Underwater zoom switch

• US 5,089,671 A
• Filed: 12/15/1989
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Val Ranetkins
• Original Assignee: Val Ranetkins
• Inventors: Ranetkins, Val
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US07/451,511
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/83 B, 200/83 C, 200/83 N, 200/61.53, 200/503, 200/515, 200/512, 200/302.2
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• 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 2211/002 Fluid or inflatable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/038 Fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/044 Under water
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/046 Camera

Abstract

Conductive pads are disposed in a housing which consists of a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid. One of the pads is mounted on the underside of a push-button, and the push-button is surrounded by a flexible membrane which closes one end of the housing. When the push-button is pressed, the fluid between the conductive pads is displaced, and the membrane stretches sufficiently to accommodate the displaced fluid.

Claims

1. A switch arrangement, comprising:

a housing having an open end and a closed end to define an interior chamber;

a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid completely filling said interior chamber;

a flexible, stretchable membrane covering said open end of said housing, said flexible membrane having an inner surface, facing said closed end of said housing, and an opposed outer surface;

a push-button molding formed on said outer surface of said flexible membrane;

wherein, when said push-button molding is not depressed, said switch arrangement is in an open state, and, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction towards said closed end of said housing, said switch arrangement is in a closed state; and

wherein, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction toward said closed end of said housing, the fluid under said membrane in the area of said push-button molding is displaced in a direction away from the space between said push-button molding and said closed end, said flexible membrane being expanded in the area surrounding said push-button molding to provide additional volume to accommodate said displaced fluid, said additional volume being equal to the volume of said displaced fluid.

2. A switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a valve through which said chamber is filled with said fluid and for degassing said fluid.

3. A switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a rubber material.

4. A switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a flexible plastic material.

5. A switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a flexible metal material.

6. A switch as defined in any one of claims 3, 4 or 5 and including a spring under said push-button molding.

7. A control unit comprising a plurality of switch arrangements, each said switch arrangement comprising:

a housing having an open end and a closed end to define an interior chamber;

a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid completely filling said interior chamber;

a flexible, stretchable membrane covering said open end of said housing, said flexible membrane having an inner surface, facing said closed end of said housing, and an opposed outer surface;

a push-button molding formed on said outer surface of said flexible membrane;

wherein, when said push-button molding is not depressed, said switch arrangement is in an open state, and, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction towards said closed end of said housing, said switch arrangement is in a closed state; and

wherein, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction toward said closed end of said housing, the fluid under said membrane in the area of said push-button molding is displaced in a direction away from the space between said push-button molding and said closed end, said flexible membrane being expanded in the area surrounding said push-button molding to provide additional volume to accommodate said displaced fluid, said additional volume being equal to the volume of said displaced fluid.