Bei einer Folientastatur (1) zur Betätigung eines oder mehrerer Schaltelemente (4), bestehend aus einer in Richtung der Schaltelemente (4) verformbaren Folie (2), auf deren Oberfläche (5), vorzugsweise fluchtend zu den Schaltelementen (4), eine oder mehrere Tastenkappen (11,11',11",11"',11^IV) angebracht, soll auf dieser eine oder mehrere Tastenkappen aufgebracht (11,11',11",11"',11^IV) sein, deren Oberfläche (15), deren räumlichen Abmessungen und deren Außenkonturen in Abhängigkeit von dem jeweiligen Einsatz- und Verwendungszweck individuell gestaltet werden können. Des weiteren sollen die Tastenkappen (11,11',11",11"',11^IV) als Massenware auf einfache und kostengünstige Weise herstellbar sein und fest mit der Folie (2) verbunden werden können, so dass eine zuverlässige und dauerhafte Funktionsweise der Folientastatur (1) gewährleistet ist.

Diese erfolgt dadurch, dass die Tastenkappen (11,11',11",11"',11^IV) einzeln im Spritzgussverfahren hergestellt sind, dass die Tastenkappen (11,11',11",11"',11^IV) auf der Folie (2) aufgeklebt sind und dass die Tastenkappen (11,11',11";11"',11^IV) ganz oder teilweise aus einem transparenten, transluszenten und/oder aus einem lichtundurchlässigen Material gebildet sind.

A controller (10) for a game machine includes a flat shaped housing. A direction designating operator (12) is formed on the left side of upper surface of housing, and operation designating operator (13) is formed on the right side. An operation designating operator (14) is provided on a front side surface of the housing. The operation designating operator includes a key switch (14a) formed on the left side of a front side surface of housing, and a key switch (14b) formed on the right side. Left and right ends of the controller for a game machine are held between left and right palms to be used. While holding controller for a game machine, a player operates direction designating operator by his left thumb, operates operation designating operator by his right thumb. Further, player operates key switch by his left index finger or middle finger placed on the front side surface of housing, and operates key switch by his right index finger or middle finger. In this manner, various and many switches of the controller for a game machine of the present invention can be operated, with very little movement of hands of a player holding the controller.

Accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A headset may be provided with a button controller assembly that has user-actuated buttons and a microphone. The microphone may be formed by mounting a microphone transducer on a printed circuit board. A housing may be mounted over the transducer to form a sealed cavity for the transducer. Circuitry may be mounted on portions of the printed circuit board that extend beyond the edges of the microphone housing. The button controller assembly may have dome switches. The dome switches may have a housing that encloses dome switch components and that forms a structural internal part for the button controller. The dome switch housing structure may have tabs or other engagement features that mate with corresponding engagement features in a button member. The button member may be pressed by a user to actuate a desired dome switch.

A keypad apparatus for an electronic device permits a thinner construction. The keypad apparatus includes a first light guide plate having key buttons molded in one body attached onto the first light guide plate, a second light guide plate disposed under the first light guide plate, a first light source disposed at one side of the first light guide plate, a second light source disposed at one side of the second light guide plate, and key input switches associated with the key buttons.

A key assembly which is configured to provide improved click feeling to a user and an electronic device having the same are provided. The key assembly includes a key body of elastic materials and contact projections, each of the contact projections which is protruded and formed from the key body and presses a switch device spaced apart from the key body by a gap providing a certain interval, wherein the key body is installed such that a contact surface of each of the contact projections is in contact with and pushed back by a certain distance by a pre-loading force of the switch device.

A deflection web is provided for use in a keypad assembly. The deflection web comprises a plurality of actuators resiliently coupled together by a flexible membrane. Each actuator of the deflection web corresponds to a key of the keypad assembly, and for each actuator, the flexible membrane comprises a corresponding radially outwardly extending flange whose thickness varies in a direction from the corresponding actuator. In some instances, the thickness of the flange may increase as the flange extends a distance radially outward from its corresponding actuator. A method for creating the deflection web of the keypad assembly and a method for assembling the keypad assembly are also provided.

Push button switch assembly for insertion in a control panel of a domestic appliance, the push button switch assembly comprising at least one push button having a push button cap and a separately formed actuating element, in particular an actuating pin, which extends between the push button cap and an electric switching element of the domestic appliance and upon actuating of the push button cap cooperates therewith and acts on the electric switching element to effect a switching operation, and a frame receiving and guiding the at least one push button cap, wherein at least one spring leg is arranged at the actuating element, which counteracts the actuating of the push button cap.

Push button switch assembly, in particular for insertion in a control panel of a domestic appliance, the push button switch assembly comprising at least one push button and a frame for receiving the at least one push button, wherein the push button has a push button cap, whose top wall or rather upper side is to be manipulated by a user, and an actuating element, in particular an actuating pin, for actuating a switch, especially a micro switch, of a circuit board arranged underneath the push button switch assembly upon actuation of the push button cap, wherein the push button cap is provided with spring legs resting on a frame bottom and counteracting the actuation of the push button cap, characterized in that at least two spring legs are provided, which are formed in a rotationally symmetric or in an axially symmetric arrangement at the push button cap.

A keypad apparatus for an electronic device permits a thinner construction. The keypad apparatus includes a first light guide plate having key buttons molded in one body attached onto the first light guide plate, a second light guide plate disposed under the first light guide plate, a first light source disposed at one side of the first light guide plate, a second light source disposed at one side of the second light guide plate, and key input switches associated with the key buttons.

There are disclosed a key base and a key sheet which are established as products even in a case where a key base main body has a flexible and elastic sheet and a presser layer is formed of electromagnetic wave curable resin integrally with the key base main body on the back surface of this key base main body. The key base according to the present invention is a key base having a key base main body, and a presser layer formed on the back surface of said key base main body, wherein said key base main body has a first sheet having flexibility and elasticity, and a second sheet which is harder than said first sheet and has the front surface thereof directly or indirectly secured to the back surface of said first sheet, above-mentioned presser layer is formed of electromagnetic wave curable resin integrally with said second sheet on the back surface of said second sheet.

Button keys (36, 37, 39), resilient supports (36f, 36g, 39d, 39e, 37g, 37f) and a frame (44) are molded in one piece such that the button keys are resiliently movable and are spaced apart by a gap. Each of the button keys includes an engagement portion (36d, 39c, 37d, 36e, 37e). A case (33) includes a button hole (56) formed therein. The case is assembled to the frame (44) such that the button keys are received in the button hole. After the case (33) has been assembled to the frame (44) such that the plurality of adjacent button keys are received in the button hole (56) and such that the engagement portion abuts a perimeter portion of the button hole (56), the second gap (T2) being smaller than the first gap (T1).