Patent ID: 7773958
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A key pad assembly comprising: a key pad, in operational relationship with a pressure activated key, installed on a cover having an externally facing front surface and an internally facing rear surface, such that the cover at least partially houses: a switching unit, a signal transmitting unit, and a supporting plate, wherein the rear surface of the cover faces the switching unit and the signal transmitting unit, wherein the key pad once installed on the front surface of the cover works in cooperation with the switching unit so that in response to pressure applied on the pressure activated key, the switching unit activates the signal transmitting unit to generate a signal, wherein the switching unit and the signal transmitting unit are substantially positioned over the supporting plate, and the cover is positioned over the switching unit and the signal transmitting unit, and the key pad is positioned over an area of the cover corresponding to the switching unit, so that application of pressure on the pressure activated key results in application of pressure to the switching unit and in turn said pressure is applied to the supporting plate which prevents the cover from caving inward as the result of the applied pressure, wherein the signal transmitting unit extends from the switching unit in a first direction in a way that a first portion of the signal transmitting unit canteliverly extends in a first plane same as a plane of the switching unit over a first portion of the supporting plate, and a second portion of the signal transmitting unit extends in a second plane, wherein the second plane is not the same as the first plane, such that the second portion of the signal transmitting unit is at least partially disposed in a cavity formed in the supporting plate when the cover is assembled over the switching unit and the signal transmitting unit, wherein an aperture formed in the cover corresponds to the first portion of the signal transmitting unit not disposed in said cavity, and the first portion of the signal transmitting unit is at least partially exposed through said aperture when the cover is assembled over the signal transmitting unit, and wherein size of the cavity formed in the supporting plate is configured to maintain structural integrity of the supporting plate in response to user applied pressure on the pressure activated key.