Patent Description:
Notebook computers have a wide range of applications, including paperwork, software design, drawing, and video viewing. In the existing notebook computers, keyboards are mainly divided into three keyboard configurations, i.e., US keyboard, UK keyboard, and JIS keyboard. Therefore, in production, it is necessary to develop corresponding molds in accordance with the US, UK, and JIS configurations. In the current way, the production costs of the keyboard are increased.

Conventionally, the keyboard of a notebook computer is different from that of a desktop computer for the reason that the space in the notebook is relatively small, and an alphabet key region, function key region, word processing key region, and number key region thereof need to be integrated into the relatively small notebook keyboard. The main difference between the US, UK, and JIS keyboard configurations lies in the enter key, shift key, and space key, and the rest of the key regions are the same. <CIT> discloses a modularized frame of a keyboard, including a keyboard container, which comprises a letter function hole unit, a number function hole unit, a Space function hole, an Enter function hole, a right Shift function hole, a left Shift function hole and a Backspace function hole. The Space function hole, the right Shift function hole and the left Shift function hole can hold at least one key cap. The Enter function hole can hold two key caps, one of which is Enter key cap.

The present invention is provided by the appended claims. The following disclosure serves a better understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, the disclosure provides a modular frame, which is applicable to US, UK, and JIS keyboard configurations by arranging forms of push-button holes through processing. As such, it is possible to prevent frames of different configurations from material shortage or excess inventory, effectively saving the production costs.

A modular frame of the disclosure includes a push-button area. The push-button area includes a function key hole group, an alphabet key hole group, a number key hole group, a shift key hole, a space key hole, a backspace key hole, and an enter key hole. The function key hole group is disposed at a top end of the push-button area. The alphabet key hole group is disposed at a middle of the push-button area. The number key hole group is disposed between the function key hole group and the alphabet key hole group. The shift key hole is located at one side of the alphabet key hole group and includes a first processing region. The space key hole is disposed at a bottom end of the push-button area opposite to the function key hole group and includes a second processing region, a third processing region, and a fourth processing region. The backspace key hole is located between the function key hole group and the alphabet key hole group and at one side of the number key hole group, and the backspace key hole includes a fifth processing region. The enter key hole is located in the alphabet key hole group and below the backspace key hole and includes a sixth processing region and a seventh processing region. A plurality of rib structures is selectively disposed in at least one of the first processing region to the seventh processing region to switch the modular frame to a first configuration, a second configuration, or a third configuration.

Based on the foregoing, the modular frame of the disclosure has the first processing region to the seventh processing region on which processes (such as a punching, cutting, or hot melt process) may be selectively performed to change the keyboard configuration. It is not only possible that the rib structures formed in the first processing region to the seventh processing region are adapted to be selectively cut through a punching or cutting process, thereby switching the modular frame to the first configuration, the second configuration, or the third configuration, but the rib structure may also be selectively mounted in the first processing region to the seventh processing region, and multiple rib structures may be fixed to the corresponding first processing region to seventh processing region adopting a hot melt process, thereby switching the modular frame to the first configuration, the second configuration, or the third configuration.

To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.

The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of a modular frame according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic top plan view of the modular frame of <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing processing of the modular frame of <FIG> where a punching process is adopted. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing processing of the modular frame of <FIG> where a cutting process is adopted.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a modular frame <NUM> of the disclosure includes a push-button area <NUM> and a plurality of rib structures <NUM>. The push-button area <NUM> includes a function key hole group <NUM>, an alphabet key hole group <NUM>, a number key hole group <NUM>, a shift key hole <NUM>, a space key hole <NUM>, a backspace key hole <NUM>, and an enter key hole <NUM>. The modular frame <NUM> is applicable to a keyboard of a notebook computer, and formats of the keyboard may be divided into US, UK, and JIS keyboard configurations. The modular frame may further include a touch area <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the function key hole group <NUM> is disposed at a top end TE of the push-button area <NUM> and is presented in a long strip shape. The alphabet key hole group <NUM> is disposed at a middle of the push-button area <NUM>. The number key hole group <NUM> is disposed between the function key hole group <NUM> and the alphabet key hole group <NUM>.

