Curved keyboard keypad and contact structure
First Claim
1. A keypad comprising:
- a rigid plate having openings;
a flexible sheet having keys which protrude through said openings;
a flexible contact sheet having contacts configured to contact said keys; and
a rigid insertion plate, said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate having a curved shape, wherein said flexible sheet and said flexible contact sheet are located between said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate to conform to said curved shape.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keypad is disclosed having a rigid plate with openings. A flexible sheet of the keypad has keys which protrude through the openings of the rigid plate. The keypad further includes a rigid insertion plate and a flexible contact sheet with dome-shaped contacts configured to contact the keys. The rigid plate and the rigid insertion plate have a curved shape, where the flexible sheet and the flexible contact sheet are located between the rigid plate and the rigid insertion plate to conform to the curved shape. The curved shape is concave along a longitudinal axis of the keypad and convex along the keypad transversal axis. Further, the top surfaces of the keys protruding from the openings are contoured to conform to the curved shape.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A keypad comprising:
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a rigid plate having openings; a flexible sheet having keys which protrude through said openings; a flexible contact sheet having contacts configured to contact said keys; and a rigid insertion plate, said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate having a curved shape, wherein said flexible sheet and said flexible contact sheet are located between said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate to conform to said curved shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A keypad comprising:
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a rigid plate having openings; a flexible sheet having keys which protrude through said openings; a flexible contact sheet having contacts configured to contact said keys; and a rigid insertion plate, said flexible sheet and said flexible contact sheet are located between said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate, wherein said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate are concave along a longitudinal axis of said keypad and convex along a transversal axis of said keypad. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A keypad comprising:
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a rigid insertion plate; a rigid plate having openings, said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate having a curved shape; a flexible sheet located between said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate to conform to said curved shape, wherein top surfaces of said keys protruding from said openings conform to said curved shape; and a flexible contact sheet located between said rigid insertion plate and said flexible sheet, said flexible contact sheet having contacts for engaging said keys. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device having a keypad, said keypad comprising:
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a rigid plate having openings; a flexible sheet having keys which protrude through said openings; a flexible contact sheet having contacts configured to contact said keys; and a rigid insertion plate, said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate having a curved shape, wherein said flexible sheet and said flexible contact sheet are located between said rigid plate and said rigid insertion plate to conform to said curved shape. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification