Flush lighted flat keyboard assembly
First Claim
1. In a flat keyboard assembly comprising a support member having flat opposite sides, at least two spaced switches on one side of said support member each including a resilient, metallic momentary-contact switch element selectively actuatable from a first to a second position in response to force exerted thereon, a flexible switch actuator member having flat opposite sides with one side thereof in spaced facing relationship with said one side of said support member and said switch elements, said one side of said actuator member having at least two switch-actuating projections thereon respectively extending toward and in alignment with said switch elements, and a flexible keyboard member having flat opposite sides, one side of said keyboard member abutting the other side of said actuator member whereby force exerted on said keyboard member in general alignment with a said switch element deflects said keyboard member and actuator member thereby causing a said projection to apply actuating force on the respective switch element, a light source;
- means for mounting said light source adjacent said one side of said actuator member in the space between said switches and said one side of said actuator member and between said projections;
conductors connected to said light source for energizing the same;
said actuator member being formed of light-transmissive material, at least one selected area of said keyboard member being light-transmissive thereby being illuminated by said light source; and
means for maintaining said support member and keyboard member in assembled relation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flush lighted flat keyboard assembly including a printed circuit board having conductors on one side. Resilient dome switch elements are supported on the one side of the board in spaced-apart relationship in peripheral contact with certain conductors to make center contact with other conductors upon the application of force thereon. Another printed circuit board has one side in facing relationship with the first board and has openings therein respectively in alignment with the switch elements. Light sources are mounted on the other side of the second board which has conductors thereon connected to energize the light sources. A flexible switch-actuating member has one side in facing relationship with the other side of the second board and has switch-actuating projections extending therefrom through the second board openings toward the switch elements. The one side of the actuating member also has isolator projections thereon intermediate the switch-actuating projections, which extend toward the second board. A flexible, flat keyboard member has one side abutting the other side of the actuator member. The actuator member is formed of light-transmissive material and selected areas of the keyboard member are light-transmissive so as to be selectively illuminated by the light sources.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a flat keyboard assembly comprising a support member having flat opposite sides, at least two spaced switches on one side of said support member each including a resilient, metallic momentary-contact switch element selectively actuatable from a first to a second position in response to force exerted thereon, a flexible switch actuator member having flat opposite sides with one side thereof in spaced facing relationship with said one side of said support member and said switch elements, said one side of said actuator member having at least two switch-actuating projections thereon respectively extending toward and in alignment with said switch elements, and a flexible keyboard member having flat opposite sides, one side of said keyboard member abutting the other side of said actuator member whereby force exerted on said keyboard member in general alignment with a said switch element deflects said keyboard member and actuator member thereby causing a said projection to apply actuating force on the respective switch element, a light source;
- means for mounting said light source adjacent said one side of said actuator member in the space between said switches and said one side of said actuator member and between said projections;
conductors connected to said light source for energizing the same;
said actuator member being formed of light-transmissive material, at least one selected area of said keyboard member being light-transmissive thereby being illuminated by said light source; and
means for maintaining said support member and keyboard member in assembled relation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- means for mounting said light source adjacent said one side of said actuator member in the space between said switches and said one side of said actuator member and between said projections;
Specification