Printing device with a pair of housings combined for relative rocking motion

A printing device comprising:

• a keyboard;
• a first housing mounted with the keyboard and having a first open end portion;
• a printing element;
• a second housing containing the printing element therein and having a second open end portion, said first and second housings contituting a housing assembly;
• said first open end portion and second open end portion abutting against each other and defining an abutment region;
• pivot means in said abutment region for pivotally supporting the first and second housings so that the housings can relatively rock around an axis between a nonusable position and a usable position;
• and
• a platen disposed in the abutment region,
• said first and second housings defining a flat, rectangular outline of the housing assembly when in the nonusable position, and a substantially L-shaped outline when in the usable position, and
• said printing element being brought to a printing position, where the printing element faces the platen, as the second housing rocks relativly to the first housing, from the nonusable position to the usable position.