US 12,416,948 B2
Information handling system keyboard support with rail guide structure assembly to a housing rail
Chiu-Jung Tsen, Zhubei (TW); Jace W. Files, Round Rock, TX (US); and John Trevor Morrison, Round Rock, TX (US)
Assigned to Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed by Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/081,083.
Prior Publication US 2024/0201749 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1679 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1662 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An information handling system comprising:
a housing having first and second housing portions rotationally coupled by a hinge, the first housing portion having first and second rails extending into an interior of the first housing portion from opposite sides of the first housing portion;
a processor disposed in the first housing portion and operable to execute instructions that process information;
a memory disposed in the first housing portion and interfaced with the processor, the memory storing the instructions and information;
a keyboard assembly having plural keys at an upper surface configured to accept end user key press inputs and having first and second guide structures at opposite sides aligned to engage with the first and second rails in a sliding engagement that couples the keyboard assembly to the first housing portion by sliding from a rear initial position proximate the hinge to a forward position that leaves a gap between the keyboard assembly and the hinge;
a stop defined in each of the first and second guide structures, the keyboard assembly sliding the guide structures on the rails until the stop to align the keyboard assembly is in position to enclose the first housing portion;
a keystone assembly having plural latches aligned to couple with plural catches of the first housing portion proximate the hinge to fill the gap between the keyboard assembly and the hinge, the stop aligning the keyboard assembly to have an open space to the first housing portion proximate the hinges, the keystone assembly coupling in the open space and over a portion of the keyboard assembly to retain the keyboard assembly in the position over the first housing portion, the keystone assembly having an exterior member and an interior member engaged to slide within the exterior member between a first position engaging the latches and the catches and a second position releasing the latches and catches;
a spring element integrated in the interior member; and
a keystone stop integrated in the exterior member, the exterior member coupling in a fixed position relative to the first housing portion, the interior member sliding relative to the first housing portion when pressed, the spring element working against the keystone stop to bias the interior member to a latched position having the latches engaged with the catches.