Physical configuration of computer keyboard

Abstract

A physical configuration of a keyboard is described. A keypad section is disposed on one surface of a main body. A first flat plate is pivotally connected with an opposite surface of the main body at one edge thereof. A second flat plate is pivotally connected with an edge side of the first flat plate at one edge thereof. Two engaging modules are disposed on the opposite surface of the main body and two sides of the first flat plate, wherein each engaging module includes a plurality of slots. A pair of sliding tracks are disposed on the opposite surface of the main body, wherein two end portions of each sliding track are a first pivot position and a second pivot position, and the first flat plate is selectively connected with the first pivot position and the second pivot position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 96208315, filed May 22, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a computer keyboard.

2. Description of Related Art

Keyboard is designed for the input of text and characters and also to control the operation of a computer. A conventional keyboard is designed to raise a certain sloping angle for users to comfortably input data. However, the certain sloping angle cannot satisfy everyone's demand.

For the forgoing reasons, there is a need for an improved physical configuration of a computer keyboard.

SUMMARY

A physical configuration of a keyboard comprises the following components. A keypad section is disposed on one surface of a main body. A first flat plate is pivotally connected with an opposite surface of the main body at one edge thereof. A second flat plate is pivotally connected with an edge side of the first flat plate at one edge thereof. Two engaging modules are disposed on the opposite surface of the main body and respectively adjacent to two opposite sides of the main body, wherein each engaging module includes a plurality of slots. A pair of sliding tracks are disposed on the opposite surface of the main body, wherein two end portions of each sliding track are a first pivot position and a second pivot position, and the first flat plate is selectively connected with the first pivot position and the second pivot position.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a keyboard according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a keyboard according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates how to switch between two pivot positions of the keyboard of this invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a keyboard with a raised rear side according to one embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a keyboard with a raised front side according to one embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a keyboard according to one embodiment of this invention. The keyboard 100 includes a main body 101. A support leg 106 is installed in a concave section 108 of the main body 101's bottom surface. The support leg 106 includes a first flat plate 106a and a second flat plate 106b, which are both of rectangular shapes. An edge of the first flat plate 106a is pivotally connected within the concave section 108 by a joint 105a. An edge of the second flat plate 106b is pivotally connected an opposite edge of the first flat plate 106a by a joint 105b. In this embodiment, the support leg 106 serves as a wrist rest (illustrated in FIG. 2) to raise a user's wrist such that the user can use keypad section 102 on keyboard 100's top surface to input data comfortably. In order to make the support leg 106 status in FIG. 1 to achieve the support leg 106 status in FIG. 2, the first flat plate 106a is swiveled along a direction 130a to lay against the main body 101's bottom surface, and the second flat plate 106b is swiveled along a direction 140a to lay against a rear side 101b of the main body 101 (that is, the first flat plate 106a is not shielded by the main body 101 with the viewpoint from the side of the main body 101 having the keypad section 102). The support leg 106 can be accommodated within the concave section 108. While storing the support leg 106, the second flat plate 106b is firstly swiveled along a direction 140b to lay against the first flat plate 106a, the folded support leg 106 (including the first flat plate 106a and the second flat plate 106b) is then swiveled along a direction 130b to be accommodated within the concave section 108. When the support leg 106 is accommodated within the concave section 108, the second flat plate 106b is positioned between the main body 101 and the first flat plate 106a.

FIG. 3 illustrates how to switch between two pivot positions of the keyboard of this invention. The support leg 106 has another function to raise either side of the keyboard 100 for comfortably inputting data. In order to serve this function, the first flat plate 106a switches its pivot position from a pivot position 103a to a pivot position 103b. The pivot position 103a and the pivot position 103b are two end portions of a pair of sliding tracks 103 (the left view in FIG. 3 only illustrates single track 103), which are located on a pair of opposite sidewalls of the concave section 108. Two ends of the joint 105a slides along the pair of sliding tracks 103 to switch from the pivot position 103a to the pivot position 103b.

When two ends of the joint 105a are pivotally connected with the pivot position 103b, the joint 105a is about at the center of the main body 101's bottom surface. Meanwhile, the pivot position 103b is at a middle position between the two engaging modules 110 and 112, which are respectively adjacent to two opposite sides 101a and 101b of the main body 101. The first flat plate 106a can be swiveled along a direction 150a or a direction 150b such that a free edge of the second flat plate 106b can be inserted into the engaging module 110 or engaging module 112. When the second flat plate 106b is inserted into the engaging module 112 and the main body 101 is turned upside down, the keyboard 100 with its raised rear side 101b (with the joint 105b as a support position) is illustrated in FIG. 4. The engaging module 112 has several slots 112a for the second flat plate 106b to be selectively inserted. The second flat plate 106b inserting into a different slot 112a raises the rear side 101b up to a different degree. When the second flat plate 106b is inserted into the engaging module 110 and the main body 101 is turned upside down, the keyboard 100 with its raised rear side 101a (with the joint 105b as a support position) is illustrated in FIG. 5. The engaging module 110 has several slots 110a for the second flat plate 106b to be selectively inserted. The second flat plate 106b inserting into a different slot 110a raises the rear side 101a up to a different degree.

According to embodiments discussed above, the keyboard device of present invention has a support leg to raise either a front side or a rear side of the keyboard body, and to serve as a wrist rest so as to raise a user's wrist to for inputting data comfortably. The support leg can also be accommodated within a concave section on the bottom surface of the keyboard body.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A keyboard having a physical configuration comprising:

a main body;

a keypad section, disposed on one surface of the main body;

a first flat plate, having one edge pivotally connected with an opposite surface of the main body;

a second flat plate, having one edge pivotally connected with an opposite edge of the first flat plate;

two engaging modules, disposed on the opposite surface of the main body and respectively adjacent to two opposite sides of the main body, wherein each engaging module comprises a plurality of slots;

a pair of sliding tracks, disposed on the opposite surface of the main body, wherein two end portions of each sliding track are a first pivot position and a second pivot position, and the first flat plate is selectively connected with the first pivot position and the second pivot position.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first pivot position is at a middle position between the two engaging modules.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein when the edge of the first flat plate is pivotally connected with the first pivot position, an opposite edge of the second flat plate is selectively inserted into either one of slots of the each engaging module.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein the opposite surface of the main body comprises a concave section to accommodate the first flat plate and the second flat plate.

5. The keyboard of claim 4, wherein the pair of sliding tracks is disposed within the concave section.

6. The keyboard of claim 4, wherein the second flat plate is positioned between the first flat plate and the main body when the first flat plate and the second flat plate are accommodated within the concave section.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the second pivot position is more distant from one of the two engaging modules than the other of the two engaging modules.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the opposite edge of the first flat plate is not shielded by the main body with the viewpoint form the side of the main body having the keypad section when the edge of the first flat plate is pivotally connected with the second pivot position and lays against one of the two engaging modules, which is closer to the second pivot position.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first flat plate is of a rectangular shape.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the second flat plate is of a rectangular shape.