Notebook computer

• US 8,238,084 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• 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: Chen, Xiao-Zhu, Liu, Lei
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Application Number:
  US12/753,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20110157804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.14, 361/679.08, 361/679.55, 361/679.33
• US Class Current: 361/679.14
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence

Abstract

A notebook computer includes an main body defining a receiving groove therein, an auxiliary keyboard slidably accommodated in the receiving groove and electrically connected to the input part, and a cover pivotally connected to one side of the opening and configured for covering the opening when the auxiliary is received in the receiving groove. The auxiliary keyboard includes a number of auxiliary numeric keys arranged in rows and columns for inputting the numbers.

Claims

1. A notebook computer comprising:

a main body defining a receiving groove, wherein the receiving groove defines a bottom surface, a pair of parallel inner side surfaces perpendicularly connected to the bottom surface, an inner end surface perpendicularly connected to the bottom surface and the inner side surfaces, and an opening substantially opposite to the inner end surface;

an auxiliary keyboard slidably accommodated in the receiving groove and electrically connected to the main body, the auxiliary keyboard capable of being slid out of the receiving groove in use and received in the receiving groove in storage; and

a cover configured for pivotally covering the groove when the auxiliary keyboard is in storage;

wherein the main body further comprises a data port formed on the inner end surface to transmit data with the auxiliary keyboard and a power port formed on the inner end surface to supply power to the auxiliary keyboard.

2. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary keyboard comprising a number of auxiliary numeric keys arranged in rows and columns.

3. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is substantially rectangular and comprises a first upper surface, a first side surface, and a primary keyboard, the first side surface perpendicularly connects the first upper surface, and the receiving groove is defined in the first side surface.

4. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a fixing projection configured for fixing the auxiliary keyboard in the receiving groove, and the fixing projection perpendicularly extends from one of the inner side surfaces near the opening.

5. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main body further comprises a lock block, the lock block perpendicularly extends outwards from the first side surface adjacent to the fixing projection, and the lock block defines a lock groove therein.

6. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cover is an elongated flat board and comprises a connecting end, a lock end, and a lock projection, the lock end is opposite to the connecting end, the lock projection extends from the lock end along the longitudinal direction of the cover, the connecting end pivotally connects on the first side surface near the inner side surface facing the fixing projection, and the cover covers the opening by inserting the lock projection into the corresponding lock groove.

7. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the notebook computer further comprises a support rack fixed into the receiving groove, the support rack is substantially rectangular and comprises a bottom wall, a pair of parallel side walls perpendicularly connecting the bottom wall, and a rear wall perpendicularly connecting the bottom wall and the side walls, and the support rack defines a connecting through hole in the rear wall near one of the side walls and a pair of fixing through holes in the other side wall far from the connecting through hole.

8. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a fastening piece, wherein the fastening piece comprises a main body, a first resilient arm, a second resilient arm, a fastening projection, and a pair of fixing posts, and the first resilient arm and the second resilient arm parallelly extend from one end of the main body along the longitudinal direction of the main body.

9. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first resilient arm comprises a first outer surface opposite to the second resilient arm, the fastening projection perpendicularly extends outwards from the first outer surface and far from the main body, and the fastening projection resists against the fixing projection when the support rack is fixed into the receiving groove.

10. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second resilient arm comprises a second outer surface opposite to the first resilient arm, the fixing posts are formed on the second outer surface and correspond to the fixing through holes, and the fixing posts tightly insert into the fixing through holes to fasten the fastening piece on the side wall.

11. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fastening piece is made of elastic material, and the first resilient arm and the second resilient arm can be bent from the main body.

12. The notebook computer as claim claimed in claim 7, wherein the support rack comprises a pair of sliding rails perpendicularly protruding from the inner side of each side wall along the longitudinal direction of the side wall, and the sliding rails are parallel to the bottom surface.

13. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the auxiliary keyboard is substantially rectangular and comprises a second upper surface, a pair of parallel second side surfaces perpendicularly connecting the second upper surface, and a connecting end surface perpendicularly connecting the second upper surface and the second side surfaces.

14. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 13, wherein the auxiliary keyboard defines a sliding groove on each second side surface corresponding to the sliding rails, the connecting end surface faces the rear wall, and the auxiliary keyboard slides into the support rack through the engagement between the sliding grooves and the sliding rails.

15. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an adapter, wherein the adapter comprises a circuit board comprising a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface opposite to the first connecting surface, a data interface is formed on the first connecting surface, a power interface is formed on the first connecting surface near the data interface, and a first combined interface is formed on the second connecting surface.

16. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a flexible circuit strip, wherein the auxiliary keyboard comprises a second combined interface formed on the connecting end surface, the first combined interface passes through the connecting through hole and connects the second combined interface through the flexible circuit strip, and the circuit board is fastened to the rear wall.

17. A notebook computer comprising:

a main body defining a receiving groove;

a support rack fixed into the receiving groove;

an auxiliary keyboard slidably accommodated in the support rack and electrically connected to the main body, the auxiliary keyboard capable of being slid out of the support rack in use and received in the support rack in storage; and

a cover configured for pivotally covering the groove when the auxiliary keyboard is in storage.

18. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support rack comprises a bottom wall, a pair of parallel side walls perpendicularly connecting the bottom wall, and a rear wall perpendicularly connecting the bottom wall and the side walls, and the support rack defines a connecting through hole in the rear wall near one of the side walls and a pair of fixing through holes in the other side wall far from the connecting through hole.

19. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a fastening piece, wherein the fastening piece comprises a main body, a first resilient arm, a second resilient arm, a fastening projection, and a pair of fixing posts, the first resilient arm and the second resilient arm parallelly extend from one end of the main body along the longitudinal direction of the main body, and the fixing posts tightly insert into the corresponding fixing through holes to fasten the fastening piece on the side wall.

20. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the receiving groove defines a bottom surface, a pair of parallel inner side surfaces perpendicularly connected to the bottom surface, an inner end surface perpendicularly connected to the bottom surface and the inner side surfaces, and an opening opposite to the inner end surface, the main body comprises a data port formed on the inner end surface to transmit data with the auxiliary keyboard and a power portion formed on the inner end surface to supply power to the auxiliary keyboard, and the auxiliary keyboard connects the data port and the power port via the connecting through hole.