Foldable keyboard
View Patent ↗A foldable keyboard including an upper housing having a plurality of keys, a lower housing having a plurality of keys, a spine member configured for pivotally connecting the upper and lower housings along a horizontal axis defined by the upper and lower housings, and a hinge mechanism provided in the spine member and configured for enabling movement of the upper housing relative to the lower housing to move the keyboard between a closed configuration and an open configuration.
1. A foldable keyboard comprising:
an upper housing having a plurality of keys having a recess formed therein and having at least a first row of keys;
a lower housing having a plurality of keys having at least a second row of keys;
a spine member configured for pivotally connecting the upper and lower housings along a horizontal axis defined by the upper and lower housings;
a hinge mechanism provided in the spine member and configured for enabling movement of the upper housing relative to the lower housing to move the keyboard between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and
a stand mechanism that includes a stand pivotally connected to the upper housing and received within the recess in the upper housing when the keyboard is in the closed configuration, the stand configured to pivot relative to the upper housing from a first position to a second position as the keyboard moves from the closed configuration to the open configuration such that when the keyboard is in the open configuration the stand contacts a surface that supports the foldable keyboard beneath the first row of keys to thereby support the first row of keys, wherein the stand mechanism further includes:
a drive bar connected at a first end to the upper housing and at a second end to the lower housing;
a push rod connected at a first end to the stand and at a second end to the upper housing;
a push rod slot defined in the upper housing and configured for slidably receiving the push rod; and
a bracing strut connected at a first end to the upper housing and at a second end to the stand;
wherein during movement of the upper housing relative to the lower housing, the drive bar drives the push rod along the push rod slot, thereby pivoting the bracing strut and moving the stand from the first position to the second position.
2. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 wherein in the closed configuration, a top surface of the spine is flush with an outer face of the upper housing.
3. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 wherein in the closed configuration, a bottom surface of the spine is flush with an outer face of the lower housing.
4. The foldable keyboard of claim 3 wherein in the open configuration, the bottom surface of the spine defines an angle with the outer face of the lower housing.
5. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 wherein the hinge mechanism includes:
a slot defined in the spine;
a pivot bar having a pivot pin at a first end thereof, the pivot pin configured for being received in the slot;
an upper housing slot defined in the spine and configured for receiving a corresponding upper housing pin; and
a lower housing slot defined in the spine and configured for receiving a corresponding lower housing pin.
6. The foldable keyboard of claim 5 wherein the pivot bar includes a second end that is attached to the upper housing, and wherein during movement of the upper housing relative to the lower housing, the pivot pin slides within the slot.
7. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 further including:
at least one spine plate extending from the upper housing;
at least one spine plate extending from the lower housing; and
at least one spine plate recess defined in the spine;
wherein each spine plate recess is configured for receiving a corresponding spine plate, the spine plate recess and corresponding spine plate being pivotally connected by a corresponding pin.
8. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 wherein the upper housing further defines a strut recess configured for receiving the bracing strut and allowing pivotable movement thereof during movement of the stand between the first and second positions.
9. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 wherein the stand mechanism further includes a leg having a first end connected to the lower housing and a second end connected to the second end of the drive bar.
10. The foldable keyboard of claim 1 wherein in the closed configuration, the keys on the lower housing are recessed relative to an inner face of the upper housing.