Hewlett-Packard Company

Randall N Eilert

Wilbur R Ames, Iv

N Thatcher Harvey

Randall D Lord

Robert M Neel

A front panel assembly for an electronic instrument having a one-piece key pad with a plurality of protuberances thereon. The protuberances are formed in groups according to function and all protuberances in a group are positioned in proximity to each other. Each group of protuberances has a header protruberance defining the function of the group. Each protrusion, except the header protuberances has a corresponding electrical switching member connectably attached thereto. Each protuberance, except the header protrusions, functions as a key. When a key protuberance is pressed, the corresponding electrical switching member is pressed into operative engagement with a corresponding circuit on the circuit board. An alternate embodiment allows one group of keys to be replaced with a rotary dial without remaking the key pad.

Key pad and front panel assembly for an electronic instrument

A one-piece removable carrying handle assembly (10) for removably attaching the handle assembly to an item to be carried. The carrying handle has a middle strap portion (18) with two end portions (14, 16). Each end portion (14, 16) includes a housing member (28, 24) that has a slot (44) adapted to receive attachment hardware. The attachment hardware includes a screw (30, 36) and a spacer (32, 38). A screw (30, 36) and a spacer (32, 38) fit through slots (22, 24) in the end portions (14, 16) of the assembly (10). Each housing (28) is designed to be positioned over a screw (30), spacer (32), and a slot (22) so that each end portion of the strap assembly (10) contains all separate parts and so that each end portion is lockingly attached to the middle strap portion to form a one-piece unit.

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Lake Stevens, WA, United States of America

Randall N Eilert