Patent ID: 9177733
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: H01H,H03K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A key assembly comprising: a base; a keycap spaced from the base along a press direction, the keycap configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated by a first amount in the press direction and a second amount in a lateral direction orthogonal to the press direction, and wherein the first amount is at least as much as the second amount and no larger than twice the second amount; a biasing mechanism configured to bias the keycap away from the base; a first linkage rotatably coupled to the base and rotatably coupled to the keycap; and a second linkage rotatably coupled to the base and rotatably coupled to the keycap, wherein, in response to press force applied to the keycap, the biasing mechanism resists keycap movement toward the pressed position, and the first and second linkages together maintain the keycap in a substantially constant orientation relative to the base while guiding the keycap toward the pressed position, wherein, in response to a removal of the press force, the biasing mechanism biases the keycap toward the impressed position, and wherein the biasing mechanism comprises magnetically attracted subcomponents configured to bias the keycap, the magnetically attracted subcomponents comprising at least one magnet, wherein the first linkage comprises a shaped wire, wherein the first linkage is rotatably coupled to the keycap at a first joint, wherein the keycap further comprises: a lip disposed over an undercut for retaining the shaped wire to form the first joint; and a pocket contiguous with the undercut, the pocket configured to allow the shaped wire to be deformed and slipped into the undercut to form the first joint without substantially deflecting the lip.