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. 14, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2007
Roland Kamakau Alo, Raleigh, NC (US);
David Frederick Champion, Durham, NC (US);
Timothy Andreas Meserth, Durham, NC (US);
Michael Sven Miller, Raleigh, NC (US);
Gerard Francis Muenkel, Raleigh, NC (US);
David Thomas Windell, Raleigh, NC (US);
Roland Kamakau Alo, Raleigh, NC (US);
David Frederick Champion, Durham, NC (US);
Timothy Andreas Meserth, Durham, NC (US);
Michael Sven Miller, Raleigh, NC (US);
Gerard Francis Muenkel, Raleigh, NC (US);
David Thomas Windell, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a control panel that reduces overall size while providing integrated button protection for functional advantage. The control panel includes a function activator disposed at a fixed position on panel face of a device and a moveable cover, disposed over the panel face, the moveable cover having a first selection aperture configured to allow selection of a desired function by allowing engagement of a function activator only when the first selection aperture is moved to align with a function activator associated with the desired function.