Membrane switch
First Claim
1. A membrane switch device of the type comprising a first membrane switch having a sheet of flexible insulating film with side edges and first and second end edges, conductors and switch electrodes on one surface of said sheet, a first fold line located substantially midway between said end edges and extending normally of said side edges, said sheet being folded along said fold line so that said end edges coincide and said sheet is divided into two parallel sections with the first surface on each section opposed to the first surface on the other section and with said switch electrodes opposed to each other, first separator means between said opposed first surfaces which maintains said surfaces in spaced-apart relationship, said separator means permitting relative movement of said electrodes towards and against each other, and a tail extending from said first end edge, said conductors extending onto said tail, said switch device being characterized in that:
- a second sheet of film is integral with said first sheet of film, said second sheet of film extending from said second end edge of said first sheet, a slit is provided between said first sheet and said second sheet, said tail being inserted through said slit,said second sheet of film having side edges and having an end edge which is remote from said first sheet, said second sheet being folded along a second sheet fold line which extends parallel to said first fold line to form a second membrane switch which is similar to said first membrane switch and which has opposed surfaces on which are provided second conductors and second opposed switch electrodes with a second separator means,said second membrane switch being folded as a unit along said second edge of said first sheet whereby said first switch and said second switch are in parallel planes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A membrane switch device is described which is composed of two membrane switch arrays which are in parallel closely spaced relationship. A first or original array of membrane switches is provided on a sheet of flexible insulating film which has been folded about a medial fold line so that the switch electrodes on the two opposed surfaces are in alignment. The electrodes have conductors extending therefrom which extend onto a tail. A second array is provided on an extension of the sheet of insulating film and this extension also is folded about its own medial fold line. Additional electrodes and conductors are provided on the extension. A slit is formed between the original section of film and the additional section and the tail is inserted through this slit when the first array is produced by folding the first or original section of film. After the second section or extension of the film is folded to produce the second array of switches, the entire second switch array is folded as a unit towards the first array so that both switch arrays are adjacent to each other and are in parallel planes.
21 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A membrane switch device of the type comprising a first membrane switch having a sheet of flexible insulating film with side edges and first and second end edges, conductors and switch electrodes on one surface of said sheet, a first fold line located substantially midway between said end edges and extending normally of said side edges, said sheet being folded along said fold line so that said end edges coincide and said sheet is divided into two parallel sections with the first surface on each section opposed to the first surface on the other section and with said switch electrodes opposed to each other, first separator means between said opposed first surfaces which maintains said surfaces in spaced-apart relationship, said separator means permitting relative movement of said electrodes towards and against each other, and a tail extending from said first end edge, said conductors extending onto said tail, said switch device being characterized in that:
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a second sheet of film is integral with said first sheet of film, said second sheet of film extending from said second end edge of said first sheet, a slit is provided between said first sheet and said second sheet, said tail being inserted through said slit, said second sheet of film having side edges and having an end edge which is remote from said first sheet, said second sheet being folded along a second sheet fold line which extends parallel to said first fold line to form a second membrane switch which is similar to said first membrane switch and which has opposed surfaces on which are provided second conductors and second opposed switch electrodes with a second separator means, said second membrane switch being folded as a unit along said second edge of said first sheet whereby said first switch and said second switch are in parallel planes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification