IP Library Granted Patent US 9,507,385
Granted Patent B2
US 9,507,385 · App. 14/619,355 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Portable information handling system keyboard support assembly

Inventors: Chung-Jen Chen (Taipei, TW); Wen-Pin Huang (New Taipei, TW); Chih-Hao Chen (New Taipei, TW); Chin-Chih Lin (Taipei, TW); Jia Hong Shih (Taipei, TW); Maria Carmen Schlesener (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/1669
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,507,385
App. No.
14/619,355
Filed
Feb 11, 2015
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2887
USPC
235/375
Abstract

A portable information handling system keyboard rests on a support surface of a housing with securing actions taken from above the housing, such as by screws that insert through the keyboard and then into the housing. A lattice cover having key openings fits over the keyboard to align adapters of its bottom surface with posts extending from the support surface through openings formed in the keyboard. The adapters snap to the posts to couple the cover against the keyboard so that the cover bottom surface presses the keyboard against the information handling systems upper support surface.

Claims (50)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing having a top surface forming a keyboard support structure, the keyboard support structure having plural connector posts extending outwards, the connector posts having mushroom-shaped ends;

a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;

memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor to store the instructions and information;

a keyboard disposed on the keyboard support structure, the keyboard having openings aligned with the plural connector posts; and

a cover disposed over the keyboard, the cover having adapters aligned to couple to the connector posts through the keyboard openings, the adapters comprising parallel spaced members that snap over the connector post mushroom-shaped ends.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

screws coupling the keyboard to the housing;

wherein the screws insert from the top surface through the keyboard and then into the keyboard support structure and the cover rests over the screws.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a rim formed in the housing around the keyboard support structure, the rim having snap connectors; and

snaps formed in the cover and aligned to couple with the snap connectors.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a lattice having plural openings aligned to pass through the keys of the keyboard.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the plural connector openings are evenly spaced along the lattice and only some of the plural connector openings have a connector post passed through.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector posts are formed with metal integrated in a palm rest of the top surface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a lattice having plural openings aligned to pass through the keys of the keyboard and plural connector openings disposed in the lattice between the plural openings, each of the plural connector openings sized to pass through a connector post.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each adapter comprises parallel snap protrusions, at least some of the snap protrusions aligned along a lateral axis of the keyboard and the rest of the snap protrusions aligned along a longitudinal axis.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a keyboard cable extending from the keyboard to communicate key inputs made at keys of the keyboard; and

a keyboard connector configured to accept the keyboard cable, the keyboard connector disposed on a bottom surface of the housing;

wherein the keyboard cable passes through an opening formed in the upper surface to couple with the keyboard connector disposed on the bottom surface.

10. A method for coupling a keyboard to a portable information handling system, the method comprising:

placing the keyboard on an upper support surface of an information handling system housing;

placing a cover over the keyboard, the cover having openings to pass through keys of the keyboard; and

securing adapters on a bottom surface of the cover with connector posts extending upwards from the upper support surface through openings formed in the keyboard;

wherein:

the adapters comprise parallel spaced members; and

the connector posts comprise mushrooms sized to couple between the parallel spaced members.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forming openings in the keyboard size to fit the connector posts; and

aligning the keyboard with a predetermined position by inserting the connector posts in predetermined of the openings.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

securing the keyboard to the upper support surface with screws that pass through the keyboard and then into the upper support surface; and

placing the cover over the screws.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forming a rim to define a perimeter of the upper support surface;

including snap connectors along the perimeter; and

engaging snaps formed at an outer perimeter of the cover with the snap connectors.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein at least some of the parallel spaced members have a longitudinal alignment and at least some of the parallel spaced members have a lateral alignment.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising integrating the connector posts with the upper support surface.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forming an opening in the upper support surface; and

passing a keyboard cable through the opening to connect with a keyboard connector located on an upper surface of the motherboard.

17. An information handling system keyboard assembly comprising:

a keyboard having plural keys on an upper surface to accept end user inputs, the keyboard having plural openings, each opening sized to pass through a connector post having a mushroom-shaped end portion; and

a lattice cover having plural key openings to pass through the keys of the keyboard and plural adapters extending from a bottom surface, each adapter having parallel spaced members aligned to insert through a keyboard opening and configured to couple with a support surface connector post mushroom-shaped end portion so that the cover bottom surface presses the keyboard against the support surface.

18. The information handling system keyboard assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

snaps formed in a perimeter of the lattice cover and aligned to engage with the support surface; and

screws passing through keyboard and into the support surface, the screws hidden by the lattice cover upon placement of the lattice cover over the keyboard.

19. The information handling system keyboard assembly of claim 18 wherein the keyboard keys have a QWERTY configuration.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035860 FRAME 0878 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0158 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035860 FRAME 0797 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040028/0551 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035858 FRAME 0612 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040017/0067 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035858/0612 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035860/0878 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035860/0797 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2015
From: CHEN, CHUNG-JEN; HUANG, WEN-PIN; CHEN, CHIH-HAO; LIN, CHIN-CHIH; SHIH, JIA HONG; SCHLESENER, MARIA CARMEN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 034937/0301 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160231788A1 · Aug 11, 2016