Device for adjusting the angle of a keyboard

• US 5,546,271 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wandinger, Franz, Gut, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/407,010
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, D14/100, D14/106, D14/114, D14/115, D18/7, D18/12, 312/208.1, 312/208.3, 312/208.4, 400/472, 400/681, 400/682, 400/691, 400/693, 248/688, 248/918
• US Class Current: 361/679.11
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/105 Constructional details of keyboard frames, e.g. adjusting or fixation means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane

Abstract

An adjustable keyboard support device is provided having a tubular bearing element (1), secured to a housing bottom (5) of a keyboard. A generally L-shaped stand (2) is provided with two bearing pins (3, 4) which fit respectively into tube ends of the bearing element. The stand includes two U-brackets (6, 7) placed perpendicularly to one another. The two jointly pivotable U-brackets (6, 7) of different lengths. A locking element (8) extends from one of the U-brackets, engaging in the bearing element (1) for fixing the position in one of the two inclination angle settings.

Claims

1. A device for the variable adjustment of the inclination angle of a keyboard housing supported on a flat surface, the device comprising:

a tubular bearing element having two opposite, open ends, the tubular bearing element being secured to the housing bottom proximal to a rear corner of said housing; and

a stand having two U-brackets of different lengths, the U-brackets being arranged at an angle from each other so that the stand is generally L-shaped, the U-brackets meeting at a pair of inwardly-directed bearing pins, each bearing pin rotatably residing in a respective end of said tubular bearing element, securing the stand to the bearing element, the stand further having a locking element extending from at least one of said U-brackets, the locking element engaging in the bearing element to adjustably retain the housing in one of at least two inclination angle settings.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each U-bracket comprises:

a strip-shaped web; and

a pair of U-legs, each U-leg extending from a respective end of said web at a right angle, thereto so that each U-bracket is generally U-shaped.

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a tongue having one end secured to one of the U-brackets, the tongue having an opposite free end from which said locking element extends to engage the bearing element in a locking manner.

4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising:

at least two groove-like locking notches, are provided on an outer surface of the tubular bearing element, each notch running parallel to an axis of the tubular bearing element.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein the free end of the tongue is shaped to follow the contour of the outer surface of the bearing element, having the shape of a circular arc, and wherein the locking element is disposed on an inner surface of the circular arc.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of inclined surfaces of the keyboard housing running transversely to an axis of the tubular bearing element, each inclined surface being disposed respectively adjacent one of the two ends of the tubular bearing element (1), along which inclined surfaces the bearing pins of the stand slide during the assembly while slightly spreading the U-brackets and so that the pins snap into the respective tube ends.

7. A device for supporting a keyboard housing on a surface at an angle, the device comprising:

a tubular bearing element secured to a bottom of said housing, the tubular bearing element having two ends;

a stand having a short bracket member and a long bracket member, the bracket members extending at generally a right angle from each other, the stand including a pair of inwardly-facing pins which reside within said ends of the tubular bearing elements to rotationally secure said stand relative to said housing;

wherein said stand is rotatably adjustable between a first incline setting such that said short bracket member is disposed generally perpendicularly to said housing and a second incline setting such that said long bracket member is disposed generally perpendicularly to said housing.

8. The device according to claim 7 further comprising:

a resilient tongue extending from said stand, said tongue having a locking element thereon; and

at least two notches disposed in said tubular member within which said locking element engages, each notch being associated with one of said incline settings for retaining said stand in a selected one of said incline settings.

9. The device according to claim 7 wherein each bracket is U-shaped, each bracket having a pair of parallel U-legs extending from respective ends of a horizontal web at right angles, respective U-legs of each bracket being joined proximal to said pins.

10. The device according to claim 7 further comprising:

a pair of incline surfaces, each said inclined surface being arranged adjacent one of said tube ends for spreading said pins during assembly of '"'"'said device.