IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,877,919
Granted Patent B2
US 6,877,919 · App. 10/357,229 · Granted Apr 12, 2005

Foldable keyboard

Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,877,919
App. No.
10/357,229
Granted
Apr 12, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable foldable keyboard comprised of two housings, each of which contains a key assembly, and a central hinge. The two housings can be slid together when the keyboard is unfolded and they interlock to form a sturdy keyboard having the standard QWERTY keyswitch layout.

Claims (47)

1. A portable keyboard comprising

a first housing;

a second housing;

a center hinge plate;

a first key assembly; and

a second key assembly wherein

said first key assembly is mounted to said first housing;

said second key assembly is mounted to said second housing;

said center hinge is slidably and rotatably coupled to said first housing;

said center hinge is rotatably coupled to said second housing;

said first housing and said second housing can be folded together around said center hinge into a closed position;

said first housing and said second housing can be unfolded into an open non-interlocked position; and

said first housing and said second housing can be slid together from said open non-interlocked position into an open interlocked position where said first key assembly is contiguous with said second key assembly.

2. The portable keyboard according to claim 1 further comprising:

a hinge plate slidably coupled to said first housing and having an end pivotally coupled to said center hinge plate such that;

when said keyboard is unfolded and said hinge plate is in a first position said first housing and said second housing are in said open non-interlocked position; and

when said hinge plate is in a second position said first housing and said second housing are in said open interlocked position where said first key assembly is contiguous with said second key assembly.

3. A portable keyboard according to claim 1 further comprising:

a key membrane cable that transmits electrical signals from at least one of the first key assembly and the second key assembly.

4. A portable keyboard according to claim 3 further comprising:

a folded region of the key membrane cable that unfolds when the first housing and the second housing are slid apart.

5. A portable keyboard according to claim 1 further comprising:

a connector that automatically rotates upward when said first housing and said second housing are unfolded.

6. A portable keyboard comprising

a first housing having a protrusion extending therefrom;

a second housing;

a housing hinge plate having an elongated opening;

a center hinge plate;

a first key assembly; and

a second key assembly wherein

said housing hinge plate is inserted inside said first housing such that the protrusion extends through the elongated opening;

said first key assembly is inserted inside said first housing above said hinge plate and affixed to said first housing;

said second key assembly is inserted inside said second housing and affixed to said second housing;

said housing hinge plate is rotatably mounted to said center hinge;

said second housing is rotatably mounted to said center hinge; and

said housing hinge plate slides inside said first housing when said first housing and said second housing are slid together.

7. A portable keyboard according to claim 6 further comprising:

a key membrane cable that transmits electrical signals from the first key assembly or the second key assembly.

8. A portable keyboard according to claim 6 further comprising:

a folded region of the key membrane cable that unfolds when the first housing and the second housing are slid apart.

9. A portable keyboard according to claim 5 further comprising:

a connector that automatically rotates upward.

10. A portable keyboard comprising:

a first keyboard portion;

a second keyboard portion; and

a center hinge plate for pivotally coupling said first keyboard portion and said second keyboard portion;

wherein said center hinge plate is slidably coupled to one of said first keyboard portion and said second keyboard portion such that said first keyboard portion and said second keyboard portion move between an open non-interlocked position and an open interlocked position where said first keyboard portion and said second keyboard portion are substantially contiguous.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2012
From: LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
To: LITE-ON SINGAPORE PTE LTD
Reel/Frame 029349/0025 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
To: LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028346/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2004
From: NMB (USA), INC.
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015411/0556 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT INVENTOR'S NAME, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 013667/0626 (ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST) Recorded Nov 29, 2004
From: SITALASAI, CHATREE; TAKEDA, TOSHISADA; ACOSTA, RICHARD; PETERSON, CASEY; FAUBLE, CHARLES
To: NMB (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 016040/0670 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SECOND ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 013667, FRAME 0626. ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE ENTIRE INTEREST. Recorded Nov 11, 2004
From: SITALASAI, CHATREE; TAKEDA, TOSHISADA; ACOSTA, RICHARD; PETERSON, CASEY; FAUBLE, CHARLES
To: NMB (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 015372/0210 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SECOND NAME OF THE ASSIGNOR RECORDED ON REEL 013667 FRAME 0626. ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded May 5, 2004
From: SITALASAI, CHATREE; TAKEDA, TOSHISADA; ACOSTA, RICHARD; PETERSON, CASEY; FAUBLE, CHARLES
To: NMB (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 015625/0792 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2003
From: SITALASAI, CHATREE; TAKEDA, TOSHUSADA; ACOSTA, RICHARD; PETERSON, CASEY; FAUBLE, CHARLES
To: NMB (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 013667/0626 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040151527A1 · Aug 5, 2004