Mounting device and electronic apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosures herein relate to a mounting device and an electronic apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, there has been an increase in use of information terminal apparatuses such as tablet PCs (personal computers), which allow input to be made through a software keyboard, without the need for use of a hardware keyboard. A software keyboard, however, provides only limited operability due to the fact that input is made by touching a display screen. Its operability is less satisfactory than the operability of a typical hardware keyboard.

In consideration of these, a certain type of tablet PC is configured to be attachable to a keyboard apparatus, so that the keyboard apparatus and the tablet PC attached thereto are used as one integrated apparatus (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-010654, for example). Another type of tablet PC is configured to be attached to a stand, and input is made by use of a keyboard device that is separate from the tablet PC (see Japanese Patent Application Publication h9-251328, for example).

Due to superior portability, a tablet PC is used in various situations. When input is made by only one person, for example, a convenient mode of use may involve the tablet PC that is integrated with a keyboard apparatus, such that the tablet PC is used similarly to a notebook-type PC (which is hereinafter referred to as a first mode of use).

On the other hand, there may be a situation in which the display screen of a tablet PC needs to be seen by a large number of people in a meeting or the like in which people gather. In such a situation, a convenient mode of use may be such that the tablet PC is attached to a stand, and can be carried to a place where the people have a clear view.

A conventional tablet PC that is attachable to a keyboard cannot be used in the second mode of use. A tablet PC that is attachable to a stand cannot be used in the first mode of use.

There may be a need, among various other needs, for a mounting device and an electronic apparatus that can cope with various modes of use.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a mounting device and an electronic apparatus that substantially obviate one or more problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

According to an embodiment, a mounting device includes a base member, an attaching mechanism disposed on the base member and configured to detachably attach the base member to a first electronic apparatus, and an accommodating part disposed on the base member and configured to hold a second electronic apparatus placed therein.

According to an embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first electronic apparatus, and a mounting device configured to be detachably attached to the first electronic apparatus and further configured to hold a second electronic apparatus placed therein, wherein the mounting device includes a base member, an attaching mechanism configured to detachably attach the base member to the first electronic apparatus, and an accommodating part disposed on the base member and configured to hold the second electronic apparatus placed therein.

According to at least one embodiment, the first electronic apparatus and the second electronic apparatus can be used in various modes of use.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an oblique perspective view of the electronic apparatus as appears when a tablet PC is detached from a mounting device;

FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective view of the electronic apparatus as appears when the mounting device is detached from a keyboard apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an oblique perspective view of the electronic apparatus as appears when the tablet PC is folded flat against the keyboard apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of the mounting device;

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an enlarged view of lock release lever portions and their periphery;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating how the mounting device works;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating how the mounting device works;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating how the mounting device works;

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating how the mounting device works;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating how the mounting device works;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of a mounting device; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of another embodiment of an electronic apparatus.

In the following, various non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In illustrations provided in the drawings, the same or corresponding members or elements are referred to by the same or corresponding numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted. Further, the drawings are not provided for the purpose of illustrating size ratios between members or elements unless otherwise specified. Specific sizes may be determined by those skilled in the art by referring to the non-limiting embodiments that will be described hereinafter.

Further, the embodiments that will be described hereinafter are examples only that do not limit the invention. Features and combinations thereof described in these embodiments may not necessarily be essential to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an embodiment of an electronic apparatus 1 A. In the embodiment, the electronic apparatus 1 A that includes a tablet PC (personal computer) 2 and a keyboard 3 both serving as electronic apparatuses will be used as an example.

The tablet PC 2 is portable. A tablet body 6 having a display device 7 is attachable to a keyboard apparatus 3 . The keyboard apparatus 3 includes a keyboard body 10 , and further includes keys 11 and a scroll pad 12 arranged on the keyboard body 10 .

The keyboard body 10 has a flat box shape. The keys 11 are arranged at and around the center of the keyboard body 10 . The scroll pad 12 for moving a cursor and performing other actions is disposed on the keyboard body 10 at a front side.

A frame 13 illustrated in FIG. 5 is disposed inside the keyboard body 10 . The frame 13 has a frame shape, and includes a rear bar 14 , a front bar 15 , and side bars 16 and 17 . The frame 13 has an opening 18 where the keys 11 are disposed. A first slide member 50 A and a second slide member 50 B that are part of a mounting device 4 , which will be described later, are attached to the rear bar 14 .

In the following description, some elements are symmetrically arranged in the X 1 -X 2 direction illustrated in the drawings. An element that is arranged toward the X 1 side is given a name that start with the term “first” and a reference numeral that ends with “A”. An element that is arranged toward the X 2 side is given a name that start with the term “second” and a reference numeral that ends with “B”. Further, those elements that are symmetrically arranged in the X 1 -X 2 direction may sometimes be collectively referred to without using the term “first” and the term “second”.

In the following, the mounting device 4 will be described.

The mounting device 4 includes a base member 30 and an accommodating part 32 . The base member 30 is detachably attached to the keyboard. The accommodating part 32 holds the tablet PC 2 placed therein in a detachable manner.

FIG. 1 illustrates the mounting device 4 that is attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 with the tablet PC 2 placed in the accommodating part 32 . FIG. 2 illustrates the mounting device 4 that is attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 with the tablet PC 2 detached from the accommodating part 32 . FIG. 3 illustrates the mounting device 4 that is detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 . FIG. 4 illustrates the tablet PC 2 folded flat against the keyboard apparatus 3 via the hinge function of the mounting device 4 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 , the tablet PC 2 may be attached to the mounting device 4 that is attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 . With this arrangement, the electronic apparatus 1 A can be used in the same manner as a notebook-type PC (personal computer).

The attaching mechanism of the mounting device 4 that allows the mounting device 4 to be detachably attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 includes the base 30 , levers 33 A and 33 B, and slide members 50 A and 50 B as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 .

The base member 30 is made of metal, hard resin, or the like. The base member 30 has a rectangular shape having the long sides thereof extending in the X 1 -X 2 direction. The base member 30 has a first protruding part 43 A, a first engaging click 42 A, and first hinge-mounting holes 47 A formed therein at the X 1 side thereof. The base member 30 has a second protruding part 43 B, a second engaging click 42 B, and second hinge-mounting holes 47 B formed therein at the X 2 side thereof.

The engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B are configured to protrude in a Y 2 direction from the base member 30 . The tips of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B have an L-letter shape to form a hook.

The protruding parts 43 A and 43 B are disposed nearer to the opposite ends of the base member 30 than the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B are. The protruding parts 43 A and 43 B have oblique edges 44 A and 44 B at the inner side thereof.

Hinge parts 31 A and 31 B are mounted to the base member 30 by use of the hinge-mounting holes 47 A and 47 B, respectively. The hinge parts 31 A and 31 B are securely attached to the base member 30 by screws or the like inserted into the hinge-mounting holes 47 A and 47 B. The hinge parts 31 A and 31 B are also fixedly attached to the accommodating part 32 . As a result, the accommodating part 32 is rotatable relative to the base member 30 .

The hinge parts 31 A and 31 B are configured such that the accommodating part 32 is fixedly positioned at a desired angle with respect to the base member 30 . Accordingly, the hinge parts 31 A and 31 B can fixedly position the tablet PC 2 at a desired tilt angle with respect to the keyboard apparatus 3 in addition to holding the tablet PC 2 folded flat against the keyboard apparatus 3 as illustrated in FIG. 4 . This arrangement ensures satisfactory viewability and operability when using the tablet PC 2 attached to the mounting device 4 .

The lever members 33 A and 33 B have an L-letter shape as viewed from above. The lever members 33 A and 33 B include operating levers 35 A and 35 B and lock release levers 34 A and 34 B shorter than the operating levers 35 A and 35 B. The operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B are connected to the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B. In the lever members 33 A and 33 B, shaft holes 36 A and 36 B are formed at the connecting points between the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B and the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B, respectively.

A first pin 37 A that is placed through the first shaft hole 36 A is fixedly attached to a first mounting hole 38 A formed in the base member 30 , so that the first lever member 33 A is attached to and rotatable relative to the base member 30 . A second pin 37 B that is placed through the second shaft hole 36 B is fixedly attached to a second mounting hole 38 B formed in the base member 30 , so that the second lever member 33 B is attached to and rotatable relative to the base member 30 .

Rotating the first operating lever 35 A in a direction F A1 illustrated in FIG. 5 causes the first lock release lever 34 A to rotate in a direction G A1 . Rotating the first operating lever 35 A in a direction F A2 illustrated in FIG. 5 causes the first lock release lever 34 A to rotate in a direction G A2 .

Rotating the second operating lever portion 35 B in a direction F B1 illustrated in FIG. 5 causes the second lock release lever portion 34 B to rotate in a direction G B1 . Rotating the second operating lever portion 35 B in a direction F B2 illustrated in FIG. 5 causes the second lock release lever portion 34 B to rotate in a direction G B2 .

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an enlarged view of the lock release levers 34 A and 34 B and their periphery. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , gears 39 A and 39 B are formed on the lever members 33 A and 33 B near the shaft holes 36 A and 36 B, respectively. The first gear portion 39 A and the second gear portion 39 B are engaged with each other, so that at the time of rotational movement, the first lever member 33 A and the second lever member 33 B rotate in unison.

The first lock release lever portion 34 A has a first spring mounting portion 41 A, and the second lock release lever portion 34 B has a second spring mounting portion 41 B. A lever spring 40 is disposed between the first spring mounting portion 41 A and the second spring mounting portion 41 B.

The lever spring 40 pushes the first lock release lever portion 34 A and the second lock release lever portion 34 B away from each other. Namely, the lever spring 40 urges the first lever member 33 A in a counterclockwise direction around the first shaft hole 36 A, and urges the second lever member 33 B in a clockwise direction around the second shaft hole 36 B.

The lever members 33 A and 33 B have contacting portions 48 A and 48 B, respectively. The contacting portions 48 A and 48 B are situated closer to the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B, respectively, than the shaft holes 36 A and 36 B are. Rotation of the first lever member 33 A in the F A1 direction and rotation of the second lever member 33 B in the F B1 direction result in the first contacting portion 48 A and the second contacting portion 48 B coming in contact with each other.

The fact that the first contacting portion 48 A and the second contacting portion 48 B come in contact with each other causes the rotational movement of the lever members 33 A and 33 B to be stopped despite the presence of the lever spring 40 exerting force to rotate the lever members 33 A and 33 B around the shaft holes 36 A and 36 B, respectively. In the state in which the contacting portions 48 A and 48 B are in contact with each other, the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B extend in a V-letter shape, and so do the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 ). This state will hereinafter be referred to as a lever-open state.

Rotation of the first operating lever portion 35 A in the F A2 direction and rotation of the second operating lever portion 35 B in the F B2 direction cause the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B to be in contact with the side face of the base member 30 (see FIG. 7 ). This state will hereinafter be referred to as a lever-closed state. In the lever-closed state, the first lock release lever portion 34 A and the second lock release lever portion 34 B extend in the Y 1 -Y 2 direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the slide members 50 A and 50 B are plate-shaped members, which are disposed on the frame 13 of the keyboard apparatus 3 . The slide members 50 A and 50 B have guide holes 51 A and 51 B, elongated holes 52 A and 52 B, engaging recesses 53 A and 53 B, oblique sides 55 A and 55 B, and operated parts 58 A and 58 B, respectively.

The guide holes 51 A and 51 B are elongated holes extending in the X 1 -X 2 direction. The rear bar of the frame 13 has guide pins 19 A and 19 B standing thereon. The guide pins 19 A and 19 B are inserted into the guide holes 51 A and 51 B, respectively, when the slide members 50 A and 50 B are mounted on the rear bar 14 .

The elongated holes 52 A and 52 B extend in the X 1 -X 2 direction. The rear bar 14 has pins 20 A and 20 B standing thereon. The pins 20 A and 20 B are inserted into the elongated holes 52 A and 52 B, respectively, when the slide members 50 A and 50 B are mounted on the rear bar 14 .

Slide springs 60 A and 60 B are placed in the elongated holes 52 A and 52 B, respectively. To be more specific, the first slide spring 60 A placed in the first elongated hole 52 A has the end thereof facing the X 1 direction that is fixedly attached to the first pin 20 A inserted into the first elongated hole 52 A, and has the end thereof facing the X 2 direction that is fixedly attached to an interior wall portion of the first elongated hole 52 A situated toward the X 2 direction.

The first slide spring 60 A urges the first slide member 50 A toward the X 2 direction. The movement of the first slide member 50 A toward the X 2 direction is stopped when the first guide pin 19 A comes in contact with an interior wall portion of the first guide hole 51 A situated toward the X 1 direction.

The second slide spring 60 B placed in the second elongated hole 52 B has the end thereof facing the X 2 direction that is fixedly attached to the second pin 20 B inserted into the second elongated hole 52 B, and has the end thereof facing the X 1 direction that is fixedly attached to an interior wall portion of the second elongated hole 52 B situated toward the X 1 direction.

The second slide spring 60 B urges the second slide member 50 B toward the X 1 direction. The movement of the second slide member 50 B toward the X 1 direction is stopped when the second guide pin 19 B comes in contact with an interior wall portion of the second guide hole 51 B situated toward the X 2 direction.

The engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B are situated at positions matching the positions of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B formed on the base member 30 , respectively. The engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B formed on the base member 30 are engaged with the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, respectively, when the mounting device 4 is mounted on the keyboard apparatus 3 . Engagement of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B with the respective engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B ensures that the mounting device 4 is fixedly mounted on the keyboard apparatus 3 .

The first oblique side 55 A is situated on the outer side of the first slide member 50 A (i.e., on the side facing the X 1 direction). The first oblique side 55 A is configured to come in contact with the first oblique edge 44 A formed on the base member 30 when the mounting device 4 is mounted on the keyboard apparatus 3 .

The second oblique side 55 B is situated on the outer side of the second slide member 50 B (i.e., on the side situated toward the X 2 direction). The second oblique side 55 B is configured to come in contact with the second oblique edge 44 B formed on the base member 30 when the mounting device 4 is mounted on the keyboard apparatus 3 .

The first operated part 58 A is situated on the inner side of the first slide member 50 A (i.e., on the side situated toward the X 2 direction). The first operated part 58 A is urged toward the X 1 direction by the first lever member 33 A (and the first lock release lever portion 34 A) mounted on the base member 30 when the mounting device 4 is to be detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

The second operated part 58 B is situated on the inner side of the second slide member 50 B (i.e., on the side situated toward the X 1 direction). The second operated part 58 B is urged toward the X 2 direction by the second lever member 33 B (and the second lock release lever portion 34 B) mounted on the base member 30 when the mounting device 4 is to be detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

In the following, a description will be given of the operations performed to attach and detach the mounting device 4 to and from the keyboard apparatus 3 with reference to FIG. 7 through FIG. 11 . In FIG. 7 through FIG. 11 , the hinge parts 31 A and 31 B and the accommodating part 32 are not illustrated for the same of convenience of illustration.

An operation to detach the mounting device from the keyboard apparatus 3 will be described first. FIG. 7 illustrates the mounting device 4 attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 . This state will hereinafter be referred to as an attached state.

In the attached state, the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B of the base member 30 are engaged with the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B of the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively, so that the base member 30 is prevented from moving in the Y 1 direction. Further, the slide members 50 A and 50 B are inwardly urged by the slide springs 60 A and 60 B, respectively. With this arrangement, the mounting device 4 is securely attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 without rattling.

In the attached state, the first lock release lever portion 34 A is in contact with the first operated part 58 A of the first slide member 50 A, and the second lock release lever portion 34 B is in contact with the second operated part 58 B of the second slide member 50 B.

As was previously described, the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B are urged by the lever spring 40 in the directions to move apart from each other. Namely, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the first lock release lever portion 34 A is urged in the G A1 rotational direction by the lever spring 40 , and the second lock release lever portion 34 B is urged in the G B1 rotational direction by the lever spring 40 .

Further, the first operated part 58 A (i.e., the first slide member 50 A) is urged toward the X 2 direction by the first slide spring 60 A, and the second operated part 58 B is urged toward the X 1 direction by the second slide spring 60 B. The urging force exerted by the slide springs 60 A and 60 B is designed to be stronger than the urging force exerted by the lever spring 40 .

Namely, the force with which the first operated part 58 A urges the first lock release lever portion 34 A toward the X 2 direction is stronger than the force with which the first lock release lever portion 34 A urges the first operated part 58 A toward the G A1 direction. Similarly, the force with which the second operated part 58 B urges the second lock release lever portion 34 B is stronger than the force with which the second lock release lever portion 34 B urges the second operated part 58 B.

In the attached state, the first slide member 50 A is situated as far as it can be pushed in the X 2 direction by the urging force of the slide spring 60 A. Further, the first lever member 33 A is urged by the first operated part 58 A that is urged toward the X 2 direction by the first slide spring 60 A, so that the first lever member 33 A is urged in the clockwise direction around the first shaft hole 36 A. The second slide member 50 B is pushed toward the X 1 direction as far as it can go, which causes the second lock release lever portion 34 B to be urged by the second operated part 58 B, so that the second lever member 33 B is urged in the counterclockwise direction around the second shaft hole 36 B.

In the attached state, the lever members 33 A and 33 B are situated such that the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B are placed along the face of one of the long sides of the base member 30 (in the lever-closed state), with the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B extending in the Y 2 direction from the base member 30 .

In order to detach the mounting device 4 from the keyboard apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment, the first operating lever portion 35 A is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (i.e., in the F A1 direction illustrated in FIG. 8 ), and the second operating lever portion 35 B is rotated in the clockwise direction (i.e., in the F B1 direction illustrated in FIG. 8 ). As was previously described, the gear portions 39 A and 39 B are engaged with each other so that the first lever member 33 A and the second lever member 33 B rotate in conjunction with each other. Because of this, operating either the first lever member 33 A or the second lever member 33 B alone may suffice to detach the mounting device 4 from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

Rotating the first operating lever portion 35 A (i.e., the first lever member 33 A) in the F A1 direction causes the first lock release lever portion 34 A to rotate in the G A1 direction (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 ). As a result, the first operated part 58 A is pushed toward the X 1 direction by the first lock release lever portion 34 A. The first slide member 50 A pushed by the first lock release lever portion 34 A starts moving in the X 1 direction against the force exerted by the first slide spring 60 A.

Similarly, rotating the second operating lever portion 35 B (i.e., the second lever member 33 B) in the F B1 direction causes the second lock release lever portion 34 B to rotate in the G B1 direction (see FIG. 5 ). As a result, the second operated part 58 B is pushed by the second lock release lever portion 34 B. The second slide member 50 B pushed by the second lock release lever portion 34 B starts moving in the X 2 direction against the force exerted by the second slide spring 60 B.

When the first slide member 50 A moves in the X 1 direction and the second slide member 50 B moves in the X 2 direction as described above, the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B eventually disengage from the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B, respectively. FIG. 9 illustrates the state in which the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B are disengaged from the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, respectively.

Upon disengagement of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B from the respective engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, the mounting device 4 is released from the keyboard apparatus 3 so that the mounting device 4 can be separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the movement of the first slide member 50 A in the X 1 direction causes the first oblique side 55 A of the first slide member 50 A to come in contact with the first oblique edge 44 A of the base member 30 . Due to the slant of the oblique edge 44 A and the oblique side 55 A, the movement of the first slide member 50 A in the X 1 direction causes the base member 30 to move in the Y 1 direction.

Further, the movement of the second slide member 50 B in the X 2 direction causes the second oblique side 55 B of the second slide member 50 B to come in contact with the second oblique edge 44 B of the base member 30 . The slant of the oblique edge 44 B and the oblique side 55 B also serves to cause the base member 30 to move in the Y 1 direction as the second slide member 50 B moves in the X 2 direction.

Accordingly, upon disengagement of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B from the respective engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, the outward sliding movements of the slide members 50 A and 50 B result in the base member 30 being separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 with movement in the Y 1 direction.

In the manner as described above, the mounting device 4 of the present embodiment is separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 by operating the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B (i.e., the lever members 33 A and 33 B) to release the lock between the keyboard apparatus 3 and the mounting device 4 . This arrangement allows the mounting device 4 to be easily separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

Further, when the mounting device 4 is separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 , side edges 45 of the base member 30 are guided by guide parts 21 A and 21 B formed on the frame 13 . This arrangement allows the mounting device 4 to be smoothly separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

FIG. 10 illustrates the mounting device 4 that is detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 . In the state in which the mounting device 4 is detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 , the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B and the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B are placed in the lever-open state. This is due to the force exerted by the lever spring 40 that is disposed between the first lock release lever portion 34 A and the second lock release lever portion 34 B.

In the state in which the mounting device 4 is separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 , the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B extend at oblique angles from the base member 30 on the rear side thereof. With this arrangement, the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B serve as a base to support the mounting device 4 .

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , the mounting device 4 can hold the tablet PC 2 mounted in the accommodating part 32 even when the mounting device 4 is separated from the keyboard apparatus 3 . Further, the angle of the tablet PC 2 with respect to the base member 30 can be adjusted by use of the hinge parts 31 A and 31 B.

In order to attach the mounting device 4 to the keyboard apparatus 3 , the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B are placed in the lever-closed state. To be more specific, the first operating lever portion 35 A (of the first lever member 33 A) is rotated in the clockwise direction (i.e., the F A2 direction) until the first operating lever portion 35 A comes in contact with the base member 30 as illustrated in FIG. 11 . Also, the second operating lever portion 35 B (of the second lever member 33 B) is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (i.e., the F B2 direction) until the second operating lever portion 35 B comes in contact with the base member 30 .

With this operation, the first lock release lever portion 34 A is rotated in the G A2 direction, and the second lock release lever portion 34 B is rotated in the G B2 direction. Consequently, the lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B extend in the Y 2 direction.

Subsequently, the mounting device 4 is inserted into the keyboard apparatus 3 . To be more specific, the first side edge 45 A is aligned with the first guide part 21 A, and the second side edge 45 B is aligned with the second guide part 21 B, followed by sliding the mounting device 4 in the Y 2 direction for insertion into the keyboard apparatus 3 . In so doing, the side edges 45 A and 45 B are guided by the guide parts 21 A and 21 B, which allows the mounting device 4 to be smoothly inserted into the keyboard apparatus 3 .

Upon the mounting device 4 being inserted into the keyboard apparatus 3 , the first oblique edge 44 A of the base member 30 comes in contact with the first oblique side 55 A of the first slide member 50 A, and, also, the second oblique edge 44 B comes in contact with the second oblique side 55 B of the second slide member 50 B. The lock release lever portions 34 A and 34 B are inserted into a gap between the first operated part 58 A and the second operated part 58 B. The engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B are inserted into gaps between the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B and the operated parts 58 A and 58 B, respectively.

When the mounting device 4 is inserted into the keyboard apparatus 3 , tapered parts 42 A 1 and 42 B 1 of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B come in contact with tapered parts 53 A 1 and 53 B 1 of the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, respectively. Movement of the mounting device 4 in the Y 2 direction causes the tapered parts 42 A 1 and 42 B 1 of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B to push the tapered parts 53 A 1 and 53 B 1 of the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, respectively, thereby causing the slide members 50 A and 50 B to move outwardly against the forces exerted by the slide springs 60 A and 60 B, respectively.

Eventually, the tapered parts 42 A 1 and 42 B 1 go past the tapered parts 53 A 1 and 53 B 1 , respectively, as a result of the movement of the mounting device 4 in the Y 2 direction. When this happens, the slide members 50 A and 50 B move inwardly due to the forces exerted by the slide springs 60 A and 60 B, so that the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B are engaged with the engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B, respectively. Engagement of the engaging clicks 42 A and 42 B with the respective engaging recess parts 53 A and 53 B ensures that the mounting device 4 is fixedly mounted on the keyboard apparatus 3 .

The sliding movement of the first slide member 50 A in the X 2 direction causes the first operated part 58 A to push the first lock release lever portion 34 A in the X 2 direction. The sliding movement of the second slide member 50 B in the X 1 direction causes the second operated part 58 B to push the second lock release lever portion 34 B in the X 1 direction. With this arrangement, the rotations of the lever members 33 A and 33 B in the G A1 and G B1 directions, respectively, are stopped by the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively. Through the series of operations described above, the mounting device 4 is placed in the attached state.

The electronic apparatus 1 A including the mounting device 4 described above can be used in the same manner as a notebook-type PC is used when the mounting device 4 is attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 , and the tablet PC 2 is mounted on the mounting device 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1 . In this mode of use, further, the tablet PC 2 can be folded toward the keyboard apparatus 3 as illustrated in FIG. 4 .

Moreover, the mounting device 4 may be detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 while the tablet PC 2 is mounted on the mounting device 4 as illustrated in FIG. 3 . This allows the electronic apparatus 1 A to be used in the same fashion as a desktop-type PC is used. In this state also, the angle of the tablet PC 2 can be adjusted by use of the hinge parts 31 A and 31 B.

The use of the mounting device 4 as described above allows the tablet PC 2 and the keyboard apparatus 3 to be used in various modes of use, thereby improving the usability of the electronic apparatus 1 A.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrate a mounting device and an electronic apparatus 1 B according to another embodiment.

The mounting device 4 described in connection with FIG. 1 through FIG. 11 is configured such that a user operates the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B of the respective lever members 33 A and 33 B in order to detach the mounting device 4 from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , on the other hand, lock release pins 57 A and 57 B are formed on the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively. In order to detach a mounting device 64 from the keyboard apparatus 3 , a user operates the lock release pins 57 A and 57 B to perform the detaching operation.

The lock release pins 57 A and 57 B are situated on the operated parts 58 A and 58 B, respectively, in the present embodiment. The positions of the lock release pins 57 A and 57 B are not limited on the operated parts 58 A and 58 B, respectively, but can be situated on any parts as long as the lock release pins 57 A and 57 B are disposed on the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively.

The lock release pins 57 A and 57 B have the lower ends thereof fixedly mounted on the operated parts 58 A and 58 B of the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively. The lock release pins 57 A and 57 B may be formed as a unitary, seamless structure with the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively, or may be parts separate from the slide members 50 A and 50 B, respectively. Elongated holes 22 A and 22 B are formed in the upper panel of the keyboard body 10 , as illustrated in FIG. 13 , at positions matching the positions of the lock release pins 57 A and 57 B, respectively.

The direction in which the elongated holes 22 A and 22 B extend is the same as the direction in which the slide members 50 A and 50 B move (i.e., the X 1 -X 2 direction). The lock release pins 57 A and 57 B extend through the respective elongated holes 22 A and 22 B with the upper ends thereof being at higher elevation than the upper panel of the keyboard body 10 .

In order to detach the mounting device 64 from the keyboard apparatus 3 , the first lock release pin 57 A protruding from the keyboard body 10 is moved along the first elongated hole 22 A in the H 1 direction illustrated in FIG. 13 , and the second lock release pin 57 B is moved along the second elongated hole 22 B in the H 2 direction.

Through these operations, the first slide member 50 A slides in the X 1 direction, and the second slide member 50 B slides in the X 2 direction. The mounting device 64 then operates similarly to the manner that was described in connection with FIG. 8 through FIG. 10 , so that the mounting device 64 is detached from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

In the present embodiment, the lock release pins 57 A and 57 B that are operated to detach the mounting device 64 from the keyboard apparatus 3 are situated on the keyboard body 10 , which provides improved operability at the time of detachment.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , the operating lever portions 35 A and 35 B may also be operated in the same manner as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 11 to detach the mounting device 64 from the keyboard apparatus 3 .

Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although the above-described embodiments have been directed to examples in which the tablet PC 2 is detachably attached to the keyboard apparatus 3 , an electronic apparatus to which the described mounting device is applied is not limited to the tablet PC 2 and the keyboard apparatus 3 . For example, the mounting device 4 may be used to attach a plurality of tablet PCs.

Further, the slide springs 60 A and 60 B may not be provided in the respective elongated holes 52 A and 52 B formed in the slide members 50 A and 50 B, but may be situated in the periphery of the slide members 50 A and 50 B.

The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 2013-164581 filed on Aug. 7, 2013, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.