Keyboard base

• US 8,050,020 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liu, Gang-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson; Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US12/512,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20100149741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 36167908-6792
• US Class Current: 361/679.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A keyboard base includes a frame, a key panel, and a latching assembly having a stop plate, a sliding block and an elastic member. The frame includes a housing defined therein, a hook formed on a bottom of the housing, and a blind slot defined on a side wall of the housing. The key panel is received in the housing of the frame and includes a clasp snapped in the blind slot of the housing. The stop plate is perpendicularly mounted on the key panel facing the hook of the frame. The sliding block is slidably positioned between the stop plate and the hook of the frame. The elastic member is positioned between the sliding block and the stop plate for keeping the sliding block retaining on the hook of the frame to detachably fasten the key panel and the frame.

Claims

1. A keyboard base comprising:

a frame comprising a housing, a hook formed on a bottom of the housing, and a blind slot defined on the housing;

a key panel received in the housing and comprising a clasp snapped into the blind slot of the housing; and

a latching assembly mounted on the key panel for detaching the key panel from the frame, the latching assembly comprising;

a stop plate perpendicularly mounted on the key panel and facing the hook;

a sliding block slidably positioned between the stop plate and the hook; and

an elastic member positioned between the sliding block and the stop plate for keeping the sliding block on the hook of the frame to detachably fasten the key panel and the frame;

wherein the frame includes a first wall, a second wall opposite to the first wall, a third wall connected to the first and second walls, and a rectangular bottom plate covered on the upper portions of the first and second walls;

the blind slot is defined on the first wall; and

the hook is formed on a side edge of the bottom adjacent to the second wall;

the latching assembly further comprises a short rod perpendicularly extending from the stop plate towards the hook to engage with the elastic member;

the latching assembly further comprises a guiding pole mounted on the key panel for limiting a sliding path and a sliding range of the sliding block;

the second wall comprises a first guiding channel running through the second wall and adjacent to the bottom plate;

while the latching assembly further comprises a pushing member passing the first guiding channel of the second wall for engaging with the sliding block.

2. The keyboard base as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing member comprises a cap, a pin extending from the center of the cap, a tilted flange radially protruding from an outside of the pin at a middle portion thereof, and a gap diametrically running through the pin from a terminal surface of the pin to approach adjacent to the cap.

3. The keyboard base as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pushing member is made of flexible material.

4. The keyboard base as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding block comprises an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, a number of side surfaces connected to the upper and lower surfaces, and a tab extending from a side surface of the sliding block to face the hook of the frame.

5. The keyboard base as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tab comprises an inclined surface connected to the upper surface.

6. The keyboard base as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sliding block further comprises a groove running through the upper, lower surfaces and one of the side surfaces to align with the first guiding channel of the second wall.

7. The keyboard base as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sliding block further comprises a second guiding channel formed thereon and running through the upper, lower surfaces and a portion of the tab;

and the guiding pole passes through the second guiding channel to mount on the key panel.

8. A keyboard base comprising:

a frame comprising a housing, a hook formed on a bottom of the housing, the frame further comprising a first wall defining a blind slot and a second wall opposite to the first wall, the second wall defining a first guiding channel running therethrough;

a key panel received in the housing and comprising a clasp snapped into the blind slot of the housing; and

a latching assembly comprising;

a sliding block slidably connected to the key panel, the sliding block residing on the hook, thereby detachably connecting the key panel to the frame; and

a pushing member passing the first guiding channel of the second wall for engaging with the sliding block.

9. The keyboard base according to claim 8, wherein the latching assembly further comprises a stop plate protruding from the key panel and an elastic member positioned between the sliding block and the stop plate to keep the sliding block on the hook.

10. The keyboard base according to claim 8, wherein the frame further comprises a third wall connected to the first and second walls, and a rectangular bottom plate covered on the upper portions of the first and second walls;

the hook is formed on a side edge of the bottom adjacent to the second wall.

11. The keyboard base according to claim 10, wherein a length of the bottom plate along an extending direction of the first and second walls is smaller than that of the first and second walls, and a window is defined between a side of the bottom plate for receiving the key panel therein.

12. The keyboard base according to claim 8, wherein the latching assembly further comprises a guiding pole mounted on the key panel for limiting a sliding path and a sliding range of the sliding block.

13. The keyboard base according to claim 8, wherein the pushing member comprises a cap, a pin extending from the center of the cap, a tilted flange radially protruding from an outside of the pin at a middle portion thereof, and a gap diametrically running through the pin from a terminal surface of the pin to approach adjacent to the cap.

14. The keyboard base according to claim 8, wherein the sliding block comprises an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, a number of side surfaces connected to the upper and lower surfaces, and a tab extending from a side surface of the sliding block to face the hook of the frame.

15. The keyboard base according to claim 14, wherein the sliding block further comprises a groove running through the upper, lower surfaces and one of the side surfaces to align with the first guiding channel of the second wall.

16. The keyboard base according to claim 15, wherein the sliding block further comprises a second guiding channel formed thereon and running through the upper, lower surfaces and a portion of the tab;

and the guiding pole passes through the second guiding channel to mount on the key panel.