US3749859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard switch assembly with improved hermetically sealed diaphragm contact structure
Assignee: DECISION DATA Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1972-04-19
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1992-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A contact key for use in a keyboard arrangement is disclosed wherein one contact extends through a circuit board and a second contact comprises a curved plate or dome spring is positioned on one side of the circuit board and is depressable so that the center thereof can come in contact with the first contact to complete a circuit. In one form of the invention the first contact comrpsies a rivet while in another form it comprises a plated-through hole to the back of the circuit board. The second contact can include a dimple at the center thereof which comes in contact with the first contact when the plate is depressed. A plurality of these first contact members are placed in a circuit board and the second contacts can be supported by a conductive support, such as a shim or plated support having apertures corresponding to the position of the first contacts. If the contact support is in the form of the shim, it can comprise a plurality of sections interconnected by frangible tabs which are broken during assembly to separate the sections, the tabs being bent through holes in the circuit board and crimped against the back side to hold the shim in place and to provide connections for the respective sections to appropriate circuitry. In an embodiment having a plated contact support, the support can be provided with one or more raised bosses to support the contact plate above the first contact.
Inventors
- 👤 R Webb
- 👤 J Webb
- 👤 T Tyler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/7006; B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/12; B41J5/16; H01H2207/00; H01H2207/012; H01H2207/014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An electrical normally-open contact switch comprising: a first electrical contact; a second contact formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a circuit board in which said first contact is mounted and having said second contact supported on a first side thereof, said first contact extending through said circuit board and being electrically connected to a circuit on a second side of said circuit board opposite said first side; and means for connecting said first and second contacts in an electrical circuit which includes an electrically conductive support plated on said first side of said circuit board for supporting said second contact, said switch completing said circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against said first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An electrical normally-open contact switch comprising: a first electrical contact; a second contact formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a circuit board in which said first contact is mounted and having said second contact supported on a first side thereof, said first contact extending through said circuit board and being electrically connected to a circuit on a second side of said circuit board opposite said first side; and means for connecting said first and second contacts in an electrical circuit which includes an electrically conductive support plated on said first side of said circuit board for supporting said second contact, said switch completing said circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against said first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
199 words
An electrical normally-open contact switch comprising: a first electrical contact; a second contact formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally-open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a circuit board in which said first contact is mounted and having said second contact supported on a first side thereof, said first contact extending through said circuit board and being electrically connected to a circuit on a second side of said circuit board opposite said first side; means for connecting said first and second contacts in an eLectrical circuit which includes an electrically conductive support plated on said first side of said circuit board for supporting said second contact, said switch completing said circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against said first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure; and at least one boss projecting from said plated support, said boss supporting a portion of said peripheral edge above said plated support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
An electrical normally-open contact switch comprising: a first electrical contact; a second contact formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally-open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a circuit board in which said first contact is mounted and having said second contact supported on a first side thereof, said first contact extending through said circuit board and being electrically connected to a circuit on a second side of said circuit board opposite said first side; means for connecting said first and second contacts in an eLectrical circuit which includes an electrically conductive support plated on said first side of said circuit board for supporting said second contact, said switch completing said circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against said first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure; and at least one boss projecting from said plated support, said boss supporting a portion of said peripheral edge above said plated support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
195 words
An electrical normally-open contact switch comprising: a first electrical contact; a second contact formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a circuit board in which said first contact is mounted and having said second contact supported on a first side thereof, said first contact extending through said circuit board and being electrically connected to a circuit on a second side of said circuit board opposite said first side; means for connecting said first and second contacts in an electrical circuit which includes an electrically conductive support plated on said first side of said circuit board for supporting said second contact, said switch completing said circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against said first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure; and three bosses projecting from said plated support, said bosses supporting said peripheral edge above said plated support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
195 words
An electrical normally-open contact switch comprising: a first electrical contact; a second contact formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a circuit board in which said first contact is mounted and having said second contact supported on a first side thereof, said first contact extending through said circuit board and being electrically connected to a circuit on a second side of said circuit board opposite said first side; means for connecting said first and second contacts in an electrical circuit which includes an electrically conductive support plated on said first side of said circuit board for supporting said second contact, said switch completing said circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against said first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure; and three bosses projecting from said plated support, said bosses supporting said peripheral edge above said plated support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
289 words
A keyboard having a plurality of normally open contact switches, said keyboard comprising: a circuit board having first and second sides; a plurality of spaced first electrical contacts, each contact extending through said circuit board from said first side of said circuit board to said second side thereof and being electrically connected to selective circuits on said second side; a plurality of second contacts, each formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a contact support on said first side of said circuit board spaced from each of said first contacts and supporting said second contacts along at least a portion of their peripheral edges, said contact support being connectable to a potential, each of said switches completing a circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against a corresponding first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure; an insulative element covering said first side of said circuit board to hold said second contacts in position with respect to said first contacts and to keep foreign material out of said contacts, said element including a layer of thin flexible material completely covering said second contacts; a plurality of depressible keys; and means for positioning said keys with one of said keys adjacent each of said second contacts with said layer of flexible material therebetween, each of said keys being selectively depressible to deflect a respective plate from said normally open position to a closed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
289 words
A keyboard having a plurality of normally open contact switches, said keyboard comprising: a circuit board having first and second sides; a plurality of spaced first electrical contacts, each contact extending through said circuit board from said first side of said circuit board to said second side thereof and being electrically connected to selective circuits on said second side; a plurality of second contacts, each formed as a curved resilient plate of electrically conductive material spaced from said first contact in a normally open position and having a peripheral edge along at least a portion of which said second contact is supported; a contact support on said first side of said circuit board spaced from each of said first contacts and supporting said second contacts along at least a portion of their peripheral edges, said contact support being connectable to a potential, each of said switches completing a circuit upon deflection of the center of said plate from said normally open position to a closed position against a corresponding first contact when pressure is exerted against said center, said center snapping back to said normally open position upon removal of said pressure; an insulative element covering said first side of said circuit board to hold said second contacts in position with respect to said first contacts and to keep foreign material out of said contacts, said element including a layer of thin flexible material completely covering said second contacts; a plurality of depressible keys; and means for positioning said keys with one of said keys adjacent each of said second contacts with said layer of flexible material therebetween, each of said keys being selectively depressible to deflect a respective plate from said normally open position to a closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said contact support includes: electrically conductive material plated to said first side of said circuit board and surrounding each of said first contacts for supporting said second contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said contact support includes: a conductive shim having perforations corresponding to the positions of said first contacts so that said shim surrounds each of said first contacts for supporting said second contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shim comprises: at least two sections interconnected by frangible tabs which can be fractured during assembly and bent through openings in said circuit board for connecting said respective sections to selective circuits on said second side of said circuit board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: each of said plates has a projection at said center thereof extending toward said first contact and adapted to engage said first contact upon deflection of each of said plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: each of said first contacts is a rivet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: each of said first contacts is a plated hole through said circuit board from said first side of said second side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said insulative element further includes: spacer means positioned about the periphery of said second contacts to hold said second contacts so that the centers thereof are in substantial alignment with said first contacts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |