The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 62 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a single granted patent for a keyboard reimagined. We also cover an iPhone design patent and as always, wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Flexible Stabilized Button Input Device

Mac Keyboards reimagined

Apple has been granted a patent for completely reimagined Mac keyboards. Apple notes in granted patent 10,747,332 that traditional keyboards with 70 keys may require over 400 delicate parts that are constructed and then precisely assembled. In some cases, each part is individually assembled into the keyboard, thereby increasing manufacturing time, complexity, and related costs, even if it is done robotically.

The design, as shown in patent FIG. 7 below, provides a cover layer #720 can comprise a flexible material such as a fabric, flexible polymer, mesh, rubber, related material, or combinations thereof. The cover layer can help seal and protect the keyboard assembly #700 by limiting or preventing ingress of debris or fluids inward through the cover layer.

Apple's patent FIG. 8 above illustrates a cleaner, simpler design that sits below the keycap that replaces 400 parts; FIGS. 13 to 18 illustrate six alternative designs that Apple is considering.

You could review Apple's full keyboard design details in patent 10,747,332 here. Although Apple dropped their butterfly keyboard for pro designs with their magic keyboard architecture, Apple's logic behind reducing the construction complexity and time to build sounds like this could one day come to market.

Apple wins Design Patent for iPhone X

The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today