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:
Mar. 30, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 13, 2001
Shigeru Furuki, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Kazutoshi Watanabe, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Takahiro Kawauchi, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard input device that has a key arrangement similar as an ordinary keyboard, and that can securely protects key tops when folding. The present invention is characterized as follows. A keyboard unit is divided into a first keyboard unit and a second keyboard unit so as to be foldable, the first keyboard unit is pivotably supported by the second keyboard unit so as to pivot about a position slightly inside from an end of a coupling side of the second keyboard unit, a cover for covering an area from the end of the coupling side of the second keyboard unit when the first keyboard unit and the second keyboard unit are superimposed is slidably attached to the first keyboard unit, and an end plate for covering the end of the coupling side of the second keyboard unit and the first keyboard unit when the first keyboard unit and the second keyboard unit are superimposed is pivotably coupled between the cover and the second keyboard unit.