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US 6,215,420 B1Granted
Keyboard (I)
AssigneeCoach Master Int'l Corp.
InventorsRobert G. Harrison, Daniel W. Knodle, Gary M. Bang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Keyboards with a construction which isolates the interior of the device from water and other deleterious substances in the ambient surroundings. The keyboard also has the capability of transmitting to a second device, upon activation of a key, a coded, preferably infrared (IR) signal uniquely corresponding to the key which is activated.
Claims8
A keyboard which comprises:
- a keypad;
- a rigid circuit component;
- and
- a rigid base;
- said keypad being an outermost, completely exposed component of the keyboard and comprising a set of elastomerically displaceable keys, said keypad being juxtaposed to the rigid circuit component and having portions between the keys that are supported by the rigid circuit component;
- complementary contracts so associated with said keys and said rigid circuit component on a one-to-one basis that displacement of one of said keys results in the engagement of the contact associated with said key and the corresponding circuit component-associated contact as to enable the generation of a signal uniquely identifying the key that was displaced;
- said keypad and said rigid base being so juxtaposed as to define a casing having an internal cavity;
- said rigid circuit component being housed in said cavity;
- said keyboard further comprising a sealing arrangement so constructed and configured as to keep fluids from penetrating into said cavity between said keypad and said base;
- and
- said keypad being free of openings and fabricated of a material such that fluids are kept from reaching said cavity through the keypad.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.