Deflection web for a keypad assembly

• US 8,283,582 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US12/826,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/159.B, 200/293, 200/294, 200/295, 200/296, 200/302, 200/340, 200/243, 200310-314, 200341-345, 200512-520
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/074 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A deflection web is provided for use in a keypad assembly. The deflection web comprises a plurality of actuators resiliently coupled together by a flexible membrane. Each actuator of the deflection web corresponds to a key of the keypad assembly, and for each actuator, the flexible membrane comprises a corresponding radially outwardly extending flange whose thickness varies in a direction from the corresponding actuator. In some instances, the thickness of the flange may increase as the flange extends a distance radially outward from its corresponding actuator. A method for creating the deflection web of the keypad assembly and a method for assembling the keypad assembly are also provided.

Claims

1. A keypad assembly comprising:

(a) a plurality of keys;

(b) a deflection web comprising a plurality of actuators resiliently coupled together by a flexible membrane, wherein each actuator corresponds to a key;

(c) wherein for each actuator, the flexible membrane comprises a corresponding radially outwardly extending flange; and

(d) wherein a thickness of the flange varies in a direction from the corresponding actuator.

2. The keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the flange and an upper surface of the flange are non-parallel.

3. The keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein when a key is in a first undepressed position, the corresponding flange exerts a pre-load force on the corresponding actuator.

4. The keypad assembly of claim 3, wherein a component of the pre-load force is exerted in a key depression direction.

5. The keypad assembly of claim 1, further comprising a keypad base having a plurality of switches, wherein each switch corresponds to one of the plurality of keys.

6. The keypad assembly of claim 5, further comprising an overlay superimposed on the keypad base, the overlay having a dome corresponding to each switch.

7. The keypad assembly of claim 6, wherein when one of the plurality of keys is in a first undepressed position, the corresponding actuator is displaced by a height of the corresponding dome.

8. The keypad assembly of claim 7, wherein when the key is in the first undepressed position, an upper surface of the corresponding flange is substantially flat proximate the corresponding actuator.

9. The keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the flange increases as the flange extends in the direction from the corresponding actuator.

10. The keypad assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is configured for use in a mobile device.

11. A deflection web for a keypad assembly, the deflection web comprising:

(a) a plurality of actuators;

(b) a flexible membrane resiliently coupling each of the actuators together;

(c) wherein for each actuator, the flexible membrane comprises a corresponding radially outwardly extending flange; and

(d) wherein a thickness of the flange varies in a direction from the corresponding actuator.

12. The deflection web of claim 11, wherein when each actuator is depressed, the corresponding flange exerts a force on the actuator to counteract the depression.

13. The deflection web of claim 11, further comprising a chamfer at an intersection of each flange and corresponding actuator.

14. The deflection web of claim 11, wherein the flexible membrane comprises an elastomeric material.

15. The deflection web of claim 11, wherein each actuator is configured to receive a key of the keypad assembly.

16. The deflection web of claim 11, further configured for anchoring to a keypad base.

17. The deflection web of claim 16, wherein when the deflection web is anchored to the keypad base, each actuator is depressible from a first undepressed position wherein the flexible membrane is substantially planar between each of the actuators.

18. The deflection web of claim 11, further configured for use in a keypad assembly having a plurality of keys and a plurality of switches and corresponding domes, wherein travel of the flange in a key depression direction is approximately equal to a height of one of the plurality of domes.

19. A method for creating a deflection web for a keypad assembly, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of actuators in a substantially planar configuration; and

(b) providing a flexible membrane resiliently coupling the plurality of actuators together, wherein for each actuator, the flexible membrane comprises a corresponding radially outwardly extending flange, and wherein a thickness of the flange varies in a direction from the corresponding actuator.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising co-molding a portion of the deflection web to a frame.