Recycled Composite Keyboard for Sustainable Information Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent replacement of electronic device components in information handling systems leads to significant waste, as traditional keyboards do not incorporate sustainable materials, resulting in a substantial environmental footprint.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard designed with recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable materials, including a top cover made from a polyester-jute fiber laminate and a bottom cover composed of recycled metallic components, assembled using recyclable or biodegradable adhesives, to provide strength and durability comparable to traditional keyboards while reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional materials are used in keyboard manufacturing, then strength and durability are achieved, but environmental footprint increases due to waste generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining recycled plastics with natural fibers (jute, hemp, or flax) to create a laminate structure for the top cover. This composite approach maintains structural strength and durability while reducing environmental footprint through the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by specifying that the top cover include from 10 wt. % to 80 wt. % renewable content and up to 70 wt. % recycled content. These parameter changes enable the keyboard to maintain adequate strength and durability while significantly reducing environmental footprint compared to traditional virgin plastic keyboards.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If recycled and biodegradable materials are used in keyboard construction, then environmental footprint is reduced, but strength and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of recycled plastic combined with natural fibers (jute, hemp, or flax) in a laminate structure. This composite approach ensures that the keyboard maintains strength and durability comparable to traditional keyboards while using sustainable materials, thereby resolving the contradiction between environmental benefits and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material compositions to different parts of the keyboard structure. The top cover uses a specific composite formulation with natural fibers embedded in recycled plastic to optimize both strength and environmental performance, while other components use appropriately selected sustainable materials, ensuring overall durability without compromising environmental benefits.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sustainable materials are used throughout the keyboard, then environmental footprint is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases due to material sourcing and assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the keyboard into distinct components with specific material requirements: the top cover uses recycled plastic with natural fiber laminate, the bottom cover uses recycled plastic, and adhesives are selected from recyclable or biodegradable options. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and sourced independently, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining sustainability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies clear parameter ranges for sustainable material content (10-80 wt. % renewable content, up to 70 wt. % recycled content) without requiring 100% sustainable materials. This parameter approach balances environmental benefits with manufacturing feasibility, avoiding excessive complexity while achieving meaningful environmental improvement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent component replacement is allowed, then information handling system adaptability is improved, but waste generation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the keyboard to be discarded and recovered sustainably by using recyclable recycled plastics and biodegradable natural fibers. When the keyboard reaches end-of-life, these materials can be recovered and processed through recycling or biodegradation pathways, significantly reducing waste generation compared to traditional keyboards while maintaining system adaptability through frequent replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the keyboard more suitable for frequent replacement by using cost-effective recycled and biodegradable materials, creating a disposable-friendly design. The keyboard can be replaced frequently to maintain system adaptability, and each replaced unit can be sustainably disposed of through recycling or biodegradation, reducing the cumulative waste burden.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a keyboard for an information handling system. The keyboard includes a top cover comprising a polyester and a plurality of jute fibers, a keycap assembly comprising one or more keycaps, and a bottom cover comprising a first polylactic acid (PLA) and a post-consumer resin (PCR). The keycap assembly can be positioned between the top cover and the bottom cover, and the top cover can include one or more openings keycap assembly keycaps to protrude through.