Abstract:
A portable computer includes a first housing having a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening and having an inside periphery. A first component is removably received within the opening and defines a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening. A first locking member is removably attached within the opening. The first locking member defines an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing. The first locking member also defines a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body. A second portion of the first component is exposed within the opening of the first locking member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Housings for portable notebook or clamshell-style computers are often made from a number of plastic panels or sections that are assembled onto a metal frame. The metal frame is structured to retain and attach together the computer&#39;s internal components. Such internal components can include a printed circuit board that carries the computer&#39;s central processor and any additional processors such as for graphics or the like as well as the computer&#39;s random-access memory (RAM). Additional components include batteries, input devices such as a keyboard and trackpad or the like, storage memory (such as a hard drive, solid-state drive, or the like, communications devices (such as for WiFi connection and networking), removable memory devices (such as CD- or DVD-R/W drives), and structures for external peripheral connections. 
         [0002]    In such frame-based housing structures, all components can be affixed to the frame, which itself can be made up of several different parts. The components of the housing are in turn attached to the frame to provide a somewhat uniform external appearance and to provide protection for the internal components. In a notebook (or clamshell) configuration, the arrangement just described can make up a base unit that is configured to rest on a surface. Another assembly in the form of a lid, or display, housing can be attached to the base housing by a hinge. The lid housing can include a video display, which can be in the form of a LCD panel with various forms of backlighting associated therewith. Similar to the base housing, the display (and any other components also included within the lid housing) can be affixed to another frame to which other housing sections or panels are affixed to enclose the lid assembly. The hinge can be attached to both the frame of the lid and the frame of the base with portions thereof extending through openings between or within the housing sections or panels. 
         [0003]    The hinged attachment between the base and lid housings can allow the computer to be moved between open and closed configurations. The closed configuration being such that the lid is positioned against the base with the display and input devices positioned internally of the housing units for protection thereof during transportation. In the open configuration, the display is viewable and the input devices are accessible to the user. The lid can be rotated through a range of positions to provide for comfortable viewing of the display. 
         [0004]    Such housing configurations can be complicated to assemble and to disassemble for repair or maintenance reasons due to the complicated nature of attaching multiple housing components to the frame. Further, they can be bulky due to the number of components and the complex assembly patterns required. Further, the number of joints or connections between components can provide a number of potential failure areas that can reduce the overall strength and protection provided by such housings. Additionally, because of the various ways in which the multiple panels are assembled together, repair or replacement of one component, such as the keyboard for example, can require removal of a number of panes, some of which may also be attached to the lid, requiring removal thereof or removal of other additional components or sub-assemblies. These configurations can also be visually unappealing, due to the number of separate components used and due to the gaps therebetween, which can expose fasteners, tabs or the like. This can be particularly noticeable, for example, around the keyboards used in such computer assemblies. 
         [0005]    Other structures have been developed that seek to combine the utility of the frame into a part of the housing units and to reduce the overall number of exterior pieces that make up the housing. Such structures can be made from metal and can, for example include in one unit the top wall of a base housing (that surrounds the keyboard) along with the front and side walls thereof. This unit can also have internal reinforcement and can include attachment structures (such as threaded holes) for attachment of the internal components). A separate unit can define the bottom wall of the base and can attach to the upper housing unit. Such structures can provide for easier assembly of components, initially, but can be even more difficult to repair. For example, to replace the keyboard of such a computer, the entire base housing must be disassembled and, in some instances the main circuit board may have to be removed. Further, because the keyboard must be assembled early on in the assembly process of such computers, customization of the keyboard or custom-selection among various keyboards by a purchaser can be difficult or can require long lead times, as the computer assembly cannot begin until an order is taken. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An aspect of the present disclosure relates to an portable computer including a first housing having a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening. The opening has an inside periphery. A first component is removably received within the opening. The first component defines a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening. The device further includes a first locking member removably attached within the opening. The first locking member defines an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing. The first locking member also defines a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body. A second portion of the first component is exposed within the opening of the first locking member and within the opening of the first wall of the first housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the portable computer of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of components of the computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows another exploded view of components of the computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional detail view of the computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a partially-assembled view of a possible configuration of the computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a method for assembling a portable computer according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of a method for repairing or replacing various components of a portable computer according to another aspect of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Turning to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a portable computer  10  in the form of a “notebook” or “clamshell” computer with a base  12  configured to rest on a surface and to support a lid  14  including a screen  16 . Lid  14  is connected to base  12  by a hinge  18  that allows the lid  14  to close against the base  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and to be opened by rotation away therefrom into a user-selectable viewing position during use of the computer  10 , an example of which is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0016]    Base  12  includes a keyboard  70  and a trackpad  66  for user input to computer  10 . The trackpad  66  can also be referred to as a touchpad and can include any type of touch-sensitive input, operating by capacitive, magnetic, resistive, surface-acoustic wave or other forms of touch-sensitivity. Both the keyboard  70  and trackpad  66  are mounted to base so that they are exposed at (or otherwise available for user interaction on) an outside surface of the upper wall  28  of the base  12 . It is noted that the terms “upper”, “lower”, and other terms related to relative positions of elements are done with respect to the frame of reference depicted in  FIG. 1 . Such terms are used for convenience and do not limit the actual positions of the elements should the device be repositioned. 
