Portable computer keyboard

A travel-proofed portable computer keyboard with keys sealed against dust and minor impacts includes an alphanumeric keyboard, a numeric keypad, and a first locking mechanism. The alphanumeric keyboard includes an open cavity. The numeric keypad is received in or protruding from the cavity. The numeric keypad includes a first notch and a second notch. The first locking mechanism includes an engaging member which can lock the numeric keypad in place. The numeric keypad is held in the cavity of the alphanumeric keyboard when the engaging member engages the first notch of the numeric keypad, thereby facilitating the carrying of the computer keyboard. The numeric keypad is held to protrude from the cavity of the alphanumeric keyboard when the engaging member engages the second notch of the numeric keypad, thereby enabling the use of the computer keyboard.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201710891631.0, filed on Sep. 27, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to computer keyboards, and more particularly to a portable computer keyboard.

BACKGROUND

A conventional computer keyboard includes an alphanumeric keyboard and a numeric keypad next to it. However, the conventional computer keyboard is too long and is not easy to carry. In addition, the conventional computer keyboard is not dust-proof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a portable computer keyboard includes an alphanumeric keyboard11, a numeric keypad12, and a first locking mechanism13.

With further reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, the alphanumeric keyboard11includes a front wall114, a rear wall116, a top wall115, a side portion112, a cavity111, and a plurality of alphanumeric keys2. The cavity111is defined between the front wall114, the rear wall116, the top wall115, and the side portion112. The cavity111has an opening113opposed to the side portion112. The alphanumeric keys2are located on the top wall115.

The numeric keypad12is movable between a first position received in the cavity111of the alphanumeric keyboard11and a second position protruding from the opening113of the cavity111of the alphanumeric keyboard11. The numeric keypad12includes a plurality of numeric keys21, a first notch121, and a second notch122.

With reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, the first locking mechanism13is used to lock the numeric keypad12in either of the first or second positions. The first locking mechanism13includes a compression spring131, a mounting member135, a first resilient member136, an engaging member132, a lever133, and a button134. The compression spring131has a first end and a second end. The first end of the compression spring131is attached to the side portion112of the alphanumeric keyboard11and the second end is attached to a receiving hole of the numeric keypad12. The mounting member135is secured to the top wall115of the alphanumeric keyboard11. The engaging member132is connected to the mounting member135by the first resilient member136. The first resilient member136provides a resilient force to the engaging member132such that the engaging member132engages the first notch121or the second notch122of the numeric keypad12. The lever133is pivotally connected to the front wall114of the alphanumeric keyboard11by a pivot4. The lever133has two ends, one end of the lever133is connected to the engaging member132and the other end is connected to the button134. The lever133may be Z-shaped. The button134is movable through the top wall115of the alphanumeric keyboard11. The button134has an end which can protrude from the top wall115of the alphanumeric keyboard11. The end of the button134can be pressed to pivot the lever133to disengage the engaging member132from the first notch121or the second notch122of the numeric keypad12.

When the engaging member132engages the first notch121of the numeric keypad12, the numeric keypad12is firmly held in the cavity111of the alphanumeric keyboard11and the compression spring131is compressed, thereby facilitating the carrying of the computer keyboard. When the engaging member132engages the second notch122of the numeric keypad12, the numeric keypad12is held so as to protrude from the cavity111of the alphanumeric keyboard11and the compression spring131is released, thereby facilitating the use of the computer keyboard. When the engaging member132is disengaged from the first notch121or the second notch122of the numeric keypad12, the numeric keypad12is unlocked from the alphanumeric keyboard11.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 8, the portable computer keyboard further includes a cover14and a second locking mechanism15, and the numeric keypad12further includes a locking recess117.

The cover14is pivotally connected to the alphanumeric keyboard11. The cover14includes a first cover portion141, a second cover portion142, and a guide recess143. The first cover portion141is hinged to the rear wall116of the alphanumeric keyboard11by a first hinge5. The second cover portion142is hinged to the first cover portion141by a second hinge6. The guide recess143extends through the second cover portion142.

The second locking mechanism15is used to lock the cover14in a position covering the alphanumeric keyboard11. The second locking mechanism15includes a moving member152, a second resilient member153, and an operating member151. The moving member152is Y-shaped and has an operating arm1521, an abutting arm1522, and a latch arm1523. The operating arm1521is movable along the guide recess143of the cover14. The operating arm1521has an outer end protruding from the cover14. The second resilient member153is disposed in the guide recess143of the cover14. The second resilient member153provides a resilient force to the abutting arm1522such that the latch arm1523engages the locking recess117of the numeric keypad12. The operating member151is mounted on the outer end of the operating arm1521. The operating member151can be moved in a direction away from the locking recess117of the numeric keypad12to cause the latch arm1523to disengage from the locking recess117of the numeric keypad12.

When the latch arm1523engages the locking recess117of the numeric keypad12, the cover14covers the alphanumeric keyboard11and the second resilient member153is released. The alphanumeric keyboard11is thereby rendered dust-proof. When the latch arm1523is disengaged from the locking recess117of the numeric keypad12, the cover14is unlocked from the alphanumeric keyboard11and the second resilient member153is compressed such that the first cover portion141and the second cover portion142of the cover14can pivot to serve as a brace supporting the alphanumeric keyboard11.