The shift key hole <NUM> is located at one side of the alphabet key hole group <NUM>, and the shift key hole <NUM> includes a first processing region R1. The space key hole <NUM> is disposed at a bottom end BE of the push-button area <NUM> opposite to the function key hole group <NUM>, and the space key hole <NUM> includes a second processing region R2, a third processing region R3, and a fourth processing region R4. The backspace key hole <NUM> is located between the function key hole group <NUM> and the alphabet key hole group <NUM> and at one side of the number key hole group <NUM>, and the backspace key hole <NUM> includes a fifth processing region R5. The enter key hole <NUM> is located in the alphabet key hole group <NUM> and below the backspace key hole <NUM>, and the enter key hole <NUM> includes a sixth processing region R6 and a seventh processing region R7. The rib structures <NUM> are selectively disposed in the first processing region R1 to the seventh processing region R7.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the rib structures <NUM> may be formed in the first processing region R1 to the seventh processing region R7, respectively. In this embodiment, each rib structure <NUM> may be integrally formed with each corresponding processing region (R1 to R7). By each of the rib structures <NUM>, the shift key hole <NUM> is divided into two sub-key holes; the space key hole <NUM> is divided into four sub-key holes, and the three rib structures <NUM> of the space key hole <NUM> are parallel to each other; the backspace key hole <NUM> is divided into two sub-key holes; and the enter key hole <NUM> is divided into three sub-key holes, and the two rib structures <NUM> in the enter key hole <NUM> are perpendicular to each other.

The touch area <NUM> is adjacent to the bottom end BE of the push-button area <NUM>, and the touch area <NUM> is configured to be mounted with a touch panel.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, the modular frame <NUM> of this embodiment includes a plurality of rib structures <NUM> integrally formed. Through a punching or cutting process, the rib structures <NUM> formed in the first processing region R1 to the seventh processing region R7 may be selectively cut to switch the push-button area <NUM> to a first configuration (corresponding to a US keyboard configuration), a second configuration (corresponding to a UK keyboard configuration) or a third configuration (corresponding to a JIS keyboard configuration). Briefly speaking, through a punching process or cutting process, the redundant rib structures <NUM> are cut and removed from the push-button area <NUM>, such that keys in the US, UK, and JIS keyboard configurations can be accommodated.

With reference to <FIG>, a gap G is formed between each rib structure <NUM> and a top surface TS of the push-button area <NUM>. When punching or cutting is utilized to cut the rib structure <NUM>, the gap G prevents residual burrs on the top surface TS of the push-button area <NUM> after the rib structure <NUM> is cut.

In addition, referring to <FIG>, during a punching process, the push-button area <NUM> is placed on two inserts IP and the rib structure <NUM> to be cut is suspended between the two inserts IP. Then, a punch head PH is aligned with the rib structure <NUM> to be cut along a normal direction ND of the push-button area <NUM>. Then, the punch head PH is activated to strike toward the rib structure <NUM> to be cut so as to cut the rib structure <NUM>. After the cutting is completed, the push-button area <NUM> may be removed. Alternatively, another rib structure <NUM> to be cut may be suspended between the two inserts IP, and the above process may be repeated.

In addition, referring to <FIG>, during a cutting process, the push-button area <NUM> is clamped by a vise VS, and the rib structure <NUM> to be cut is suspended between the vise VS. Text, a knife KF is moved toward the rib structure <NUM> to be cut along the normal direction ND of the push-button area <NUM> so as to cut the rib structure <NUM>. After the cutting is completed, the push-button area <NUM> may be removed. Alternatively, another rib structure <NUM> to be cut may be suspended between the vise VS, and the above process may be repeated.

<FIG> is a schematic top plan view of the modular frame of <FIG> switched to the first configuration.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the modular frame <NUM> is to be switched to the first configuration (see <FIG>), the rib structures <NUM> formed in the first processing region R1 to the sixth processing region R6 are cut through a punching or cutting process, to present the shift key hole <NUM>, the space key hole <NUM>, and the backspace key hole <NUM> each as a single key hole in a rectangular appearance, and present the enter key hole <NUM> as two sub-key holes by the rib structure <NUM> of the seventh processing region R7.

