Keypad structure

• US 7,228,111 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Wu, Kuo-Hsiang, Kao, Hsiang-Lung, Cheng, Yung-Fa
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/266,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/564, 455/558, 455/575.3, 455/419, 455/90.1, 455/412.1, 455/90.3, 455/550.1, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/004 U-shaped openings surrounding keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/09 Flexible integral part of housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A keypad structure. A mobile phone has a casing and an elastic sheet. The casing includes a plurality of resilient cantilever arms and a plurality of protrusions formed on the plurality of resilient cantilever arms. The elastic sheet includes a plurality of keypad buttons to press the plurality of resilient cantilever arms.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a casing including a plurality of resilient cantilever arms and a plurality of protrusions formed on the plurality of resilient cantilever arms; and

an elastic sheet including a plurality of keypad buttons, the keypad buttons being arranged such that actuation of one of the keypad buttons presses a corresponding one of the plurality of resilient cantilever arms.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing is made of plastic.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the casing is an injection-molded product.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a panel which covers the elastic sheet and fixes the elastic sheet and the casing together.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the casing further includes a recessed portion to accommodate the elastic sheet and the panel.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of keypad buttons are glued to the plurality of resilient cantilever arms.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a portable device.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are dome-shaped.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are cylindrical.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a casing including a resilient cantilever arm and a protrusion, wherein the resilient cantilever arm has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the protrusion is disposed on the first surface of the resilient cantilever arm; and

an elastic sheet including at least one key button to press the second surface of the resilient cantilever arm.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the casing is made of plastic.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the casing is an injection-molded product.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a panel which covers the elastic sheet and fixes the elastic sheet and the casing together.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the casing further includes a recessed portion to accommodate the elastic sheet and the panel.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one key button is glued to the second surface of the resilient cantilever arm.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the apparatus is a portable device.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protrusion is dome-shaped.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protrusion is cylindrical.