Type of splash-resistant modular keyboard for computers

Abstract

A new kind of splash-resistant modular keyboard for computers that separates keyboard components into two groups. One group of components becomes a detachable and user-serviceable keycap module, while the other group stays as the base module. The detachable module contains essentially the keycap portion that contributes to more malfunctioning of present day keyboard. The base module has a bay that receives the detachable keycap module, and contains the electrical circuitry membrane and PCB that has longer durability than the keycap portion. Drain holes at lower end of the bay will allow liquid spillage, or when using water/solution to clean the bay, to flow out of the bay. Depending on applications, the detachable keycap module can be further broken into more sub-modules. Keyboards manufactured following present invention are modular in nature, and are conducive to reducing the costs for keyboard services and exchanges, costs for curing future environmental hazards and costs for fitting suitable user keycaps for swapping among different languages and computer applications.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A new type of splash-resistant and modular-keycap keyboard for desktop and notebook/laptop computers, comprising: 
 a. A keycap-module removably sitting in a bay sized to fit the shape of said keycap module on the top surface of a desktop keyboard or notebook/laptop computer;    b. Material forming the bay with means to lower one end of the bay and containing a plurality of holes so that liquids will gravitate towards the holes and out of the bay;    c. Water sealing mechanism around the inside lower rim of the material forming the bay, so that any liquid spillage or splash will not get inside the body of the keyboard or notebook/laptop computer;    d. Means for mounting so that said keycap-module can be easily mounted to and removed from the material forming the bay.    
     
     
         2 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein said keycap-module is made up of individual keycaps, keycap holding mechanism, frame and optional key actuating mechanism.  
     
     
         3 . The keyboard of  claim 2  wherein said keycap-module can be subdivided into two, three or more sub-keycap-modules.  
     
     
         4 . The keyboard of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the said means for mounting said key-cap module to the material forming the bay is by one or a plurality of screws in the top-down orientation, so that a user can remove said keycap-module by removing the screws and unseat the keycap-module away from the material forming the bay.  
     
     
         5 . The keyboard of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the said means for mounting said keycap-module to the material forming the bay is by one or a plurality of snap-in tabs, so that a user can remove said keycap-module by depressing said snap-in tabs from its engaged cavity and unseat the keycap-module away from the material forming the bay.  
     
     
         6 . The keyboard of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the said means for mounting said keycap-module to the material forming the bay is by one or a plurality of latch-hinge mechanisms, so that a user can remove said keycap-module by unlatching and unhinging said keycap-module and unseat said keycap-module away from the material forming the bay.  
     
     
         7 . The keyboard of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the said means for mounting said keycap-module to the material forming the bay is by one or a plurality of slidable locking pins on the material forming the bay with corresponding holes on said keycap-module, so that a user can remove the keycap-module by sliding the pins to disengage the slide-lock and unseat the keycap-module away from the material forming the bay.  
     
     
         8 . The keyboard of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the said means for mounting said top keycap-module to said bottom base-module is by one or a plurality of tab-like hooks on said keycap-module, so that a user can remove the top keycap-module by slightly prying away the hooks and unseat the top keycap-module away from the bottom base-module.  
     
     
         9 . The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein said water sealing mechanism is a strip of rubber tightly laid around the inside lower rim of the material forming the bay, but not blocking the plurality of holes.