Portable computer with removable keyboard

• US 6,212,066 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Fetterman, Kevin Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/405,552
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 341/22, 345/168-172, 235/145-149, 248/917-920
• US Class Current: 361/679.17
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/028 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

Improved housings for computing devices are disclosed. The improved housings are provided with a movable keyboard (e.g., removable keyboard) that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of a computing device. The movable keyboard can be secured to the computing device using a keyboard securing system. An actuator can also be used to dislodge the movable keyboard from the computing device when the movable keyboard is to be opened or removed. A lock arrangement can additionally be used to lock the movable keyboard to the computing device.

Claims

1. A computer system having a keyboard, said computer system comprising:

a computer housing containing internal components, said computer housing having an opening; and

a movable keyboard being configured for placement in said opening, said keyboard having a plurality of keys; and

a keyboard securing mechanism coupled to said movable keyboard, said keyboard securing mechanism being arranged to secure said movable keyboard to said computer housing,

wherein after said movable keyboard is placed in said opening for operation of said computer system, said movable keyboard can be at least substantially moved out of said opening to provide access to the internal components within said computer housing.

2. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said movable keyboard is a removable keyboard.

3. The computer system as recited in claim 1,

wherein said computer system further comprises a hinge having a first side coupled to a side of said keyboard and a second side coupled to said computer housing, and

wherein said movable keyboard can be at least substantially moved out of said opening to provide access to the internal components within said computer housing by rotation about said hinge.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer system further includes an actuator for exerting a force on said movable keyboard such that said actuator moves at least a portion of said movable keyboard out of said opening.

5. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said keyboard securing mechanism is configured to hold said movable keyboard in said opening of said computer housing when said movable keyboard is disposed in said opening of said computer housing.

6. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said keyboard securing mechanism is arranged to couple said movable keyboard to said computer housing by movably engaging a portion of said movable keyboard with said computer housing.

8. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer housing is a base of a portable computer.

9. A computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuator is disposed inside said opening of said computer housing.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuator is proximate to an edge of said opening of said computer housing.

11. A computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuator exerts said force on a bottom surface of said movable keyboard.

12. A computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuator is a spring.

13. A computer system as recited in claim 5, wherein said movable keyboard is a removable keyboard.

14. A computer system as recited in claim 5, wherein said keyboard securing mechanism comprises:

a hook being configured to engage a first mating element of said computer housing, said hook being coupled to said movable keyboard;

a latch being configured to engage a second mating element of said computer housing, said latch being coupled to said movable keyboard; and

wherein said hook and said latch when engaged with said first mating element and said second mating element hold said movable keyboard within said opening of said computer housing.

15. A computer system as recited in claim 14,

wherein said latch is configured to movably engage said second mating element of said computer housing, said latch being configured to move between a first position and a second position, and

wherein when said latch is in said second position said latch engages said mating element to inhibit moving of said movable keyboard, and when said latch is in said first position said latch disengages from said mating element to allow moving of said movable keyboard.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said hook is on a first side of said movable keyboard and said latch is on a second side of said keyboard, said second side being opposite said first side.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said latch is disposed inside a top row of keys of said movable keyboard.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said latch is disposed inside a function key row of said movable keyboard.

19. A computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said latch and said hooks are configured to provide load bearing support to said movable keyboard relative to said computer housing.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 6, wherein the keyboard securing mechanism includes a latch, which is arranged to securely link said movable keyboard to said computer housing, and which is adapted for mating with a slot in said computer housing between a mounting condition, securing said latch to said computer housing via said slot, and a removal condition, enabling removal of said latch from said slot.

21. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said latch is a spring-biased latch configured to bias said latch in said position.

22. A computer system as recited in claim 18, wherein said latch is further disposed between a pair of function row keys of said function key row.

7. A computer system having a keyboard, said computer system comprising:

a computer housing containing internal components, said computer housing having an opening; and

a movable keyboard being configured for placement in said opening, said keyboard having a plurality of keys; and

a lock being configured to lock said movable keyboard in said opening of said computer housing to prevent said movable keyboard from being moved away from said opening of said computer housing,

wherein after said movable keyboard is placed in said opening for operation of said computer system, said movable keyboard can be at least substantially moved out of said opening to provide access to the internal components within said computer housing.

23. A portable computer device having a keyboard, said portable computer device comprising:

a computer housing containing internal components, said computer housing having an opening, said opening providing access to said internal components;

a removable keyboard being configured for placement in said opening, said keyboard having a plurality of keys; and

an actuator that exerts a force on said removable keyboard in a direction away from said opening such that said actuator moves at least a portion of said removable keyboard out of said opening, said actuator being positioned proximate an edge of said opening of said computer housing so as to substantially prevent bowing of said removable keyboard when said removable keyboard is secured to said computer housing.

24. A portable computer device having a keyboard, said portable computer device comprising:

a computer housing containing internal components, said computer housing having an opening; and

a movable keyboard being configured for placement in said opening, said keyboard having a plurality of keys; and

a lock being coupled to said computer housing and configured to lock said movable keyboard to said computer housing such that said movable keyboard is prevented from moving away from said computer housing.

25. A portable computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein said computer system further includes an actuator for exerting a force on said movable keyboard such that said actuator moves at least a portion of said movable keyboard out of said opening of said computer housing.

26. A portable computer device as recited in claim 24, wherein said lock includes a locking member having a mating portion, said mating portion having a first position and a second position with respect to said computer housing, said mating portion being configured to engage a portion of said movable keyboard when said mating portion is disposed in said second position and said movable keyboard is disposed in said opening of said computer housing, said mating portion being configured to disengage from a portion of said movable keyboard when said mating portion is disposed in said first position and said movable keyboard is disposed in said opening of said computer housing.

27. A portable computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein said movable keyboard is a removable keyboard.

28. A portable computer device as recited in claim 26 wherein said locking member is coupled to a key head configured with a key hole for accepting a key, said key head being configured to allow movement of said locking member when said key coincides with said key hole.

29. A portable computer device as recited in claim 28, wherein said key head is disposed within outer peripheral surface of said computer housing.

30. A portable computer device as recited in claim 29, wherein said outer peripheral surface is an input/output area of said computer housing.