Patent ID: 8339782

Claim:
A handheld electronic device that is structured to be operated by the thumbs of a user, the handheld electronic device comprising: a housing having a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion; a keypad disposed on the housing; the keypad comprising a plurality of keys situated in a plurality of rows that extend along a first direction and a plurality of columns that extend along a second direction; the keys being arranged in a first array and a second array, the first array being disposed on the right-hand portion of the housing, the second array being disposed on the left-hand portion of the housing; the keys being of a stepped shape and comprising a base portion and an upstanding engagement portion disposed on the base portion, the base portions each having a base surface, the engagement portions each having an upstanding engagement surface; the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys each being oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another; the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the first array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the first array; and the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the second array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the second array.