Fabric keyboard

• US 10,796,863 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Stringer, Christopher J., Coster, Daniel J., Shaffer, Benjamin A., Cousins, Benjamin A., Kuna, Melody, Corbin, Sean S., Brock, John M., Murphy, Robert S., Wilson, Jr., Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O
• Application Number:
  US14/826,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 2003022, 400479
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/048 Constituting key
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/058 to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/003 Membrane embracing all keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/044 Protecting cover

Abstract

An input device, such as a keyboard, includes one or more keys that each includes a keycap operable to move within an aperture of a frame to activate a switch and fabric disposed over the frame and keycap. A first region of the fabric is bonded to the keycap and a second region of the fabric is bonded to the frame. The first region may be an embossed region and the second region may be an unembossed region. The fabric may dampen sound from within the keyboard, such as noise related to movement of the keycap, activation of the switch, and so on. The fabric may also form a barrier that restricts passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or other portions of the input device.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a frame defining an aperture and a frame flange extending from the aperture;

a keycap within the aperture and operable to move with respect to the frame, the keycap comprising a top surface projecting above the aperture and a keycap flange laterally extending from the keycap and operable to contact the frame flange to block movement of the keycap relative to the aperture;

a switch positioned under the keycap; and

a fabric disposed over the frame and the keycap and comprising;

a first region bonded to the top surface of the keycap using adhesive;

a second region bonded to the frame using adhesive; and

a set of sidewalls connected to the first region and the second region, the set of sidewalls having a height less than a total distance between the top surface and the keycap flange of the keycap;

wherein the set of sidewalls extends downward beneath the frame and upward along a side of the keycap when the keycap is not traveling to permit the keycap to travel without stretching the fabric or exerting force on the keycap.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein

the fabric further includes a set of embossed regions;

and

the second region is between adjacent embossed regions of the set of embossed regions.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the keycap flange is configured to engage an inner surface of the frame flange when the keycap is unactuated.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the set of sidewalls surround the keycap.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein at least one embossed region further comprises a rounded corner connecting the first region with the set of sidewalls.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the height of the set of sidewalls corresponds to a travel distance of the keycap.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the keycap flange contacts the frame to restrict lateral movement of the keycap with respect to the switch.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the switch biases the keycap upwards.

9. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

an illuminator positioned under the fabric;

wherein

the fabric allows passage of light from the illuminator.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein:

the first region includes a legend; and

the light from the illuminator illuminates the legend.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the fabric is slack during vertical movement of the keycap with respect to the switch.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein a portion of the fabric restricts passage of a contaminant into the aperture.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the fabric further comprises:

an embossed region including a side wall of the set of sidewalls, the side wall forming a U-shaped depression; and

an unembossed region adjacent the embossed region;

wherein the fabric is configured to bias upward the keycap.

14. The input device of claim 13, further comprising an illuminator, wherein light emitted from the illuminator shines through a portion of the keycap and the embossed region.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein the keycap includes an opaque material that blocks passage of the light.

16. The input device of claim 13, wherein the fabric restricts passage of a contaminant into the aperture.

17. The input device of claim 13, wherein the fabric restricts lateral movement of the keycap with respect to the switch.

18. The input device of claim 1, wherein the set of sidewalls form a depression around the keycap relative to the second region when the keycap is in an undepressed state.

19. The input device of claim 13, wherein the U-shaped depression is formed in a portion of the fabric extending downward beneath the frame and extending upward along a side of the keycap.