Collapsible keyboard with supporting structure

• US 7,125,180 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, Chien-Shih
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US10/788,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20040175220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 400/489, 400/472
• US Class Current: 400/489
• 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 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections

Abstract

A collapsible keyboard with supporting structures for an electronic device. The collapsible keyboard comprises a body, a first supporting structure and a second supporting structure. The body comprises a first section and a second section rotatably connected thereto. The first supporting structure rotatably connects to the first section. One end of the second supporting structure rotatably connects to the second section, with the other end connecting to the first supporting structure. When the first and second sections rotate to expand the body, the first and second supporting structures extend therewith to support the electronic device.

Claims

1. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

a body comprising a first section and a second section rotatably connected thereto;

a first supporting structure connected to the first section and;

a second supporting structure, one end of which is connected to the second section, with the other end connected to the first supporting structure,

wherein when the first and second sections rotate to expand the body, the first and second supporting structures are rotated by the first and second sections and deploy operative to position the body simultaneously and support an electronic device, an angle is formed between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane is formed by the expanded body, and the second plane is formed by the deployed first and second supporting structures; and

a flexible member, wherein the second supporting structure connects to the first supporting structure via the flexible member such that the first and second supporting structures rotate together, wherein the flexible member comprises a first flange, a second flange, and a pin, the first flange connecting to the first supporting structure, the second flange connecting to the second supporting structure, the pin connecting the first and second flanges, with the axial direction of the pin substantially parallel to the surface of the fully expanded body.

2. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

a body comprising a first section and a second section rotatably connected thereto;

a first supporting structure connected to the first section and;

a second supporting structure, one end of which is connected to the second section, with the other end connected to the first supporting structure,

wherein when the first and second sections rotate to expand the body, the first and second supporting structures are rotated by the first and second sections and deploy operative to position the body simultaneously and support an electronic device, an angle is formed between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane is formed by the expanded body, and the second plane is formed by the deployed first and second supporting structures; and

a first leg and a second leg connected thereto, wherein an end of the first leg connects to the first supporting structure, with an end of the second leg connecting to the second supporting structure, wherein when the body rotated to expand, the first and second supporting structures and legs extend therewith, thereby an angle is formed between the first and second legs.

3. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

a body comprising a first section and a second section rotatably connected thereto;

a first supporting structure connected to the first section and;

a second supporting structure, one end of which is connected to the second section, with the other end connected to the first supporting structure,

wherein when the first and second sections rotate to expand the body, the first and second supporting structures are rotated by the first and second sections and deploy operative to position the body simultaneously and support an electronic device, an angle is formed between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane is formed by the expanded body, and the second plane is formed by the deployed first and second supporting structures; and

a first blade and a second blade, wherein two ends of the first blade connect to the first and second supporting structures respectively, and two ends of the second blade also connect to the first and second supporting structures respectively, and the first blade is connected to the second blade, wherein the first supporting structure comprises a first recess and the second supporting structure comprises a second recess, with one end of the first blade pivoting with the first supporting structure, and the other end movably received in the second recess, wherein one end of the second blade pivots with the second supporting structure, and the other end is movably received in the first recess.

4. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

a body comprising a first section and a second section rotatably connected thereto;

a first supporting structure connected to the first section and;

a second supporting structure, one end of which is connected to the second section, with the other end connected to the first supporting structure,

wherein when the first and second sections rotate to expand the body, the first and second supporting structures are rotated by the first and second sections and deploy operative to position the body simultaneously and support an electronic device, an angle is formed between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane is formed by the expanded body, and the second plane is formed by the deployed first and second supporting structures, and wherein the first section comprises a first groove and the second section comprises a second groove, wherein when the first and second sections rotate to collapse the body, the first supporting structure is received in the first groove and the second supporting structure is received in the second groove.

5. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

a body comprising a first section and a second section rotatably connected thereto;

a first supporting structure connected to the first section and;

a second supporting structure, one end of which is connected to the second section, with the other end connected to the first supporting structure,

wherein when the first and second sections rotate to expand the body, the first and second supporting structures are rotated by the first and second sections and deploy operative to position the body simultaneously and support an electronic device, an angle is formed between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane is formed by the expanded body, and the second plane is formed by the deployed first and second supporting structures; and

a first base and a second base, wherein the first supporting structure connects to the first section via the first base, the second supporting structure connects to the second section via the second base, and the first and second supporting structures rotate along a first direction and a second direction by the first and second bases, and the first direction is parallel to the rotating direction of the first and second sections, and the second direction is perpendicular to the rotating direction of the first and second sections.

6. The collapsible keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second bases comprise an angled face to limit the first and second supporting structures.

7. The collapsible keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first base comprises a first post and a first shaft and the second base comprises a second post and a second shaft, with the first supporting structure connecting to the first base via the first post, the first base connecting to the first section via the first shaft, the second supporting structure connecting to the second base via the second post, and the second base connecting to the second section via the second shaft, wherein the first post is substantially perpendicular to the first shaft, and the second post is substantially perpendicular to the second shaft.