         [0017]    Base  12  includes an upper housing  24  that consists of a unitary material structure that includes the upper wall  26 . Base further includes a lower housing  26  that is assembled with the upper housing to enclose many of the internal components of the computer  10 . As with upper housing  24 , lower housing  26  can be primarily of a unitary material structure. In some examples, lower housing  26  may include additional outer components, such as covers for externally-accessible batteries or the like. In one example, upper housing  24  can be made from a single piece of plastic or metal, as can lower housing  26 , with any walls, including upper wall  28 , being integrally formed with the adjacent walls without any joining in the form of fastening, gluing, welding, or metallic joining such as soldering, braising or the like. Plastic materials can include polycarbonate (PC), ABS, PCABS, or the like. Metal materials can include aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloys, stainless steel, or the like. Such housings  24  and  26  can be made by injection molding metal or plastic, by die-casting metal. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , upper housing  24  also includes a keyboard opening  30  and a trackpad opening  40  that generally follow the facial profiles of the respective keyboard  70  and trackpad  66  such that they can be assembled therein and accessed by a user. An upper wall  28  of housing  24  can define a palmrest area  62  adjacent keyboard  70  and trackpad  66 . A number of peripheral connection openings (not shown) to the interior of the base assembly  12  can also be included in housings  24  and  26 , and can allow for access to peripheral connections for computer  10  such as for a power adapter plug, a USB device, one or more memory cards, audio devices, or the like. 
         [0019]    Lower housing  26  is configured to enclose internal components of base  12  when assembled with upper housing  24 . Lower housing  26  can also be configured to allow computer  10  to rest on a surface when in use. As such, lower housing  26  can include a generally flat lower surface with a plurality of feet or grip members (not shown) that allow base  12  to rest on a surface and to be resistant to sliding during normal use. Lower housing  26  can be configured to attach with upper housing  24  using screws or other fasteners to enclose internal components such as one or more batteries, and CPU board assembly and related circuitry, communications structures, connection components, such as USB plugs, or power plugs, as well as internal portions of trackpad assembly  66  and keyboard assembly  70 . Upper housing  24  and lower housing  26  can be configured such that selected ones of the aforementioned components can attach with either upper housing  24  or lower housing  26  prior to attachment of the two housings together. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , lid  14  can include an outer housing  44 . Lid  14  also includes a bezel  44  that is attached to outer housing  44 . Together, outer housing  44  and bezel  44  can receive and enclose additional components of computer  10  therein. Such components can include a display assembly including screen  16 . Bezel  44  can be configured to surround at least part of the display screen  16  associated with lid  14 . Further, bezel  44  can help retain the display assembly that is configured to be positioned within lid  14 . As such, bezel  44  can contact the display assembly  60  on a side thereof opposite upper housing  44 . Bezel  44  also defines a display opening  58  through which at least the screen portion of the display assembly is viewable by a user. The distance by which bezel  44  extends inward can vary depending on the configuration of, for example, the display assembly itself and/or the materials from which lid housing  44  is constructed. Outer housing  44  and bezel  44  can be assembled together using glue, pressure-sensitive adhesive, or mechanical fasteners such as screws, snap-fit elements or the like. In another example, the outer housing  44  of lid  14 , as well as upper housing  24  and lower housing  26  of base  12  can be integrally formed with bezel  44  as a unitary housing configured with multiple, solidly joined, walls of a single piece of material, as described in co-pending, commonly-owned U.S. Provisional Patent App. Nos. 61/672,041 and 61/680,824, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , hinge  18  can connect base  12  with lid  14 . Hinge  18  can be configured to allow lid  14  to rotate with respect to base  12  to provide the desired range of rotation therebetween to allow lid  14  to be positionable in the closed position and through a usable range of open positions, as discussed above. Hinge  18  can also be configured to provide internal friction to maintain a selected open position of lid  14  relative to base  12 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the particular structure of hinge  18  shown is configured such that the axis of rotation between lid  14  and base  12  is positioned within base  12 . Other configurations are possible in other examples, such as those wherein the axis of rotation is positioned within lid  14  or outside of both lid  14  and base  12 . Various other hinge structures and configurations can be incorporated in computer  10 , other than that which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0022]    As shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 3 , computer  10  can be configured so that keyboard assembly  70  can be externally assembled with base  12  independent of the assembly of internal computer components or the assembly of upper housing  24  with lower housing  26 . In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , computer  10  can be configured so that substantially all of computer  10  (excluding keyboard assembly  70 ) can be assembled together before assembling keyboard  70  with base  12 . In the example shown, this assembly is facilitated by the structure of computer  10 , including the incorporation of a keyboard opening  30  positioned in the upper surface  28  of upper base housing  24 . In the example shown, keyboard opening  30  is open to a recess  32  defined by upper base housing  24  that includes a lower surface  35  that is generally parallel to and positioned below upper surface  28 . A wall  36  extends between upper surface  28  and lower surface  35  and defines an outer periphery of recess  32  that extends from the periphery defined by opening  30 . 
         [0023]    As also shown in  FIG. 3 , keyboard assembly  70  can include a body in the form of a substrate  70  that defines parallel and spaced-apart upper  76  and lower  74  surfaces. Substrate  70  further has affixed thereto over upper surface  76  a plurality of keys  80  configured to provide various inputs to computer  10  common of computer keyboards in general. The keys can be in any number of keyboard configurations and arrangements provided, for example, for different languages, countries or regions, etc. These arrangements can include the characters printed on or otherwise identified by the keys  80  and the relative locations thereof, for example. As shown, substrate  72  defines its own outer periphery  78  that extends beyond the outermost ones of the keys  80  supported by substrate  72 . 
         [0024]    The wall  36  of recess  32  and the periphery  78  of substrate  72  can be configured such that substrate  72  can be received within recess  32  with lower surface  74  of substrate  72  resting on lower surface  35  of recess  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The particular fit between substrate  72  and recess  32  can vary, but in the present example can be such that keyboard assembly  70  can be moved into recess  32  without significant resistance but such that lateral movement of keyboard assembly within recess  32  is limited. The relative sizes of substrate  72  and recess  32  can be adjusted to account for tolerances in the various manufacturing processes used in formation thereof. Other configurations of substrate  72  and recess  32  are possible, including those in which a press or resistance fit is achieved between substrate  72  and recess  32  or those in which a certain degree of lateral movement of keyboard assembly  70  within recess  32  is permitted with other features, such as adhesives or other fasteners used to maintain the lateral position of keyboard assembly  70  within recess  32 . Further, the depth D of recess  32  relative to the overall height H of keyboard assembly  70  can be such that keys  80  are substantially even with upper surface  28  of housing  24  or project slightly above surface  28  (e.g., by up to 2 mm+/−5%). 
         [0025]    In an example, recess  32  can include an access opening  34  within recess  32  to allow keyboard assembly  70  to be connected with components internal to base  12 , such as the motherboard or the like. Although such features are omitted from the figures for clarity, the general structure of such features can be similar to those used in other portable computer applications. In an example, a connection cable (not shown) can extend from keyboard assembly  70  and can be extended through access opening  34  to connect with an a corresponding connection internal to base  12 . In another example, a cable can extend from an internal component within base  12  that is configured to receive inputs from keyboard assembly  70  and can pass through access opening  34  to be connected with keyboard assembly  70  prior to keyboard assembly  70  being placed within recess  32 . 
         [0026]    Other configurations of portions of upper housing  24  within opening  32  are possible. In one example, upper housing  24  can be substantially open to the interior of base within opening  30  with a plurality of appropriately-positioned tabs or other support structures extending inward relative to opening  30  to retain keyboard assembly  70  in an appropriate position relative to opening  30  and upper surface  28 . In another example, recess  32  can include a plurality of openings similar to access opening  34  to provide additional pass-throughs for connection between keyboard assembly  70  and internal components of base  12  or to allow for cooling, weight reduction, or transmission of sound from internal speakers. In such a configuration, the plurality of openings can be sized and positioned such that a web-like support structure that is substantially open to the interior of base  12  defines recess  32 . 
         [0027]    As further shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , computer  10  can include a locking member  50 . Locking member  50  can have a continuous frame-like structure defining an outer surface  52  and an interior opening  56 . Locking member can be configured such that the outer surface  52  fits securely within wall  36  and/or opening  30  and further such that a portion thereof extends past the outer periphery  78  of substrate  72  and contacts a portion of upper surface  76  of substrate  72 . Accordingly, locking member  50  can be assembled with base  12  after the keyboard assembly  70  has been positioned within recess  32  to secure keyboard  70  to base  12 . Locking member  50  can be made of a polymeric material such as a plastic or the like, including ABS, PC, or the like. Other materials can also be used for locking member such as various rubbers, including TPE or the like, nylon, various metals, and others. Locking member  50  can be configured to be somewhat flexible or compressible so that it can make an appropriately tight fit within opening  30  and so that it can exert a force against substrate  72  to maintain contact between lower surface  74  of substrate  72  and lower surface  35  of recess  32 . 
         [0028]    As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 , locking member  50  can include a protrusion  54  that extends outward from the outside surface  52  thereof to engage with a corresponding channel  38  in wall  36  to provide a snap-fit between locking member  50  and recess  32 . The protrusion  54  and channel  38  can extend around the entire peripheries of wall  36  and of outside surface  52  or, in another example, locking member  50  can include a number of separate protrusions  54  positioned at various locations therearound that can match with a plurality of corresponding channels  38  in wall  36 . In yet another, example, wall  36  can include one or more protrusions and locking member  50  can include corresponding channels. Still further features can be used to achieve a snap-fit assembly between locking member  50  and recess  32 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  further illustrates the relationship between keyboard assembly  70 , recess  32 , and locking member  50  (with internal components of base  12  omitted). Specifically,  FIG. 5  illustrates shows locking member  50  assembled within recess  32  in contact with wall  36  and extending inwardly therefrom to overlap with substrate  72  of keyboard assembly  70  and to contact upper surface  76  thereof. As such, the opening  56  defined by locking member  50  can be smaller than keyboard opening  30  and also smaller that the area defined by substrate  72 , but large enough to provide adequate access to and clearance for keys  80 . As previously mentioned, locking member  50  can be of a resiliently-flexible material such as Nylon, plastic, or the like. The use of a flexible material can allow locking member  50  to be oversized with respect to the depth with which it extends into recess  32  such that it flexes somewhat when pressed into contact with surface  76 . This can cause locking member  50  to exert a constant downward force onto substrate  70  that can help to retain the position, both vertically, and laterally, of keyboard assembly  70  within recess  32 . Other shapes and configurations of locking member  50  can be used and can be adjusted or otherwise devised to give varying cosmetic appearances, to provide varying fits or interactions with recess  32  and keyboard assembly and to take advantage of various material properties. 
         [0030]    As further shown in  FIG. 5 , locking member  50  can include an aperture  60  or another similar feature therein to provide a location at which a tool or other instrument can engage or attach with locking member  50  to remove it from recess  32 . This can allow keyboard assembly  70  to be removed from recess  32  for repair or replacement, as will be described in greater detail below. A plurality of such features can be incorporated in locking member  50  and can be positioned to be visually imperceptible to a casual user of computer  10 . Alternative structures for aperture  60  can include slots, undercuts, or points of separation between locking member  50  and surface  76 . 
         [0031]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , an example of computer  10  is shown wherein trackpad assembly  66  is positioned with respect to upper housing  24  of base such that a touch-sensitive surface  68  thereof extends through a portion of wall  36  of recess  32  such that an edge of the surface  68  defines a portion of keyboard opening  30 . Other arrangements for trackpad assembly  66  are possible including those in which a portion of upper housing  24  can extend between surface  28  and recess  32  such that surface  28  defines the entirety of opening  30 . In the configuration illustrated, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , a portion of locking member  50  can extend between surface  68  and keyboard assembly  70  to provide visual separation therebetween. Trackpad assembly  66  can be assembled with base  12  such as by attachment thereof to upper housing  24  before assembly with lower housing  26  by screws or other mechanical fasteners. In other examples, trackpad assembly  66  can be assembled with base  12  after assembly of upper housing  24  with lower housing  26  to enclose internal components of base  12  and further after assembly of base  12  with lid  14 . In an example of such an assembly, upper housing  24  can be configured such that trackpad assembly  66  can be slid into a corresponding opening  40  by being first positioned within recess  32 . 
         [0032]    In another example shown in  FIG. 6 , trackpad assembly  66  can be configured to engage with housing  24  at an end of opening  40  opposite recess  32 , such as by providing interengaging features within housing  24  or the like. Trackpad assembly  66  can then be rotated into a position such that surface  68  is substantially parallel with surface  28 . Both trackpad assembly  66  and housing  24  or internal features of base  12  can be configured such that trackpad assembly  66  is appropriately seated and supported in such a position. When such positioning is achieved, keyboard assembly  70  can be inserted into recess  32 , as described above. Trackpad assembly  66  can be configured with a tab  64  that is positioned to extend underneath substrate  72  when keyboard assembly  70  is in place or alternatively, under a portion of locking member  50  when in place within opening  30 . In another variation, trackpad assembly  66  can be assembled within opening  40  as just described, but tab  64  can be attached with upper housing  24  for example, by a mechanical fastener such as a screw or the like, that is the visually obscured by locking member  50  when in place within opening  30 . 
         [0033]    Trackpad assembly  66  can include various sub-components commonly associated with trackpads or other touch-sensitive input devices. This can include a touch sensitive substrate  68  that includes the actual surface that the user interacts with. The trackpad assembly  66  can also include a support structure (not shown) that can retain substrate  68  and can include associated circuitry or other functionality, such as structures to provide a clickable trackpad surface or the like. In an alternative structure to that described above, such a support structure can be configured to extend outwardly around substrate  68  such that substrate  68  can fit within opening  40  with the support structure contacting the portion of upper wall  26  that surrounds opening  42 . This assembly can be secured with adhesives or mechanical fasteners and can be done prior to the attachment of lower housing  26  to upper housing  24 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows a flowchart illustrating steps in a method for assembling a computer such as computer  10  having a keyboard  72  securable to the base  12  thereof by a locking member  50  or the like. Upon starting the method (step  110 ), the internal components can be assembled with either or both of the upper housing  24  or the lower housing  26  of the base (step  112 ). Similarly, internal components for lid  12 , such as display  16  and related circuitry or the like, can be assembled with lid housing  42  (or in some configurations with bezel  44 ) in step  114 . The lid  14  can then be assembled by attaching bezel  44  with lid housing  44  in step  116 . In one example of computer assembly, the lid  14  can then be attached at hinge  18  or a portion thereof to lower housing  26  in step  118 . In other computer configurations, lid  14  can be attached to base  12  after assembly of both of these components are separately assembled, or after assembly of base  12  but before assembly of lid  14 . The order of these steps can vary depending on the configuration of computer  10  and of hinge  18  or the like and the method herein can be adjusted or altered accordingly. In the present example, upper housing  24  can be attached with lower housing  26  in step  120  and after the completion of step  118 . At this point, the computer  10  can be fully enclosed with all internal components secured within either base  12  or lid  14 . Further, as discussed above, trackpad assembly  66  can be assembled with lid  12  in step  112  or can be assembled as an externally-attached component in optional step  122 . This can be done, for example, using a trackpad  66  as shown in  FIG. 6  or another similar structure. 
