JPH08190834A - Folding keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To hold a keyboard, when stored, into a smaller size by dividing the keyboard into plural blocks to be deformable in both folding and unfolding states with connectors. CONSTITUTION: Connectors B1, B2 are mounted to be rotatably on each side strips of divided blocks A1, A2, A3 to connect the blocks A1, A2, A3 one another. The respective one supporting shafts of the connectors B1, B2 are mounted simply to be rotationally movable on the blocks A2, A3 while the other supporting shafts are engaged with slits C1, C2 formed in the side strips of the blocks A1, A2. In a folding state as shown in Fig, the supporting shafts of the connecting tools B1, B2 are slid along the slits C1, C2 for unfolding.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a folding key board which can be used in, for example, a personal computer or a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional key board is constructed by arranging keys on a single board.

[0003]

As a recent tendency, the main body of a computer or word processor tends to be smaller and lighter. Along with this, the key board has been downsized, but there is a limit to downsizing the key board from the viewpoint of operability. In other words, considering the key operation with the fingertip, there is a limit to downsizing the key top.

In other words, in a palm-sized device, the key board is downsized on the assumption that the input operation is performed, for example, with the tip of a ballpoint pen. However, it is inconvenient to input with a pen tip, and there is a disadvantage that the input speed is significantly slowed down. In order to improve the efficiency of input, there is no substitute for a keyboard that can be operated with your fingertips. Therefore, there is a demand for a key board that allows input operations with fingertips without difficulty and can be stored in a small size.

An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable key board which can be easily operated with a fingertip and can be folded into a small size when stored.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a key board is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the plurality of divided blocks are connected to each other by a connecting tool, which can be transformed into a folded state and an expanded state by the connecting tool. It is what In the present invention, the horizontally long key board is further divided into a plurality of blocks in the longitudinal direction, and the plurality of divided blocks are connected by a connecting tool so that they can be transformed into a folded state and a developed state. To propose.

Further, according to the present invention, the divided blocks are connected to each other by a connecting member which is rotatably mounted on a side portion of each block. The shaft of the connector that engages with one block simply engages in rotation, and the shaft that engages with the other block slidably engages with a slit formed in a side piece of the block. With this slide structure, the divided blocks can be folded in a stacked posture, and when the entire keyboard is divided into three equal parts, they can be folded into an area of about 1/3.

[0008]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a state in which a folding key board according to the present invention is folded, FIG. 2 shows a state in which each of the divided blocks is most stretched, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which it is locked in a practical state. That is,
In this embodiment, the key board is divided into three parts in the longitudinal direction. A1, A2, and A3 represent each divided block. Each block A1, A2, A3 is a connector B1,
Connected by B2. In this embodiment, the coupling tools B1 and B2 are constituted by rotating arms. Each of the blocks A1 to A3 has an insulating body AA having a U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 5, a switch board SB mounted on the upper surface of the insulating body AA, and a key K protruding from the switch board SB. Composed by. Insulating body AA
By making the U-shaped cross section,
Even if A3 is stacked, the keys K of the lower blocks A2 and A3 are not in the push button state.

Coupling tools B1 and B2 are rotatably attached to the side pieces of the divided blocks A1, A2 and A3 to connect the blocks A1, A2 and A3 to each other. One support shaft of each of the coupling tools B1 and B2 is simply rotatably attached to the blocks A2 and A3, while the other support shaft is engaged with the slits C1 and C2 formed on the side pieces of the blocks A1 and A2. To combine.

From the folded state shown in FIG. 1, the connecting tool B1
By sliding the support shafts of B and B2 along the slits C1 and C2, the state can be expanded to the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slits C1 and C2 are provided with cuts D1 and D2 at positions slightly left of the positions of the ends E1 and E2. By pushing the blocks A1 and A3 from both sides toward the central block A2 in the state of FIG. 2, the support shafts of the coupling tools B1 and B2 are dropped into the notches D1 and D2. Cut the support shaft of the connecting tools B1 and B2 into D1
And it is locked in a state where it can be used as a key board by dropping it into D2.

At the right end of the blocks A1 and A2, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a spring contact J1 protruding and biased by a spring is provided in a protruding manner. The number of contacts J1 is sufficient (for example, about 16) to electrically connect the blocks to each other. At the left end of the blocks A2 and A3 facing the spring contact J1, FIG.
A conductive pattern J2 is provided as shown in FIG. Each of the spring contacts J1 comes into contact with the conductive pattern J2,
The blocks A1, A2 and A3 are electrically connected to each other to operate as a key board. Although a cable for connecting the key board to the computer body or the body of a word processor or the like is omitted here, it is optimal to adopt a structure in which the cable is pulled out from the block A3 which functions as a fixed block in this embodiment.

7 and 8 show a modification of the lock mechanism for locking the blocks A1 to A3 with each other. In this embodiment, a lock piece L1 is provided at the right end of the blocks A1 and A2.
And L2 are provided in a protruding manner, and the lock pieces L1 and L2 are provided at the left ends of the blocks A2 and A3, respectively.
1 shows a case in which the blocks A1, A2 and A3 are engaged with each other to lock each other.

9 and 10 show another embodiment of the folding structure. In this embodiment, the central block A2 is a fixed block, and the blocks A1 and A3 on both sides of the fixed block are slid so that the block A2 is placed on the block A2 as shown in FIG.
The case where 1 and A2 are overlapped and folded is shown. In this case, the length of the blocks A1 and A3 is selected to be about 1/2 of the length of the block A2.

11 and 12 show another embodiment of the folding structure. In this example, the side pieces of the blocks A1, A2 and A3 are formed so as to project upward, and the blocks A1 and A3 are turned over and overlapped on the block A2.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the key board can be divided into a plurality of parts and can be folded. Therefore, in the folded state, 1/2 to 1/3 of the entire shape of the key board is obtained.
The area shape can be reduced. Therefore, even a normal full-sized key board can be folded into a small size when stored. Therefore, the key board can be accommodated in a small size in accordance with the miniaturization of the main body of the computer or the word processor, so that there is a great advantage that the overall shape can be made small.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a folding key board according to the present invention is folded.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the folding key board according to the present invention is most extended.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing how the key board according to the present invention is developed into a practical state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 1 seen from above.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 viewed from the side.

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5 viewed from the back side.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing another embodiment of the folding structure which is the main part of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view for explaining a folded state of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing still another embodiment of the folding structure which is the main part of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view for explaining the folded state of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A1, A2, A3 Block B1, B2 Connecting tool C1, C2 Slit AA Insulating body SB Switch board K key L1, L2 Lock piece M1, M2 Engagement piece J1 Spring contact J2 Conductive pattern

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A folding structure, characterized in that a key board is divided into a plurality of blocks, each divided block is connected by a connecting tool, and the connecting board can be transformed into a folded state and a developed state. Expression key board. 2. A horizontally long key board is divided into a plurality of blocks in the longitudinal direction, and the blocks are divided and connected to each other by a connecting tool, which can be transformed into a folded state and a developed state. A foldable key board characterized by being configured into. 3. A horizontally long key board is divided into a plurality of blocks in the longitudinal direction, and the divided blocks are connected to each other by a connecting member rotatably mounted on a side portion of each block. A foldable key board characterized in that a shaft engaged with one block is rotationally engaged, and a shaft engaged with the other block is slidably engaged with a slit formed in a side piece of the block. . 4. The folding key board according to claim 1, further comprising means for electrically connecting and disconnecting the divided blocks from each other. board. 5. The folding key board according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the divided blocks to each other in a coupled state. board.