Hinged mount combined modular keyboard and tablet PC protective cover

Abstract

A modular keyboard ( 100 ) for a tablet personal computer ( 200 ) provides a cover for covering the display screen of the tablet computer ( 200 ). A key array ( 102 ) for key-based data entry into the tablet computer ( 200 ) which mounts integrally to the cover ( 100 ) via a hinge mount ( 120 ) which supports the tablet computer ( 200 ) in a raised position relative to the key array ( 102 ) and presents the tablet computer display for monitoring data entry from the key array ( 102 ). The hinge mount ( 120 ) is retractable to a recess 128 for using the modular cover ( 100 ) as a protective cover.

1 . A modular keyboard for a tablet personal computer comprising: 
 a cover with an outer side and an inner side for covering a tablet computer;    a key array mounted integrally to said inner side;    a retractable hinged mount for receiving a tablet computer in a raised position relative to said key array and presenting said tablet computer to the user for monitoring data entry from said key array.    
   
   
       2 . The modular keyboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism for locking in place a tablet computer mounted on the hinged mount.  
   
   
       3 . The modular keyboard of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism is spring loaded into a locked position and includes a release for releasing the tablet computer so that it can be dismounted from the modular keyboard.  
   
   
       4 . The modular keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the angle relative to the keyboard array at which the hinge mount presents said tablet computer to the user can be adjusted before or after said tablet computer is mounted to the hinge mount.  
   
   
       5 . The modular keyboard of  claim 1  further comprising a data communications link for communications between the modular keyboard and the tablet computer.  
   
   
       6 . The modular keyboard of  claim 5  wherein the data communications link is integral to the hinge mount so that the data communication linkage is established automatically when said tablet computer is mounted on said hinge mount.  
   
   
       7 . The modular keyboard of  claim 5  wherein the data communications link is wireless.  
   
   
       8 . The modular keyboard of  claim 1  wherein the hinge mount is retractably associated with said inner side to retract into a recess when the keyboard is to be used as a cover.  
   
   
       9 . The modular keyboard of  claim 1  wherein the hinge mount has at least two levels of resistance to rotation whereby a lower level of resistance is provided for stowing and unstowing the hinge and a higher level of resistance is provided when said tablet computer is mounted on the hinge mount.  
   
   
       10 . The modular keyboard of  claim 9  further where in two levels of resistance to rotation are provided by a resistive clutch and a resistive clutch release.  
   
   
       11 . The modular keyboard of  claim 10  wherein the resistive clutch release is spring loaded so that the release seeks to maintain the clutch in a nonreleased state.  
   
   
       12 . The modular keyboard of  claim 10  wherein 
 the hinge mount is retractably associated with said inner side to retract into a recess when the keyboard is to be used as a cover; and    the hinge mount is spring loaded so that when the clutch release is activated to release the resistive clutch the hinge mount retracts into said recess for receiving said hinge mount in a stowed position.    
   
   
       13 . A tablet personal computer comprising: 
 a monitor display unit    a cover for covering a tablet computer with an outer side and an inner side;    a key array mounted integrally to said inner side of said cover;    a retractable hinged mount for receiving said monitor display unit in a raised position relative to said key array and presenting said monitor display to the user for monitoring data entry from said key array.    
   
   
       14 . The modular keyboard of  claim 13 , further comprising a locking mechanism for locking in place the monitor display mounted on the hinged mount.  
   
   
       15 . The modular keyboard of  claim 14  wherein the locking mechanism is spring loaded into a locked position and includes a release for releasing the monitor display so that it can be dismounted from the modular keyboard.  
   
   
       16 . The modular keyboard of  claim 13 , wherein the angle relative to the keyboard array at which the hinge mount presents said monitor display to the user can be adjusted before or after said tablet computer is mounted to the hinge mount.  
   
   
       17 . The modular keyboard of  claim 13  further comprising a data communications link for communications between the modular keyboard and the monitor display.  
   
   
       18 . The modular keyboard of  claim 17  wherein the data communications link is integral to the hinge mount so that the data communication linkage is established automatically when said monitor display is mounted on said hinge mount.  
   
   
       19 . The modular keyboard of  claim 17  wherein the data communications link is wireless.  
   
   
       20 . The modular keyboard of  claim 13  wherein the hinge mount is retractably associated with said inner side to retract into a recess when the keyboard is to be used as a cover.  
   
   
       21 . The modular keyboard of  claim 13  wherein the hinge mount has at least two levels of resistance to rotation whereby a lower level of resistance is provided for stowing and unstowing the hinge and a higher level of resistance is provided when said monitor display is mounted on the hinge mount.  
   
   
       22 . The modular keyboard of  claim 21  further where in two levels of resistance to rotation are provided by a resistive clutch and a resistive clutch release.  
   
   
       23 . The modular keyboard of  claim 22  wherein the resistive clutch release is spring loaded so that the release seeks to maintain the clutch in a nonreleased state.  
   
   
       24 . The modular keyboard of  claim 12  wherein 
 the hinge mount is retractably associated with said inner side to retract into a recess when the keyboard is to be used as a cover; and    the hinge mount is spring loaded so that when the clutch release is activated to release the resistive clutch the hinge mount retracts into said recess for receiving said hinge mount in a stowed position.