Collapsible notebook computer keyboard structure with resiliently deflectable key cap skirts
First Claim
1. A collapsible keyboard structure for a portable computer, comprising:
- a first support structure having top and bottom side portions;
a series of key cap members each carried on said top side portion of said first support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, through a vertical key stroke distance, between extended and retracted positions separated by a vertical distance greater than said key stroke vertical distance,each of said key cap members having a relatively rigid top side portion with a horizontal periphery, and a resiliently deflectable skirt portion anchored and extending around said periphery and extending downwardly and horizontally outwardly therefrom;
a second support structure carried beneath said first support structure and having a top side facing said bottom side of said first support structure; and
a spaced series of resilient key return members anchored to said second support structure and having top end portions projecting upwardly beyond said top side of said second support structure,said first and second support structures being horizontally shiftable relative to one another between a first position in which said key return members underlie and resiliently hold said key cap members in said extended positions thereof and permit said key cap members to be resiliently moved downwardly from said extended positions through said key stroke distance, and a second position in which said key return members are horizontally shifted relative to said key cap members in a manner permitting said key cap members to be forcibly moved downwardly from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof without vertically compressing said resilient key return members,said resilient skirt portions of said key cap members bearing against and being deflected horizontally outwardly by said bottom side portion of said first support structure when said key cap members are in said retracted positions thereof.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A notebook computer is provided with a collapsible keyboard structure in which, in response to closing of the computer housing lid, the key return spring portions of the keyboard are shifted horizontally away from their normal underlying relationships with the keys and the keys are forcibly retracted downwardly to a storage/transport orientation in which the overall vertical thickness of the keyboard structure is reduced by an amount somewhat greater than the stroke distance of the keys. Each key has a relatively rigid top side portion with a periphery around which is secured a downwardly and horizontally outwardly sloped resilient skirt structure. In response to the forcible downward movement of the keys to their retracted positions the skirt structures are pressed and vertically compressed against a bottom side portion of the monoblock member that operatively carries the keys, thereby reducing the vertical height of the keyboard by more than the normal stroke distance of the keys when the computer is in its closed storage and transport orientation. When the lid is subsequently opened, the key return spring portions are upwardly shifted back to their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the keys are forced upwardly by the return spring portions to their extended, operative orientations above the return spring portions.
86 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A collapsible keyboard structure for a portable computer, comprising:
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a first support structure having top and bottom side portions; a series of key cap members each carried on said top side portion of said first support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, through a vertical key stroke distance, between extended and retracted positions separated by a vertical distance greater than said key stroke vertical distance, each of said key cap members having a relatively rigid top side portion with a horizontal periphery, and a resiliently deflectable skirt portion anchored and extending around said periphery and extending downwardly and horizontally outwardly therefrom; a second support structure carried beneath said first support structure and having a top side facing said bottom side of said first support structure; and a spaced series of resilient key return members anchored to said second support structure and having top end portions projecting upwardly beyond said top side of said second support structure, said first and second support structures being horizontally shiftable relative to one another between a first position in which said key return members underlie and resiliently hold said key cap members in said extended positions thereof and permit said key cap members to be resiliently moved downwardly from said extended positions through said key stroke distance, and a second position in which said key return members are horizontally shifted relative to said key cap members in a manner permitting said key cap members to be forcibly moved downwardly from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof without vertically compressing said resilient key return members, said resilient skirt portions of said key cap members bearing against and being deflected horizontally outwardly by said bottom side portion of said first support structure when said key cap members are in said retracted positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A portable computer comprising:
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a base housing portion having a top side; a lid housing portion secured to said base housing portion for pivotal movement relative thereto between a closed position in which said lid housing portion extends across and covers said top side, and an open position in which said lid housing portion uncovers and exposes said top side; and a collapsible keyboard structure including; a first support structure extending across said top side of said base housing portion and having top and bottom side portions, a series of key cap members each carried on said top side portion of said first support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, through a vertical key stroke distance, between extended and retracted positions separated by a vertical distance greater than said key stroke vertical distance, each of said key cap members having a relatively rigid top side portion with a horizontal periphery, and a resiliently deflectable skirt portion anchored to and extending around said periphery and extending downwardly and horizontally outwardly therefrom, a second support structure carried beneath said first support structure and having a top side facing said bottom side portion of said first support structure, and a spaced series of resilient key return members anchored to said second support structure and having top end portions projecting upwardly beyond said top side of said second support structure, said first and second support structures being horizontally shiftable relative to one another between a first position in which said key return members underlie and resiliently hold said key cap members in said extended positions thereof and permit said key cap members to be resiliently moved downwardly from said extended position through said key stroke distance, and a second position in which said key return members are horizontally shifted in a manner permitting said key cap members to be forcibly moved downwardly from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof without vertically compressing said resilient key return members, said resilient skirt portions of said key cap members bearing against and being deflected horizontally outwardly by said bottom side portion of said first support structure when said key cap members are in said retracted positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification