Abstract:
A universal type keyboard has a common design of an upper housing and key caps for different languages such that keyboards of different languages can be manufactured with a universal upper housing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 96210486, filed Jun. 27, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a computer keyboard. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   In a conventional keyboard manufacturing practice, different designs of an upper housing are created for computer keyboards of different languages (such as Japanese or American). In particular, the upper housing is equipped with key holes of different sizes or different arrangements for computer keyboards of different languages. 
   For the forgoing reasons, different language keyboards needs a universal upper housing, thereby reducing manufacturing costs for the computer keyboard. 
   SUMMARY 
   It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a universal keyboard. 
   In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the present invention, a universal keyboard is provided. A major keypad area is disposed on the upper housing, wherein the major keypad area has a key hole row with the following features. A space key hole is for installing a space key. A first and second special key holes are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the space key hole. A first assist hole is disposed between the space key hole and the first special key hole. A second assist hole is disposed between the space key hole and the second special key hole. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of an American keyboard; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a major keypad area of a Japanese keyboard; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a major keypad area of a Korean keyboard; 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view of an upper housing of a universal keyboard; 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a top view of an upper housing of a universal keyboard (an American and Korean balance rod is added); 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates a top view of an upper housing of a universal keyboard (a Japanese balance rod is added); 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an American space key cap of a universal keyboard; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a Japanese space key cap of a universal keyboard; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a Korean space key cap of a universal keyboard; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a special Japanese key cap of a universal keyboard; and 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a special Korean key cap of a universal keyboard. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of an American keyboard.  FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a major keypad area of a Japanese keyboard.  FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a major keypad area of a Korean keyboard. 
   The embodiment discussed below provides a universal upper housing and key caps to at least satisfy keyboards as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . This embodiment focuses on how a key row  102   a  of the American keyboard, a key row  104   a  of the Japanese keyboard and a key row  106   a  of the Korean keyboard share a common universal upper housing. Other key rows of a major keypad area  102  of the American keyboard, a major keypad area  104  of the Japanese keyboard and a major keypad area  106  of the Korean keyboard already have a common design on the upper housing. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1˜3 , the major differences among the key row  102   a , the key row  104   a  and the key row  106   a  are the space keys and their adjacent keys. How the universal upper housing and key caps be designed to form a universal keyboard is described below. 
     FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view of an upper housing of a universal keyboard. A major keypad area  202  of the universal upper housing  200  has a plurality of key holes, wherein a key hole row  202   a  has been redesigned. The key hole row  202   a  includes a space key hole  206 , which has the same diameter as other standard key holes (the key holes not located in the key hole row  202   a ) does. A pair of assist holes  208   a / 208   b  are located on two opposite sides of the space key hole  206  along the key hole row  202   a . The assist holes  208   a / 208   b  are of smaller hole size or smaller diameter compared to the other standard key holes or the space key hole  206 . A pair of special key holes  204   a / 204   b  are also located on two opposite sides of the space key hole  206  along the key hole row  202   a . The special key holes  204   a / 204   b  are of larger hole size or larger diameter compared to the other standard key holes or the space key hole  206 . The assist hole  208   a  is located between the space key hole  206  and the special key hole  204   a . The assist hole  208   b  is located between the space key hole  206  and the special key hole  204   b.    
   The following paragraphs are to describe that how American, Japanese and Korean key caps are designed to be installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 5 , which illustrates how American key caps are designed to be installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates a top view of the upper housing  200 , where a balance rod  210  is added.  FIG. 5  illustrates a top view  112   a , a bottom view  112   b  and a side view  112   c  of the American space key cap  112 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the American space key cap  112  has a main positioning pin  113   a , a pair of balance rod hooks  113   b  and a pair of assist positioning pins  113   c  on its bottom surface. The main positioning pin  113   a  is located on a central area of the bottom surface. The pair of balance rod hooks  113   b  are symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the main positioning pin  113   a . The pair of T-shaped assist positioning pins  113   c  are also symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the main positioning pin  113   a.    
   Please refer to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 5 . When the American space key cap  112  is installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 , the main positioning pin  113   a  is inserted into the space key hole  206 , the pair of assist positioning pins  113   c  are respectively inserted into the special key holes  204   a / 204   b , and the pair of balance rod hooks  113   b  respectively engage with two end portions  210   a / 210   b  of the balance rod  210 . After the main positioning pin  113   a  is inserted into the space key hole  206 , a pair of hooks  113   d  engage with an inner wall of the space key hole  206  to secure the American space key cap  112  to the universal upper housing  200 . The balance rod  210  and the pair of assist positioning pins  113   c  both result in a balanced action of the American space key cap  112  pressed by a user. 
   Please refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4C   FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , which illustrates how Japanese key caps are designed to be installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates a top view of the upper housing  200 , where a balance rod  212  is added.  FIG. 6  illustrates a top view  114   a , a bottom view  114   b  and a side view  114   c  of the Japanese space key cap  114 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a top view  118   a , a bottom view  118   b  and a side view  118   c  of the Japanese special key cap  118 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the Japanese space key cap  114  has a main positioning pin  115   a , a pair of balance rod hooks  115   b  and a pair of assist positioning pins  115   c  on its bottom surface. The main positioning pin  115   a  is located on a central area of the bottom surface. The pair of balance rod hooks  115   b  are symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the main positioning pin  115   a . The pair of cylindrical assist positioning pins  115   c  are also symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the main positioning pin  115   a.    
   Please refer to  FIG. 4C  and  FIG. 6 . When the Japanese space key cap  114  is installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 , the main positioning pin  115   a  is inserted into the space key hole  206 , the pair of assist positioning pins  115   c  are respectively inserted into the assist holes  208   a / 208   b , and the pair of balance rod hooks  115   b  respectively engage with two end portions  212   a / 212   b  of the balance rod  212 . After the main positioning pin  115   a  is inserted into the space key hole  206 , a pair of hooks  115   d  engage with an inner wall of the space key hole  206  to secure the Japanese space key cap  114  to the universal upper housing  200 . The balance rod  212  and the pair of assist positioning pins  115   c  both result in a balanced action of the Japanese space key cap  114  pressed by a user. 
   Please refer to  FIG. 4C  and  FIG. 8 . When a Japanese special key cap  118  is installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 , a positioning pin  119  is inserted into the special key hole  204   a  or  204   b , a pair of hooks  119   a  engage with an inner wall of the special key hole  204   a  or  204  to secure the Japanese special key cap  118  to the universal upper housing  200 . The Japanese special key cap  118  has bigger positioning pin  119  (compared to main positioning pin of the space key cap), which results in a balanced action of the Japanese special key cap  118  pressed by a user. 
   Please refer to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9 , which illustrates how Korean key caps are designed to be installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates a top view of the upper housing  200 , where a balance rod  210  is added.  FIG. 7  illustrates a top view  116   a , a bottom view  116   b  and a side view  116   c  of the Korean space key cap  116 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a top view  120   a  and a bottom view  120   b  of the Korean special key cap  120 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the Korean space key cap  116  has a main positioning pin  117   a , a pair of balance rod hooks  117   c  and a pair of assist positioning pins  117   b  on its bottom surface. The main positioning pin  117   a  is located on a central area of the bottom surface. The pair of balance rod hooks  117   c  are symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the main positioning pin  117   a . The pair of cylindrical assist positioning pins  117   b  are also symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the main positioning pin  117   a  (a width between two assist positioning pins  117   b  of the Korean space key cap  116  is equal to a width between two assist positioning pins  115   c  of the Japan space key cap  114 ). 
   Please refer to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 7 . When the Korean space key cap  116  is installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 , the main positioning pin  117   a  is inserted into the space key hole  206 , the pair of assist positioning pins  117   b  are respectively inserted into the assist holes  208   a / 208   b , and the pair of balance rod hooks  117   c  respectively engage with two end portions  210   a / 210   b  of the balance rod  210 . After the main positioning pin  117   a  is inserted into the space key hole  206 , a pair of hooks  117   d  engage with an inner wall of the space key hole  206  to secure the Korean space key cap  116  to the universal upper housing  200 . The balance rod  210  and the pair of assist positioning pins  117   b  both result in a balanced action of the Korean space key cap  116  pressed by a user. 
   Please refer to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 9 . When a Korean special key cap  120  is installed on the key hole row  202   a  of the universal upper housing  200 , a positioning pin  121  is inserted into the special key hole  204   a  or  204   b , a pair of hooks  121   a  engage with an inner wall of the special key hole  204   a  or  204  to secure the Korean special key cap  120  to the universal upper housing  200 . The Korean special key cap  120  has bigger positioning pin  121  (compared to main positioning pin of the space key cap), which results in a balance pressed action of the Korean special key cap  120  by a user. In addition, the positioning pin  121  of the Korean special key cap  120  is of the same size as the positioning pin  119  of the Japanese special key cap  118 , such that both the positioning pin  121  and the positioning pin  119  can be both inserted into the special key hole  204   a / 204   b.    
   According to embodiments discussed above, the universal keyboard has a universal upper housing for installing at least American, Japanese and Korean key caps, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.