Two-position latching two dome switch
First Claim
1. A two-position latching two dome switch comprising:
- a switch control member body having a portion pivotally connected to a support for movement of the member from a first position to a second position;
first and second nonmetallic, flexible domes each having an electrically conductive element carried in the underside of the dome, said domes each being mounted on a support having first and second sets of spaced-apart conductive traces thereon, each of said domes being constructed and arranged to continually engage a portion of said switch control member;
whereby upon movement of said switch control member to a first position, said member collapses said first dome causing said conductive element under said first dome to engage a first set of spaced-apart conductive traces closing a circuit associated therewith and said second dome is completely extended and engages said member to latch said switch control member in said first position wherein said first dome is collapsed, and upon movement of said switch control member to said second position said member pivots to collapse said second dome causing said electrically conductive element under said second dome to engage a second set of spaced-apart electrical traces and close a circuit associated therewith and so that said first dome is fully extended and engages said member to latch said switch control member in said first position and wherein said second dome is collapsed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention includes a keycap having a top surface having a first and second end, and a body portion, said keycap being pivotally connected to a support for movement of the keycap from a first to a second position. A lever extending downward from the body portion of the keycap. The lever is sandwiched between and constantly engaged by a first and second opposed dome structures. Each dome structure has a conductive material on the underside thereof and the dome structure is supported on a substrate having an open circuit. In the first position for the keycap a first dome structure is collapsed and the electrically conductive element on the undersurface of the dome engages the open circuit to close the circuit. When the keycap is moved to a second position, the keycap pivots causing the lever to move in a rotational direction collapsing the second dome structure and said first dome structure biases the lever against the second dome structure. The present invention is simple in construction and low cost and provides improved tactile field over prior art latching switches.
26 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A two-position latching two dome switch comprising:
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a switch control member body having a portion pivotally connected to a support for movement of the member from a first position to a second position; first and second nonmetallic, flexible domes each having an electrically conductive element carried in the underside of the dome, said domes each being mounted on a support having first and second sets of spaced-apart conductive traces thereon, each of said domes being constructed and arranged to continually engage a portion of said switch control member; whereby upon movement of said switch control member to a first position, said member collapses said first dome causing said conductive element under said first dome to engage a first set of spaced-apart conductive traces closing a circuit associated therewith and said second dome is completely extended and engages said member to latch said switch control member in said first position wherein said first dome is collapsed, and upon movement of said switch control member to said second position said member pivots to collapse said second dome causing said electrically conductive element under said second dome to engage a second set of spaced-apart electrical traces and close a circuit associated therewith and so that said first dome is fully extended and engages said member to latch said switch control member in said first position and wherein said second dome is collapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification