Keyboard capable of being folded in two directions

Abstract

The keyboard comprises two keyboard units, each keyboard unit is provided with a hollow column, the ends of the two hollow columns are connected together in a sleeved mode, a limiting piece is arranged in one hollow column, a connecting rod is arranged in the limiting piece, one end of the connecting rod penetrates through the limiting piece to be in transmission connection with a driving piece, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotationally connected with the other hollow column. The two keyboard units are connected together through the two hollow columns, the limiting piece is arranged in one hollow column, the connecting rod is arranged in the hollow column, and the two keyboard units can be pushed away by a certain distance to ensure smooth turnover before turnover operation; the two arc-shaped limiting grooves are formed in the limiting piece and one hollow column, the limiting clamping groove is formed in the other hollow column, and the horizontal folding angle and the vertical folding angle of the two hollow columns can be limited in the horizontal folding process and the vertical folding process correspondingly. By arranging the buffer spring and the two reset springs, the impact force on the keyboard unit in the folding operation can be relieved, and the service life of the whole mechanism is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of keyboards, in particular to a keyboard which can be folded in two directions. Background Art

[0002] As the command input terminal, keyboards are widely used in various modern devices and instruments. With the rapid development of science and technology, the functions and structural shapes of products in various fields have been greatly improved. Conventional flat fixed keyboard structures have gradually failed to meet the needs of some high-end products or application scenarios. At present, there are also foldable or miniature simple keyboards, but they can generally only be folded in one direction, or there are too few buttons to input complex commands. In applications, two or more keyboards are required to input complex control commands. Utility Model Content

[0003] In response to the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, the utility model provides a keyboard which can be folded in both directions. Before the flipping operation, the two keyboard units can be first pushed apart for a distance to ensure smooth folding. The horizontal folding angle and the vertical folding angle of the two hollow columns can be limited respectively during the horizontal folding and vertical folding processes, thereby reducing the impact force of the flipping operation on the keyboard unit and extending the service life of the entire mechanism.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, a technical solution adopted by the utility model is as follows:

[0005] A bidirectional foldable keyboard comprises:

[0006] Two keyboard units that are independent of each other and electrically connected, the two keyboard units are arranged side by side horizontally;

[0007] A hollow column is detachably fixedly provided on the facing ends of the two keyboard units, the two hollow columns are coaxially arranged and both ends are open ends, the facing ends of the two hollow columns are spherical ends and extend to the outsides of the two keyboard units respectively and are sleeved together; a limiting member is detachably fixedly provided on the inner side of any of the hollow columns, one end of the limiting member is a spherical end and is matched and sleeved between the spherical ends of the two hollow columns and is rotatably connected to the hollow column inside thereof, two sections of inwardly concave first arc-shaped limiting grooves are formed on the end surface of the spherical end of the limiting member, a limiting card slot is provided on the spherical end of the hollow column inside the limiting member, and the limiting card slot is communicated with the open end of the hollow column;

[0008] A connecting rod is installed on the inner side of the limiting member, one end of the connecting rod passes through the limiting member and the hollow column on its outer side and is transmission connected to a driving member arranged beside the hollow column, the driving member is hinged with the hollow column, and the other end of the connecting rod is a ball head end and extends into the spherical end of the other hollow column and is rotatably connected thereto; operating the driving member can push the connecting rod to move axially in one of the hollow columns, and push the other hollow column to move axially to drive the two keyboard units to move away from or towards each other, and at the same time, applying an external force of horizontal folding or vertical folding on the keyboard unit where the other hollow column is located, which can drive one of the hollow columns and the limiting member to rotate relative to each other to drive the two keyboard units to fold in a horizontal plane or a vertical plane, and the two first arc-shaped limiting grooves can push the connecting rod into the limiting slots in the horizontal folding and vertical folding to fix the horizontal folding angle and the vertical folding angle of the two keyboard units respectively.

