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Method of fabricating an elastomeric keypad

  • US 5,681,515 A
  • Filed: 04/12/1996
  • Issued: 10/28/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of fabricating an elastomeric keypad having a hard key cap on an elastomeric key, comprising the steps of:

  • providing a film having a key cap graphic portion provided thereon, and also having a non-graphic portion;

    placing the film onto a first plate of a multi-plate molding tool, the first plate having a portion representative of the elastomeric key, and the film arranged so that the key cap graphic portion is aligned with said portion;

    mounting a second plate of the multi-plate molding tool onto the first plate, such that the first and second plates co-operate to excise the key cap graphic portion from the non-graphic portion;

    mounting a third plate of the multi-plate molding tool onto the second plate to form an assembled multi-plate tool having a cavity defining the elastomeric keypad;

    filling the cavity with an elastomeric material and curing the elastomeric material to form an elastomeric keypad having an integral key cap; and

    opening the assembled multi-plate tool, removing the formed elastomeric keypad having an integral key cap, and removing the excised non-graphic portion from the multi-plate molding tool.

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