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:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2000
Kennard Nielsen, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A lever keyswitch for use primarily in electronic devices such as keyboards, mice, gaming devices, and the like includes a button portion secured to a base portion with a lever assembly that permits the button portion to move substantially linearly within its housing. Preferably, the lever assembly includes an elongate, resilient, U-shaped, lever extending from a base portion and an elongate, resilient, offset member extending from the center of the U-shaped lever to a button portion, which is encircled by the U-shaped lever. The lever and offset member work together to define a synthetic four-bar linkage, thereby allowing the button portion to move essentially linearly. More preferably, several keyswitches are integrally molded to a common base portion, forming a monolithic structure that may be quickly and easily manufactured and installed in the electronic device.