Portable computer with vertically positionable keyboard

Abstract

A portable computer has a base housing to which a display housing is pivotally secured for movement between open and closed orientations. Extending across a top side opening of the base housing is a keyboard assembly which may be removed from the top side of the base housing. The removed keyboard assembly may be vertically supported on a rear portion of the base housing, to permit access to the base housing through its now exposed top side opening, by means of tabs formed on a rear side edge of the keyboard support plate structure and removably insertable in corresponding vertically extending slots in the top side wall of the base housing. This vertical support of the removed keyboard assembly prevents it from being misplaced, reduces the potential for damaging it by laying it aside on an adjacent work space area, holds the vertically supported keyboard assembly away from the display screen to prevent the keyboard assembly from scratching it. Additionally, the vertical support of the removed keyboard assembly may be achieved without disconnecting the ribbon cable that operatively couples the keyboard assembly to the associated electronics within the base housing. When the keyboard assembly is operatively installed on the top side of the base housing, the rear side edge tabs on the support plate are removably received in corresponding horizontal slots in the base housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.