Abstract:
A keyboard applied to an electronic device, includes a main body, a connecting panel, and at least one fixing member. The connecting panel and the main body are fastened together by the at least one fixing member. An electronic device using the keyboard is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to keyboards, and more particularly, to a keyboard applied to an electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Keyboards are widely employed by electronic devices, such as, notebook computers. The keyboards are typically assembled by bolts or soldering, and a large space should be provided for allowing the processes of bolts or soldering, which may hinder the miniaturization of the electronic device. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a keyboard assembled to an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a disassembled view of the keyboard in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of part IV in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of part VI in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an assembled view of the keyboard in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional views taken along line IX-IX of  FIG. 8 , showing the assembling process of the keyboard of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0017]      FIG. 1 , illustrates a keyboard  100  mounted to a housing  10  of an electronic device  200 . The keyboard  100  receives operation to allow users to control the electronic device  200 . The electronic device  200  can be a mobile phone, a notebook computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA), for example. In the embodiment, the electronic device  200  is a notebook computer. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show that the keyboard  100  includes a main body  54 , a connecting panel  52 , a fixing panel  50 , and a number of fixing members  56 . The main body  54  is substantially rectangular. The main body  54  includes a base  542  and a number of keys  544  mounted on a top surface of the base  542 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  show that a number of protrusions  545  are arranged adjacent to rims of the top surface of the base  542 . When viewed from the top surface of the base  542 , each protrusion  545  protrudes from the top surface of the base  542 . When viewed from a bottom surface of the base  542 , the protrusion  545  is recessed from the bottom surface to define a punch hole  546 . The bottom of the punch hole  546  further defines a through hole  547 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show that the connecting panel  52  is a substantially rectangular sheet, and fits the main body  54 . The connecting panel  52  is made of metal, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy. The connecting panel  52  defines a number of first openings  524 . The first openings  524  correspond to and receive the keys  544 . The first openings  524  are divided into six columns. A first rib  522  is arranged between two adjacent columns of first openings  524 . A second rib  523  is arranged between two adjacent first openings  524  in the same column. The second ribs  523  intersect with adjacent first ribs  522 . The joints of the first and second ribs  522 ,  523  define a number of mounting holes  525 . The mounting holes  525  correspond to the protrusions  545  arranged on the top surface of the base  542 . The first rib  522  and the second ribs  523  define a number of recesses  527  surrounding each mounting hole  525 . In the embodiment, a part of one first rib  522  between two adjacent mounting holes  525  defines two recesses  527  respectively adjacent to the mounting holes  525 , and one of the second ribs  523  connected to the joint defines a recess  527 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 7  shows that the fixing members  56  are adapted to fasten the connecting panel  52  and the main body  50  together. In the embodiments, the fixing members  56  are tubular rivets. Each fixing member  56  includes a head portion  561 , a connecting potion  563 , and a tail  565 . The head portion  561  is substantially disk shaped. A number of teeth  562  protrude radially outward from the head portion  561 . The head portion  561  is fitted into the mounting hole  525 , to impede free rotation of the fixing member  56 . The connecting portion  563  is substantially cylindrical, and protrudes from the center of the head portion  561 . The diameter of the connecting portion  563  is greater than the diameter of the through hole  547 . The tail  565  is substantially a hollow cylinder, and protrudes from an end of the connecting portion  563  away from the head portion  561 . The tail  565  defines a hollow space  567 . The diameter of the tail  565  is slightly less than the diameter of the through hole  547 . 
         [0021]    The fixing panel  50  is substantially a rectangular sheet. The fixing panel  50  further defines a number of fixing holes  501 . The fixing holes  501  are arranged adjacent to rims of the fixing panel  50 . The fixing panel  50  is fixed to the housing of the electronic device  200  by bolts (not shown) extending through the fixing holes  501 . The fixing panel  50  further defines a number of second opening  503  corresponding to the first openings  524 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 8-10  show that in assembly, first, the head portions  561  are fitted into the corresponding mounting holes  525 . Second, the keys  544  are extended through the first openings  524 , and the tails  565  are extended through the corresponding through holes  547 . Then, the tails  565  are punched to form a buck-tail  566  housed in the punch hole  546 , wherein the buck-tail  566  expands to about 1.5 times the original diameter of the tail  565 , thereby holding the fixing members  56  in place. As a result, the connecting panel  52  is easily fixed to the main body  50 . Then, glue is coated on the head portions  561  and the fixing panel  50  covers the connecting panel  52  opposite to the main body  54  and is further depressed, whereby the fixing panel  50  is fixed to the connecting panel  52  by the glue. At the same time, excess glue will flow into the recesses  527 , to avoid leakage. Finally, the fixing panel  50  is fixed to the housing of the electronic device  100 , with the connecting panel  52  electrically grounded by the housing of the electronic device  100 . 
         [0023]    Although information as to, and advantages of, the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.