Patent ID: 7330743

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a casing having an operating face; a plurality of rows of keys, each having an outer face protruding from the plane of the operating face in a rest position and each key being arranged to travel to a contact position located inward of the rest position; a fragile input region of the operating face, wherein the fragile input region provides recesses for operation of the respective keys; and a protection arrangement, wherein the protection arrangement comprises a plurality of protectors protruding beyond the fragile input region and one or more elements separate from the fragile input region and connected to the plurality of protectors, and wherein the protection arrangement comprises a respective pair of protectors flanking each row of the plurality of rows of keys, and wherein the protectors have an external profile that provides a plurality of contact points that define a contact plane and wherein when the casing is placed face downwards on a generally planar surface, the fragile input region is spaced from the generally planar surface by the plurality of protectors and impulses received on contact between the generally planar surface and the contact points are substantially dissipated through the protectors and the one or more elements, away from the fragile input region, and wherein the protection arrangement defines the contact plane in the locality of at least one of said keys such that when placed operating face down on a generally flat surface, the resulting travel of said at least one key is restricted.