Notebook computer keyboard

Abstract

The invention relates to structural elements of computer hardware and can be used in the structures of notebooks, tablets and mobile devices having an external keyboard. A notebook computer keyboard consists of a base (1) on which separate keyboard sections (2, 3) for the right and left hand, respectively, are mounted such that the position of each keyboard section can be moved and secured on the base (1). Each key (5) of the keyboard contains an upper and a lower disc (8, 9) mounted in parallel and having a compression spring (10) disposed therebetween, the free face of the upper disc (8) having a specific symbol thereon. The upper disc (8) is designed to be acted on by a user's finger, and the lower disc (9) is mounted on the base and has a screw thread about its outer lateral cylindrical surface. The upper and lower discs (8, 9) are exteriorly encompassed about their lateral cylindrical surfaces by a union nut (11) having a central through-hole for viewing of the symbol, said union nut being mounted in axial alignment with the discs such that the screw thread of the nut is able to interact with the screw thread on the lower disc (9) and such as to allow pressing or release to increase or reduce the height of the upper disc (8) above the base and to secure the key in a particular position. The aim of the invention is to create a keyboard that would make it possible to adjust the keyboard sections and the keys according to hand and finger size, as well as to the individual characteristics of a user's hands.

Description

[0001] Laptop keyboard.

[0002] The proposed invention relates to the design elements of computer equipment and can be used in the designs of laptops, tablets and mobile devices with an external keyboard, and more precisely, to the design of a laptop keyboard.

[0003] The closest to the proposed one in terms of the number of essential features is a laptop keyboard consisting of a base on which separate key sections are installed, respectively for the right and left hand, with the ability to move and fix the position of each key section on the base [International application, dated 10 / 31 / 2016, Publication number WO / 2018 / 080414, Publication date 05 / 03 / 2018, IPC G06F 1 / 16 (2006.01); G06F 3 / 023 (2006.01)].

[0004] The problems of the described device are related to the use of a keyboard with keys of a standard height above the base, despite the fact that both hands and fingers of different users have different sizes and individual characteristics. The mentioned keyboard allows for the creation of an optimal position of the keys for each hand, but does not assume the creation of an optimal position of the keyboard depending on the length and other characteristics of the fingers, therefore, setting up for work, for example, on a new keyboard, requires for each user a certain amount of time to get used to it, which reduces the convenience and comfort of the user's work at least during the next few weeks after its purchase.

[0005] The proposed invention is based on the task of creating a keyboard for a laptop that would increase the user's comfort by creating conditions for adjusting the key sections and keys depending on the size of the hands, fingers, and the characteristics of the user's hands.

[0006] The proposed, like the known laptop keyboard, consists of a base on which separate key sections are installed, respectively for the right and left hands, with the ability to move and fix the position of each key section on the base, and, in accordance with the proposal, each keyboard key contains parallel upper and lower disks, between which a compression spring is located, on the free end of the upper disk there is a certain symbol, the upper disk is intended for action on it by the user's finger, the lower disk is installed on the base and has a thread along the outer side cylindrical surface, and its diameter is greater than the diameter of the upper disk, the upper and lower disks are covered from the outside along the side cylindrical surfaces by a union nut with a central through hole for a certain symbol,the union nut is installed coaxially with the disks on the side of the upper disk with the possibility of interaction of the union nut thread with the thread on the lower disk and pressing or releasing to increase or decrease the height of the upper disk with the symbol above the base and fixing a certain position of the key.,

[0007] Another feature of the proposed keyboard is that the lower disk of the key rests on a ball joint or ball support attached to the base and designed to tilt the key along the ball joint relative to the plane of the base and fix the position of the key by pressing the elements of the ball joint or support against each other with a screw mechanism.

[0008] Another feature of the proposed keyboard is that the lower disk of the key is a prefabricated ball joint, the upper section of which has the shape of a cylinder on the outside, and a socket for the ball on the inside, to which a screw is attached, screwed into the base.

[0009] The union nut, which grips the upper and lower disks from the outside along the lateral cylindrical surfaces, allows you to set the optimal height of the upper disk with the symbol above the base for a specific user and fix the optimal height value.

[0010] During the patent information research conducted in preparation of this application, the author did not find any keyboard designs for a laptop with the above set of essential features, which proves that the claimed technical solution meets the invention criterion of "novelty".

[0011] The technical result obtained as a result of implementing the proposed invention consists in the ability of the user to select the optimal position of the height and / or tilt of the keys relative to the base of the keyboard, depending on the size of the hands, the size of the fingers, and the characteristics of the user's hands.

[0012] The specified technical result in the known technical solutions that have entered the state of the art has not been identified by the author, therefore the proposed device can be recognized as corresponding to the invention criterion of "inventive step".

[0013] The proposed keyboard consists of structural elements, for the production of which currently known technological methods, means and materials are used. It can be used in the construction of laptops, tablets and mobile devices with an external keyboard in various areas of business and management structures, and therefore it can be concluded that the proposed solution meets the invention criterion of "industrial applicability".

[0014] The essence of the proposed invention is explained with the help of schematic drawings.

[0015] Fig. 1 and 2 show a laptop in which the proposed keyboard is used.

[0016] Fig. 3 schematically shows the design of a key of the proposed keyboard.

