Selective multiple position switch with common pivoted operator
First Claim
1. A control-key device comprising:
- a housing member having an opening;
a substrate with at least a pair of electrode portions formed thereon, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts;
a movable contact which is formed with respect to each of the corresponding electrode portion, said movable contact being positioned spacedly from the corresponding electrode portion and movably supported on said substrate by an elastic member so that said movable contact comes in contact with the corresponding electrode portions to cause said pair of separate contacts to short-circuit when a downward movement is applied to said movable contact;
a supporting member formed on said substrate at the middle portion between said pair of electrode portions; and
a key-top member having a first surface and a second surface and positioned so that said first surface is exposed outside of said housing member through said opening and said second surface is closely spaced from said supporting member, said key-top member further comprising portions contacting said movable contacts, said key-top member being arranged so that said second surface of said key-top member contacts said supporting member when a downward movement is applied to said key-top member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tilting member has a force bearing portion to which operating force is applied, and a supported surface. A supporting member has a supporting projection with which the supported surface of the tilting member may come in contact. When the operating force is applied to the tilting member, the tilting member tilts with respect to the supporting member. The supporting member supports the tilting member at a supporting point where the supporting projection of the supporting member is in contact with the supported surface of the tilting member, about which supporting point the tilting member tilts. The tilting of the tilting member, with respect to the supporting member, establishes a predetermined electrical contact.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A control-key device comprising:
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a housing member having an opening; a substrate with at least a pair of electrode portions formed thereon, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts; a movable contact which is formed with respect to each of the corresponding electrode portion, said movable contact being positioned spacedly from the corresponding electrode portion and movably supported on said substrate by an elastic member so that said movable contact comes in contact with the corresponding electrode portions to cause said pair of separate contacts to short-circuit when a downward movement is applied to said movable contact; a supporting member formed on said substrate at the middle portion between said pair of electrode portions; and a key-top member having a first surface and a second surface and positioned so that said first surface is exposed outside of said housing member through said opening and said second surface is closely spaced from said supporting member, said key-top member further comprising portions contacting said movable contacts, said key-top member being arranged so that said second surface of said key-top member contacts said supporting member when a downward movement is applied to said key-top member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control-key device comprising:
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a housing member having an opening; a substrate with two pairs of electrode members formed and located at symmetrical positions on an imaginary circle thereon, each of said electrode members having a pair of separate contracts; an elastic member placed on said substrate and having two pairs of movable contact portions corresponding to said two pairs of electrode members, which movable contact portions are positioned spacedly from the corresponding electrode members and arranged so that one of said movable contacts to which a downward movement is applied comes into contact with the corresponding one of said electrode members to cause the relevant pair of separate contacts thereof to short-circuit; a supporting member formed on said substrate at the center portion of said imaginary circle; and a key-top member having a first surface and a second surface and positioned so that said first surface is exposed outside of said housing member through said opening and said second surface is closely spaced from said supporting member, said key-top member further comprising portions contacting said movable contacts, said key-top member being arranged so that said second surface of said key-top member contacts said supporting member when a downward movement is applied to said key-top member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A control-key device comprising:
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a substrate with at least a pair of electrode members formed on a surface thereof and a center position defined at said surface between said pair of electrode members, said pair of electrode members being located symmetrically with respect to said center position; an elastic member placed on said substrate, said elastic member comprising a depression on said center position of said substrate and at least a pair of protuberant portions on said electrode member, each of said protuberant portions having an electrical contact facing toward but closely spaced from the corresponding one of said electrode members so as to operate as a movable contact member against the corresponding electrode member; a metal member placed partially buried in said depression, supported by said substrate at said center position with the portion of said elastic member located between said metal member and said substrate, and protruding from the surface of said elastic member; a key-top member having a first surface and a second surface, said key-top member comprising at least a pair of first portions contacting the corresponding protuberance portions of said elastic member, a second portion defined at said second surface and facing but closely spaced from the protruding portion of said metal member, and at least a pair of fringe portions positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the second portion of said key-top member; and a housing member having an opening position and at least a pair of stopper portions corresponding to said pair of fringe portions of said key-top member, said housing member being positioned so that said first surface of said key-top member is exposed outside of said housing member and said stopper positions contact the corresponding fringe portions when downward movement is not applied to said key-top member at its first surface.
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Specification