Flexible keyboard assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9443673-B2
Application number	US-201313854112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2013
Priority date	Sep 11, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of assembling a folio case. The method comprises molding a set of molded key caps over a flexible fabric layer to form a fabric key cap layer, where the key caps do not pass through the flexible fabric layer. The method further comprises affixing a first portion of the flexible key cap layer opposite the set of molded key caps to an interior portion of a housing, and affixing an intermediate layer between the interior portion of the housing and a second portion of the fabric key cap layer corresponding to the set of molded key caps opposite the first portion. The method further comprises attaching a first portion of a holder to the first portion of the flexible key cap layer configured to receive a computing device, wherein a second portion of the holder is not fixedly attached to the flexible key cap layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a set of key structures disposed on a support base fixedly attached to an intermediate layer;
a first set of key caps disposed on the set of key structures;
a flexible fabric having a top and bottom surface, wherein a top of each of the first set of key caps is coupled to the bottom surface of the flexible fabric, and wherein the flexible fabric is entirely planar over an area defined by the set of key structures; and
a second set of key caps disposed on the top surface of the flexible fabric, wherein each of the set of key structures, the first set of key caps, and the second set of key caps are vertically aligned.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible fabric is bonded to the first set of key caps by an adhesive disposed on the flexible fabric at locations corresponding to each of the key caps in the first set of key caps, and wherein the flexible fabric is bonded with a top case to form a flexible fabric layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible fabric layer is held in tension.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible fabric layer deforms when the key cap is depressed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the key structures are input keys capable of providing instructions to a computing device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer further includes one or more circuit boards, power sources, and magnets.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein an amount of adhesive disposed on the flexible fabric is sufficient to bond to the first set of key caps to the second set of key caps, and wherein pressing on one of the key caps in the second set of key caps does not affect more than the one of the key caps in the first set of key caps affixed to the pressed key cap.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second set of molded key caps disposed on the flexible fabric do not pass through the flexible fabric.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is affixed to a housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a holder affixed to the flexible fabric is configured to hold a computing device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second set of key caps disposed on the flexible fabric are comprised of a flexible material.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible material of the second set of key caps disposed the flexible fabric is a polyurethane (PU).

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the flexible material of the second set of key caps is made of a different material than the flexible fabric layer.

Assignees

• Logitech Europe Sa

Inventors

• Chu Pai-Cheng
• Lin Tzu-Pin
• Chen Chih-Wei
• Milhe Richard

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• Y10T29/49105

  Switch making · CPC title

• G06F1/1669

  Detachable keyboards · CPC title

• H01H13/86

  characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size · CPC title

• H01H2215/006

  Only mechanical function · CPC title