System for securing a keypad to a housing

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing for enclosing at least a portion of the electronic device; and

a keypad assembly coupled with the housing that comprises a plurality of keys for receiving inputs for the electronic device, wherein edge keys from the plurality of keys are disposed on an outside edge of the electronic device;

wherein the keypad assembly comprises an exterior locking that corresponds with a locking in the housing to prevent lateral movement between the keypad assembly and the housing;

wherein the edge keys comprise a protruding portion disposed underneath a hook of the housing to prevent removal of the edge keys.

2. The keypad assembly of claim 1 wherein the edge keys are curved downwardly towards the outside edge of the electronic device and the protruding portion extends downward from an outside edge of the edge keys.

3. The keypad assembly of claim 1 further comprising a circuit board having one or more electrical switches corresponding to the keys from the keypad.

4. The keypad assembly of claim 3 further comprising a lightguide plate located between the keypad and the circuit board and having a number of holes formed to correspond with keys from the keypad, wherein the holes provide paths for actuator posts of the keys to contact the corresponding electrical switch on the circuit board.

5. The keypad assembly of claim 4 wherein the exterior locking in the keypad assembly is part of the lightguide plate.

6. A keypad assembly comprising:

a locking on an outside of the keypad assembly that couples with a corresponding locking on a casing to couple the keypad assembly to the casing; and

one or more edge keys that include a protruding portion corresponding to a gap in the casing that limits vertical movement of the one or more edge keys relative to the casing;

wherein the gap in the casing comprises a casing hook that overhangs the protruding portion of the one or more keys.

7. The keypad assembly of claim 6 further comprising:

a keypad as part of an electronic device, wherein the one or more edge keys are keys on outside edges of the electronic device.

8. The keypad assembly of claim 7 wherein the one or more edge keys are curved downwardly towards the outside edges of the electronic device.

9. The keypad assembly of claim 7 further comprising a circuit board having one or more electrical switches corresponding to the keys from the keypad.

10. The keypad assembly of claim 9 further comprising a lightguide plate located between the keypad and the circuit board and having a number of holes formed to correspond with keys from the keypad, wherein the holes provide paths for actuator posts of the keys to contact the corresponding electrical switch on the circuit board.

11. The keypad assembly of claim 7 wherein the casing comprises a bezel frame located in a front of the keypad and defining an opening for the keypad.

12. The keypad assembly of claim 7 wherein the electronic device comprises a handheld computer or smartphone.

13. A keypad assembly system for a device that comprises:

a housing that frames a keypad for the device; and

a keypad assembly that includes the keypad and is coupled with the housing through lockings in the keypad assembly that interlock with corresponding lockings in the housing, wherein edge keys from the keypad include hooks that are coupled with corresponding hooks on the housing.

14. The keypad assembly of claim 13 wherein the lockings in the keypad assembly that interlock with the corresponding lockings in the housing limit lateral movement between the housing and keypad assembly.

15. The keypad assembly of claim 13 wherein the hooks on the housing overhang the corresponding keypad hook of the edge keys to prevent vertical movement of the edge keys, further wherein the keypad hooks comprise a protruding portion that extends underneath the housing overhang.

16. The keypad assembly of claim 15 wherein the edge keys are curved downwardly towards an outside edge of the device.

17. The keypad assembly of claim 13 wherein the keypad assembly further comprises:

at least one bezel coupled with the keypad;

a keypad frame through which the at least one bezel braces the keys from the keypad; and

a lightguide plate including holes corresponding to each of the keys from the keypad, wherein the at least one bezel connects with the lightguide plate and the keys from the keypad are coupled with the corresponding holes in the lightguide plate;

wherein the lockings in the keypad assembly are part of the lightguide plate.

18. The keypad assembly of claim 13 wherein the device comprises a handheld computer or smartphone.