The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 24, 2000
Filed:
May. 22, 1998
Harold S Merkel, Houston, TX (US);
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A notebook computer has a collapsible keyboard in which elastomeric key switch domes on the top side of a dome sheet are horizontally shiftable under the keys to selectively underlie and support them for use, or to permit the keys to be collapsed to depressed positions to reduce the thickness of the keyboard in its storage and transport orientation. When the computer display housing lid is closed it contacts and pivotally depresses a small LCD status display structure supported on the top side of the computer base housing rearwardly of the keyboard and linked to the dome sheet in a manner such that the dome sheet is responsively shifted to collapse the keys. When the display housing lid is subsequently opened and disengaged from the LCD status display structure, the LCD status display structure is spring-returned to its original elevated position to responsively shift the dome sheet in a manner causing the elastomeric domes to again underlie and resiliently support the keys in their elevated operating positions.