottom base of the top open housing shell forms a bottom open housing shell. The bottom open housing shell has at least one recess provided for the installation of a card reader.

Claims

1. A keyboard having a housing for accommodating at least a keypad, the housing being designed as one piece, the housing comprising:

an open top housing shell; and

a bottom open housing shell,

wherein the top open housing shell is traylike and its base forms part of the bottom housing shell, the base being inclined within the housing, so that the top open housing shell and the bottom open housing shell together form a Λ

-shape, and wherein the top open housing shell and the bottom open housing shell, in cross-section, form a Π

shape attached to the Λ

shape.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein reinforcements are provided on the surface.

3. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcements are implemented through ribs.

4. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcements are implemented by increasing the thickness of the surface.

5. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the ribs have an H-shape.

6. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keypad is attached to the bottom housing shell via openings.

7. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keypad lies on the surface of the top open housing shell.

8. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein in the bottom housing shell adjoining the surface a card reader is provided, and wherein the bottom housing shell has, adjoining the surface, a recess that is recognizable within the top housing shell as a projection or as a flat end to the housing.

9. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein additional recesses accommodate electronic assemblies, the recesses being formed in the bottom open housing shell.

10. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the electronic assemblies are mounted beneath the surface in the bottom open housing shell.

11. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keypad can omit a support plate.

12. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard is for electronic payment terminals.

13. A keyboard comprising:

a housing being formed as one-piece, the housing having an upper portion and a lower portion,

wherein the upper portion includes a keyboard receiving region having openings formed therein for fixedly receiving a keyboard directly thereon,

wherein the lower portion includes reinforcing ribs, which are tapered, the reinforcing ribs being provided on a bottom surface of the keyboard receiving region, and

wherein the lower portion further includes recesses formed therein for receiving electrical components.

14. The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the electrical components include a magnetic card or chip reader.

15. The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the recesses form a receiving portion for a magnetic card or chip reader, such that the receiving portion is integrated with the housing.

16. The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the tapered reinforcing ribs are formed such that the keyboard receiving region, and thereby the keyboard, is inclined during operational use of the keyboard.

17. The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the keyboard is formed by injection molding.