[0017] The proposed keyboard is a design element of a notebook. The notebook includes a system unit with a power supply unit / not shown / , a base 1, two key sections - right 2 and left 3, respectively for the right and left hands, and a monitor 4. Each key section 2 and 3 of the keyboard is made in the form of three steps. Each step of the keyboard with keys 5 is installed on its adapter plate 6. The plates 6 of the steps of the key sections 2 and 3 of the keyboard are connected by a mechanism for their synchronous movement in parallel planes, including levers 7, the ends of which are pivotally connected to the corresponding end sections of the adjacent adapter plates 6 of the steps.

[0018] The lengths of the levers 7 are selected in compliance with the conditions so that at the maximum distance A, of extension of each step of the key sections 2 and 3, the transition plates 6 of the upper steps at their maximum extension do not overlap the keys 5 of the lower steps. The said distance A is, respectively, Ai>B, A1>2B, A3>3B, where i is the step number, counting from top to bottom, B is the width of the key 5. For the hinged connection of the movable transition plates 6 of the steps of the key section 2 or 3, the design shown in Fig. 1, 2 can be used. Each key 5 of the keyboard contains upper 8 and lower 9 disks installed in parallel, between which a compression spring 10 is located. The disk 8 is intended for action by the user's finger.

[0019] The lower disk 9 is rigidly mounted on the transition plate 6 of the corresponding step and has a thread along the outer side cylindrical surface, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the upper disk 8. The upper 8 and lower 9 disks are simultaneously covered from the outside along the side cylindrical surfaces by a union nut 11 with a central through hole for visualizing a certain symbol / not shown / and acting on the spring 10 through the disk 8. The union nut 11 is installed coaxially with the disks 8 and 9 from the side of the upper disk 8 with the possibility of interaction of the thread of the union nut 11 with the thread on the lower disk 9 and pressing or releasing the spring 10 and, accordingly, increasing or decreasing the height of the upper disk 8 with the symbol above the plane of the transition plate 6 and the plane of the base 1 and fixing a certain position of the key 5.On the top outside on the free end of the union nut 11 a slot is made / not shown / for the purpose of using a screwdriver or other tool to tighten or loosen the union nut 11 and adjust the height of the key 5 for a specific finger of the user.

[0020] Each key 5 may be provided with switching devices and channels and / or openings for the passage of conductors / not shown / . The lower disk 9, as an example, may rest from below on a ball joint or on a ball support attached to the adapter plate 6. In this case, the ball joint or ball support ensures the tilt of the key 5 along the ball of the joint relative to the plane of the adapter plate 6 and the plane of the base 1. To fix the position of the key 5, a screw mechanism may be used, designed to press the elements of the ball joint or support against each other / not shown / .

[0021] Also, the lower disk of the key 9 can be made in the form of a prefabricated ball support. In this case, the upper part of such a prefabricated ball support has the shape of a cylinder on the outside, and a spherical cavity on the inside - a socket for the ball. A screw is rigidly attached to the ball coaxially with it, the free end of which is screwed into the adapter plate 6 / not shown / . The ball and the screw can be made as a single unit.

[0022] The laptop with the proposed keyboard is prepared for work as follows.

[0023] The laptop is first opened. In this case, the steps of the key sections 2 and 3 of the keyboard are extended by distances A, respectively A1>B, A2>2B, A3>3B. In this case, the transition plates 6 of the upper steps of the key section at their maximum extension do not overlap the keys 5 of the lower steps. The monitor 4 is installed in a position convenient for the user relative to the steps and the selected position is fixed. Then the hand of one of the user's hands is placed on the corresponding key section 2 or 3 of the keyboard and moved to the right or left and up and down, choosing the optimal position of the key section relative to the base 1 for one hand of the user and the selected position is fixed.

[0024] The same actions are performed with the second key section and its optimal position relative to the base 1 is selected for the user's second hand ' and the selected position is fixed. After the optimal position of the steps of key sections 2 and 3 of the user's keyboard is set, the keys 5 are adjusted. In this case, the user places his fingers on the keys of the middle step of key section 2 or 3 of the keyboard and, by tightening or unscrewing the union nut 11 on a certain key 5, the optimal position relative to the height of key 5 above base 1 is set. The same actions are performed with each key 5. In the case of using a ball joint or a ball support in the design, key 5 is additionally tilted along the ball of the joint relative to the plane of the adapter plate 6 and the plane of the base 1 and the position of key 5 determined by the user is fixed with a screw. After fixing the position of the steps of key sections 2 and 3 of the keyboard and keys 5, text typing begins.

Claims

Invention formula.

1. A laptop keyboard consisting of a base on which separate key sections are mounted, respectively for the right and left hand, with the ability to move and fix the position of each key section on the base, characterized in that each key of the keyboard contains upper and lower disks mounted in parallel, between which a compression spring is located, on the free end of the upper disk there is a certain symbol, the upper disk is intended to be acted upon by the user's finger, the lower disk is mounted on the base and has a thread along the outer lateral cylindrical surface, and its diameter is greater than the diameter of the upper disk, the upper and lower disks are covered from the outside along the lateral cylindrical surfaces by a union nut with a central through hole for a certain symbol,the union nut is installed coaxially with the disks on the side of the upper disk with the possibility of interaction of the union nut thread with the thread on the lower disk and pressing or releasing to increase or decrease the height of the upper disk with the symbol above the base and fixing a certain position of the key., 2. A laptop keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower disk of the key rests on a ball joint or ball support attached to the base and designed to tilt the key along the ball of the joint relative to the plane of the base and fix the position of the key by pressing the elements of the ball joint or support against each other with a screw mechanism.

3. A laptop keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower key disk is a prefabricated ball joint, the upper section of which has the shape of a cylinder on the outside and a socket for the ball on the inside, to which section a screw is attached, screwed into the base.

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