Folded key stabilizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11545317-B2
Application number	US-202217651972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2022
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard, comprising:
a set of keycaps;
a feature plate positioned under the set of keycaps; and
a set of foldable structures positioned under the set of keycaps;
wherein a foldable structure of the set of foldable structures comprises at least two intersecting folding axes and is movable between a raised position and a collapsed position in response to movement of a keycap of the set of keycaps;
wherein the foldable structure is configured to bend along the at least two intersecting folding axes while moving between the raised position and the collapsed position; and
wherein the at least two intersecting folding axes include a first axis and a second axis, the foldable structure forming an upward-pointing ridge at the first axis and forming a downward-pointing ridge at the second axis.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the foldable structure of the set of foldable structures is configured to unfold along the at least two intersecting folding axes while moving from the raised position to the collapsed position.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the set of foldable structures are interconnected to each other across a layer of material.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the foldable structure comprises a sheet of material with a reduced thickness along one of the at least two intersecting folding axes.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the foldable structure is biased to the raised position by material positioned along the at least two intersecting folding axes.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the at least two intersecting folding axes intersect outer points of the foldable structure, the outer points being configured to translate relative to a center point of the foldable structure upon movement of the foldable structure between the raised position and the collapsed position.

7. A keyboard, comprising:
a set of keycaps;
a feature plate positioned under the set of keycaps;
a set of foldable structures positioned under the set of keycaps, wherein a foldable structure of the set of foldable structures comprises at least two perpendicularly intersecting folding axes and is movable along a central axis of motion between a raised position and a collapsed position in response to movement of a keycap of the set of keycaps;

wherein the foldable structure is configured to bend along the at least two perpendicularly intersecting folding axes while moving between the raised position and the collapsed position; and
wherein the at least two intersecting folding axes intersect at least two outer points on the foldable structure, the at least two outer points being configured to laterally translate away from the central axis of motion in response to movement of the foldable structure from the raised position to the collapsed position.

8. The keyboard of claim 7 , wherein the at least two outer points are positioned on pointed tips of the foldable structure.

9. The keyboard of claim 7 , wherein the foldable structure includes at least one folding axis intersecting the at least two perpendicularly intersecting folding axes, wherein at least one crook point is positioned on the at least one folding axis, the at least one crook point being configured to laterally translate away from the central axis of motion in response to movement of the foldable structure from the raised position to the collapsed position.

10. The keyboard of claim 7 , wherein the foldable structure forms a three-dimensional star shape.

11. The keyboard of claim 7 , wherein the central axis of motion perpendicularly intersects the feature plate.

12. A keyboard, comprising:
a set of keycaps;
a feature plate positioned under the set of keycaps; and
a set of foldable structures positioned under the set of keycaps;
wherein a foldable structure of the set of foldable structures comprises at least two intersecting folding axes and is movable between a raised position and a collapsed position in response to movement of a keycap of the set of keycaps;
wherein a set of outer points of the foldable structure are configured to translate relative to an intersection point of the at least two intersecting folding axes as the foldable structure moves between the raised position and the collapsed position.

13. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the set of outer points are configured to laterally translate relative to the intersection point as the foldable structure moves between the raised position and the collapsed position.

14. The keyboard of claim 13 , wherein the set of outer points are configured to laterally translate away from the intersection point as the foldable structure moves between the raised position and the collapsed position.

15. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the foldable structure flattens as it moves between the raised position and the collapsed position.

16. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the foldable structure includes resiliently bendable material along the at least two intersecting folding axes.

17. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the foldable structure includes triangular panels having tip points, and wherein the set of outer points and the intersection point are positioned at the tip points of the triangular panels.

18. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the set of outer points includes at least two outer points positioned on one of the at least two intersecting folding axes opposite each other relative to the intersection point.

19. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the foldable structure is configured to bend along the at least two intersecting folding axes while moving between the raised position and the collapsed position.

20. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein the foldable structure includes a rigid material attached to a relatively resilient material between the at least two intersecting folding axes.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Guy Ian A
• Miller Ari P
• Cooper Edward J
• Farahani Houtan R
• Robinson Kevin M

Classifications

• H01H2221/036

  Return force · CPC title

• H01H3/122 Primary

  with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor · CPC title

• H01H2221/058

  to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator · CPC title

• H01H13/14 Primary

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• H01H3/125

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title