         [0035]    In an optional subset of method steps  124 , the enclosed computer assembly achieved by steps  110  through  120  (and optionally  122 ) can be stored in an incomplete state without a keyboard  70  or locking member  50  assembled therewith (step  126 ). This can allow for a number of computers  10  to be stored while awaiting orders, either directly from customers, such as through an internet-based ordering system or the like, or by retailers. Separately from such partial computer assemblies, a number of differently-configured keyboard assemblies  70  can be stored, as can a number of differently-configured locking members  50 . As mentioned above, the different keyboard assemblies can include keyboards of different region or language based key configurations. They can also include keyboards with various other features, such as lighted and non-lighted keyboards, or standard or waterproof (or spillproof) keyboards, or keyboards of different colors or styles. In connection with an direct or retail-based ordering system, these different keyboard configurations can be customer options, allowing a user to select from a number of different keyboard configurations, styles or options at the point of purchase. In another implementation, a region or language based keyboard can be automatically selected by the system based on the user&#39;s region (determined, for example from the IP address of the computer from which the order was made or by the shipping address). In either selection method, information regarding a selected keyboard can be stored in connection with the user&#39;s order. Similarly, different locking members  50  can be stored separately from the keyboards  70  and computer assemblies. For example, locking members  50  can be provided in various colors that can be selectable by a customer or retailer when ordering a computer. Additionally, locking members of various particular shapes can be provided as can locking members  50  having various additional options, such as built-in lighting or the like can be provided at the option of the customer or retailer. 
         [0036]    In such an example, an order for a complete computer  10  is received, including information regarding a selected keyboard configuration and/or locking member configuration (step  128 ). Subsequently the data can be read, by an automated system or by a person, to determine the keyboard  70  and locking member  50  needed to complete the computer  10  as-ordered (step  130 ). The appropriate keyboard  70  and locking member  10  can then be obtained (step  132 ) along with a partially-assembled computer  134 . 
         [0037]    Subsequently, whether or not a keyboard or locking member customization sub-method  124  is implemented, the keyboard  70  can then be placed within keyboard opening  30  in step  136 . The keyboard  70  can then be secured to base  12  by assembly of locking member  50 , as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 5 , within opening  30  over a portion of keyboard assembly  70  (step  138 ) to complete the method (step  140 ). 
         [0038]    Another method according to another aspect of the present disclosure is illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 8 . Such a method can be carried out using, for example, the computer  10  described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-6 , and can allow for repair or replacement of the keyboard  70  and/or locking member  50  without additional disassembly of base  12  or removal of internal components therefrom. Such a method can be used to repair or replace a keyboard  70  and/or locking member  50  in cases of damage to one of these components or to allow for upgrades to or customization of such components. Upon starting the method (step  210 ), the locking member  50  can be removed from base  12  (step  212 ) such as by pulling locking member  50  from out of opening  30  (which can be done using a tool inserted within an aperture  60  in locking member  50 , for example). At this point, the original locking member  50  can be set aside (step  216 ) or a replacement locking member  50  can be obtained (step  218 ). If only the locking member  50  is to be replaced, then the keyboard  70  can be left in opening  30  (step  224 ) and the new locking member can be re assembled within opening  30  and the method can be ended (step  230 ). 
         [0039]    In other instances, wherein the keyboard is to be repaired or replaced, the keyboard  70  can be removed from opening  30  (step  214 ) by lifting keyboard vertically therefrom. In some cases it may be necessary to disconnect any cables used to achieve electrical communication between keyboard  70  and internal components of base  12 . The keyboard can then optionally be repaired (step  220 ) or a replacement keyboard can be obtained (step  222 ). The repaired original or replacement keyboard  70  can then be connected with internal components of base  12  and can be re-positioned within opening (step  226 ). The original locking member  50  or a replacement locking member  50  can then be assembled within opening  30  over a portion of keyboard assembly  70  to secure keyboard assembly to base  12  to complete the method (step  230 ). 
         [0040]    Such a method can be used, for example, to replace a locking member  50  of one color with another locking member  50  of a different color. Additionally or alternatively, the method can be used to replace a keyboard assembly  70  with another one having keys  80 , for example, of a different color, or to upgrade a standard keyboard  70  to one having incorporated illumination or waterproofing, as discussed above. Further, the method can be used to replace a keyboard  70  of one regional or language based key  80  configuration with a keyboard  70  of another region or language based configuration. 
         [0041]    Other repair, upgrade, and/or reconfiguration of keyboard  70  and locking member  50  are possible using the above-described method or variations thereof. Similarly, the methods described with respect to the flowcharts in both  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  can be used with variations of the computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-6  that incorporate any type of externally-assembled keyboard assembly secured in place with any type of a locking member. 
         [0042]    Although the description herein has been made with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.