Patent Application
20090176425
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a keyboard, particularly to one installed in clothes to connect with an electronic appliance, so that a user can conveniently shift operating modes by pressing on the surface of the clothes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nowadays, the conventional radio has almost been replaced by an MP3 player, which is so small that it can be conveniently put in a pocket to let people enjoy music any time. However, as the MP3 player has a small size, it may easily slip off a hand while operating, possible to get damaged or to drop into a ditch unfortunately. Moreover, even though a user just wants to adjust volume, other function keys may be erroneously touched. Therefore, it is worthy of finding some ways to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.
The objective of this invention is to offer a flexible keyboard.
The main characteristics of the invention are a first layer, a second layer and a foamed layer. The first layer has a first base cloth, a hot melt film spread on the first base cloth, and at least a first metallic sheet fixed on the hot melt film. The first metallic sheet is connected with a conducting line. The second layer has a second base cloth, a hot melt film spread on the second base cloth, and at least a second metallic sheet fixed on the hot melt film to correspond to the first metallic sheet. The second metallic sheet is connected with a conducting line. A foamed layer is sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer, with at least a gap formed for being pressed. So, if the invention is installed in clothes, a user can conveniently press on the clothes corresponding to the gaps to operate an electronic appliance.
This invention is better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
As shown in
The first layer 10, with reference to
The second layer 20 is positioned on the first layer 10, provide with a second base cloth 21 having the locations corresponding to the first metallic sheet 13 printed with words of function keys, such as volume and exit etc. The second base cloth 21 is as well made of cloth, non-woven fabric, superfine fiber or the like. The bottom of the second base cloth 21 is coated with a hot melt film 22 that is also fixed with plural second metallic sheet 23 among its bottom, which are located to correspond to the first metallic sheet 13. And, a conducting line 24, made of copper or carbon, is connected to one side of the second metallic sheet respectively opposite to that connected with the conducting line 14. In the embodiment, the conducting line 24 is made of copper.
The foamed layer 30 is made of insulating material with a preset thickness, positioned between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 to have a gap 31 formed exactly between the first metallic sheet 13 and the second metallic sheet 23 corresponding to each other with a proper distance for being pressed. Therefore, the top of the second layer 20 corresponding to each of the gaps 31 is formed slightly upward to be a bump 32. In addition, the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 are thermally welded together by high frequency process.
The free ends of the conducting lines 14 and 24 are collected together to be formed as a plug 40 positioned at a proper location to pass through a hole 50, which is appropriately formed at one side of the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 welded together. The plug 40 is used to connect with an electronic appliance. In using, as shown in
In addition, with a speaker function key installed between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 and with speakers directly installed in a collar, a user can press the speaker function key on the sleeve to directly listen music without wearing earphones.
The invention has the following advantages as can be seen from the foresaid description.
1. With the bumps 32 formed on the surface of the second layer 20 to correspond to the gaps formed among the foamed layer 30, and with the conducting lines 14 and 24 collected together to be easily connected with an electronic appliance, the invention can be installed in clothes to enable a user to conveniently shift operating modes on the surface of the clothes without touching the electronic appliance 60.
2. With the hot melt films 12 and 22 welded together by high frequency without usage of solvents, the present invention is not only unhurt to health, but also well confined to be waterproof so as to be permissibly washed with the clothes.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
