Rubber dome/mylar switch

• US 5,500,497 A
• Filed: 12/15/1994
• Issued: 03/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Merriman, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/356,859
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 200/517, 200/512, 200/514, 200/314, 200/311, 200/312, 200/317, 200/513, 200/515, 200/516, 200/517, 200/308, 200/309, 200/310, 200/313
• 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 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed

Abstract

A rubber dome switch assembly has a first contamination resistant sheet which overlies a circuit board upon which are switch footprints. The first sheet is apertured to expose the switch footprints and a second contamination resistant sheet overlies the first sheet and has switch closure pads on the underside thereof, each of which is adapted to bear against the corresponding switch footprint to close the switch. A third sheet is adapted to overlie the second sheet and has switch buttons formed thereon each adapted to bear against the second sheet to force the closure pad into contact with the corresponding switch footprint. A faceplate member overlies the third sheet. Pins are provided for aligning the several sheets, all of which are separable from each other, and bolts or spring clips are provided for clamping and holding the several elements together. To indicate switch button closure, an indicator such as a light-emitting diode, is associated with a respective switch button, and is aligned with a light pipe extending through the sheets, which is viewable through an aperture in the faceplate member. Alternatively, the indicator can be viewable through transparent portions of the first and second sheets, that are aligned with apertures in the third sheet and faceplate member.

Claims

1. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly comprising, in combination,

a base member having a first surface with a switch footprint thereon and one or more circuit components connected in circuit with said switch footprint;

a first sheet of contamination resistant flexible plastic non-conducting material overlying said base member and at least some of the circuit components thereon, said first sheet being apertured to expose said switch footprint, said first sheet being in contact with and separable from said base member;

a second sheet of contamination resistant flexible plastic non-conducting material overlying said first sheet in contact with said first sheet and separable therefrom, said second sheet having a switch pad on the surface thereof adjacent said first sheet in registry with said switch footprint;

a third sheet of an elastic material overlying said second sheet in contact with said second sheet and separable therefrom, said third sheet having formed thereon a pressure responsive switch actuation member, said switch actuation member having a bearing surface thereon adapted to bear against and depress said second sheet to move said switch pad into contact with said footprint upon application of pressure to said switch actuation member;

a faceplate member defining first and second apertures, and overlying said third sheet, the actuation member being aligned with the first aperture in said faceplate member;

means for aligning said first, second, and third sheets;

means for clamping and holding each of said first, second and third sheets in contact with adjacent sheets with said first sheet in contact with said first surface of said base member;

indicator means associated with said switch actuation member, for indicating contact of said switch footprint and said switch pad, said indicator means including a light-emitting diode; and

viewing means communicating with said indicator means, for permitting viewing of said indicator means, said viewing means including a light pipe extending through said first, second and third sheets, the light pipe being aligned with the second aperture defined in said faceplate member.

2. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for clamping and holding includes a spring clip means coupled to a side wall of said faceplate member, for holding said base member and said first, second and third sheets together by urging said base member and said first, second and third sheets toward said faceplate member.

3. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for clamping and holding includes at least one bolt having a threaded end, the bolt extending through respective apertures defined in said first, second and third sheets, the threaded end of the bolt being threaded to corresponding threads of a third aperture defined in said faceplate member.

4. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for aligning includes a locating pin integral with said third sheet, extending through apertures defined in said first and second sheets and said base member.

5. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for aligning includes a pin extending from said faceplate member through apertures defined in said first, second and third sheets and said base member.

6. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly comprising, in combination,

a base member having a first surface with a switch footprint thereon and one or more circuit components connected in circuit with said switch footprint;

a first sheet of transparent contamination resistant flexible plastic non-conducting material overlying said base member and at least some of the circuit components thereon, said first sheet being apertured to expose said switch footprint, said first sheet being in contact with and separable from said base member;

a second sheet of transparent contamination resistant flexible plastic non-conducting material overlying said first sheet in contact with said first sheet and separable therefrom, said second sheet having a switch pad on the surface thereof adjacent said first sheet in registry with said switch footprint;

a third sheet of an elastic material overlying said second sheet in contact with said second sheet and separable therefrom, said third sheet having formed thereon a pressure responsive switch actuation member, said switch actuation member having a bearing surface thereon adapted to bear against and depress said second sheet to move said switch pad into contact with said footprint upon application of pressure to said switch actuation member;

a faceplate member defining first and second apertures, and overlying said third sheet, the actuation member being aligned with the first aperture in said faceplate member;

means for aligning said first, second, and third sheets;

means for clamping and holding each of said first, second and third sheets in contact with adjacent sheets with said first sheet in contact with said first surface of said base member;

indicator means associated with said switch actuation member, for indicating contact of said switch footprint and said switch pad, said indicator means including a light-emitting diode mounted on said base member; and

viewing means communicating with said indicator means, for permitting viewing of said indicator means, said viewing means including portions of said first and second sheets, an aperture defined in said third sheet and the second aperture of said faceplate member, which are aligned with the light-emitting diode.

7. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for clamping and holding includes a spring clip means coupled to a side wall of said faceplate member, for holding said base member and said first, second and third sheets together by urging said base member and said first, second and third sheets toward said faceplate member.

8. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for clamping and holding includes at least one bolt having a threaded end, the bolt extending through respective apertures defined in said first, second and third sheets, the threaded end of the bolt being threaded to corresponding threads of an aperture defined in said faceplate member.

9. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for aligning includes a locating pin integral with said third sheet, extending through apertures defined in said first and second sheets and said base member.

10. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for aligning includes a pin extending from said faceplate member through apertures defined in said first, second and third sheets and said base member.

12. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for clamping and holding includes a spring clip means coupled to a side wall of said faceplate member, for holding said base member and said first, second and third sheets together by urging said base member and said first, second and third sheets toward said faceplate member.

11. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly comprising, in combination,

a base member having a first surface with a switch footprint thereon and one or more circuit components connected in circuit with said switch footprint;

a first sheet of contamination resistant flexible plastic non-conducting material overlying said base member and at least some of the circuit components thereon, said first sheet being apertured to expose said switch footprint, said first sheet being in contact with and separable from said base member;

a second sheet of contamination resistant flexible plastic non-conducting material overlying said first sheet in contact with said first sheet and separable therefrom, said second sheet having a switch pad on the surface thereof adjacent said first sheet in registry with said switch footprint;

a third sheet of an elastic material overlying said second sheet in contact with said second sheet and separable therefrom, said third sheet having formed thereon a pressure responsive switch actuation member, said switch actuation member having a bearing surface thereon adapted to bear against and depress said second sheet to move said switch pad into contact with said footprint upon application of pressure to said switch actuation member;

a faceplate member defining first and second apertures, and overlying said third sheet, the actuation member being aligned with the first aperture in said faceplate member;

means for aligning said first, second, and third sheets;

means for clamping and holding each of said first, second and third sheets in contact with adjacent sheets with said first sheet in contact with said first surface of said base member;

indicator means associated with said switch actuation member, for indicating contact of said switch footprint and said switch pad, said indicator means including a light-emitting diode mounted on said base member; and

viewing means communicating with said indicator means, for permitting viewing of said indicator means, said viewing means including apertures in the first, second and third sheets and the second aperture of the faceplate member, which are aligned with the light-emitting diode.

13. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for clamping and holding includes at least one bolt having a threaded end, the bolt extending through respective apertures defined in said first, second and third sheets, the threaded end of the bolt being threaded to corresponding threads of an aperture defined in said faceplate member.

14. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for aligning includes a locating pin integral with said third sheet, extending through apertures defined in said first and second sheets and said base member.

15. A pressure actuated switch and circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for aligning includes a pin extending from said faceplate member through apertures defined in said first, second and third sheets and said base member.