Folding keyboard

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a foldable keyboard that can be used, for example, in a personal computer, a word processor, or the like.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

A conventional key board is configured by arranging keys on one board.

【0003】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

As a recent trend, the main body of a computer or a main body of a word processor tends to be smaller and lighter. Along with this, the key board has also been miniaturized, but there is a limit to the miniaturization of the key board from the viewpoint of operability. That is, considering that the key is operated with a fingertip, there is a limit to the miniaturization of the key top.

【0004】

In other words, in a palm-sized device, the keyboard is downsized on the assumption that the input operation is performed with the tip of a ballpoint pen, for example. However, it is inconvenient to operate the input with the pen tip because the operability is poor and the input speed is significantly slowed down. There is nothing like a keyboard that can be operated with your fingertips to improve input efficiency. Therefore, it is desired to develop a keyboard that can be easily input with a fingertip and can be stored in a small size.

【0005】

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

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, the keyboard is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the blocks divided into the plurality of blocks are connected to each other by a connecting tool, and the structure is such that the key board can be transformed into a folded state and an unfolded state by the connecting tool. In the present invention, a horizontally long keyboard is further divided into a plurality of blocks in the longitudinal direction, and the plurality of divided blocks are connected by a connecting tool to form a foldable keyboard having a structure that can be transformed into a folded state and an unfolded state. To propose.

【0007】

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

【0008】

[Example]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a folded state of the foldable keyboard according to the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a state in which each divided block is most stretched, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the foldable keyboard is locked to a practical state. That is, in this embodiment, the case where the key board is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction is shown. A1, A2, and A3 indicate each divided block. The blocks A1, A2 and A3 are connected by the couplers B1 and B2. In this embodiment, the connectors B1 and B2 are shown in the case where they are configured by a rotating arm. As shown in Fig. 5, each block A1 to A3 has an insulating body AA having a U-shaped cross section, a switch board SB mounted on the upper surface of the insulating body AA, and a key K projecting onto the switch board SB. Consists of. By making the insulating body AA a U-shaped cross section, even if the blocks A1 to A3 are stacked, the key K of the lower blocks A2 and A3 is not in the push button state.

【0009】

Connecting tools B1 and B2 are rotatably attached to each side piece of each of the divided blocks A1, A2 and A3 to connect the blocks A1, A2 and A3 to each other. One of the support shafts of the connectors B1 and B2 is simply rotatably attached to the blocks A2 and A3, but the other support shaft is engaged with the slits C1 and C2 formed in the side pieces of the blocks A1 and A2. Match.

【0010】

From the folded state shown in FIG. 1, the support shafts of the couplers B1 and B2 can be expanded to the state shown in FIG. 2 by sliding them along the slits C1 and C2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, notches D1 and D2 are formed in the slits C1 and C2 at positions slightly to the left of the positions of the ends E1 and E2. By pushing blocks A1 and A3 from both sides toward the central block A2 in the state shown in FIG. 2, the support shafts of the connectors B1 and B2 are dropped into the cuts D1 and D2. By dropping the support shafts of the connectors B1 and B2 into the notches D1 and D2, the locks are locked so that they can be used as a key board.

【0011】

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, spring contact J1 projecting and biased by a spring is projected from the right end of blocks A1 and A2. The number of contacts J1 (for example, about 16) sufficient to electrically connect the blocks to each other is provided. A conductive pattern J2 is provided at the left end of blocks A2 and A3 facing the spring contact J1 as shown in FIG. Each of the spring contacts J1 contacts the conductive pattern J2, and the blocks A1, A2, and A3 are electrically connected to each other to operate as a keyboard. Although the cable for connecting the keyboard to the main body of the computer or the main body of the word processor is omitted here, in this embodiment, it is most suitable to have a structure of drawing out from the block A3 which works as a fixed block.

【0012】

7 and 8 show a modified example of the locking mechanism that locks the blocks A1 to A3 to each other. In this embodiment, lock pieces L1 and L2 are projected from the right ends of blocks A1 and A2, and the lock pieces L1 and L2 are provided at the left ends of blocks A2 and A3, respectively. The case where the block A1, A2, and A3 are engaged with each other and locked to each other is shown.

【0013】

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

【0014】

11 and 12 show yet 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】

[Effect of the invention]

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

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

The front view which shows the folded state of the foldable key board by this invention.

[Figure 2]

The front view which shows the most stretched state of the foldable key board by this invention.

[Fig. 3]

The front view which shows the state which developed into the practical state of the key board by this invention.

[Fig. 4]

Top view of Figure 1 from above.

[Fig. 5]

Side view of Fig. 4 as seen from the side.

[Fig. 6]

Side view of Fig. 5 as seen from the back side.

[Fig. 7]

The front view which shows the modification of this invention.

[Fig. 8]

The enlarged view for demonstrating the operation of the Example shown in FIG.

[Fig. 9]

The front view which shows the other embodiment of the folding structure which is the main part of this invention.

[Fig. 10]

The front view for demonstrating the folded state of the Example shown in FIG.

[Fig. 11]

The front view which shows still another Example of the folding structure which is the main part of this invention.

[Fig. 12]

The front view for demonstrating the folded state of the Example of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

A1, A2, A3 block B1, B2 connector C1, C2 slit AA insulated body SB switch board K key L1, L2 lock piece M1, M2 engaging piece J1 spring contact J2 conductive pattern