Patent ID: 7288732

Claim:
A multidirectional input device comprising: a keytop capable of moving up and down through pressing; a membrane switch that has a plurality of switch elements arranged on a side that faces the reverse side of said keytop; and a plurality of first switch operating assemblies arranged above the plurality of switch elements, wherein the plurality of first switch operating assemblies is capable of switching on the switching elements, and upon pressing said keytop, at least one of the plurality of first switch operating assemblies is pressed, and thereby at least one of the plurality of switch elements can be switched on, wherein the plurality of first switch operating assemblies are embodied in an operation member comprising a metal plate that has a circular external configuration and flexibility, and the plurality of first switch operating assemblies are located near the circumference to be adjacent to one another at predetermined intervals, and the first switch operating assemblies adjacent to one another are connected with joint portions.