Fluid isolation and dispersion system for tactile input devices

• US 5,681,122 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Burke, Randal A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/602,480
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 400/490, 400/472, 361/680, 345/168, 200/302.1, 200/302.2, D14/115
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/004 Evacuation of penetrating liquid

Abstract

A fluid isolation and dispersion system which includes one or more sealing devices to minimize the chance of fluid damage to electronic components. The system includes seals between keys of a keypad and aperture walls in a cover member through which the keys protrude, and a number of chambers around the keys for trapping fluid that has passed through any one of the seals. The chambers are defined by chamber walls linking the aperture walls, and a gasket below the chamber walls. The system may additionally include a channel formed between a periphery wall around the aperture walls and a flexible periphery wall around the gasket for diverting fluid that has passed by any one of the chamber walls, and a spout on one side of the gasket for discharging the fluid from the channel.

Claims

1. A system for isolating a fluid from a keypad comprising:

a flexible gasket member including raised portions, wherein the gasket member overlies a printed circuit board containing elastometric conductors and the raised portions contain keys that impact the elastometric conductors when struck by a user;

a top cover over the flexible gasket member containing a plurality of apertures defined by aperture walls through which the raised portions protrude;

wherein the raised portions form a seal between the keys and the aperture walls; and

a plurality of linking walls which link predetermined aperture walls to form a plurality of chambers on top of the flexible gasket member;

wherein predetermined linking walls and predetermined portions of predetermined aperture walls form a periphery wall around the aperture walls, wherein the flexible gasket member further comprises a flexible periphery wall around the periphery of the gasket member, and wherein the periphery wall and the flexible periphery wall are separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible gasket member further comprises:

a spout portion along one side of the flexible gasket member and coupled to the flexible periphery wall of the channel which vents fluid that has seeped into the channel.

3. A system for isolating a fluid from a keypad comprising:

a flexible gasket member including raised portions, a flexible periphery wall around the periphery of the gasket member, and a spout portion coupled to the flexible wall; and

a top cover over the flexible gasket member containing a plurality of apertures defined by aperture walls through which the raised portions protrude, a plurality of linking walls which link predetermined aperture walls, and a periphery wall made up of predetermined linking walls and predetermined portions of predetermined aperture walls;

wherein the gasket member overlies a printed circuit board containing elastometric conductors and the raised portions contain keys that impact the elastometric conductors when struck by a user;

wherein the raised portions form a seal between the keys and the aperture walls;

wherein the linking walls form chambers on top of the flexible gasket member; and

wherein the periphery wall and the flexible periphery wall are separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel coupled to the spout portion.

4. A system for isolating a fluid from a keypad comprising:

seals between keys of the keypad and aperture walls defining apertures in a cover member through which the keys protrude;

a number of chambers around the keys for trapping fluid that has passed by any one of the seals;

wherein the chambers are defined by chamber walls linking the aperture walls, and a gasket below the chamber walls;

a channel formed between a periphery wall around the aperture walls and a flexible periphery wall around the gasket for diverting fluid that has passed by any one of the chamber walls; and

a spout on one side of the gasket and coupled to the flexible periphery wall of the channel which vents fluid that has seeped into the channel.