[0009] As a further elaboration of the above technical solution:

[0010] In the above technical solution, a return spring is provided in each of the hollow columns: the two ends of one return spring respectively abut against the first end cover and the damping member, the first end cover is detachably fixed on one end of the hollow column, the damping member is arranged at the other end of the hollow column, and one end of the damping member is provided with a spherical groove adapted to the connecting rod ball head; the other return spring is sleeved on the periphery of the connecting rod, and its two ends respectively abut against the second end cover and the limiting member, the connecting rod passes through the second end cover and is slidably connected thereto, the second end cover is embedded in the inner wall of one end of the other hollow column and is slidably connected thereto, and the hollow column is provided with a sliding groove that can limit the displacement of the second end cover.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the limiting member includes a hollow positioning portion and a sliding portion, the sliding portion is a hollow hemispherical structure, the first arc-shaped limiting groove is formed on the end face of its larger end, and its smaller end is connected to the positioning portion, the positioning portion is a prismatic structure and is coaxially arranged with the sliding portion; a latching protrusion adapted to the positioning portion is provided on the inner wall of the hollow column, and a plurality of second arc-shaped limiting grooves adapted one by one to the first arc-shaped limiting grooves are provided at its spherical end.

[0012] In the above technical solution, a positioning plate is provided on the outer wall of each hollow column, and each positioning plate is detachably connected to a keyboard unit; a rotating member is provided on the outer wall of a hollow column, and the rotating member is hinged to the driving member.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the driving member is an L-shaped driving plate, whose vertical arm is hinged to the rotating member and extends to the side of the second end cover, and whose horizontal arm extends to a keyboard unit, which is provided with a control area for avoiding the horizontal arm.

[0014] In the above technical solution, each keyboard unit includes an upper cover and a lower cover that can be matched and snapped together and a number of keys installed therebetween. Each hollow column can be detachably fixed on the inner wall of the lower cover, and a buffer spring is provided between the vertical arm and the upper cover.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the two keyboard units are electrically connected via a cable.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the utility model are: by utilizing two sleeved hollow columns to connect the two keyboard units together, arranging a limit piece in a hollow column and arranging a connecting rod therein that can be connected to the driving member in transmission, the two keyboard units can be first pushed away for a distance before the flipping operation to ensure smooth folding; by arranging two arc-shaped limit grooves on the limit piece and one end of a hollow column, and arranging a limit card groove on the other hollow column, the horizontal folding angle and the vertical folding angle of the two hollow columns can be limited respectively during the horizontal folding and vertical folding processes, meeting the needs of installing and applying a complete keyboard on a movable device or a non-planar support; by arranging a buffer spring and two return springs, the two keyboard units can be automatically restored when the flipping external force or the holding force is eliminated, and the impact force of the folding operation on the keyboard unit can be reduced, thereby extending the service life of the entire mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of this embodiment;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the horizontal folding of this embodiment;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical folding structure of this embodiment;

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flip mechanism between the two keyboard units in this embodiment;

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the decomposition structure;

[0022] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure of the limiter in this embodiment;

[0023] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of a hollow column in this embodiment;

[0024] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of another hollow column in this embodiment.

[0025] In the figure: 100, keyboard unit; 110, control area; 120, upper cover; 130, lower cover; 140, button; 150, cable; 10, hollow column; 11, limit slot; 12, clamping protrusion; 13, second arc-shaped limit slot; 14, positioning plate; 15, rotating member; 16, slide slot; 20, limit member; 21, positioning part; 22, sliding part; 23, first arc-shaped limit slot; 30, connecting rod; 40, driving member; 41, vertical arm; 42, horizontal arm; 50, reset spring; 60, first end cover; 70, damping member; 71, spherical groove; 80, second end cover; 90, buffer spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The utility model is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0027] The embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present application, and cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like indicate the orientation or position relationship based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, "several" and "multiple" mean two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined. In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a communication between the two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances. In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature "above" or "below" the second feature can include the first and second features being in direct contact, or it can include the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, the first feature "above", "above" and "above" the second feature include the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature "below", "below" and "below" the second feature include the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0028] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a bidirectional foldable keyboard comprises:

[0029] Two keyboard units 100 that are independent of each other and electrically connected, and the two keyboard units 100 are arranged side by side horizontally;

