Interkey support for keyboards
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPaul X. Wang, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Keyboards and other input devices are provided with at least one flexible layer that extends over or under the keycaps. The flexible layer spans interkey spaces and provides finger support and key definition as the user feels the top surface of the keycaps and flexible layer. The flexible layer therefore smooths the top surface of the keyboard, supports fingers during key travel, prevents ingress of contaminants, fluids, or debris into the keyboard, and provides a surface that can be used as a touch interface that coincides with the keyboard.
Claims20
A keyboard, comprising:
- a first set of aligned keycaps comprising a first key and a second key defining an interkey gap between the first key and the second key;
- a second set of aligned of keycaps, the second set of aligned of keycaps extending parallel to the first set of aligned keycaps;
- and
- a flexible layer including an interkey portion positioned in the interkey gap and a spacer portion positioned between the first and second sets of aligned keycaps, the spacer portion extending parallel to the first and second sets of aligned keycaps, the interkey portion being raised relative to the spacer portion.
An input device, comprising:
- a flexible layer having a raised portion and a lower portion, the raised portion being positioned higher than the lower portion in the input device;
- a keycap structure having first and second sides adjoining the lower portion and having third and fourth sides adjoining the raised portion;
- and
- a switch structure positioned below the flexible layer and configured to support the keycap and the flexible layer.
A keyboard device, comprising:
- a first keycap;
- a second keycap positioned laterally adjacent to the first keycap in a first direction;
- a third keycap positioned laterally adjacent to the first keycap in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- a flexible layer having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned laterally between side surfaces of the first keycap and the second keycap, the second portion being positioned laterally between the side surfaces of the first keycap and the third keycap, wherein the first portion of the flexible layer is raised relative to the second portion of the flexible layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.