Keyboard switch and unitized multiple switch configuration

Claim 2

A unitized multiple switch keyboard configuration comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of pairs of complementary conductive elements forming part of circuits to be closed by said switches; a plurality of contact leaves one end of each said leaf being electrically connected to one of the pair of conductive elements and the other end of which extends over and is spaced apart from the other of said pair of conductive elements; a covering shell overlying said circuit board and having therein a plurality of bearing openings that are bounded by collars formed in said shell; individual plunger means mounted in each of said bearing openings and movable toward a contact leaf to displace said leaf into contact with a complementary conductive element to close said associated circuit; a keytop connected to the top of each said plunger means; and spring means comprising a coil surrounding each said collar and plunger means and biasing the underside of each said keytop away from said shell.

Claim 3

A unitized multiple switch keyboard configuration comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of pairs of complementary conductive elements forming part of circuits to be closed by said switches; a plurality of contact leaves one end of each said leaf being electrically connected to one of the pair of conductive elements and the other end of which extends over and is spaced apart from the other of said pair of conductive elements; a covering shell overlying said circuit board and having therein a plurality of bearing openings; individual plunger means mounted in each of said bearing openings and movable toward a contact leaf to displace said leaf into contact with a complementary conductive element to close said associated circuit; a keytop connected to the top of each said plunger means; and split washer springs that are fastened to said shell at said bearing openings, said washer springs having a washer portion abounding said opening and spring arms biasing the underside of each said keytop.

Claim 4

A unitized multiple switch keyboard configuration comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of pairs of complementary conductive elements forming part of circuits to be closed by said switches; a plurality of contact leaves one end of each said leaf being electrically connected to one of the pair of conductive elements and the other end of which extends over and is spaced apart from the other of said pair of conductive elements; a covering shell overlying said circuit board and having therein a plurality of bearing openings; individual plunger means mounted in each of said bearing openings and movable toward a contact leaf to displace said leaf into contact with a complementary conductive element to close said associated circuit; a keytop connected to the top of each said plunger means; and split washer springs that are fastened to said shell at said bearing openings, said washer springs having a washer portion abounding said opening and spring arms biasing the underside of each said keytop.

Claim 5

A unitized multiple switch keyboard comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of first conductive elements, each forming a part of a circuit that may be closed by one of the switches of the keyboard; a plurality of contact leaves each of which is electrically connected to a second conductive element and is extended over and spaced apart from one of said first conductive elements; each leaf comprising a base portion connected to a second conductive element, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion and extending over a first conductive element; mounting means overlying said circuit board and being structurally connected thereto, said mounting means having a plurality of bearing openings therein; and individual plunger means mounted in said bearing openings and adapted to bear upon said contact fingers of the underlying contact leaves and displace said fingers into contact with corresponding first conductive elements.

Claim 6

A unitized multiple switch keyboard comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of first conductive elements, each forming a part of a circuit that may be closed by one of the switches of the keyboard; a plurality of contact leaves each of which is electrically connected to a second conductive element and is extended over and spaced apart from one of said first conductive elements; each leaf comprising a base portion connected to a second conductive element, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion and extending over a first conductive element; mounting means overlying said circuit board and being structurally connected thereto, said mounting means having a plurality of bearing openings therein; and individual plunger means mounted in said bearing openings and adapted to bear upon said contact fingers of the underlying contact leaves and displace said fingers into contact with corresponding first conductive elements.

Claim 7

The keyboard of claim 3 wherein: the bearing openings are bounded by collars formed in said shell; a keytop is connected to each said plunger means; and a coil surrounds each said collar and associated plunger means and biases the underside of the keytop connected to said plunger means away from said shell.

Claim 8

The keyboard of claim 3 further comprising: a keytop connected to each said plunger means; and spliT washer springs fastened to said shell at said bearing openings with a washer portion of each said spring abounding said opening and spring arms of each said spring biasing the underside of the keytop connected to the plunger means in said opening.

Claim 9

The keyboard of claim 3 wherein the contact leaves are supported on at least one second conductive element by a spacer means, whereby the multiple contact fingers of each leaf are spaced apart from a corresponding first conductive element.

Claim 10

The keyboard of claim 6 wherein said spacer means is a conductive plate.

Claim 11

The keyboard of claim 3 wherein said plunger means carries a resilient pad on its lower end and the downward displacement of said plunger compresses said pad against a leaf to effect override during displacement of said leaf into contact with a first conductive element.

Claim 12

The keyboard of claim 3 wherein the contact fingers are substantially parallel and extend substantially at right angles to the branch portion in substantially the same plane as the branch portion.

Claim 13

The keyboard of claim 3 wherein the leaf comprises a pair of branch portions extending from said base portion and branching into multiple contact fingers.

Claim 14

The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the branch portions and finger portions are located in substantially the same plane.

Claim 15

The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the base, the branch and finger portions of said leaf surround and define an opening in said leaf.

Claim 16

A unitized multiple switch keyboard comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of first conductive elements, each forming a part of a circuit that may be closed by one of the switches of the keyboard; a plurality of contact leaves each of which is electrically connected to a second conductive element and is extended over and spaced apart from one of said first conductive elements; each leaf comprising a base portion connected to a second conductive element, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion, said branch portion and contact fingers extending over a first conductive element, the contact fingers being substantially parallel to one another, at right angles to the branch portion, and in the plane of the branch portion; mounting means overlying said circuit board and being structurally connected thereto, said mounting means having a plurality of bearing openings therein; and individual plunger means mounted in said bearing openings and adapted to displace the leaves into contact with corresponding first conductive elements.

Claim 17

A unitized multiple switch keyboard comprising: a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of first conductive elements, each forming a part of a circuit that may be closed by one of the switches of the keyboard; a plurality of contact leaves each of which is electrically connected to a second conductive element and is extended over and spaced apart from one of said first conductive elements; each leaf comprising a base portion connected to a second conductive element, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion, said branch portion and contact fingers extending over a first conductive element, the contact fingers being substantially parallel to one another, at right angles to the branch portion, and in the plane of the branch portion; mounting means overlying said circuit board and being structurally connected thereto, said mounting means having a plurality of bearing openings therein; and individual plunger means mounted in said bearing openings and adapted to displace the leaves into contact with corresponding first conductive elements.

Claim 18

The keyboard of claim 13 wherein there are two spaced-apart branch portions extending from the base portion of each leaf and the contact fingers of the two branch portions extend toward one another.

Claim 19

The keyboard of claim 13 wherein the plunger means are positioned to engage the contact fingers of said contact leaves when displacing them.

Claim 20

A switch comprising: a first conductive element forming part of a circuit that may be closed by the switch; a contact leaf electrically connected to a second conductive element and extending over said first conductive element, said leaf comprising a member having a base portion, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion and extending over said contact plate; and plunger means adapted to displace said leaf into contact with said first conductive element, said plunger means being positioned to engage the contact fingers of said contact leaf when displacing it.

Claim 21

A switch comprising: a first conductive element forming part of a circuit that may be closed by the switch; a contact leaf electrically connected to a second conductive element and extending over said first conductive element, said leaf comprising a member having a base portion, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion and extending over said contact plate; and plunger means adapted to displace said leaf into contact with said first conductive element, said plunger means being positioned to engage the contact fingers of said contact leaf when displacing it.

Claim 22

The switch of claim 16 wherein the contact fingers are substantially parallel to one another, are at substantially right angles to the branch portion, and are in substantially the plane of the branch portion.

Claim 23

The switch of claim 17 wherein there are two spaced-apart branch portions extending from the base portion of the leaf and the contact fingers of the two branch portions extEnd toward one another.

Claim 24

A switch comprising: a first conductive element forming part of a circuit that may be closed by the switch; a contact leaf electrically connected to a second conductive element and extending over said first conductive element, said leaf comprising a base portion, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion, said branch portion and contact fingers being extended over said contact plate, the contact fingers of said branch being substantially in the plane of the branch portion and extending in a direction significantly different from that of the branch portion so that at least one contact finger is considerably closer to the base portion than at least one other contact finger; and plunger means adapted to displace the portion of the leaf extending over the first conductive element into contact therewith to close the switch.

Claim 25

A switch comprising: a first conductive element forming part of a circuit that may be closed by the switch; a contact leaf electrically connected to a second conductive element and extending over said first conductive element, said leaf comprising a base portion, a branch portion extending from said base portion, and multiple contact fingers integral with said branch portion, said branch portion and contact fingers being extended over said contact plate, the contact fingers of said branch being substantially in the plane of the branch portion and extending in a direction significantly different from that of the branch portion so that at least one contact finger is considerably closer to the base portion than at least one other contact finger; and plunger means adapted to displace the portion of the leaf extending over the first conductive element into contact therewith to close the switch.

Claim 26

The switch of claim 19 wherein the contact fingers are substantially parallel to one another and are at substantially right angles to the branch portion.

Claim 27

The switch of claim 19 wherein there are two spaced-apart branch portions extending from the base portion of the leaf and the contact fingers of the two branch portions extend toward one another.