Keyboard with metal cover and improved switches
First Claim
1. A keyboard comprisinga layer of metal etched with a plurality of closed-loop grooves, at least one pair of said grooves defining a keysite region wherein said region is made flexible by a bellows effect;
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wherein said keysite region is thinner than said layer of metal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved keyboard is provided with a flexible metal cover, normally closed switches, and multiple throw switches. The metal cover is made flexible in the area of each key or switch by the provision of grooves in the metal surrounding each flexible portion. The normally closed and multiple throw switches include pellets which transmit the actuating force on a key or switch through a substrate on which a switch is mounted. The device may be configured in such a way that the pellet will push the normally closed contacts of a switch out of contact, or the pellet or pellets may mechanically link a stacked set of switches in order to provided ganged, multiple throw operation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising
a layer of metal etched with a plurality of closed-loop grooves, at least one pair of said grooves defining a keysite region wherein said region is made flexible by a bellows effect; - and
an insulating layer disposed between said keysite region and a switch contact; wherein said keysite region is thinner than said layer of metal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A keyboard comprising
a metal sheet having at least one region defined by an area of reduced thickness and a groove surrounding said area, wherein said region is made flexible by a bellows effect; - and
an insulating layer disposed between said region and a switch contact; wherein said region is thinner than said metal sheet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A keyboard comprising a layer of metal etched with a plurality of closed-loop grooves, at least one pair of said grooves defining a keysite region wherein said region is made flexible by a bellows effect, comprising
first and second contact electrodes, a substrate having an opening therethrough, a resilient electrically conductive member in contact with said first contact electrode and held in contact with said second contact electrode by a spring force, such that an electrical circuit is completed between said first and second electrodes and the electrically conductive member, and a pellet positioned in said opening in said substrate, whereby movement of an actuating cover toward the substrate will be transmitted by the pellet through said opening in said substrate to the resilient electrically conductive member, urging it out of contact from said second contact electrode and thereby breaking the electrical circuit.
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16. Apparatus comprising a plurality of switches arranged on an axis, each switch comprising first and second contact electrodes mounted on a flat substrate, and a resilient electrically conductive member for completing an electrical circuit between said first and second contact electrodes in a first position along said axis, and for opening said electrical circuit in a second position along said axis;
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said first position and said second position being independently defined for each switch; a pellet disposed between and resting against each resilient electrically conductive member and the resilient electrically conductive member immediately axially adjacent thereto; and each said substrate defining a hole through which said pellet may move, transmitting mechanical movement of an actuating cover to each electrically conductive resilient member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A metal keyboard cover having at least one key site defined by and made flexible by the provision of substantially laterally adjacent grooves and having an insert capable of transmitting light being bonded to said cover over said opening;
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an insulating layer disposed between said key site and a switch contact; wherein said key site is thinner than said metal keyboard cover.
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21. A keyboard comprising
a hermetic layer of substantially non-resilient material; -
at least one region in said layer defined by a plurality of closed-loop grooves, said region being made flexible by a bellows effect; an insulating layer disposed between said region and a switch contact; wherein said keysite region is thinner than said layer.
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Specification