US3818153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pushbutton switch assembly for keyboards including a bridging conductive, elastomeric diaphragm type contact
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-18
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A pushbutton bears on its front face an elastomer conductive layer, conductive of electricity, of elastomer or elastic material and of limited area, which serves to close a circuit between two conductors of an array; moreover, between the latter and said layer there is arranged an insulating support exhibiting a pre-formed multiplicity of seats the positioning and arrangement of which are designed to be able to receive and hold each one ball or pellet or other equivalent intermediate member so that it can make contact on the one hand with the said conductors and on the other hand, when the pushbutton is depressed, with the said layer. Such an arrangement allows the use of coded combinations of contacts in a keyboard comprising a set of these pushbuttons.
Inventors
- 👤 T Arvai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H1/029; H01H1/12; H01H1/36; H01H1/40; H01H1/403; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A contact device having a rest position and an operative position and comprising an elastic layer conductive of electricity and of elastic material, a push-button for actuating said contact device provided with spring means for repelling said push-button in said rest position and retention means for maintaining said layer on the inner operative face of said pushbutton, an insulating plate having a network of electrical conductors affixed on its surface facing the operative face of said push-button at a distance in the rest position, a plurality of tiny solid elements, some of which are conductive of electricity and each being in contact with a corresponding one of said conductors by their side opposed to said push-button, an insulating support which is distant from said layer in rest position, interposed between said layer and network of conductors and provided with a predetermined multiplicity of seats, each retaining therein one individual element, each of said elements corresponding to an individual conductor so that said conductive element in contact with one conductor can also on its opposite face make contact with said layer when said push-button is depressed in operative position contrary to said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A contact device having a rest position and an operative position and comprising an elastic layer conductive of electricity and of elastic material, a push-button for actuating said contact device provided with spring means for repelling said push-button in said rest position and retention means for maintaining said layer on the inner operative face of said pushbutton, an insulating plate having a network of electrical conductors affixed on its surface facing the operative face of said push-button at a distance in the rest position, a plurality of tiny solid elements, some of which are conductive of electricity and each being in contact with a corresponding one of said conductors by their side opposed to said push-button, an insulating support which is distant from said layer in rest position, interposed between said layer and network of conductors and provided with a predetermined multiplicity of seats, each retaining therein one individual element, each of said elements corresponding to an individual conductor so that said conductive element in contact with one conductor can also on its opposite face make contact with said layer when said push-button is depressed in operative position contrary to said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as in claim 1, in which said solid elements are balls of material conductive of electricity at least at the surface and in predetermined limited number are seated in seats of which the positions are predetermined in order to effect a coded combination of connections between conductors which can vary as a function of these positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 2, in which the said limit number is two.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as in claim 2, in which one of said balls comes into contact with one of said conductors connected to one pole of the supply voltage and other conductors are connected to the other pole, said one of the balls being slightly smaller than the other balls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 1, in which in certain of the seats an insulating element is seated, for example of glass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1, in which said elastic or elastomeric layer has an annular shape encircling the axis of said push-button.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as in claim 1, in which said means of retention comprise at the end of said push-button roughnesses which can penetrate the material of said elastic layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as iN claim 1, in which said face of the end of said push-button is provided opposite the positions of said seats with hollows enabling slight flexing of said elastic layer into them.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 1, in which said support has a plate shape and in which the different seats for said solid elements are distributed round the axis of said push-button.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A combination of contact devices as in claim 9, in which the said contact devices are at least partially joined side-by-side to form a keyboard with said array of conductors following a path passing underneath each of said devices, said support-plate being suitably orientated and the positions of said balls being selected to effect a distinct combination characteristic of each individual device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A contact device as in claim 1, in which a flexible fabric covers the top of each body of said device, which has an appropriate hollow shape, ensuring its airtightness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |