Abstract:
A collapsible keyboard that includes a base, at least one hinge and a plurality of keys. The base has a plurality of sections. The keys are provided on the sections of the base. The hinge connects the plurality of sections so that the sections are rotatable with respect to each other, allowing collapsibility of the keyboard to facilitate transport.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates in general to a collapsible keyboard that can be folded into a reduced size, facilitating transport.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Generally, characters and symbols are input into a computer via a keyboard. Other input equipment such as mouse pointers or light pens fail to offer input speed and ease to match the keyboard. Therefore, the popularity of keyboards remains universal.  
           [0005]    A conventional keyboard has a base and a plurality of keys mounted thereon. The user inputs data into the computer by typing the keys of the keyboard. Operation of the computer using the keyboard is easy and fast. Conventional keyboards are, however, too long to allow easy transport.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible keyboard that can be folded into a reduced size, facilitating transport.  
           [0007]    The keyboard of the present invention includes a base, at least one hinge and a plurality of keys. The base has a plurality of sections. The keys are provided on the sections of the base. The hinge connects the plurality of sections so that the sections are rotatable with respect to each other.  
           [0008]    The keyboard in use has a longitudinal size equal to that of a conventional keyboard to comply with user habits. When the keyboard is not in use, the user can fold the keyboard into its reduced size and easily carry it. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top view of a collapsible keyboard in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front view of the collapsible keyboard in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a front view of the keyboard of the first embodiment of the present invention, in a folded state;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 depicts the keyboard of the first embodiment of the present invention, disposed in a case;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a top view of a collapsible keyboard in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a front view of the collapsible keyboard in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 7 and 8 depict the process of folding the keyboard of the second embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 depicts the keyboard of the second embodiment of the present invention, disposed in a case; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a collapsible keyboard of a first embodiment of the present invention includes a base  1  and a plurality of keys  21 ,  22 . The base  1  has a first section  11  and a second section  12  connected by a hinge  13  so that the first and second sections  11 ,  12  are rotatable with respect to each other. The keys  21 ,  22  are provided on the first and second sections  11 ,  12 . The user types the keys  21 ,  22  to output corresponding signals to a computer (not shown).  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows the keyboard in use, wherein the keyboard is open and has a longitudinal size equal to that of a conventional keyboard to comply with user habits. To fold the keyboard, the user rotates the first and second sections  11 ,  12  in directions A, A′. In FIG. 1, broken line D-D indicates the location where the keys  21 ,  22  separate. Broken line E-E indicates the location where the base is folded, which is also the location of the hinge  13 . The first section  11  and the second section  12  are rotated toward each other via the hinge  13  until the bottoms of the sections  11 ,  12  contact each other. The keys  21 ,  22  of the keyboard face out. As shown in FIG. 3, the longitudinal size of the keyboard is reduced by 50%. It is convenient for the user to carry the folded keyboard.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 4, the folded keyboard can be disposed in a case  3 . The case  3  protects the keyboard from impact and dust. Furthermore, the case  3  has an opening and an inclined inner surface  31  at the opening, facilitating an insertion of the keyboard into the case  3 .  
         [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a collapsible keyboard of a second embodiment of the present invention includes a base  4  and a plurality of keys  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 . The base  4  has a first section  41 , a second section  42 , a third section  43 , a fourth section  44  and a fifth section  45  connected by hinges  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49  so that the sections  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45  are rotatable with respect to each other. The keys  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55  are provided on the first, second, third, fourth and fifth sections  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , respectively. The user types the keys  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55  to output corresponding signals to a computer (not shown).  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 shows the keyboard in use, wherein the keyboard is open and has a longitudinal size equal to that of a conventional keyboard to comply with user habits. To fold the keyboard, the user rotates the first and fifth sections  41 ,  45  in directions B, B′. In FIG. 5, broken lines indicate the locations where the keys  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55  separate. The first section  41  and the fifth section  45  are rotated toward each other via the hinges  46 ,  49  until the sections  41 ,  45  contact the bottoms of the sections  42 ,  44 . Referring to FIG. 7, the second and fourth sections  42 ,  44  are then rotated toward each other in directions C, C′. FIG. 8 shows the result, the longitudinal size of the keyboard is reduced by 75%. It is convenient for the user to carry the folded keyboard.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 9, the folded keyboard can be disposed in a case  6 . The case  6  protects the keyboard from impact and dust. Furthermore, the case  6  has an opening and an inclined inner surface  61  at the opening, facilitating an insertion of the keyboard into the case  6 .  
         [0024]    The keyboard of the first embodiment of the present invention has two sections. When the keyboard is folded, the longitudinal size of the keyboard is reduced by 50%. The keyboard of the second embodiment has five sections. When the keyboard is folded, the longitudinal size of the keyboard is reduced by 75%. However, the keyboard of the second embodiment has more hinges than that of the first embodiment.  
         [0025]    In conclusion, the present invention provides a collapsible keyboard. The keyboard in use has a longitudinal size equal to that of a conventional keyboard to comply with user habits. When the keyboard is not in use, the user can fold the keyboard so that the keyboard has a reduced size and easily carried.  
         [0026]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.