Patent ID: 8411038

Claim:
A multilayer integral keypad for actuating a plurality of switches of an electronic device, comprising: a plurality of key tops, at least some of said key tops having a display layer and a plastic layer, said plastic layer being different than said display layer; said display layer having an upward facing display surface and a downward facing back surface; said plastic layer coupled to said back surface of said display layer and having an actuating structure extending downward and away from said display layer; a resilient key top support layer, said key top support layer being different than said display layer and said plastic layer and coupled to said plastic layer of said key tops and integrally connecting said key tops to one another; said key top support layer having an arcuate support layer leg section extending downward and away from said key tops toward a support layer base; wherein said key top support layer extends only partially underneath said key tops; wherein said key top support layer is configured to allow said key tops to be in a stationary position when no force is applied to said key tops by a user and to allow a single of said key tops to be in an activation position and actuate at least one of the switches when a predetermined force is applied to said single of said key tops; and wherein the entirety of said key top support layer is downward and below said display layer.