Low profile keyboard switch having panel hinged actuators and cantilevered beam snap acting contacts
First Claim
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1. A keyboard switch assembly comprising:
- at least one elongated stationary lower contact member;
at least one elongated upper contact member;
said upper contact member having a substantially concave configuration;
a housing including a base member and a cover member;
said cover member engaging said base member;
said base member having at least one groove for securing said lower contact member;
said base member including ridges adjacent each groove for supporting said upper contact member transverse to said lower contact member;
said ridges having indentations along at least one wall thereof;
each upper contact member having at least one movable section which is supported at one end as a cantilevered beam;
said movable section being aligned with an associated indentation; and
key means supported by said cover member for selectively forcing said movable section to buckle at the supported end thereof over the associated indentation and causing the end of said movable section to make electrical contact with said lower contact member.
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Abstract
A low profile keyboard switch with tactile feel and short key travel is disclosed. The keyboard may be a matrix connected keyboard and includes a lower, fixed contact and an upper, concave contact. The concave contact is supported at one end and operates as a cantilever beam. When pressure is applied by a key, at the unsupported end to cause buckling of the concave contact at its supported end, electrical contact is made with the lower fixed contact. The concave contacts possess the key return force and the snap action desirable for tactile feel and short key travel for a low-profile, low-cost keyboard switch.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A keyboard switch assembly comprising:
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at least one elongated stationary lower contact member; at least one elongated upper contact member; said upper contact member having a substantially concave configuration; a housing including a base member and a cover member; said cover member engaging said base member; said base member having at least one groove for securing said lower contact member; said base member including ridges adjacent each groove for supporting said upper contact member transverse to said lower contact member; said ridges having indentations along at least one wall thereof; each upper contact member having at least one movable section which is supported at one end as a cantilevered beam; said movable section being aligned with an associated indentation; and key means supported by said cover member for selectively forcing said movable section to buckle at the supported end thereof over the associated indentation and causing the end of said movable section to make electrical contact with said lower contact member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification