Keyboard, preferably for electronic payment terminals

A keyboard having a housing, which is designed as one piece and wherein a top open housing shell is designed in conjunction with a keypad such that the top shell is traylike and is attached within the housing at an angle. A bottom base of the top open housing shell forms a bottom open housing shell. The bottom open housing shell has at least one recess provided for the installation of a card reader.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a keyboard, preferably for electronic payment terminals.

2. Description of the Background Art

Known from EP 1 172 832 A2 is a generic keyboard for an electronic payment terminal with a one-piece keyboard housing. The housing has a top and a bottom housing shell, which join together in an essentially S-shaped manner. In the top housing shell, a keypad is held at an angle by diagonals. Arranged beneath the keypad, for example, are keyboard electronics. The bottom side or surface of the top housing shell is built flat relative to an imaginary support surface. Electrical connections for auxiliary assemblies extend into the top housing shell from the recesses in the bottom housing shell adjoining this surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple keyboard that is designed to be easy to assemble and service, and optimized with regard to cost.

The invention is based on the concept of creating a one-piece housing, having a top and a bottom open housing shell, wherein the top open housing shell is designed in conjunction with a keypad such that the upper shell is traylike and is attached within the housing preferably at an angle. The bottom side or base of the top open housing shell is part of the bottom open housing shell.

The bottom open housing shell has an area for installation of a card reader and can be recognized within the top side of the housing as a projection or as a flat end to the housing. This area adjoins the shared surface, for example as a recess.

Additional recesses, which are provided in the bottom open housing shell, can likewise be recognized as flat ends to the top housing shell.

The preferred inclined position of the top housing shell achieves, among other things, that moisture, which enters, can run out through slots that can be built into the housing. The keypad is permanently attached to the bottom housing shell, but can also be removably attached thereto.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the bottom housing shell has a reinforcement in the area of the shared surface. In this way, high stability can be attained, which can be accomplished through a thicker surface, for example.

In a further embodiment, the reinforcement can be implemented through longitudinal and/or transverse ribs, which preferably have an H shape. In addition to the improvement in stability, the open spaces in the H shape provide opportunities to integrate electronic assemblies, such as a keyboard electronics unit, therein. Moreover, the above-described recesses in the bottom housing shell provide additional accommodation locations.

Because of the complex support within the tray of the top housing shell, the keypad can omit an otherwise necessary support plate, and, moreover, is optimized with respect to cost.

The housing itself is an injection molded plastic part. Moreover, the design of the housing makes it simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

The novel design of the keyboard housing and keypad make it possible to save materials and weight, without reducing stiffness and quality. Ease of service and assembly is improved, since, for example, the keypad need not be removed to replace the keyboard electronics, for example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a keyboard10, for example of an electronic payment terminal for a POS (Point of Sale) terminal, in a top view. The keyboard10has a keyboard housing1with a keypad11, which is held in the housing1. The keyboard10may also have a card reader12, which can be a magnetic stripe and/or chip card reader.

The keyboard housing1preferably is made of plastic and is made of a one-piece base part that includes a top open housing shell2and a bottom open housing shell3, as is shown inFIG. 2in cross-section.

The top open housing shell2is traylike and is mounted or attached at an angle within the housing1. The tray preferably contains no additional details that are part of the housing shell2so that the keypad11can lie flat or even only partially on a bottom surface4of the tray. The back of the bottom surface4of the tray is part of the bottom open housing shell3, by which the top open housing shell2and the bottom open housing shell3combine to form a housing1that is approximately Λ (PIE) shaped. For better stability, the bottom open housing shell3has reinforcing ribs5below the bottom surface4of the top housing shell2.

In this example embodiment the bottom open housing shell3has, adjoining the bottom surface4and the reinforcements5, which, for example, run parallel to an imaginary support surface, two smaller recesses6and a larger central recess7, which in particular can serve to accommodate electronic components such as auxiliary assemblies or plug-in connectors. In this embodiment, the cross sections of the two housing shells2and3then additionally form a Π (bucket) shape attached to the Λ shape. The central recesses6are preferably provided to accommodate an electronic unit8of the magnetic stripe and/or chip card reader12. Like the recesses6, the recess7can terminate the top housing shell2together with the housing edge formed by the tray.

InFIG. 3, the keyboard housing1is shown in a perspective representation in a top view. The guide frame of the keypad11can be screwed, caulked, or otherwise attached to the bottom open housing shell3by openings2.1, which pass from the top open housing shell2to the bottom open housing shell3. The keypad11is designed such that it preferably fills the tray space completely. Because it lies flat or partially on the housing base part, a support plate, which would otherwise be needed, can be eliminated.

FIG. 4shows the bottom view of the keyboard housing1. The ribs5, which provide for reinforcement, preferably form the shape of one or two H's. As a result of this shape, spaces9are created in which additional electronic assemblies (not shown) or the aforementioned assemblies can be accommodated. It is advantageous to integrate the keyboard electronics (not shown) in the bottom housing shell3, in particular in one of the spaces9. Electrical connection of the individual electronic assemblies, such as the keypad11, to the appropriate corresponding parts, such as to the keyboard electronics, for example, is ensured.

The open bottom housing shell3is provided with a cover13in order to keep the electronic assemblies from falling out.

It is self-evident that further modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus the card reader12may also be integrated to the side, next to the keypad11. In addition, the cover13can be made of plastic. The, reinforcement can also be implemented in the form of a slight thickening, or by a thicker cross-section of the shared surface4. The surface4can also extend so it is flat in the keyboard housing1, in which case it is preferable that no spaces are formed beneath this surface. All of the electronics can then be accommodated in the recesses6,7.