MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR TOUCHPAD

• US 20070236473A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHEN, HSUAN-CHEN, HONG, LIN-YUN, TSAI, CHIEN-LI
• Application Number:
  US11/611,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

A mounting assembly for mounting a touchpad to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a plate defining a through opening for exposing the touchpad. The mounting assembly includes a plurality of fastening portions arranged on the plate of the electronic device, and a fixing member fixable to the plate of the electronic device by the fastening portions. The fixing member is configured for sandwiching the touchpad between the fixing member and the plate of the electronic device. The fixing member includes at least one elastic tab configured for constantly abutting against the touchpad toward the plate.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for mounting a touchpad to an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a plate, the mounting assembly comprising:

a plurality of fastening portions arranged on the plate of the electronic device; and

a fixing member fixable to the plate of the electronic device by the fastening portions and configured for sandwiching the touchpad between the fixing member and the plate of the electronic device, the fixing member comprising at least one elastic tab configured for constantly abutting against the touchpad toward the plate.

2. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing member defines at least one aperture, the at least one elastic tab extends from the fixing member in the at least one aperture.

3. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening portions comprise two locking portions, each of the locking portions forms a clasp on a distal end thereof, the fixing member defines two slots therein, the clasps of the locking portions extend through the corresponding slots of the fixing member, and engage with the fixing member.

4. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening portions comprise two fixing posts, each of the fixing posts defines a threaded hole in a distal end thereof, the fixing member defines two round holes therein, two screws extend through the corresponding round holes of the fixing member, and engage in the corresponding threaded holes of the fixing posts.

5. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixing member forms an L-shaped fixing tab, the round holes are defined in the fixing tab.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a top plate comprising an opening defined therein;

a touchpad in alignment with the opening of the top plate and being touchable from a top side of the top plate via the opening; and

a fixing member fixing the touchpad to the top plate, the fixing member comprising a plurality of elastic tabs urging against the touchpad toward the top plate thereby retaining the touchpad in a steady state when the touchpad is touched.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing member comprises a thin plate defining a plurality of apertures, and the elastic tabs are slightly bent below the thin plate from the corresponding apertures.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one clasp is formed adjacent an end of the opening of the top plate, the fixing member defines at least one slot, the at least one clasp of the top plate extends through the at least one slot, and engages with the fixing member, the touchpad being sandwiched between the fixing member and the top plate.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top plate forms at least one locking portion, the at least one locking portion comprises an elastic arm extending from the top plate, the at least one clasp is formed on a distal end of the elastic arm and faces away from the opening of the top plate.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one fastening portion is formed adjacent an opposite end of the opening of the fixing member, and at least one round hole corresponding to the at least one fastening portion of the top plate for fixing the fixing member to the top plate is defined in the fixing member.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one fastening portion comprises a fixing post defining a threaded hole, a screw extends through the round hole of the fixing member, and engages in the threaded hole of the fixing post.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the touchpad comprises a connector on a rear surface thereof, the fixing member defines a through hole therein, the connector of the touchpad extends through the through hole of the fixing member for electrically connecting with the electronic device.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of ribs is formed on an inner surface of the top plate adjacent edges of the opening, the ribs define therebetween a rectangular region for receiving the touchpad.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a top plate comprising an opening defined therethrough and a plurality of ribs formed at an inner surface thereof, the ribs surrounding the opening;

a touchpad sandwiched between the ribs in directions parallel to the touchpad, the touchpad being in alignment with the opening of the top plate and being touchable from a top side of the top plate via the opening; and

a fixing member for fixing the touchpad to the top plate, the fixing member comprising a fixing plate cooperating with the top plate to sandwich the touchpad therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the touchpad, and a plurality of elastic structures sandwiched between the fixing plate and the touchpad urging against the touchpad toward the top plate thereby retaining the touchpad in a steady state when the touchpad is touched.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastic structures comprises a plurality of elastic tabs stamped from the fixing plate.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the elastic tabs are arranged adjacent to two opposite ends of the touchpad.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a locking portion extends from the inner surface of the top plate adjacent to one end of the touchpad and forms a clasp on a distal end thereof, the fixing plate defines a slot therein, and the clasp of the locking portion extends through the slot of the fixing member to engage with the fixing plate.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a fixing post extends from the inner surface of the top plate adjacent to an opposite end of the touchpad and defines a threaded hole therein, the fixing plate defines a through hole therein, and a screw extends through the through hole of the fixing member to engage in the threaded hole.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fixing plate forms an L-shaped fixing tab on which the through hole is defined, the fixing tab comprising a connecting portion extending perpendicularly from one edge of the fixing plate and a fixing portion extending perpendicularly from a distal edge of the connecting portion, the fixing portion being parallel to the fixing plate and abutting against the fixing post.