Keyboard with chassis structure

• US 20060017697A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Rak, Roman Peter, Griffin, Jason T., Holmes, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane

Abstract

A keyboard apparatus includes a group of switches, a key having a corresponding group of plungers, and a chassis structure including a panel and a post. The post projects upward from the panel to support the key for manual movement pivotally into multiple actuated positions in which the plungers actuate the switches. The panel has a group of apertures through which the plungers are movable into actuating engagement with the switches upon such multi-directional movement of the key.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus comprising:

a group of switches;

a key having a corresponding group of plungers; and

a chassis structure including a panel and a post, with the post projecting upward from the panel to support the key for manual movement pivotally into multiple actuated positions in which the plungers actuate the switches, and with the panel having a group of apertures through which the plungers are movable into actuating engagement with the switches upon such multi-directional pivotal movement of the key.

2. A keyboard apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the group of switches consists of three switches and the group of plungers consists of three plungers.

3. A keyboard apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the switches, the key and the chassis structure are operative parts of a handheld electronic device.

4. A handheld electronic device including the keyboard apparatus of claim 1.

5. A keyboard apparatus comprising:

switches arranged in a plurality of groups;

a corresponding plurality of keys, each of which has a group of plungers for actuating the corresponding group of switches; and

a unitary chassis structure including a panel, a plurality of posts projecting upward from the panel to support the keys for manual movement pivotally into multiple actuated positions in which the plungers actuate the corresponding group of switches, and apertures extending through the panel, with the apertures arranged in groups through which the plungers are movable into actuating engagement with the switches.

6. A keyboard apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each group of switches consists of three switches, each group of plungers consists of three plungers, and each group of apertures consists of three apertures.

7. A keyboard apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the switches, the keys and the chassis structure are operatively interconnected parts of a handheld electronic device.

8. A handheld electronic device that includes the keyboard apparatus of claim 5.