Tactile Enhancement For Input Devices
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of making removable tactile-enhancing grips for a computer input device, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tactile-enhancing set of grip elements, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A recyclable computer input device kit, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification