Keyboard with interior stiffening ribs

Abstract

A notebook computer has a keyboard including a deflectable base plate on the top side of which a series of parallel rows of depressible key structures are operatively mounted. The base plate is structurally reinforced, without increasing the overall height of the keyboard, using elongated stiffening ribs disposed within the interior of the keyboard. The ribs longitudinally extend parallel to the key rows, are anchored beam-like to the top side of the base plate, and are interdigitated with the key rows.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A keyboard comprising: 
 a deflectable base member having a top side;    a parallel plurality of laterally spaced rows of depressible key structures supported on said top side of said base member; and    a plurality of elongated stiffening ribs longitudinally extending parallel to said key rows, anchored to said top side of said base member, and interdigitated with said key rows.    
     
     
         2 . The keyboard of  claim 1  wherein said deflectable base member has a generally plate-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The keyboard of  claim 1  wherein said keyboard is a computer keyboard.  
     
     
         4 . The keyboard of  claim 3  wherein said computer keyboard is a notebook computer keyboard.  
     
     
         5 . The keyboard of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said stiffening ribs having generally plate-shaped main body portions anchored in a beam-like orientation on said top side of said base member.  
 
     
     
         6 . The keyboard of  claim 5  wherein: 
 each stiffening rib has a lower side edge from which an elongated securement tab portion laterally projects transversely to the main body portion of the stiffening rib, and  
 the securement tab portion of each stiffening rib is anchored to said top side of said base member.  
 
     
     
         7 . The keyboard of  claim 6  wherein: 
 each of said key structures includes a key member having a bottom side and being movable toward and away from said top side of said base member between downwardly depressed and upwardly extended positions, respectively, and  
 said bottom sides of said key members have notches formed therein and positioned to receive portions of said securement tabs when said key members are moved to said downwardly depressed positions.  
 
     
     
         8 . The keyboard of  claim 5  wherein: 
 said main body portions of said stiffening ribs have top side edges,  
 each of said key structures includes a key member having an upper side and being movable toward and away from said top side of said base member between downwardly depressed and upwardly extended positions, respectively, and  
 said top side edges of said main body portions of said stiffening ribs are positioned so as to be located generally level with the upper side of each key when the key is moved to its downwardly depressed position.  
 
     
     
         9 . An electronic device having a structurally reinforced keyboard, said structurally reinforced keyboard comprising: 
 a deflectable base member having a top side;    a parallel plurality of laterally spaced rows of depressible key structures supported on said top side of said base member; and    a plurality of elongated stiffening ribs longitudinally extending parallel to said key rows, anchored to said top side of said base member, and interdigitated with said key rows.    
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said deflectable base member has a generally plate-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said electronic device is a computer.  
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11  wherein said computer is a notebook computer.  
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said stiffening ribs have generally plate-shaped main body portions anchored in a beam-like orientation on said top side of said base member.  
 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13  wherein: 
 each stiffening rib has a lower side edge from which an elongated securement tab portion laterally projects transversely to the main body portion of the stiffening rib, and  
 the securement tab portion of each stiffening rib is anchored to said top side of said base member.  
 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14  wherein: 
 each of said key structures includes a key member having a bottom side and being movable toward and away from said top side of said base member between downwardly depressed and upwardly extended positions, respectively, and  
 said bottom sides of said key members have notches formed therein and positioned to receive portions of said securement tabs when said key members are moved to said downwardly depressed positions.  
 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said main body portions of said stiffening ribs have top side edges,  
 each of said key structures includes a key member having an upper side and being movable toward and away from said top side of said base member between downwardly depressed and upwardly extended positions, respectively, and  
 said top side edges of said main body portions of said stiffening ribs are positioned so as to be located generally level with the upper side of each key when the key is moved to its downwardly depressed position.