<FIG> is a schematic top plan view of the modular frame of <FIG> switched to the second configuration.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the modular frame <NUM> is to be switched to the second configuration (see <FIG>), the rib structures <NUM> in the second processing region R2 to the fifth processing region R5 and the seventh processing region R7 are cut through a punching or cutting process, to present the space key hole <NUM> and the backspace key hole <NUM> each as a single key hole in a rectangular appearance, present the shift key hole <NUM> as two sub-key holes by the rib structure <NUM> of the first processing region R1, and present the enter key hole <NUM> as two sub-key holes by the rib structure <NUM> of the sixth processing region R6.

<FIG> is a schematic top plan view of the modular frame of <FIG> switched to the third configuration.

Refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the modular frame <NUM> is switched to the third configuration (see <FIG>), the two rib structures <NUM> formed in the first processing region R1 and the seventh processing region R7 are cut through a punching or cutting process, to present the shift key hole <NUM> as a single key hole in a rectangular appearance, and present the enter key hole <NUM> as two sub-key holes by the rib structure <NUM> of the sixth processing region R6. In addition, the space key hole <NUM> is divided into four sub-key holes by the three rib structures <NUM> in the second processing region R2 to the fourth processing region R4, and the backspace key hole <NUM> is presented as two sub-key holes by the rib structure <NUM> of the fifth processing region R5.

<FIG> is a schematic top plan view of a modular frame according to another embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view of the modular frame of <FIG> combined with a rib structure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing processing of the modular frame of <FIG> where a hot melt process is adopted.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the difference between a modular frame 100A of this embodiment and the modular frame <NUM> of <FIG> is lies the following. The modular frame 100A includes a push-button area 110a and at least one rib structure 120a. The push-button area 110a includes a function key hole group 111a, an alphabet key hole group 112a, a number key hole group 113a, a shift key hole 114a, a space key hole 115a, a backspace key hole 116a, and an enter key hole 117a. The modular frame 100A is applicable to a keyboard of a notebook computer, and formats of the keyboard may be divided into US, UK, and JIS keyboard configurations. The at least one rib structure 120a is selectively disposed in at least one of the first processing region R1 to the seventh processing region R7. In this embodiment, the at least one rib structure 120a may be not integrally formed with each corresponding processing region (R1 to R7). In this embodiment, the rib structure 120a is an external member and includes a plurality of rib structures, and the number of the rib structures depends on the requirements of the corresponding keyboard configuration.

With reference to <FIG>, each of the at least one rib structure 120a includes two engaging portions 121a and two through holes TH, and at least one of the first processing region R1 to the seventh processing region R7 includes two positioning grooves PG and two hot melt pillars HP. Specifically, each positioning groove PG is formed on a bottom surface BS of the push-button area 110a, and each hot melt pillar HP is disposed in each positioning groove PG.

The two engaging portions 121a of each of the at least one of rib structure 120a are adapted to be disposed in the corresponding two positioning grooves PG and are rubbed and contacted by an inner wall IW. The two through holes TH are adapted to be sleeved on the corresponding two hot melt pillars HP.

During a punching process, heat is transferred through an external heat source to each hot melt pillar HP, such that an end of each hot melt pillar HP passing through each through hole TH melts when heated, to adhere the at least one rib structure 120a to the push-button area 110a. Thereby, the at least one rib structure 120a is fixed to at least one of the first processing region R1 to the seventh processing region R7, then switching the modular frame 100A to the first configuration (corresponding to the US keyboard configuration), the second configuration (corresponding to the UK keyboard configuration), or the third configuration (corresponding to the JIS keyboard configuration). In addition, since a melting point of the rib structure 120a is higher than a melting point of the hot melt pillar HP, the rib structure 120a remains in its original state during heating.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the modular frame 100a is to be switched to the first configuration (see <FIG>), one rib structure 120a is disposed in the seventh processing region R7, to divide the enter key hole 117a into two sub-key holes by the rib structure 120a of the seventh processing region R7. As for the shift key hole 114a, the space key hole 115a, and the backspace key hole 116a, each of them is presented as a single key hole in a rectangular appearance.