[0030] like Figure 4-5As shown, a hollow column 10 is detachably fixedly provided on the facing ends of the two keyboard units 100, the two hollow columns 10 are coaxially arranged and both ends thereof are open ends, the facing ends of the two hollow columns 10 are spherical ends and extend to the outsides of the two keyboard units 100 respectively and are sleeved together; a limiting member 20 is detachably fixedly provided on the inner side of any hollow column 10, one end of the limiting member 20 is a spherical end and is matched and sleeved between the spherical ends of the two hollow columns 10 and is rotatably connected to the hollow column 10 inside thereof, two sections of inwardly concave first arc-shaped limiting grooves 23 are formed on the end surface of the spherical end of the limiting member 20, a limiting card slot 11 is provided on the spherical end of the hollow column 10 inside the limiting member 20, and the limiting card slot 11 is communicated with the open end of the hollow column 10;

[0031] A connecting rod 30 is installed on the inner side of the limiting member 20, one end of the connecting rod 30 passes through the limiting member 20 and the hollow column 10 outside thereof and is transmission-connected to a driving member 40 disposed beside the hollow column 10, the driving member 40 is hinged to the hollow column 10, and the other end of the connecting rod 30 is a ball head end and extends into the spherical end of the other hollow column 10 and is rotationally connected thereto; by manipulating the driving member 40, the connecting rod 30 can be pushed to move axially in one hollow column 10 and to push the other hollow column 10 to move axially To drive the two keyboard units 100 to move away from each other or towards each other, and at the same time, apply a horizontal folding or vertical folding external force on the keyboard unit 100 where the other hollow column 10 is located, which can drive one hollow column 10 and the limiting member 20 to rotate relative to each other to drive the two keyboard units 100 to fold in the horizontal plane or the vertical plane. The two first arc-shaped limiting grooves 23 can push the connecting rod 30 into the limiting slot 11 during horizontal folding and vertical folding respectively to fix the horizontal folding angle and vertical folding angle of the two keyboard units 100.

[0032] In order to facilitate the intuitive display of the utility model, Figure 2 and Figure 3 The schematic diagrams of the structure of the keyboard after being folded horizontally and vertically are shown respectively.

[0033] Further, such as Figure 5 As shown, each hollow column 10 is provided with a return spring 50: the two ends of a return spring 50 respectively abut against the first end cover 60 and the damping member 70, the first end cover 60 is detachably fixed to one end of a hollow column 10, the damping member 70 is arranged at the other end of the hollow column 10, and one end of the damping member 70 is provided with a spherical groove 71 adapted to the ball head of the connecting rod 30; the other return spring 50 is sleeved on the periphery of the connecting rod 30, and its two ends respectively abut against the second end cover 80 and the limit member 20, the connecting rod 30 passes through the second end cover 80 and is slidably connected thereto, the second end cover 80 is embedded in the inner wall of one end of the other hollow column 10 and is slidably connected thereto, and the hollow column 10 is provided with a slide groove 16 that can limit the displacement of the second end cover 80.

[0034] In this embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown, the end of the connecting rod 30 extending into the second end cover 80 is also provided with a screw with a nut. When the driving member 40 drives the connecting rod 30 to move forward, the protruding nut can limit the displacement of the connecting rod 30 to prevent the connecting rod 30 from coming out of the second end cover 80.

[0035] It can be understood that the two return springs 50 are stretched or compressed and deformed during folding. When the external folding force is eliminated, the restoring force of the two return springs 50 can push the two keyboard units 100 to return to a linearly arranged structure.

[0036] In this embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, the limiting member 20 includes a hollow positioning portion 21 and a sliding portion 22. The sliding portion 22 is a hollow hemispherical structure, and a first arc-shaped limiting groove 23 is formed on the end face of its larger end, and its smaller end is connected to the positioning portion 21. The positioning portion 21 is a prismatic structure and is coaxially arranged with the sliding portion 22; a hollow column 10 has a protrusion 12 on the inner wall that matches the positioning portion 21, and a plurality of second arc-shaped limiting grooves 13 that match the first arc-shaped limiting grooves 23 one by one are provided on its spherical end.

