Slideable keyboard for an electronic equipment

1. An electronic device comprising:

a casing having a front surface;

a display;

a keypad comprising alphanumerical keys that are arranged at fixed locations relative to the display so that the alphanumerical keys are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the front surface;

a set of navigation and function/control keys arranged on a slidable element, the display and keypad being arranged adjacent to one another on the front surface, wherein the slidable element with the set of navigation and function/control keys thereon is arranged to be slideably displaced along an axis of the casing by a user of the electronic device to different positions on the front surface, including a position where sections of the front surface are visible on both sides of the set of navigation and function/control keys in a direction along an axis and a second position where the slidable element with the set of navigation and function/control keys thereon completely covers the keypad when the slidable element with the set of navigation and function/control keys thereon is in the second position; and

a bias mechanism to bias the set of navigation and function/control keys towards the second position when the set of navigation and function/control keys is located between an intermediate position and the second position, and to bias the set of navigation and function/control keys away from the second position when the set of navigation and function/control keys is located between the intermediate position and a position where the entire keypad on the front surface is visible.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the slidable element on which the set of navigation and function/control keys are arranged comprises a plate shaped element.

3. An electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein first sliding means are arranged on the plate shaped element, the sliding means being adapted for cooperation with second sliding means on the casing.

4. An electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the first sliding means are arranged on a bottom surface of the plate shaped element, and the second sliding means are arranged on the front surface of the casing.

5. An electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the plate shaped element further comprises flanges arranged perpendicular to the plate shaped element, the flanges extending to cover a portion of side surfaces of the casing, and the first sliding means are arranged on the flanges cooperating with second sliding means on the side surfaces of the casing.

6. An electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the sliding means form a tongue and groove type connection.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.

8. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate position is located between the first position and the second position.

9. An electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the first position and the second position are terminal positions for a sliding displacement of the set of navigation and function/control keys along the axis.

10. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the bias mechanism biases the set of navigation and function/control keys towards the second position when the set of navigation and function/control keys is located between the intermediate position and the second position.

11. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the bias mechanism includes a spring arranged on a side surface of the casing.

12. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the bias mechanism includes magnets.