ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20110249383A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKEGUCHI, Koichiro, HORII, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,564,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a casing, a device attachment portion, a pointing device, an attachment member and a button member. The casing includes an outer surface, an inner surface and an opening. The device attachment portion is provided in the casing. The pointing device is attached to the device attachment portion from a side of the inner surface. The attachment member is removably fixed to the casing and covers a part of the pointing device from the side of the inner surface. The button member is attached to the attachment member and includes a base portion, a supporting portion and an operating portion. The base portion is fixed to the attachment member. The supporting portion extends from the base portion. The operating portion at a front end of the supporting portion is fitted in the opening, and exposed to the outside of the casing.

Claims

1. A pointing apparatus for an electronic device comprising:

a device attachment portion;

a pointing device attached to the device attachment portion;

an attachment member removably fixed to a casing of the electronic device, the attachment member covering a portion of the pointing device; and

a button member attached to the attachment member, the button member comprising;

a base portion fixed to the attachment member;

a flexible supporting portion extending from the base portion toward an opening in the casing; and

an operating portion which is provided at a front end of the flexible supporting portion, fitted in the opening, and exposed to the outside of the casing.

2. The pointing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base portion is fixed to the attachment member at a position which overlaps the pointing device.

3. The pointing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the attachment member comprises metal.

4. The pointing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a shock absorbing member fixed to the attachment member, wherein:

the flexible supporting portion of the button member overlaps a portion of the attachment member; and

the shock absorbing member is located between the attachment member and the flexible supporting portion.

5. The pointing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the attachment member comprises:

a first surface, the first surface generally parallel to the pointing device,

a second surface located on a side opposite from the first surface, wherein a reinforcing portion protrudes from the second surface, the reinforcing portion extending from one end to another end of the device attachment portion to thereby cover a portion of the device attachment portion;

and wherein the reinforcing portion extends in substantially the same direction as the direction in which the attachment member extends.

6. The pointing apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the attachment member comprises an insertion hole and a first attachment-error preventing portion;

the base portion of the button member comprises a projection configured to be inserted into the insertion hole and a second attachment-error preventing portion; and

the first attachment-error preventing portion is configured to fit in the second attachment-error preventing portion only when the projection is inserted in the insertion hole from a side of the second surface.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a casing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface located opposite the outer surface, the casing further comprising an opening across the outer surface and the inner surface;

a device attachment portion, the device attachment portion attached to a pointing device;

an attachment member removably attached to the casing from the side of the inner surface and covering a portion of the device attachment portion from the side of the inner surface;

a flexible supporting portion extending from the base portion toward the opening; and

an operating portion located at a front end of the flexible supporting portion, the operation portion located in the opening and exposed to the outside of the casing.

8. The pointing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a button member including the flexible supporting portion and the operating portion, wherein

the button member comprises a base portion fixed to the attachment member;

and

the flexible supporting portion extends from the base portion toward the opening.

9. The pointing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pointing device is attached to the device attachment portion at the inner surface and located between the device attachment portion and the attachment member.

10. The pointing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pointing device is attached to the device attachment portion at the outer surface.