Magnetic securing system for a detachable input device

• US 6,842,332 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Rubenson, Benjamin Cory, Zadesky, Stephen, Lundgren, David, Welch, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/299,465
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-868, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 248/683, 248/206.5, 341/22, 345/168, 335205-209, 224/183, 400691-693, 400/82, 400/682, 400/488, 400/489
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/016 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/028 detachable

Abstract

The invention generally pertains to a computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved keyboard arrangement for use in the computing device. One aspect of the invention pertains to a movable keyboard that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of the computing device. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a magnetic keyboard securing system suitable for holding the movable keyboard relative to the computing device. The invention is particularly useful in computing devices such as portable computers.

Claims

1. A portable computer having a base and a lid, comprising:

a housing of the base;

an input device that is detachable from the housing of the base; and

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing of the base.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the opening is disposed in a top surface of the housing.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 3 wherein the input device is configured to cover the opening.

5. The computing device as recited in claim 3 wherein the input device is configured for placement within the opening of the housing, and wherein the magnetic securing system is configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 5 wherein the magnetic securing system includes a magnetic element and a magnetic surface that cooperate to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein a gap is provided between the magnetic element and the magnetic surface when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

8. The computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein a plurality of magnetic elements and a plurality of magnetic surfaces are used to hold the input device relative to the housing.

9. The computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the magnetic element is directly or indirectly attached to the housing, and wherein the magnetic surface is attached to a bottom plate of the input device.

10. The computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the magnetic surface is directly or indirectly attached to the housing, and wherein the magnetic element is attached to a bottom plate of the input device.

11. The computing device as recited in claim 5 wherein the input device includes a bottom plate, and wherein the housing includes a lip for supporting the bottom plate when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

12. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the input device is a keyboard.

13. The computing device as recited in claim 12 wherein the input device is a flexible keyboard.

14. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the magnetic securing system holds the input device to prevent bowing of the input device during use.

15. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the magnetic securing system includes a magnetic element and a magnetic surface that cooperate to hold the input device relative to the housing.

16. The computing device as recited in claim 15 wherein the magnetic element is directly or indirectly attached to the housing, and wherein the magnetic surface is directly or indirectly attached to the input device.

17. The computing device as recited in claim 1 further including a mechanical system coupled to the input device, the mechanical securing mechanism being arranged to secure the input device to the housing.

18. A computing device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including on opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing, the opening being disposed in a top surface of the housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing, the input device being configured for placement within the open of the housing, the input device including a bottom plate, and wherein the housing includes a lip for supporting the bottom plate when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing; and

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing, the magnetic securing system being configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

19. The computing device as recited in claim 18 wherein an inner peripheral surge of the opening is substantially flush with an outer peripheral surface of the bottom plate when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

20. A computing device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including an opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing, the opening being disposed in a top surface of the housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing, the input device being configured for placement within the opening of the housing; and

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing, the magnetic seeking system being configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, the magnetic securing system including a magnetic element and a magnetic surface that cooperate to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, wherein the magnetic element is directly or indirectly attached to the housing, and wherein the magnetic surface is attached to a bottom plate of the input device.

21. The computing device as recited in claim 20 wherein the magnetic element is attached to a frame member that supports the housing.

22. The computing device as recited in claim 21 wherein the frame member includes an upper portion that extends proximate a bottom surface of the bottom plate, the upper portion being arranged for preventing the bottom plate from bowing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

23. The computing device as recited in claim 20 wherein the magnetic element is attached to a screw that is fixed to the housing.

24. The computing device as recited in claim 20 wherein the magnetic element is attached to a bar that is fixed to a frame member that supports the housing.

25. A computing device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including an opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing, the opening being disposed in a top surface of the housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing, the input device being configured for placement within the opening of the housing, and

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing, the magnetic securing system being configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, the magnetic securing system including a magnetic element and a magnetic surface that cooperate to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, wherein the magnetic element is a permanent magnet, and wherein the magnetic surface is a metal plate.

26. A computing device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including an opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing, the opening being disposed in a top surface of the housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing the input device being configured for placement with the opening of the housing; and

a magnetic security system for holding the input device relative to the housing, the magnetic securing system being configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, the magnetic securing system including a plurality of magnetic elements and a plurality of magnetic surfaces that cooperate to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing.

27. A computing device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including an opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing, the opening being disposed in a top surface of the housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing, the input device being configured for placement within the opening of the housing; and

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing, the magnetic securing system being configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, the magnetic securing system including a magnetic element and a magnetic surface that cooperate to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, wherein the magnetic surface is directly or indirectly attached to the housing, and wherein the magnetic element is attached to a bottom plate of the input device.

28. A computing device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including an opening for allowing access to a computing component that is enclosed in the housing, the opening being disposed in a top surface of the housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing, the input device being configured for placement within the opening of the housing; and

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing, the magnetic securing system being configured to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, the magnetic securing, the magnetic securing system including a magnetic element and a magnetic surface that cooperate to hold the input device in the opening of the housing when the input device is placed in the opening of the housing, wherein the magnetic surface is portion of a bottom plate of the input device, and wherein the magnetic element is directly or indirectly attached to the housing.

29. A computing device, comprising:

a housing;

an input device that is detachable from the housing;

a magnetic securing system for holding the input device relative to the housing; and

a lock coupled to the housing and configured to lock the input device to the housing such that the input device is prevented from being detached from the housing.

30. A computing device, comprising:

a housing having an opening for allowing access to a component enclosed within the housing;

a removable input device having a base plate configured for placement within the opening;

a permanent magnet fixedly coupled to either the housing or a structural component enclosed within the housing; and

a metal disk fixedly coupled to the base plate;

wherein the permanent magnet and the metal disk are cooperatively positioned so that when the removable input is placed within the opening, the permanent magnet and metal disk are magnetically attracted to one another thus securing the removable input device to the housing.

31. A computing device comprising:

a house;

a flexible keyboard that is detachable from the housing; and

a magnetic securing system for holding the flexible keyboard relative to the housing, the magnetic securing system including a plurality of magnetic elements, the plurality of magic elements being strategically placed to hold the flexible keyboard down where the flexible keyboard is most likely to bow.

32. The computing device as recited in claim 31 wherein the plurality of magnetic elements are located proximate one or more highly used keys of the flexible keyboard and at the corners of the flexible keyboard.

33. The computing device as recited in claim 31 wherein a gap is provided between the permanent magnet and the metallic bottom surface when magnetically engaged with one another in order to soak up keyboard tolerances.

34. A method for holding a removable and flexible keyboard within an opening disposed in a housing of a computing device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of magnetic elements and a magnetic surface; and

magnetically attracting the magnetic surface towards the plurality of magnetic elements so as to magnetically secure the flexible keyboard within the opening of the housing, the plurality of magnetic elements being strategically placed to hold the flexible keyboard down where the flexible keyboard is most likely to bow,

wherein the magnetic elements are permanent magnets that are disposed within the housing, and wherein the flexible keyboard includes a metallic bottom surface for magnetically cooperating with the permanent magnets.