Touch pad mounting device for electronic system

• US 6,177,924 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bae, Jae-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/219,518
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 345/157
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system may be constructed using a touch pad supporting case that secures the touch pad to an inner surface of the housing that encloses the electronic system. The touch pad supporting case is made of a metallic material and is free from any plastics. This allows the touch pad unit to be thinner and lighter and avoids the need for performing a plating process on a plastic touch pad supporting case. This removes a safety hazard at manufacturing plants by avoiding exposing workers to the contaminants generated by the plating process.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, comprising:

a housing enclosing said electronic system;

said housing bearing an opening facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad;

a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said opening in said housing;

said touch pad supporting case being formed of a metallic material and being free from plastic materials;

a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing proximate to said opening; and

said touch pad supporting case bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprised of said touch pad supporting case being formed of stainless steel.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprised of said touch pad supporting case being under one millimeter thick.

4. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, comprising:

a housing enclosing said electronic system and comprising;

said housing bearing a first opening facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad; and

said housings bearing a second opening positioned operably proximate to said first opening;

a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said first opening in said housing;

said touch pad supporting case being formed of a metallic material and being free from plastic materials; and

a plurality of buttons attached to an inner surface of said housing and positioned to align said plurality of buttons with said second opening, said second opening facilitating tactile contact, from outside said housing, with said plurality of buttons, mounted inside said housing;

a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing, proximate to said first opening; and

said touch pad supporting case bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of plugs formed on the inner surface of said housing operably proximate to said first opening.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a second plurality of slots formed on said plurality of buttons.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprised of said plurality of buttons are directly mounted in said second opening via said plurality of plugs being engaged with said second plurality of slots.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a button stopper attached proximate to said second opening to limit the downward movement of said plurality of buttons.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprised of said touch pad supporting case being formed of stainless steel.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprised of said touch pad supporting case being under one millimeter thick.

11. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, comprising:

a housing enclosing said electronic system and comprising;

said housing bearing a first opening, facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad;

a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing proximate to said first opening; and

said housing bearing a second opening positioned operably proximate to said first opening;

a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said first opening in said housing;

said touch pad supporting case being formed of stainless steel, being free from plastic materials, being less than one millimeter thick, and bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs of said housing to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing; and

a plurality of buttons attached to an inner surface of said housing and positioned to align said plurality of buttons with said second opening, said second opening facilitating tactile contact, from outside said housing, with said plurality of buttons, mounted inside said housing.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of plugs formed on the inner surface of said housing operably proximate to said first opening.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a second plurality of slots formed on said plurality of buttons.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprised of said plurality of buttons are directly mounted in said second opening via said plurality of plugs being engaged with said second plurality of slots.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a button stopper attached proximate to said second opening to limit the downward movement of said plurality of buttons.