The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 2020
Filed:
Aug. 14, 2015
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Christopher J. Stringer, Cupertino, CA (US);
Daniel J. Coster, Cupertino, CA (US);
Benjamin A. Shaffer, Cupertino, CA (US);
Benjamin A. Cousins, Cupertino, CA (US);
Melody Kuna, Cupertino, CA (US);
Sean S. Corbin, Cupertino, CA (US);
John M. Brock, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Robert S. Murphy, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Saratoga, CA (US);
APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US);
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.