Portable electronic apparatus with detachably mounted keyboard

• US 5,808,860 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Gushiken, Hajime, Ohgami, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,613
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

A portable computer has a base unit, a first printed circuit board and a second circuit board. The base unit has a bottom wall and a connector panel which extends upward from a bottom wall. The first printed circuit board is mounted on the bottom wall, and has a first stacking connector. A second stacking connector is connected to the first stacking connector. a reinforcing plate is disposed on an upper surface of the second stacking connector. A bracket is arranged from the connector panel to the upper surface of the second stacking connector. The second circuit board is mounted on an upper surface of the bracket, and disposed above the first printed circuit board. A flexible wiring board is electrically connected to the second stacking connector and the second printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board via the first and second stacking connector and the flexible wiring board.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a lower housing including a front portion and a rear portion;

a rear upper housing detachably fixed on the rear portion, and including a keyboard mounting portion having a rear receiving portion and a front receiving portion;

a keyboard detachably mounted on the keyboard mounting portion, the keyboard including a plurality of keys, a rear engaging piece engaged to the rear receiving portion and a front engaging piece engaged to the front receiving portion; and

a front upper housing detachably fixed to the front portion, and including a retaining portion cooperating with the front receiving portion for retaining the front engaging piece.

2. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rear engaging portion of the keyboard mounting portion has an opening, and the rear engaging piece is inserted in the opening.

3. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the front engaging portion of the keyboard mounting portion has a recess, the front engaging piece is engaged to the recess, and the attached portion has a clamping wall extending downward, the clamping wall having a top portion, the top portion is cooperated to the recess for clamping the engaging piece.

4. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a lower housing including a front portion and a rear portion;

a rear upper housing detachably fixed on the rear portion, and including a keyboard mounting portion having a rear receiving portion;

a keyboard detachably mounted on the keyboard mounting portion, the keyboard including a plurality of keys, a rear engaging piece engaged to the rear receiving portion and a front edge portion; and

a front upper housing detachably fixed to the front portion, and including a retaining portion cooperating with the keyboard mounting portion for retaining the front edge portion.

5. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rear receiving portion has an opening and the rear engaging piece is inserted in the opening.

6. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the keyboard mounting portion has a receiving recess, the front edge portion of the keyboard has a front engaging piece engaged to the receiving recess, the retaining portion cooperating with the receiving recess for clamping the engaging piece.

7. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a body including a lower housing, a printed circuit board disposed in the lower housing, and a first cover engaged to the lower housing for covering the printed circuit board, the first cover including a keyboard mounting portion having a receiving portion;

a keyboard unit detachably mounted on the keyboard mounting portion, and including a plurality of keys thereon, an engaging piece engaged to the receiving portion, and an edge portion; and

a second cover detachably fixed to the body, and including a retaining portion cooperating with the keyboard mounting portion for retaining the edge portion;

wherein the keyboard unit is detachably fixed on the keyboard mounting portion without a screw.