Switch assembly

• US 4,922,070 A
• Filed: 12/16/1988
• Issued: 05/01/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dorinski, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/285,568
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5A, 200/86 R, 200/512-517, 200/83 N
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/006 Staples
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/002 fixed to operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/014 Plated through holes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/044 ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/028 Contacts in depressions of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/028 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/034 Positioning of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/044 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0284 Details of three-dimensional rigid printed circuit boards H05K1/119 takes precedence; shaping of the substrate H05K3/0014
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/11 Printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits

Abstract

A switch assembly includes a housing 25 having a recess 26 with switch contacts 23 in the recess. A flexible sheet 21 is affixed to the housing and covers the recess. The flexible sheet carries a conductive contact 22. When the sheet is depressed, its contact engage the contacts in the recess to complete an electrical circuit. The housing can be formed as a molded plastic member with the switch contacts being formed on the plastic member.

Claims

1. A switch assembly comprising:

a housing member having first and second recessed areas, the first recessed area being located within the second recessed area;

conductive traces providing contacts on the housing member within the first recessed area;

the housing member including plated through holes connected to said contacts; and

a flexible sheet affixed to the housing member, within the second recessed area and over the first recessed area, the sheet including a conductive area located over said contacts and engageable with the contacts when the flexible sheet is depressed.

2. A switch assembly as described in claim 1 in which:

the housing member is part of a molded plastic housing.

3. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

the conductive traces include interdigitated fingers providing the contacts.

4. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

at least one of said plated through holes is located in said first recessed area.

5. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

the flexible sheet is affixed to the member by adhesive, and

the flexible sheet and adhesive cover and seal at least one of said plated through holes.