Computer wireless input device with compartment for retaining a wireless receiver
An input device has a body for receiving a circuit board therein. The body has a retaining device which is moved to secure or release a wireless receiver in or from an exterior-facing compartment in the body.
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1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer input device, and in particular, to a wireless device that can retain a wireless receiver within the wireless device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of computer wireless input devices has grown quickly following the rapid advancement of wireless technology. In general, a wireless input device needs a wireless signal receiver to communicate with a computer system or the like. However, due to the minimization of the size of wireless input devices and the wireless receiver thereof, the disposition or storage of a wireless receiver has become a serious problem because of the risk of accidentally misplacing or losing the wireless receiver.
US Publication No. 2003/01791777 discloses a device having an opened chamber located within the housing where a sliding receptacle 26 has a flexible retaining arm 263 which is provided for clamping a wireless receiver 11 that is inserted within the housing. However, the installation of the receptacle can be costly and difficult to assemble with the housing. In addition, the flexibility of the retaining arm 263 can be deteriorated after extended usage.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless input device which can effectively retain a wireless receiver therein.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retaining device for use with a wireless input device, with the retaining device being capable of shutting off the power supply of the wireless input device.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a retaining device for a wired input device that can retain a portable storage device within the wired device.
To accomplish the objectives of the present invention, the present invention provides an input device that has a body for receiving a circuit board therein. The body has a retaining device which is moved to secure or release a wireless receiver in or from an exterior-facing compartment in the body.
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
The lower housing 12 has a compartment 121 with an opening 121a that extends exteriorly from the bottom of the lower housing 12 (see
In addition, referring to
As best shown in
In operation, as best shown in
Referring to
When the user wishes to remove the wireless receiver 30 from the compartment 121, the user moves the slider 21 to an unlocked position (see
Even though the present invention illustrates the slider 21 as operating based on linear movement, it is possible to deploy the slider 21 using rotary movement. Once a user rotates the slider 21 to block the compartment 121 and retain the receiver 30 therein, the microswitch 42 can be deactivated accordingly. Then, when the user rotates the slider 21 to release the retained receiver 30 therein, the microswitch 42 can be activated accordingly.
The principles of the present invention can also be applied to a wired input device. In such an application, the wireless receiver 30 can be a portable storage device (such as a pen drive), and the compartment 121 can retain the pen drive in the wired input device for any further usage.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A wireless input device, comprising:
- a body;
- a circuit board retained inside the body;
- a compartment located within the body having an opening extending exteriorly to the body;
- a wireless receiver removably retained in the compartment; and
- a retaining device positioned adjacent the compartment, the retaining device having a first portion that is retained inside the body and a second portion that is exterior to the body, the retaining device being moved between a locking position where the first portion engages the wireless receiver to secure the wireless receiver inside the compartment, and an unlocked position where the first portion disengages the wireless receiver.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the second portion activates a power switch when the retaining device is in the unlocked position.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the compartment further includes a lifting device that normally biases the wireless receiver out of the compartment.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the lifting device has a rod coupled to a resilient element.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the compartment further includes a bore for receiving the rod and the resilient element.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the body has an upper housing and a lower housing, with the bore located on the lower housing, and wherein the upper housing has a sleeve that seals the bore.
17. The device of claim 11, wherein the retaining device has a slider, a positioning board and a link, with the slider located exterior to the body, and the positioning board and the link located inside the body, and wherein the link is further coupled to the power switch.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the positioning board has a resilient positioning portion.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the positioning portion is positioned between two rails.
20. A wireless input device, comprising:
- a body;
- a circuit board retained inside the body and having a power switch;
- a compartment associated with the body, the body having an opening extending exteriorly to the body adjacent the compartment;
- a wireless receiver removably retained in the compartment; and
- a retaining device having a slider, a positioning board and a link extending from the positioning board, the link is oriented in a different plane than the slider and the positioning board, the slider extending outside the body via the opening and the positioning board positioned inside the body;
- a lifting device having a first end that is normally biased against the receiver when the receiver is retained in the compartment, the lifting device having a second end that is protruding from the body;
- wherein the link is coupled to the power switch, with the link controlling the power switch via a sliding movement of the slider; and
- wherein the receiver is stored in the compartment by pressing the receiver into the compartment against the first end of the lifting device, and by sliding the slider along the exterior of the body so that the slider blocks the receiver when the receiver is retained in the compartment.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the opening is a first opening, and further including a bore provided adjacent the compartment and communicating with the compartment via a second opening, the lifting device comprising a rod and a resilient element that are housed in the bore, the rod being biased into the compartment against the receiver by the resilient element via the second opening.
22. The device of claim 20, wherein the positioning board is positioned between the circuit board and the body, and with the link extending in a sliding movement from the slider through a slit in the circuit board to control the power switch.
23. The device of claim 20, wherein the body has an upper housing and a lower housing, with the bore located on the lower housing, and wherein the upper housing has a sleeve that seals the bore.
24. The device of claim 22, wherein the power switch has a lever that is positioned adjacent to the slit of the circuit board, with the link defining a groove inside which the lever is retained.
25. The device of claim 20, wherein the positioning board is positioned between two rails, with a hooked member positioned adjacent one of the rails, the hooked member extending through an elongated opening on the positioning board.
26. A wireless input device, comprising:
- a body;
- a circuit board retained inside the body and having a power switch;
- a compartment associated with the body, the body having an opening extending exteriorly to the body adjacent the compartment;
- a wireless receiver removably retained in the compartment; and
- a retaining device having a slider and a link extending from the slider, the link is oriented in a different plane than the slider, the slider extending outside the body via the opening;
- a lifting device having a first end that is normally biased against the receiver when the receiver is retained in the compartment, the lifting device having a second end that is protruding from the body;
- wherein the link is coupled to the power switch, with the link controlling the power switch via a sliding movement of the slider; and
- wherein the receiver is stored in the compartment by pressing the receiver into the compartment against the first end of the lifting device, and by sliding the slider along the exterior of the body so that the slider blocks the receiver when the receiver is retained in the compartment.
27. The device of claim 26, wherein the opening is a first opening, and further including a bore provided adjacent the compartment and communicating with the compartment via a second opening, the lifting device comprising a rod and a resilient element that are housed in the bore, the rod being biased into the compartment against the receiver by the resilient element via the second opening.
28. The device of claim 26, wherein the link extends in a sliding movement from the slider through a slit in the circuit board to control the power switch.
29. The device of claim 26, wherein the body has an upper housing and a lower housing, with the bore located on the lower housing, and wherein the upper housing has a sleeve that seals the bore.
30. The device of claim 28, wherein the power switch has a lever that is positioned adjacent to the slit of the circuit board, with the link defining a groove inside which the lever is retained.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 12, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 18, 2010
Applicant:
Inventors: Li-Wen Lin (San Chong), Zhen-Bang Chen (San Chong), Sheng-Shan Huang (San Chong)
Application Number: 12/590,778
International Classification: G06F 3/033 (20060101); H04B 7/005 (20060101);