US Patent 9349551 Keyboard with elastic member disposed on touch panel

A keyboard including a touch panel having an input operation surface; and an elastic plate-like member disposed and superimposed on the input operation surface of the touch panel. The elastic plate-like member is locally and elastically deformable by a pressing force. The elastic plate-like member includes an input region adapted to be elastically deformed toward the input operation surface by the pressing force so as to permit input operation of the touch panel, and a non-input region not permitting input operation of the touch panel irrespective of presence or absence of elastic deformation by the pressing force.