Patent Abstract:
The laptop keyboard tilting assembly includes at least one friction articulating hinge assembly pivotally attached to a monitor and keyboard base or section of a laptop computer. The articulating-hinge assembly includes at least two pivots, one pivot being connected to the monitor and the other pivot being connected to the keyboard base. Rotation of the monitor in one direction unfolds the laptop computer, and rotation of the keyboard base in the opposite direction tilts the keyboard base into a more comfortable angle for typing, which reduces user strain and prevents potential injuries, especially for extended sessions.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to laptop computers, and particularly to a laptop keyboard tilting assembly that selectively slants the keyboard into a more comfortable position, thereby reducing potential fatigue and injuries. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Laptop computers and other similar portable computing devices have become prevalent in many facets of life. These devices allow a person to be productive anywhere. While being very convenient and utilitarian, the ergonomics of the typical laptop computer has not changed much since its inception. The typical laptop computer consists of a base keyboard housing, which houses the majority of the internal electronics, inputs, ports, etc. and a foldable monitor. The keyboard is typically substantially flat or slightly angled, but this orientation is static or fixed. Over time, this orientation of the keyboard can stress and fatigue the user&#39;s arms, wrist, hands and fingers. Due to the amount of time one may spend using laptop computers, whether for work or personal enjoyment, there exists a real concern for potential harm from such maladies as carpal tunnel syndrome. 
         [0005]    When typing on a keyboard for any extended length of time, it is generally more comfortable to have the keyboard angled more than a few degrees so that the hands can be placed in a more relaxed position. For example, many keyboards for desktop computers include foldable legs at the back of the keyboard that will elevate the rear of the keyboard when placed atop a desk and place the keyboard at a more comfortable position for most users. 
         [0006]    Similar solutions have been proposed with respect to laptop computers. One solution involves a sub-base housing underlying the keyboard base. The sub-base housing includes an integrated levering mechanism that elevates and supports the rear portion of the keyboard base as the monitor unfolds. While functional, this adds bulk and additional hardware, which detracts from the portable aspects of laptop computers. Another solution involves the use of extensions or legs on the monitor that cause the keyboard base to assume an angled position as the monitor unfolds. These legs provide adequate support and facilitate the desired elevation, but any structural extension of this nature can be prone to accidental damage or breaks from normal wear. 
         [0007]    Thus, a laptop keyboard tilting assembly solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The laptop keyboard tilting assembly includes at least one friction articulating-hinge assembly pivotally attached to a monitor and keyboard base or section of a laptop computer. The articulating-hinge assembly includes at least two pivots, one pivot being connected to the monitor, and the other pivot being connected to the keyboard base. Rotation of the monitor in one direction unfolds the laptop computer, and rotation of the keyboard base in the opposite direction tilts the keyboard base into a more comfortable angle for typing, which reduces user strain and prevents potential injuries, especially for extended sessions. 
         [0009]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laptop computer having a laptop keyboard tilting assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the laptop computer of  FIG. 1 , diagrammatically showing the tilting assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a partial environmental perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a laptop computer having the laptop keyboard tilting assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic side view of a laptop computer having the laptop keyboard tilting assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C are diagrammatic side views of a still further alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly according to the present invention, showing different stages in the process of unfolding the laptop computer. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The laptop keyboard tilting assembly, a first embodiment of which is generally referred to in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by the reference number  10 , provides a user-defined adjustable tilting of the keyboard base or section for extended comfortable typing. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the keyboard tilting assembly  10  includes an articulating hinge mechanism  20  pivotally connected to both a keyboard base or section  12  and a monitor  14  of a laptop computer. In this embodiment, the articulating hinge mechanism  20  is preferably disposed inward a short distance from the sides  13  of the keyboard base  12  and the sides  15  of the monitor  14 , e.g., about one inch. It is to be understood that any number of articulating hinge mechanisms can be used to facilitate selective unfolding and tilting of the keyboard base for any of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0021]    Each articulating hinge mechanism  20  is a friction hinge that includes an elongate leaf, beam or connector arm  22  having a relatively short cylindrical first pivot  24  at one end and a relatively short cylindrical second pivot  26  at the opposite end, each pivot defining respective first and second axes of rotation. The length of the connector arm  22  is preferably about the same as the thickness of the overall laptop computer in order to avoid protrusions that can potentially snag on objects, as well as for aesthetics. The first pivot  24  pivotally connects the connector arm  22  to the keyboard base  12 , and the second pivot  26  pivotally connects the connector arm  22  to the monitor  14 . The pivotal connections are preferably friction enhanced so that the relative positions of the keyboard base  12  and the monitor  14  can be maintained when folded and unfolded in the position desired by the user. The friction hinges are known in the art. The connector arm  22  can be a housing for the first and second pivots  24 ,  26  that has space therein permitting wires to be threaded between the keyboard base  12  and the monitor  14  in order to transmit power and data therebetween. 
         [0022]    In use, the user unfolds the monitor  14  in one direction from the keyboard base  12  to or past perpendicular with respect to the keyboard base  12 , as indicated by the arrow  17 . While holding the monitor steady  14 , the keyboard base  12  is pushed towards the monitor  14  to thereby cause the connector arm  22  to rotate about the second pivot  26  and simultaneously cause the keyboard base  12  to rotate about the first pivot  24  in the opposite direction from the unfolding monitor  14 , as indicated by the arrow  19 , until the desired inclination or tilt of the keyboard base  12  has been established by the user. Now the user is free to type more comfortably without undue strain. It has been found that a tilt angle of about 20°-30° degrees with respect to the support surface of the laptop computer is comfortable for most users. The above is a preferred manner of tilting the keyboard base  12 , but it should be understood that other methods can be used to obtain similar results, such as resting the spine of the laptop computer on the support surface and simultaneously unfolding both sections of the laptop computer. 
         [0023]    An alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly  100  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this embodiment, the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  100  includes three axes of rotation. As shown, the keyboard tilting assembly  100  includes a articulating hinge mechanism  120  pivotally connected to both the keyboard base  112  and the monitor  114  of a laptop computer. Similar to the above articulating hinge mechanism  20 , the articulating hinge mechanism  120  is preferably disposed a short distance from the sides  113  of the keyboard base  112  and the sides  115  of the monitor  114 , e.g., about one inch. 
         [0024]    Each articulating hinge mechanism  120  is a friction hinge that includes an elongate first connector arm  130  and an elongate second connector arm  140  pivotally connected to each other about a common pivot. The first connector arm  130  includes a cylindrical first pivot  132  at one end and a cylindrical second pivot  134  at the opposite end. Similarly, the second connector arm  140  includes a cylindrical first pivot  142  at one end and a cylindrical second pivot  144  at the opposite end. The first pivot  132  of the first connector arm  130  is pivotally attached to the keyboard base  112  and defines a first axis of rotation. The first pivot  142  of the second connector arm  140  is pivotally attached to the monitor  114  and defines a second axis of rotation. The first connector arm  130  and the second connector arm  140  are pivotally connected to each other at the second pivots  134 ,  144 , which together define a third axis of rotation. All of the pivot connections are preferably friction enhanced, and both the first and second connector arms  130 ,  140  can include space for threading necessary wires. 
         [0025]    In use, the laptop computer can be unfolded in a similar manner as that described above to set the desired tilt for the keyboard base  112 , as indicated by the arrows  117 ,  119 . However, the three different axes of rotation provide the user with finer adjustments of the tilt and of the relative positions of the keyboard base  112  and the monitor  114 , e.g., in addition to the tilt, the relative distance between the keyboard  112  and the monitor  114  can be adjusted and set. 
         [0026]    A further alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  200  includes a friction articulating hinge mechanism  220  similar in construction to the articulating hinge mechanism  120 , having three axes of rotation at the first pivot  232 , the second pivot  242  and the common third pivot  234 ,  244 . In contrast to the articulating hinge mechanism  120 , the articulating hinge mechanism  220  is disposed on the sides of the keyboard base  212  and the monitor  214 . The articulating hinge mechanism  220  can also be disposed flush with the sides instead of extending outwardly therefrom. This embodiment is an example showing that the hinge mechanisms described herein can be placed anywhere to facilitate selective folding, unfolding and tilting of the keyboard for laptop computers. 
         [0027]    A still further alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly  300  is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . This embodiment is similar to the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  10 , except that the pivot ends are replaced with ball and socket joints. As shown, the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  300  includes a friction articulating hinge mechanism  320  pivotally connecting a keyboard base  312  and a monitor  314  to each other. The articulating hinge mechanism  320  includes a connector arm  322  having a ball first pivot  324  at one end and a ball second pivot  326  at the opposite end, each pivot  324 ,  326  defining respective first and second axes of rotation. The first pivot  324  pivotally connects the connector arm  322  to the keyboard base  312  via friction engagement with a corresponding first socket  328  in the keyboard base  312 . Similarly, the second pivot  324  pivotally connects the connector arm  322  to the monitor  314  via friction engagement with a corresponding second socket  330  in the monitor  314 . Arcuate grooves or slots  332  on the keyboard base  312  and arcuate grooves or slots  334  on the monitor  314 , through which the articulating hinge mechanism  320  is joined, prevent wayward skewing of the monitor  314  or the keyboard base  312  during the unfolding and tilting operation. In all other respects, the laptop keyboard tilting mechanism  300  functions similarly to the laptop keyboard tilting mechanism  10 . 
         [0028]    A still further alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly  400  is shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C . In this embodiment, the friction hinge mechanism  420  is a single pivot hinge connected to one of the two halves of a laptop computer. As shown, the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  400  includes the hinge mechanism  420  having at least one angled connector arm  422  integral or unitary with the monitor  414 . The distal end of the connector arm  422  from the monitor  414  is frictionally and pivotally attached to the keyboard base  412  at the pivot  424 . The integral and angular connection between the connector arm  422  and the monitor  414  forms an extension or hump  426  at the bottom of the monitor  414 . 
         [0029]    The schematic diagrams of  FIGS. 8A-8C  show the laptop computer in folded, intermediate unfolded, and fully unfolded positions, respectively. During the unfolding process, the connector arm  422  leverages the keyboard base  412 , causing the base  412  to rotate about the pivot  424 . The fulcrum for the leveraging action is provided by the extension  426  when the extension rests on the support surface during the unfolding process, as shown in  FIG. 8B . Once fully unfolded, the keyboard base  412  is tilted to a predetermined comfortable angle. 
         [0030]    The above embodiment is exemplary of a hinge mechanism where one end is fixed to the monitor or to the keyboard base of a laptop computer. As such, any of the previous embodiments can be similarly constructed so that one of the pivots is not a pivot, but rather a permanent, fixed connection to either the monitor or the keyboard. 
         [0031]    A still further alternative embodiment of a laptop keyboard tilting assembly  500  is shown in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  500  permits mounting of the interior screen of a monitor. As shown, the laptop keyboard tilting assembly  500  includes a friction articulating hinge mechanism  520  similar in function to the articulating hinge mechanism  20 . Additionally, the articulating hinge mechanism  520  includes a pair of upright screen mounting brackets  540  integrally attached thereon. These mounting brackets  540  facilitate support and mounting of the screen in typical laptop computer monitors. This permits servicing and replacement of failed or damaged screens. It is to be understood that similar screen mounting brackets can be applied to the previous embodiments. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8