Keyboard of elastic material for office machines
First Claim
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1. An office machine keyboard comprising:
- a continuous layer of elastic material,a plurality of key areas defined in said layer,a fingering surface on each one of said areas,a plurality of inserts, one of said inserts being located in each of said areas and being formed of a material differing in elasticity from said elastic material of said continuous layer, whereby said layer flexibly holds said inserts, said inserts being depressible to function as keys for the keyboard of said office machine,a relief on each one of said inserts to represent an identifying character for each of said keys,and at least a passage internal to each one of said inserts and extending entirely through said insert below said relief,each one of said inserts being embedded in the associated key defining area of said layer, said elastic material including mechanical interlocking means comprising struts filling said passages to interlock said inserts into the elastic layer.
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Abstract
In an office machine keyboard comprising a plurality of keys formed by an array of areas of layer of elastic material, each key is provided with an identifying character in relief on an insert. The insert is embedded in the elastic layer so that the character is visible on the fingering surface of the layer, is surrounded by the material of the elastic layer and contrasts in color with the material. The insert is provided with internal passages. The elastic material engaging the internal passages forms struts interlocking the inserts in the elastic layer.
The keyboard is formed by injection of a hot elastomer in a moulding die in which are positioned the inserts.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. An office machine keyboard comprising:
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a continuous layer of elastic material, a plurality of key areas defined in said layer, a fingering surface on each one of said areas, a plurality of inserts, one of said inserts being located in each of said areas and being formed of a material differing in elasticity from said elastic material of said continuous layer, whereby said layer flexibly holds said inserts, said inserts being depressible to function as keys for the keyboard of said office machine, a relief on each one of said inserts to represent an identifying character for each of said keys, and at least a passage internal to each one of said inserts and extending entirely through said insert below said relief, each one of said inserts being embedded in the associated key defining area of said layer, said elastic material including mechanical interlocking means comprising struts filling said passages to interlock said inserts into the elastic layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification