Keyboard button with a thin sheet spring design
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsMinghao Hsieh, Chia-Chen Lin, Jer-Yo Lee, Po-Fei Tsai, Chang-Hsin Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A button mechanism includes a button, a module, and a thin sheet spring. The thin sheet spring is in physical communication with the button and with the module. The thin sheet spring exerts a tension force on the button and the module to bias the button toward a normal position. In response to a force greater than the tension force being exerted on the button, a portion of the thin sheet stretches to enable the button to be placed in a contact position. In response to the force being removed from the button, the tension force causes the thin sheet to snap back to an original position and biases the button toward the normal position.
Claims14
A button mechanism comprising:
- a button;
- a module in physical communication with the button;
- and
- a thin sheet spring in physical communication with the button and with the module, the thin sheet spring to exert a tension force on the button and the module to bias the button toward a normal position, in response to a force greater than the tension force being exerted on the button, a portion of the thin sheet stretches to enable the button to be placed in a contact position, and in response to the force being removed from the button, the tension force causes the thin sheet to snap back to an original position and to bias the button toward the normal position, wherein the thin sheet spring includes a button opening that is a same shape and a same size as the button, and a plurality of holes located around and in a same shape as the button opening, wherein each leg portion is created by a different set of holes.
An information handling system, comprising:
- a c-cover;
- a keyboard in physical communication with the c-cover;
- and
- a button mechanism located as part of the keyboard, the button mechanism including:
- a button including a top surface to be placed in parallel with a top surface of the c-cover when the button is in a normal position;
- a module in physical communication with the button;
- and
- a thin sheet spring in physical communication with the button and with the module, the thin sheet spring to exert a tension force on the button and the module to bias the button toward the normal position, in response to a force greater than the tension force being exerted on the button, a portion of the thin sheet to stretch to enable the button to be placed in a contact position, and in response to the force being removed from the button, the tension force to cause the thin sheet to snap back to an original position and to bias the button toward the normal position, wherein the thin sheet spring includes a button opening that is a same shape and a same size as the button, and a plurality of holes located around and in a same shape as the button opening, wherein each leg portion is created by a different set of holes.
A button mechanism comprising:
- a button;
- a module in physical communication with the button;
- and
- a thin sheet spring in physical communication with the button and with the module, the thin sheet spring including:
- a main portion and a body portion;
- a first adhesive portion located around an outer edge of the main portion, wherein the first adhesive portion securely connects the thin sheet spring to the module;
- a plurality of leg portions each extending from the main portion to the body portion, the leg portions to exert a tension force on the button and the module to bias the button toward a normal position, in response to a force greater than the tension force being exerted on the button, the leg portions stretch to enable the button to be placed in a contact position, and in response to the force being removed from the button, the tension force to cause the thin sheet to snap back to an original position and to bias the button toward the normal position;
- a button opening that is a same shape and a same size as the button;
- and
- a plurality of holes located around and in a same shape as the button opening, wherein each leg portion is created by a different set of holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.