Contact switch device
First Claim
1. A contact-type key switch comprised of:
- a base member,circuit means including a plurality of conductors which are to be electrically connected,an outer membrane extending over said base plate, said membrane having an actuating key at the upper end thereof, a support pad at the lower end thereof and a wall portion flaring outwardly from said actuating key to said support pad, said wall portion having a predetermined collapse load characteristic,an inner membrane separate from said outer membrane, said inner membrane being smaller than said outer membrane and having an upper end, a lower end, and a wall portion flaring outwardly from said upper end to said lower end, said wall portion having a predetermined collapse load characteristic, said inner membrane mounted to said outer membrane below said actuating key wherein said lower end of said inner membrane is a predetermined distance above said circuit means,a first electric conductor member mounted to said lower end of said inner member,a second electric conductor member mounted within said wall portion of said inner membrane and below said upper end of said inner membrane, andsaid first electric conductor on said inner membrane electrically connecting selected ones of said conductors in said circuit means when said outer membrane exceeds its collapse load characteristic and said second electric conductor connecting other conductors in said circuit means when said inner membrane exceeds its collapse load characteristic.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch assembly including a base member and at least one pair of conductors provided on the base member which are to be electrically connected. An outer baffle extends over the base member and the conductors and is comprised of a conical wall having a key formed at the apex thereof and an outward flaring pad at the bottom thereof for engagement with the base member, the outer baffle including a recess beneath the key opening toward the base member. An inner baffle is dimensioned to be positioned within the outer baffle and includes a conical wall having a plug at the apex thereof and a pad formed at the bottom thereof. The plug is dimensioned to be received within the recess of the outer baffle such that the conical walls of the outer baffle and the inner baffle are symmetrical about a common axis. The pad on the inner baffle is spaced a predetermined distance above the base. A conductive element is provided on the inner baffle to electrically connect the conductors when the outer baffle collapses.
28 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A contact-type key switch comprised of:
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a base member, circuit means including a plurality of conductors which are to be electrically connected, an outer membrane extending over said base plate, said membrane having an actuating key at the upper end thereof, a support pad at the lower end thereof and a wall portion flaring outwardly from said actuating key to said support pad, said wall portion having a predetermined collapse load characteristic, an inner membrane separate from said outer membrane, said inner membrane being smaller than said outer membrane and having an upper end, a lower end, and a wall portion flaring outwardly from said upper end to said lower end, said wall portion having a predetermined collapse load characteristic, said inner membrane mounted to said outer membrane below said actuating key wherein said lower end of said inner membrane is a predetermined distance above said circuit means, a first electric conductor member mounted to said lower end of said inner member, a second electric conductor member mounted within said wall portion of said inner membrane and below said upper end of said inner membrane, and said first electric conductor on said inner membrane electrically connecting selected ones of said conductors in said circuit means when said outer membrane exceeds its collapse load characteristic and said second electric conductor connecting other conductors in said circuit means when said inner membrane exceeds its collapse load characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A switch assembly including:
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a base member, at least one pair of conductors provided on said base member which are to be electrically connected, an outer baffle extending over and resting upon said base member creating a cavity therebetween, said cavity containing said conductors, said outer baffle comprised of a conical wall having a key formed at the apex thereof and an outward flaring pad at the bottom thereof for engagement with said base member, said outer baffle including a recess beneath said key opening toward said base member, an inner baffle dimensioned to be positioned within said cavity, said inner baffle including a conical wall having a plug at the apex thereof and a pad formed at the bottom thereof, said plug dimensioned to be received within said recess of said outer baffle such that said conical walls of said outer baffle and said inner baffle are symmetrical about a common axis and said pad on said inner baffle is spaced a predetermined distance above said base, and at least one conductive means on said inner baffle operable to electrically connect said conductor when said outer baffle collapses. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A double acting contact-type switch comprised of:
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a resilient first member in the form of a cone having a key formed at the apex thereof and a generally planar pad formed at the bottom thereof, said pad adapted to be mounted onto a generally planar base member having a plurality of conductors which are to be electrically connected, said first member positioned such that said key is generally disposed above said conductors to be connected, said first member having a generally conical wall connecting said key to said pad, said conical wall dimensioned to collapse when a predetermined force perpendicular to said base is applied to said key, and a resilient second member in the form of an inverted cone, said second member having a conical wall connecting a mounting lug at the apex thereof with a pad at the lower opened end thereof, said second being smaller than said first member and being attached thereto by said mounting lug between said first member and said base with the pad of said second member facing said base and being spaced therefrom, said conical wall dimensioned to collapse when a predetermined force perpendicular to said base is applied thereto, first conductive means mounted to said pad of said second member operable to engage selected ones of said plurality of conductors on said base member when said conical wall of said first member collapses, and second conductive means on said second member operable to engage others of said plurality of conductors on said base member when said conical wall of said second member collapses. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A contact-type key switch comprised of:
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a base member, circuit means including a plurality of conductors which are to be electrically connected, an outer membrane extending over said base plate, said membrane having an actuating key at the upper end thereof, a support pad at the lower end thereof and a wall portion flaring outwardly from said actuating key to said support pad, said support pad resting on said base member and defining a cavity therebetween and said wall portion having a predetermined collapse load characteristic, an inner member separate from said outer membrane, said inner member being smaller than said outer membrane and having an upper end and a lower end, said inner member being insertable in said outer membrane below said actuating key and being disposed within said cavity wherein said lower end of said inner member is a predetermined distance above said circuit means, and; at least one electric conductor mounted to said inner member, said electric conductor on said inner member electrically connecting selected ones of said conductors in said circuit means when said outer membrane exceeds its collapse load characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A keypad for an electronic instrument, comprising:
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a base member, circuit means located on said base member including a plurality of groups of conductors which are to be electrically connected, a pad attached to said base member having a plurality of membranes formed therein, each of said membranes being in registry with one of said groups of conductors and creating an individual cavity with said base member, each of said membranes having an actuating key at the upper end thereof, and a wall portion flaring outwardly from said actuating key to said pad, said wall portion having a predetermined collapse load characteristic, a plurality of inner members separate from said outer membranes, each of said inner members being smaller than said outer membranes and having an upper end, and a lower end, said inner members dimensioned to be mounted to said outer membranes within the cavity formed between said base member, wherein said lower ends of said inner members are disposed above said circuit means, and at least one electric conductor mounted to each of said inner members, said electric conductor electrically connecting selected ones of said conductors in said circuit means when said outer membrane exceeds its collapse load characteristic.
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Specification