Abstract:
A keyboard structure, comprises a housing having at least one post, a key assembly, and at least one connecting portion comprising a ring, the ring coils around the post to connect the key assembly to the housing. The invention also discloses an electronic device using the keyboard structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to keyboard structures and, particularly, to a keyboard structure used in electronic devices. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    With rapid development of information technology, electronic devices, such as cellular phones, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc., are becoming even more popular. Consequently, users demand more than simply basic functions, such as Internet access and send/receive email. Users can use a keyboard structure to realize above-mentioned functions. 
         [0005]    A typical keyboard structure often includes a housing, a keymat and a plurality of keypads mounted on the keymat. The housing defines a plurality of latching slots therein. The keymat has a plurality of clasps configured for latching into the latching slots. However, the size of the latching slots can be difficult to control and manufacture. The size of the latching slots may be manufactured bigger or smaller. Therefore, the clasps can not accurately mate with the latching slots. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the keyboard structure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present keyboard structure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a keyboard structure in according with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the keyboard structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1 , shows a keyboard structure  10 , applied in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone and configured for inputting information. The keyboard structure  10  includes a housing  11 , a keymat  12 , a plurality of keypads  13 , a first connecting part  15 , a second connecting part  16 , a cushion  17 , and a plurality of key bodies  19 . 
         [0011]    The housing  11  is a frame of the portable electronic device. The housing  11  includes two opposite end walls  111 , two opposite sidewalls  112  respectively connecting to the end walls  111 , an arm  113  positioned between the two opposite end walls  111  and connecting to the two opposite sidewalls  112 , a fixing board  115  perpendicularly extending from one of the end walls  111 , a first post  1151  and a second post  1152 . The arm  113  divides the housing  11  into a first frame portion  11   a  and a second frame portion  11   b . The first frame portion  11   a  is configured for receiving a circuit board, a liquid crystal display (LCD) etc (none shown). The second frame portion  11   b  receives the keymat  12 . The first post  1151  and the second post  1152  extend from the fixing board  115 . Surfaces of the first post  1151  and the second post  1152  are roughened for increasing friction coefficient. The first post  1151  is substantially cylindrical. The second post  1152  can be an oval post. The second frame portion  11   b  defines a first slot  1111  and a second slot  1112  adjacent to the arm  113 . 
         [0012]    The keymat  12  defines a fitting portion  121 , a first through hole  124 , and a second through hole  125 . The fitting portion  121  includes a first hole  1211  and a plurality of second holes  1212  symmetrically defined at two sides of the first hole  1211 . The first through hole  124  and the second through hole  125  are defined near an edge of the keymat  12 . The keymat  12  includes a first clasp  122 , a second clasp  123 , a first protrusion  126 , and a second the protrusion  127 . The first clasp  122  and the second clasp  123  are positioned at opposite ends of the keymat  12 . The first clasp  122  and the second clasp  123  are configured for correspondingly latching to the first slot  1111  and the second slot  1112 . The first protrusion  126  and the second protrusion  127  extend from a same lateral side of the keymat  12  and are spaced from each other. The first protrusion  126  and the second the protrusion  127  respectively define a third through hole  1261 , a first groove  1262  and a fourth through hole  1271 , a second groove  1272 . The first groove  1262  connects the first through hole  124  to the third through hole  1261 . The second groove  1272  connects the second through hole  125  to the fourth through hole  1271 . 
         [0013]    The keypads  13  can be made of elastic material, such as rubber, silicone, etc. The keypads  13  include a first keypad  131  and a plurality of second keypads  132 . The keypads  13  are engagable in the fitting portion  121 . 
         [0014]    The first connecting part  15  includes a first ring  151 , a first connecting portion  152 , and a first protruding post  153 . The first connecting portion  152  connects the first ring  151  to the first protruding post  153 . The first ring  151  can be made of elastic material, such as rubber or silicone etc., and matchable into the first groove  1262 . The first protruding post  153  can be made of elastic material, such as rubber or silicone etc., and matchable into the first through hole  124 . 
         [0015]    The first connecting part  15  is received in the first through hole  124 , the first groove  1262  and the third through hole  1261 , and attached to the keymat  12 . The first ring  151  is received in the third through hole  1261  and further coils around the first post  1151  of the housing  11 . The diameter of the first ring  151  is slightly less than that of the first post  1151 . Therefore, the first ring  151  tightly coils around the first post  1151 . The first connecting portion  152  and the first protruding post  153  are respectively received in the first groove  1262  and the first through hole  124 . The diameter of the first protruding post  153  is slightly larger than that of the first through hole  124 . Therefore, the first protruding post  153  tightly engages into the first through hole  124 . 
         [0016]    The second connecting part  16  includes a second ring  161 , a second connecting portion  162 , and a second protruding post  163 . The second connecting part  16  tightly engages in the second through hole  125 , the second the protrusion  127  and the fourth through hole  1271 . 
         [0017]    The cushion  17  can be made of elastic material, such as rubber or silicone etc. The cushion  17  has a plurality of press portions  172  corresponding to the fitting portion  121 . The cushion  17  is attached to the keymat  12  and configured for protecting the keypads  13 . 
         [0018]    The key bodies  19  include a first key body  191  and two second key bodies  192  respectively positioned on two sides of the first key body  191 . A portion of the key bodies  19  corresponding to the fitting portion  121  is attached to the cushion  17  and configured for inputting information. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in assembly, the cushion  17  is attached to one side of the keymat  12 . The key bodies  19  are attached to the cushion  17 . The keypads  13  are received in the fitting portion  121 . The first connecting part  15  and the second connecting part  16  are respectively assembled on a side opposing to the side attaching to the cushion  17  of the keymat  12 . The first clasp  122  and the second clasp  123  are respectively latched to the first slot  1111  and the second slot  1112 , when the keymat  12 , the keypads  13 , the first connecting part  15 , the second connecting part  16 , the cushion  17  and the key bodies  19  are assembled on the housing  11 . The first post  1151  and the second post  1152  of the fixing board  115  pass through the keymat  12 . The first ring  151  and the second ring  161  respectively coils around the first post  1151  and the second post  1152 . 
         [0020]    It is to be understood that the keymat  12  can integrally formed with the keypads  13  to form a key assembly  100 . 
         [0021]    It is to be understood that the first slot  1111 , the second slot  1112 , the first clasp  122  and the second clasp  123  can be omitted. The key assembly  100  can be fixed on the housing  11  by the first connecting part  15  and the second connecting part  16 . 
         [0022]    It is to be understood that the first connecting portion  152  and the first protruding post  153  of the first connecting part  15 , and the second connecting portion  162  and the second protruding post  163  of the second connecting part  16  can be omitted. The key assembly is then fixed on the housing  11  by the first ring  151  and the second ring  161 . 
         [0023]    The keymat  12  is fixed on the housing  11  by flexible first connecting part  15  and flexible second connecting part  16 . The first connecting part  15  and the second connecting part  16  respectively coil around the first post  1151  and the second post  1152  and configure for tightly fixing the key assembly on the housing  11 . 
         [0024]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.