Tactile Enhancement For Input Devices

• US 20100038821A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Heinz, Jeffrey J., Jenkins, Kurt A.
• Application Number:
  US12/193,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20100038821A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/293
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/02 by mechanical means, e.g. pressing B29C59/007 takes precedence; embossing expanded porous articles B29C44/5627
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer

Abstract

Embodiments related to the tactile enhancement of a computer input device are disclosed herein. In one disclosed embodiment, a method of making removable tactile-enhancing grips for a computer input device is disclosed. The method comprises heating a thermoplastic elastomeric sheet to a temperature at which the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet is capable of receiving and retaining an imprinted feature, pressing onto the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet a plate comprising a pattern, thereby embossing the pattern onto the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet, and cooling the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet to a temperature at which the pattern is retained in the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet. An adhesive layer is then formed on an opposite side of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet as the pattern.

Claims

1. A method of making removable tactile-enhancing grips for a computer input device, comprising:

heating a thermoplastic elastomeric sheet to a temperature at which the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet is capable of receiving and retaining an imprinted feature;

pressing onto the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet a plate comprising a pattern, thereby embossing the pattern onto the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet;

cooling the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet to a temperature at which the pattern is retained in the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet; and

forming an adhesive layer on an opposite side of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet as the pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein embossing the pattern comprises embossing a repeating pattern element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein embossing the pattern comprises embossing a repeating logo.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprises one or more of TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane), TPO (thermoplastic olefin), TPR (thermoplastic rubber), SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

5. The method of claim 1, wherein embossing the pattern comprises embossing a pattern element that comprises features having two or more non-zero heights and/or depths relative to a surface of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprises a durometer within a range of 25-80 A.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprises a thickness in a range of 0.005″

-0.020″

.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet is transparent.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting one or more grip elements into the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet.

10. A tactile-enhancing set of grip elements, comprising:

a thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprising an embossed pattern formed thereon, the embossed pattern comprising a repeating pattern element;

an adhesive layer disposed on an opposite side of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet as the embossed pattern;

a release layer disposed over the adhesive layer; and

one or more pre-cut grip elements formed in the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet, the pre-cut grip elements being configured to fit a corresponding tactile control on a computer input device.

11. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the pattern element comprises a logo.

12. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet has a durometer in a range of 25-80 A.

13. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprises one or more of TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane), TPO (thermoplastic olefin), TPR (thermoplastic rubber), SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

14. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet has a thickness in a range of 0.005″

-0.020″

.

15. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet is transparent.

16. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the pattern element has a plurality of features having different non-zero depths relative to a surface of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet.

17. The tactile-enhancing grip kit of claim 10, wherein the adhesive is a removable adhesive.

18. A recyclable computer input device kit, comprising:

a computer input device formed from a recyclable material;

a thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprising an embossed pattern formed thereon, the embossed pattern comprising a pattern element having two or more non-zero depths relative to a surface of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet;

a plurality of pre-cut grip elements formed in the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet and configured to be mounted to locations on the input device having shapes corresponding to the pre-cut grip elements, wherein each of the plurality of pre-cut grip elements contains a plurality of pattern elements; and

an adhesive layer and release sheet disposed on an opposite side of the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet as the embossed pattern.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the input device comprises one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, and a gaming control.

20. The kit of claim 18, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric sheet comprises one or more of TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane), TPO (thermoplastic olefin), TPR (thermoplastic rubber), SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).