Patent ID: 7733327

Claim:
An input device for capturing user control inputs for an electronic device, the input device comprising: a positioning element comprising a substantially disc shaped member; a substantially annular shaped spring member, the spring member being a non-coil spring, the spring member being substantially planar on a plane and defining a substantially serpentine pattern on the plane, the spring member positioned laterally outward relative to the positioning element to substantially surround the positioning element and configured to exert a biasing force radially inwardly toward the positioning element; a movable puck; and a housing including a contact surface defining a puck field of motion and supporting slidable motion of the puck, the contact surface including an opening and the housing at least partially containing the positioning element and the spring member, wherein the positioning element is connected to the puck via the opening of the contact surface of the housing, wherein the spring member extends in substantially the same plane as the positioning element, and the input device farther comprises: a stop mechanism extending in substantially the same plane as the positioning element and as the spring member, the stop mechanism positioned laterally outward from the positioning element and configured to releasably engage the spring member to limit radial inward movement of the spring member against the positioning element.