[0037] In application, the size parameters of the first arc-shaped limit groove 23 / the second arc-shaped limit groove 13 and the limit slot 11 can be reasonably set according to the actual size of the keyboard unit 100 and each component, so as to meet the requirements of smooth flipping in the horizontal and vertical planes.

[0038] In this embodiment, if Figure 7-8 As shown, a positioning plate 14 is provided on the outer wall of each hollow column 10 , and each positioning plate 14 is detachably fixedly connected to a keyboard unit 100 ; a rotating member 15 is provided on the outer wall of a hollow column 10 , and the rotating member 15 is hinged to the driving member 40 .

[0039] In this embodiment, if Figure 4-5 The driving member 40 shown is an L-shaped driving plate, whose vertical arm 41 is hinged to the rotating member 15 and extends to the side of the second end cover 80, and whose horizontal arm 42 extends to a keyboard unit 100, which is provided with a control area 110 for avoiding the horizontal arm 42.

[0040] When folding horizontally, one hand pushes the transverse arm 42, so that the longitudinal arm 41 swings and pushes the connecting rod 30 to move in the hollow column 10, and the end of the connecting rod 30 pushes the other hollow column 10 forward to separate the two keyboard units 100 for a distance, and the other hand applies a horizontal folding thrust on the other keyboard unit 100, which can push one hollow column 10 and the limit member 20 to rotate relative to each other, and the limit member 20 drives the other hollow column 10 to rotate synchronously, and the two hollow columns 10 drive the two keyboard units 100 to rotate synchronously relative to each other. When rotated to a certain angle, the connecting rod 30 is pushed into the limit slot 11 by a first arc limit groove 23 / second arc limit groove 13 and cannot continue to fold, thereby limiting the maximum folding angle of the horizontal folding. Similarly, when folding vertically, first operate the driving member 40 to separate the two keyboard units 100 by a certain distance, and then apply a vertical folding thrust to the other keyboard unit 100 with the other hand, so as to push a hollow column 10 and the limiting member 20 to rotate relative to each other and drive the two keyboard units 100 to rotate relative to each other synchronously. When rotating to a certain angle, the connecting rod 30 is pushed into the limiting card slot 11 by the other first arc limiting groove 23 / second arc limiting groove 13 and cannot be folded further, thereby limiting the maximum folding angle of vertical folding. In this embodiment, the two keyboard units 100 can be folded horizontally by 30°, or vertically by 60°, which can meet the needs of installing and applying a complete keyboard on a movable device or a non-planar support.

[0041] The utility model connects two keyboard units 100 together by using two sleeved hollow columns 10, and sets a limit member 20 in one hollow column 10 and sets a connecting rod 30 therein which can be connected to the driving member 40 in transmission. Before the flipping operation, the two keyboard units can be pushed away for a distance to ensure smooth folding. By setting two arc-shaped limit grooves on the limit member 20 and one end of a hollow column 10, and setting a limit card groove 11 on the other hollow column 10, the horizontal folding angle and the vertical folding angle of the two hollow columns 10 can be limited respectively during the horizontal folding and vertical folding processes, thereby meeting the needs of installing and applying a complete keyboard on a movable device or a non-planar support.

[0042] In this embodiment, if Figure 1-3 As shown, each keyboard unit 100 includes an upper cover 120 and a lower cover 130 that can be matched and snapped together, and a plurality of keys 140 installed therebetween. Each hollow column 10 can be detachably fixed on the inner wall of the lower cover 130. A buffer spring 90 is provided between the vertical arm 41 and an upper cover 120. The two keyboard units 100 are electrically connected via a cable 150.

[0043] It can be understood that the buffer spring 90 can prevent the vertical arm 41 from damaging the upper cover 120 when rotating, and at the same time can reduce the impact force of the connecting rod 30 on the hollow column 10, preventing it from pushing the connecting rod 30 out of one hollow column 10 or even damaging the internal structure of another hollow column 10, thereby extending the service life of the entire mechanism.

