Keyboards with retractable keys
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a keyboard having a plurality of keys,a rising and retracting mechanism that controls the heights of the said plurality of keys,said rising and retracting mechanism comprises a plurality of springs, an inflatable airbag and airflow controlling valves.said inflatable airbag having a plurality of openings therein each corresponding to one of said plurality of said keys, each of said openings having a perimeter which is affixed to a key cap to form a key.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a keyboard where the keys are raised up from a retracted position upon the initialization of usage of the keyboard. An embedded airbag mechanism is self-inflatable to raise keys to the normal operating heights. The keys will be retracted when the airbag is deflated. The rising and retracting of the keys can also be controlled by hinge-like structure. The close and open of the cover of a laptop computer will activate the mechanism to raise and retract the keys on the keyboard.
32 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a keyboard having a plurality of keys, a rising and retracting mechanism that controls the heights of the said plurality of keys, said rising and retracting mechanism comprises a plurality of springs, an inflatable airbag and airflow controlling valves. said inflatable airbag having a plurality of openings therein each corresponding to one of said plurality of said keys, each of said openings having a perimeter which is affixed to a key cap to form a key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification