# US 2024/0201749 A1 · Information handling system keyboard support with rail guide structure assembly to a housing rail > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201749 A1 - Document ID: US20240201749A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/081,083 - Filed: 2022-12-14 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: Chiu-Jung Tsen; Jace W. Files; John Trevor Morrison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201749A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1679: {for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position} - G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard} - G06F 1/1669: {Detachable keyboards} - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A portable information handling system is assembled and disassembled by a keystone assembly that couples at an upper surface of the portable housing to overlap a keyboard assembly that covers processing components disposed in the portable housing. The keyboard assembly includes a housing cover having guide structures with stops disposed on opposing sides and aligned to engage with rails of the housing to slide to a cover position over the housing defined by the position of the stops. The keystone assembly completes the housing cover enclosure of the housing interior by coupling in a gap between the housing cover and housing at one side and overlapping the keyboard assembly to retain the keyboard assembly in position. ## Claims ### Claim 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; and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a stop defined in each of the first and second guide structures; wherein the keyboard assembly slides the guide structures on the rails until the stop to align the keyboard assembly in position to enclose the first housing portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The information handling system of claim 2 further comprising: a keystone assembly having plural latches aligned to couple with plural catches of the first housing portion proximate the hinge; wherein the stop aligns 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the keystone assembly comprises: 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising: 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The information handling system of claim 5 further comprising: a security device coupled in the first housing portion at one end of the keystone assembly and accessible through a security opening of the first housing portion; and wherein the interior member is accessible to a push to a release position through the security opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising: a component lock member extending from the keyboard assembly into the first housing portion interior; and a component disposed in the first housing portion interior and aligned with the component lock member, the component lock member engaging the component to retain a position of the component when the first and second rails engage the first and second guide structures to the stop. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a membrane disposed below the plural keys to detect key touches; and a power interface through the membrane and to the component lock member, the power interface providing power to the component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the component comprises a speaker configured to play audible sounds based upon signals communicated through the power interface. ### Claim 10 A method for assembly of an information handling system, the method comprising: assembling a keyboard to an upper surface of a housing cover; inserting a guide structure of a bottom surface of the housing cover onto a rail of the housing; and sliding the housing cover relative to the housing to couple the housing cover over the housing interior with engagement of the rail and guide structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein: sliding the housing cover until the rail hits a stop of the guide structure; and coupling a keystone assembly in a gap between one side of the housing and the housing cover, the keystone assembly filling the gap so that the housing cover and keystone assembly enclose the housing interior. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: engaging a latch of the keystone assembly to a catch of the housing to couple the keystone assembly to the housing; sliding an interior member of the keystone assembly relative to an exterior member, the interior member releasing the latch from the catch; and engaging by the sliding a ramp member of the interior member and the housing to bias the keystone assembly away from the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: extending a component lock member from the bottom surface of the housing into the housing interior; and in response to the sliding the housing cover, aligning the component lock member with a component disposed in the housing interior, the component lock member retaining the component in position in the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein: the component comprises a speaker having a power connector; and the aligning further comprises sliding a member extending from the housing cover bottom surface to the power connector to transfer power from a membrane of the keyboard to the speaker. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein: the component comprises a cooling fan adjacent a motherboard; and the aligning further comprises sliding a member to engage against the cooling fan, the member retaining the cooling fan in position, the cooling fan retaining the motherboard in position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the component comprises a battery. ### Claim 17 A keyboard assembly comprising: plural keys exposed at an upper surface to accept key inputs; a housing cover supporting the plural keys at an upper surface; and first and second guide structures at opposite sides of the housing cover and aligned to engage with first and second rails of a housing in a sliding engagement that couples the keyboard assembly to the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The keyboard assembly of claim 17 further comprising: a stop disposed in each guide structure to define the amount of sliding engagement to provide a predetermined gap at one side of the housing cover and housing; and a keystone assembly configured to couple to the housing cover upper surface and the housing in the predetermined gap to retain the guide structure in place when engaged with the rail to the stop. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The keyboard assembly of claim 18 further comprising plural component lock member extending from the housing cover bottom surface, each component lock member aligned to engage with a component disposed in the housing to retain the component in position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The keyboard assembly of claim 19 further comprising: a membrane disposed below the plural keys to detect key presses; and a power interface from the membrane to at least one of the plural component lock members to communicate power to a component associated with the at least one of the plural component lock members.