[0044] The above does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention are still within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bidirectional foldable keyboard, characterized in that: include: Two keyboard units that are independent of each other and electrically connected, the two keyboard units are arranged side by side horizontally; A hollow column is detachably fixedly provided on the facing ends of the two keyboard units, the two hollow columns are coaxially arranged and both ends are open ends, the facing ends of the two hollow columns are spherical ends and extend to the outsides of the two keyboard units respectively and are sleeved together; a limiting member is detachably fixedly provided on the inner side of any of the hollow columns, one end of the limiting member is a spherical end and is matched and sleeved between the spherical ends of the two hollow columns and is rotatably connected to the hollow column inside thereof, two sections of inwardly concave first arc-shaped limiting grooves are formed on the end surface of the spherical end of the limiting member, a limiting card slot is provided on the spherical end of the hollow column inside the limiting member, and the limiting card slot is communicated with the open end of the hollow column; A connecting rod is installed on the inner side of the limiting member, one end of the connecting rod passes through the limiting member and the hollow column on its outer side and is transmission connected to a driving member arranged beside the hollow column, the driving member is hinged with the hollow column, and the other end of the connecting rod is a ball head end and extends into the spherical end of the other hollow column and is rotatably connected thereto; operating the driving member can push the connecting rod to move axially in one of the hollow columns, and push the other hollow column to move axially to drive the two keyboard units to move away from or towards each other, and at the same time, applying an external force of horizontal folding or vertical folding on the keyboard unit where the other hollow column is located, which can drive one of the hollow columns and the limiting member to rotate relative to each other to drive the two keyboard units to fold in a horizontal plane or a vertical plane, and the two first arc-shaped limiting grooves can push the connecting rod into the limiting slots in the horizontal folding and vertical folding to fix the horizontal folding angle and the vertical folding angle of the two keyboard units respectively.

2. A bidirectional foldable keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that: A return spring is provided in each of the hollow columns: the two ends of one return spring respectively abut against the first end cover and the damping member, the first end cover is detachably fixed on one end of the hollow column, the damping member is provided on the other end of the hollow column, and one end of the damping member is provided with a spherical groove adapted to the connecting rod ball head; the other return spring is sleeved on the periphery of the connecting rod, and its two ends respectively abut against the second end cover and the limiting member, the connecting rod passes through the second end cover and is slidably connected thereto, the second end cover is embedded in the inner wall of one end of the other hollow column and is slidably connected thereto, and the hollow column is provided with a sliding groove that can limit the displacement of the second end cover.

3. The bidirectional foldable keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting member includes a hollow positioning portion and a sliding portion, the sliding portion is a hollow hemispherical structure, the first arc-shaped limiting groove is formed on the end face of its larger end, and its smaller end is connected to the positioning portion, the positioning portion is a prismatic structure and is coaxially arranged with the sliding portion; a latching protrusion adapted to the positioning portion is provided on the inner wall of the hollow column, and a plurality of second arc-shaped limiting grooves adapted one by one to the first arc-shaped limiting grooves are provided at its spherical end.

4. The bidirectional foldable keyboard according to claim 2, characterized in that: A positioning plate is provided on the outer wall of each hollow column, and each positioning plate is detachably fixedly connected to a keyboard unit; a rotating member is provided on the outer wall of a hollow column, and the rotating member is hinged to the driving member.

5. The bidirectional foldable keyboard according to claim 4, characterized in that: The driving member is an L-shaped driving plate, whose vertical arm is hinged to the rotating member and extends to the side of the second end cover, and whose horizontal arm extends to a keyboard unit, and the keyboard unit is provided with a control area for avoiding the horizontal arm.

6. The bidirectional foldable keyboard according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the keyboard units comprises an upper cover and a lower cover that can be matched and snapped together and a number of keys installed therebetween. Each of the hollow columns can be detachably fixed on the inner wall of a lower cover, and a buffer spring is provided between the vertical arm and an upper cover.

7. A bidirectional foldable keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The two keyboard units are electrically connected via a cable.

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