Double actuator elastomeric switch

• US 5,834,714 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Staco Switch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Staco Switch Incorporated
• Inventors: Nichols, Ted L., Gust, James F., Berger, John W., Kertatama, Andry
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/641,414
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1 B, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/512-517, 200/341-345, 200/339, 200/520-552, 200/553-574, 200/306
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• 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 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations

Abstract

A switch for making multiple contacts formed as an elastomeric molded body having a base with a ring of material molded therewith to the base, and attached to the base by a web. An interior cylindrical member is supported within the ring of material by another web. Electrically conductive media is formed on the ring and on the interior cylindrical member. The switch is mounted on a board having multiple stationary contacts that can be contacted by the conductive surfaces on the ring and the conductive surface on the interior cylindrical member.

Claims

1. A switch for making multiple sequential contacts comprising:

an elastomeric continuously molded single body having a base;

a ring molded integrally with said base and attached to said base by a web;

an inner member supported within said ring by a second web said inner member and said second web both integrally molded with said ring to form in part said continuously molded single body;

an electrically conductive media on at least a portion of said ring;

an electrically conductive media on the inner member supported by said ring;

means for mounting said base to a board member having multiple stationary contacts that can be contacted by the conductive surface on said ring and the conductive surface on said inner member in a sequential manner so that different contacts take place in sequence between the ring conductive material and the conductive material on the inner member to form sequential multiple contacting switch.

2. The switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

extensions from said base which are integrally molded therewith of the same material as said base that extend through openings in said board member.

3. The switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

air vents formed within said base.

4. The switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said web extending from said base to said ring comprises a web with non-parallel cross sectional walls.

5. The switch as claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

said second web supporting said inner member to said ring is formed with parallel side walls.

6. The switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said web supporting said ring extending from said base member extends upwardly toward said ring at an angle between 30° and

60° and

has non-parallel side walls.

7. The switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a member extending across said ring and said inner member for simultaneously moving said ring and inner member for downward movement against said board; and

,

multiple stationary contacts on said board for making contact with the conductive material on said ring and said inner member wherein one of said stationary contacts on said board forms a common.

8. A multiple contacting switch for making multiple sequenced contacts comprising:

a single integrally molded elastomeric material formed as a continuously joined body with an outer peripheral member connected to a base member by a first web, and an interior member connected to said outer peripheral member by a second web; and

,

conductive material on said outer peripheral member and said interior member adapted for making multiple sequenced contacts with an underlying stationary contact surface.

9. The switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

the first web extending from said outer peripheral member to said base member has non-parallel cross sectional walls.

10. The switch as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said second web extending from said outer peripheral member to said interior member comprises a web having parallel walls.

11. The switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said outer peripheral member comprises a ring; and

,

said interior member comprises a cylindrical member.

12. The switch as claimed in claim 11 further comprising:

a board member upon which said switch is mounted having multiple stationary contacts with a common for making contact between the conductive surface on said ring and the conductive surface on said cylindrical member.

13. The switch as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:

elastomeric extensions formed as a single integrally molded item with said base member for extending therefrom into openings within a board member for elastomeric frictional engagement thereof.

14. The switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said switch is formed with an outer peripheral member and an interior member at fixed spaced distances overlying said base member to provide for a fixed stroke.

15. The switch as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:

air passages within said base member to provide for air purging upon actuation of said switch.

16. A switch for making multiple sequential contacts comprising:

a first movable electrical contact;

a second movable electrical contact for making sequential contact after said first movable electrical contact;

means for providing solely elastomeric independent actuation forces between said first and second electrical contacts formed from a unitary molded elastomeric material on which said first and second movable electrical contacts are formed; and

,

said switch being mounted on an underlying substrate having stationary contacts.

17. The switch as claimed in claim 16 further comprising:

webs forming said independent actuation forces, wherein one of said webs is formed with non-parallel side walls.

18. The switch as claimed in claim 17 further comprising:

said first and second respective movable contacts being formed on an outer peripheral member and an inner member supported therebetween with one of said webs; and

,

said outer peripheral member is supported on a base member by said web with non-parallel side walls.

19. The switch as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

elastomeric extensions unitarily molded to said switch for extending therefrom into said substrate.

20. A switch providing a double pole sequential switching function comprising:

a single continuous elastomeric molded material;

a first movable contact means integrally molded and formed on said single elastomeric molded material for making a first electrical contact with an underlying substrate;

a second movable contact means integrally molded and formed on said elastomeric molded material for making a second electrical contact sequenced after said first electrical contact with an underlying substrate; and

,

wherein said first and second movable contact means are separated in movement and supported by webs forming part of said single elastomeric molded material a specified distance which can be predetermined.

21. A double pole switch providing sequential movable contacts for making contact with an underlying substrate having fixed contacts comprising:

an elastomeric unitarily molded material;

a first movable contact means on said elastomeric unitarily molded material for making a first contact with said fixed contacts;

a second movable contact means on said elastomeric unitarily molded material for making a second contact with said fixed contacts; and

,

support means for said first and second movable contact means integrally formed in said elastomeric unitarily molded material having a predetermined cross-sectional thickness to create predetermined actuation forces between said first and second movable contact means.

22. An array of switches forming a switching matrix mounted on a substrate to form a keypad, keyboard or the like, each of said switches providing multiple sequenced contacts, comprising:

a plurality of molded elastomeric switch bodies each integrally formed with an outer peripheral member integrally formed and connected to a base member by an integrally formed web, and an interior integrally formed member integrally connected to and formed with said outer peripheral member by an integrally formed web; and

,

conductive material on each of said outer peripheral members and each of said interior members adapted for making sequential contact with a plurality of underlying stationary contacts on the substrate to form a multiple sequenced switching function.