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US 11,443,906 B1Granted
Keyboard with interlocking keycaps
AssigneeZAGG Inc
InventorsDan Oakeson, Manny Carreon, Kyle Sorensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keyboard case for a tabled computer has a keyboard with a bezel plate having a matrix of apertures therein. A matrix of keycaps corresponds to the matrix of apertures in the bezel plate. The bezel plate has a web between the matrix of apertures comprising narrower lateral web between laterally proximate apertures and wider diagonal web between diagonally proximate apertures. Pockets extend from corners of each aperture into the diagonal web of the bezel plate. Tabs extend from corners of each keycap into corresponding pockets of the bezel plate to interlock the keycaps to the bezel plate.
Claims19
A keyboard case configured to hold and connect to a tablet computer, the keyboard case comprising:
- a pair of leafs pivotally coupled together by a hinge with one leaf comprising a cavity configured to releasably receive and hold the tablet computer, and with the other leaf comprising a keyboard capable of operably communicating with the tablet computer and having a matrix of keys;
- the keyboard comprising:
- a bezel plate having a finished outer surface, an inner surface and a matrix of apertures therein corresponding to the matrix of keys;
- a backing plate behind the bezel plate;
- a membrane circuit layer carried by the backing plate and having electrical traces and a matrix of electrical contacts corresponding to matrix of apertures;
- a matrix of flexible domes carried by the membrane circuit layer and corresponding to the matrix of apertures, each dome having an expanded configuration away from an electrical contact and a compressed configuration engaging the electrical contact;
- a matrix of scissor-type connecting mechanisms carried by the backing plate and corresponding to the matrix of apertures, each scissor-type connecting mechanism having an extended position and a retracted position;
- a matrix of keycaps carried by the matrix of scissor-type connecting mechanisms and corresponding to the matrix of apertures such that each keycap is positioned in an aperture and connected to a scissor-type connecting mechanism, each keycap having a stroke from:
- i) a raised position corresponding to the extended position of the scissor-type connecting mechanism and the expanded configuration of the dome, and ii) a depressed position corresponding to the retracted position of the scissor-type connecting mechanism and the compressed configuration of the dome;
- each aperture in the matrix of apertures having a rounded corner;
- the bezel plate having a web between the matrix of apertures comprising narrower lateral web between laterally proximate apertures and wider diagonal web between diagonally proximate apertures;
- pockets extending diagonally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the keyboard from rounded corners of each aperture into the inner surface of the diagonal web of the bezel plate;
- each keycap having rounded corners;
- tabs extending diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the keyboard from rounded corners of each keycap into corresponding pockets of the bezel plate.
11 more elements
A keyboard case configured to hold and connect to a tablet computer, the keyboard case comprising:
- a pair of leafs pivotally coupled together by a hinge with one leaf comprising a cavity configured to releasably receive and hold the tablet computer, and with the other leaf comprising a keyboard capable of operably communicating with the tablet computer;
- the keyboard comprising:
- a bezel plate having a finished outer surface, an inner surface and a matrix of apertures therein;
- a matrix of keycaps corresponding to the matrix of apertures in the bezel plate such that each keycap is positioned in an aperture, each keycap being movable with respect to the bezel plate and traveling between a raised position and a depressed position;
- the bezel plate having a web between the matrix of apertures comprising narrower lateral web between laterally proximate apertures and wider diagonal web between diagonally proximate apertures;
- pockets extending diagonally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the keyboard from corners of each aperture into the inner surface of the diagonal web of the bezel plate;
- and
- tabs extending diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the keyboard from corners of each keycap into corresponding pockets of the bezel plate.
5 more elements
A keyboard case configured to hold and connect to a tablet computer, the keyboard case comprising:
- a pair of leafs pivotally coupled together by a hinge with one leaf comprising a cavity configured to releasably receive and hold the tablet computer, and with the other leaf comprising a keyboard capable of operably communicating with the tablet computer;
- the keyboard comprising:
- a bezel plate having a finished outer surface, an inner surface and a matrix of apertures therein;
- a matrix of keycaps corresponding to the matrix of apertures in the bezel plate such that each keycap is positioned in an aperture, each keycap being movable with respect to the bezel plate and traveling between a raised position and a depressed position;
- the bezel plate having a web between the matrix of apertures comprising narrower lateral web between laterally proximate apertures and wider diagonal web between diagonally proximate apertures;
- each lateral web of the bezel plate between proximate apertures has a constant thickness between the finished outer surface and the inner surface between proximate rounded corners of the apertures;
- pockets extending diagonally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the keyboard from corners of each aperture into the inner surface of the diagonal web of the bezel plate;
- each lateral web of the bezel between proximate apertures being free of pockets;
- tabs extending diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the keyboard from corners of each keycap into corresponding pockets of the bezel plate;
- the tabs of each keycap extending a distance within a lateral perimeter of a body of the keycap;
- and
- each keycap being free of lateral tabs extending laterally from lateral sides of the keycap.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.