Protective keyboard enclosure assembly

• US 4,758,712 A
• Filed: 08/27/1987
• Issued: 07/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integration Technology Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Matone Jr, Dwayne W. Altman
• Inventors: Matone, Charles J. Jr., Altman, Dwayne W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, B. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/089,982
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 235/1 D, 235/145 R, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/301, 200/302.1, 200/302.2, 200/303, 312/208, 312/284
• US Class Current: 235/145.00R
• 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 2223/044 Protecting cover

Abstract

A protective keyboard enclosure assembly consisting of an upper section that mounts over a lower section and conforms to the size and shape of an electronic keyboard it houses and shields. The upper section allows a keyboard operator to push keys through a transparent, flexible, durable membrane which is readily interchangeable. The keyboard enclosure assembly protects this very sensitive electronic keyboard from any kind of harmful elements and potentially dirty hands and fingers of an operator all of which especially prevail in an industrial or manufacturing plant.

Claims

1. A keyboard enclosure assembly for protection of a keyboard connected to a system including computer, display monitor, and related equipment, comprising:

an upper section of enclosure assembly having a thickness with top and underside surfaces and an opening extending through said thickness from said top to said underside surface, said top surface being constructed such that said opening forms a viewing window and having sidewalls extending from said underside surface;

a lower section of enclosure assembly having a thickness with top and underside surfaces suitable for holding said keyboard at rest on said top surface and having sidewalls extending from said top surface such that said upper section of enclosure assembly may be mounted over said lower section of enclosure assembly;

a transparent, flexible membrane positioned in said opening of said upper section of enclosure assembly permitting an operator to view and press keys located in said keyboard;

a holding means for securing said transparent, flexible membrane to said upper section of enclosure assembly;

a sealing means between said upper section of enclosure assembly and said lower section of enclosure assembly;

a first fastening means for securing said transparent, flexible membrane between said holding means and said upper section of enclosure assembly;

a second fastening means for securing said upper section of enclosure assembly to said lower section of enclosure assembly.

2. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein said upper section of enclosure assembly has therein a plurality of apertures for receiving said first fastening means.

3. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sidewalls of said upper section of enclosure assembly are shaped to give said upper section of enclosure assembly a wedge shape as viewed from either end sidewall and wherein a rear sidewall has a first center line slot for receiving a cable.

4. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 3, wherein said rear sidewall of said upper section of enclosure assembly has a plurality of slots for receiving said second fastening means.

5. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sidewalls of said lower section of enclosure assembly are shaped to give said lower section of enclosure assembly a wedge shape conforming to said upper section of enclosure assembly as viewed from either end sidewall and wherein a rear sidewall of said lower section of enclosure assembly has second center line slot for receiving said cable and coordinating with first center line slot of said upper section of enclosure assembly.

6. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 5, wherein said rear sidewall of said lower section of enclosure assembly has therein a plurality of apertures coordinating to said plurality of slots of said upper section of enclosure assembly for receiving said second fastening means.

7. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein said holding means consists of a clamp ring having a thickness with clamp ring top and underside surfaces and clamp ring opening extending through said thickness from said clamp ring top surface to said clamp ring underside surface, said clamp ring opening conforming in dimension and shape to said opening in said upper section of enclosure assembly and being located such that said clamp ring top surface secures said transparent, flexible membrane to said under side surface of said upper section of enclosure assembly.

8. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means consists of a gasket attached to a perimeter of said sidewalls of said lower section of keyboard enclosure.

9. A keyboard enclosure assembly according to claim 8, wherein said gasket of said sealing means consists of an upper circular cross section tube attached to a lower U-shaped gasket and having therein a slit located where said first center line slot fits over said second center line slot for receiving said cable to said keyboard enclosure assembly.