Key and switch housing for keyboard assembly
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBradford J. Zercoe, Craig C. Leong, John M. Brock, Keith J. Hendren
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Abstract
A key and a switch housing for a keyboard assembly is disclosed. A switch housing for the keyboard assembly may include a body having a switch opening and a light source recess formed adjacent the switch opening. The switch opening may house or receive a dome switch for the keyboard assembly and the light source recess may house or receive a light source assembly configured to illuminate a keycap of the keyboard assembly. The switch housing also can include a top panel integrally formed and molded to a portion of the body. The top panel covers the switch opening formed in the body and the top panel is a light guide.
Claims26
A switch housing for a keyboard assembly, comprising:
- a body including:
- a switch opening;
- and
- a light source recess formed adjacent the switch opening;
- and
- a top panel integrally formed and molded to a portion of the body, the top panel covering the switch opening formed in the body;
- wherein
- the top panel is a light guide.
A key structure, comprising:
- a keycap configured to translate in response to a force;
- a switch housing beneath the keycap and comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a top panel affixed to the body and configured to deform in response to the force;
- and
- a switch within the switch housing and configured to collapse as the top panel deforms.
A keyboard assembly, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a V-shaped hinge mechanism directly coupled to the PCB and comprising first and second retention pins;
- and
- a keycap releasably coupled to the hinge mechanism, and comprising:
- first retaining members positioned on a first side of the keycap, and comprising a snap-fit releasably coupled to the first retention pin;
- and
- second retaining members positioned on a second side of the keycap opposite the first side, and comprising a slide-retention fit releasably coupled to the second retention pin;
- wherein
- the slide-retention fit comprises:
- a ledge portion contacting the first retention pin;
- and
- a protrusion wall positioned adjacent the ledge portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.