<FIG> is a schematic top plan view of the modular frame of <FIG> to be switched to the second configuration.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the modular frame 100a is switched to the second configuration (see <FIG>), the at least one rib structure 120a includes two rib structures 120a respectively disposed in the first processing region R1 and the sixth processing region R6. The shift key hole 114a is divided into two sub-key holes by the rib structure 120a of the first processing region R1. The enter key hole 117a is divided into two sub-key holes by the rib structure 120a of the sixth processing region R6. As for the space key hole 115a and the backspace key hole 116a, each of them is presented as a single key hole in a rectangular appearance.

<FIG> is a schematic top plan view of the modular frame of <FIG> to be switched to the third configuration.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the modular frame 100a is switched to the third configuration (see <FIG>), the at least one rib structure 120a includes five rib structures 120a respectively disposed in the second processing region R2 to the sixth processing region R6. The space key hole 115a is divided into four sub-key holes by the rib structures 120a of the second processing region R2 to the fourth processing region R4. The backspace key hole 116a is divided into two sub-key holes by the rib structure 120a of the fifth processing region R5. The enter key hole 117a is divided into two sub-key holes by the rib structure <NUM> of the sixth processing region R6. As for, the shift key hole 114a, it is presented as a single key hole in a rectangular appearance.

Claim 1:
A modular frame (<NUM>, 100A), comprising:
a push-button area (<NUM>, 110a) comprising:
a function key hole group (<NUM>, 111a) disposed at a top end (TE) of the push-button area (<NUM>, 110a);
an alphabet key hole group (<NUM>, 112a) disposed at a middle of the push-button area (<NUM>, 110a);
a number key hole group (<NUM>, 113a) disposed between the function key hole group (<NUM>, 111a) and the alphabet key hole group (<NUM>, 112a);
a shift key hole (<NUM>, 114a) located at one side of the alphabet key hole group (<NUM>, 112a), wherein the shift key hole (<NUM>, 114a) comprises a first processing region (R1);
a space key hole (<NUM>, 115a) disposed at a bottom end (BE) of the push-button area (<NUM>, 110a) opposite to the function key hole group (<NUM>, 111a), wherein the space key hole (<NUM>, 115a) comprises a second processing region (R2), a third processing region (R3), and a fourth processing region (R4);
a backspace key hole (<NUM>, 116a) located between the function key hole group (<NUM>, 111a) and the alphabet key hole group (<NUM>, 112a) and at one side of the number key hole group (<NUM>, 113a), wherein the backspace key hole (<NUM>, 116a) comprises a fifth processing region (R5); and
an enter key hole (<NUM>, 117a) located in the alphabet key hole group (<NUM>, 112a) and below the backspace key hole (<NUM>, 116a), wherein the enter key hole (<NUM>, 117a) comprises a sixth processing region (R6) and a seventh processing region (R7), the modular frame (<NUM>, 100A) being characterized in further comprising:
a plurality of rib structures (<NUM>, 120a) selectively disposed in at least one of the first processing region (R1) to the seventh processing region (R7) to switch the modular frame (<NUM>, 100A) to a first configuration, a second configuration, or a third configuration,
wherein each of the rib structures (<NUM>, 120a) comprises two engaging portions (121a) and two through holes (TH), and each of the first processing region (R1) to the seventh processing region (R7) comprises two positioning grooves (PG) and two hot melt pillars (HP), the two engaging portions (121a) of each of the rib structures (<NUM>, 120a) are adapted to be disposed in the corresponding two positioning grooves (PG), the two hot melt pillars (HP) are adapted to be disposed through the corresponding two through holes (TH), and each of the hot melt pillars (HP) is adapted to melt when heated, to adhere each of the rib structures to the push-button area (110a).