The quality and design of Apple's MacBook keyboards have been a hot topic in recent years, with Cupertino's dreaded implementation of the Butterfly switch proving the most controversial. While Apple has taken steps to address user concerns, formally dropping the Butterfly switches with last year's 16-inch MacBook Pro, it seems the tech giant isn't done playing around with its keyboard. According to documents obtained by Patently Apple, the MacBook maker has filed a patent for a new type of retractable keyboard that lowers into the base of the laptop's body when closed. The design places the keys on a stabilizer, which is attached to a base layer. The latter increases or decreases when the MacBook is opened or closed, respectively, and this should theoretically allow Apple to produce even slimmer MacBooks in the future. Below is an illustration from the patent showing how the retractable keyboard implementation would work in both the open and closed position.