Keyboard device

• US 6,056,456 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ryohei Kinoshita
• Original Assignee: Ryohei Kinoshita
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Ryohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US08/989,969
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/488, 400/491.2, 400/491, 400/492, 400/495, 400/490
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• 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 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

An expandable and retractable keyboard permits alteration of an overall size thereof by permitting relative sliding movement of keys mounted to a keyboard case. Switch groups each includes at least two key switches arranged along a longitudinal direction of a respective switch group. Bases of the key switches in each switch group are connected with an adjacent one, thereby maintaining the key switches in a given group in fixed spaced apart relation to one another. At least a portion of the switch groups are slidably mounted to the keyboard case to permit mounted movement thereof relative the keyboard case along a keyboard axis. The slidably mounted switch groups are disposed in positions laterally adjacent one another, thereby collectively forming at least a portion of a keyboard pattern. Slidable mounted movement of the switch groups relative one another effects a change in dimension of the keyboard pattern in a direction of the keyboard axis. A further feature permits adjustment of a key height by placement of a leaf spring below a key top, wherein sliding displacement of the key switches removes upward biasing on the key top permitting the height of the key top to be lowered in response to the slidable displacement.

Claims

1. A keyboard device, comprising:

a keyboard case presenting a widened expanse;

switch groups each including at least two key switches, said at least two key switches arranged along a longitudinal direction of each of said switch groups, said at least two key switches including bases attached to one another for maintaining said at least two key switches in fixed spaced apart relation to one another within respective ones of said switch groups; and

at least a portion of said switch groups slidably mounted to said keyboard case to permit mounted movement thereof relative said keyboard case along a keyboard axis, said switch groups being disposed in positions laterally adjacent one another and with said longitudinal axes thereof oriented crosswise said keyboard axis to collectively form at least a portion of a keyboard pattern, slidable mounted movement of said at least a portion of said switch groups relative one another thereby changing a dimension of said keyboard pattern in a direction of said keyboard axis.

2. A keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least a portion of said switch groups includes support inserts extending from each of said bases in positions adjacent longitudinal ends thereof; and

structure of said keyboard case defines grooves in which said support inserts are slidably received for achieving slidable mounting of said at least a portion of said switch groups to said keyboard case.

3. A keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising:

guide protrusions which extend from the bases of respective ones of said at least a portion of said switch groups on a one side thereof; and

guide protrusion receiving holes formed in the bases of the respective ones of said at least a portion of said switch groups on an opposite side thereof, said guide protrusions and said guide protrusion holes being arranged such that the guide protrusions extending from the bases of the respective ones of said at least a portion of said switch groups may be inserted into the receiving holes of adjacent ones of said switch groups.

4. A keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the switch groups is in a fixed position.

5. A keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least a portion of said switch groups includes a stop to limit the movement of ones of the switch groups apart from remaining ones adjacent thereto, whereby a desired spacing between adjacent ones of said at least a portion of said switch groups can be maintained when said keyboard pattern is slidably expanded.

6. A keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising:

support frames for supporting the switch groups and capable of sliding relative the keyboard case provided at lateral ends of the widened expanse of the keyboard case, portions of said at least a portion of said switch groups being slidable in opposed directions along said keyboard axis to achieve bidirectional expansion of said keyboard pattern; and

a size of said widened expanse of said keyboard case along said keyboard axis being approximately equal to a minimum size of said keyboard pattern achieved by retractably sliding said at least a portion of said switch groups, said support frames extending beyond said lateral ends of the keyboard case when said portions of said at least a portion of said switch groups are slidably moved in said opposed directions to expand said keyboard pattern.

7. A keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible sheet located below said keyboard pattern;

contacts provided on said flexible sheet;

said flexible sheet including flexible portions disposed between said contacts; and

said switch groups including structure defining clearances in which said flexible portions are receivable when bendably deformed by retractable slidable movement of said at least a portion of said switch groups.

8. A keyboard device according to claim 7, wherein:

said flexible sheet has a two-layer structure comprised of a top sheet and a bottom sheet overlapping one another in a vertical direction, respective portions of a printed circuit being carried on said top and bottom sheets; and

at the flexible portions, the respective portions of the printed circuit of the top sheet and the printed circuit as the bottom layer are dislocated to avoid mutual overlapping.

9. A keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one leaf spring;

at least one of said at least two key switches including a key top movable in a vertical direction from a raised position to a lowered position; and

a free end of said leaf spring extending below said at least one of said at least two key switches, another end of said at least one leaf spring being attached to said base of another of said at least two key switches of a different one of said at least a portion of said key groups located laterally adjacent thereto, said another end contacting a portion of said key top and upwardly biasing same into said raised position when said one of said at least two key switches is slidably separated laterally from said another of said at least two key switches, said another end being brought out of biasing contact with said portion of said key top when same when said one of said at least two key switches is slidably moved laterally towards said another of said at least two key switches, permitting unrestricted movement of said key top to said lowered position.