Patent ID: 7193614
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: G06F,H01H

Abstract:
1. A portable collapsible keyboard for input of data into a digital electronic device, said keyboard comprising: a) a first keyboard section having a top surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a first plurality of keys having keytops facing upward from said top surface, said first plurality of keys arranged substantially adjacent to one another to form a substantially contiguous first array of keys, said keytops of said first array of keys forming a substantially planar first keytop surface, b) a second keyboard section having a top surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a second plurality of keys having keytops facing upward from said top surface, said second plurality of keys arranged substantially adjacent to one another to form a substantially contiguous second array of keys, said keytops of said second array of keys forming a substantially planar second keytop surface, c) a rear pivot mechanism for pivoting said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section, said rear pivot mechanism connected to said first keyboard section adjacent to said rear surface and having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to said first keyboard section, d) a front pivot mechanism for pivoting said second keyboard section with respect to said first keyboard section, said front pivot mechanism connected to said first keyboard section adjacent to said front surface and having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to said first keyboard section, e) an elongate link of fixed length for spacing said first and said second keytop surfaces, said link pivotally connected at its first end to said front pivot mechanism, said link connected at its other end to said second keyboard section such that, when said keyboard is in an open configuration with said first and second keytop surfaces substantially parallel and facing the same direction, the frontward portions of said first and said second keytop surfaces are spaced apart from each other at least the length of the link, and f) wherein said keyboard is collapsible through a pivoting action from said open configuration to a closed configuration in which said first and second keytop surfaces are in a face-to-face relationship.