Keyboard

• US 5,494,363 A
• Filed: 03/08/1994
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prehkeytec GmbH
• Original Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Hochgesang, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/207,076
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/490, 400/491, 400/491.1, 400/495, 400/473, 200/512, 200/513, 200/341, 200/345, 200/275, 200/5 A
• US Class Current: 400/495
• 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 2229/022 Modular assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/034 Positioning of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor

Abstract

In order to be able to produce smaller units whenever needed from a keyboard that consists of an integral multiple key-guiding arrangement (3), a gummous mat (4) with resetting domes for keys (1) and a contact level (8), structural features are disclosed which particularly simplify a division of the multiple key-guiding arrangement (3). The structural features are such that the multiple key-guiding arrangement is divided into segments and the segments are interconnected with one another by connecting bars (17), and the connecting bars (17) can be divided by means of tools.

Claims

1. A Keyboard having a plurality of guiding component segments each of which supports a key for sliding movement, with the guiding component segments being joined together to form an integral multiple key-guiding arrangement, said keyboard further having a gummous mat forming domes for contacting and thereby resetting pressed keys guided by said guiding component segments, and a contact level having electrical contact arrangements which are switchable by movement of said keys and their respective domes, wherein:

said integral multiple key-guiding arrangement further comprises connecting means for interconnecting the guiding component segments of the integral multiple key-guiding arrangement and for allowing said multiple key-guiding arrangement to be disconnected at dividing lines between the guiding component segments, said connecting means comprising a plurality of separated connecting bars for interconnecting adjacent guiding component segments and for being cut by a cutting tool for relatively easily disconnecting said adjacent guiding component segments at said dividing lines

wherein some of said guiding component segments are interconnected with some adjacent guiding component segments only by said separated connecting bars at said dividing lines but are interconnected to other adjacent guiding component segments by said separated connecting bars and additional structure, whereby it is easy to disconnect guiding component segments at said dividing lines where they are interconnected only by said connecting bars by cutting said separated connecting bars but it is difficult to disconnect said adjacent guiding component segments where they are interconnected by said separated connecting bars and said additional structure.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein some of said separated connecting bars define bores for receiving pegs for assembling the keyboard.

3. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the gummous mat has adjacent segments corresponding to said segments of said guiding components and said gummous mat is notched between all adjacent segments.

4. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the guiding component segments comprise holders for parallel guiding components, with some holders of adjacent segments being attached to one another to form said additional structure and other holders of adjacent segments not being attached to one another at said dividing lines.

5. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein some of said separated connecting bars define bores for receiving pegs for assembling the keyboard.

6. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein the gummous mat has adjacent mat segments corresponding to segments of said guiding component and said gummous mat is notched between said adjacent mat segments.

7. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the gummous mat has adjacent mat segments corresponding to segments of said guiding component and said gummous mat is notched between said adjacent mat segments.

8. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said separated connecting bars are substantially flat and are bounded on side edges thereof by spaces.