US3617660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard actuating mechanism for diaphragm electric switch contact array
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1970-01-23
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1990-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A manual keyboard includes a nomenclature bearing sheet supported on a rigid frame having finger keying openings through which soft elastomeric pads project. Below the pads an actuator sheet bearing clusters of individual projections is positioned with the projections aligned with the openings for operation of the actuable inputs of an array of diaphragm switches including a plurality of electrical contacts. Stops for projections include a peripheral array of additional projections which can be shorter, elevated adjacent surface areas or rings.
Inventors
- 👤 Morris Krakinowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/807; H01H13/702; H01H13/785; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/03; H01H2209/00; H01H2209/002; H01H2209/006; H01H2209/016; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/002; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/006; H01H2217/008; H01H2217/02; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/002; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/002; H01H2221/05; H01H2221/064; H01H2225/00; H01H2225/01; H01H2227/00; H01H2227/002; H01H2227/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch device comprising: a keyboard; a diaphragm switch device including an array of opposed electrical contacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connected to a diaphragm, a deformable member carrying a plurality of deformable projections, said deformable member confronting said diaphragm on the side opposite to said one of said contacts, with at least some of said projections facing said diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate with said switch device to close contacts, when actuated, said keyboard cooperating with said deformable member to permit selective actuation of sets of contacts of said switch by depressing a segment of said keyboard.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch device comprising: a keyboard; a diaphragm switch device including an array of opposed electrical contacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connected to a diaphragm, a deformable member carrying a plurality of deformable projections, said deformable member confronting said diaphragm on the side opposite to said one of said contacts, with at least some of said projections facing said diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate with said switch device to close contacts, when actuated, said keyboard cooperating with said deformable member to permit selective actuation of sets of contacts of said switch by depressing a segment of said keyboard.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch comprising: a diaphragm switch device including an array of opposed electrical contacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connected to a diaphragm, a deformable member carrying a plurality of deformable projections, said deformable member confronting said diaphragm on the side opposite to said one of said contacts, with at least some of said projections facing said diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate with said switch device to close contacts, when actuated, said keyboard cooperating with said deformable member to permit selective actuation of sets of contacts of said switCh by depressing a segment of said keyboard, a keyboard, a rigid frame member below said keyboard including key position separator openings therethrough, soft button means coupling said keyboard through said separator openings to said deformable member.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch comprising: a diaphragm switch device including an array of opposed electrical contacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connected to a diaphragm, a deformable member carrying a plurality of deformable projections, said deformable member confronting said diaphragm on the side opposite to said one of said contacts, with at least some of said projections facing said diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate with said switch device to close contacts, when actuated, said keyboard cooperating with said deformable member to permit selective actuation of sets of contacts of said switCh by depressing a segment of said keyboard, a keyboard, a rigid frame member below said keyboard including key position separator openings therethrough, soft button means coupling said keyboard through said separator openings to said deformable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising: keyboard means, including a plurality of separate keying areas for operating separate sets of contacts of a said diaphragm switch, an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a plurality of projections adapted for registration with said contacts, said projections being aligned with said keying areas for selective actuation actuation of contacts associated therewith, said projections being surrounded by means integral with said sheet and not in registration with said contacts for resisting depression of said projections beyond a selected distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising: keyboard means, including a plurality of separate keying areas for operating separate sets of contacts of a said diaphragm switch, an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a plurality of projections adapted for registration with said contacts, said projections being aligned with said keying areas for selective actuation actuation of contacts associated therewith, said projections being surrounded by means integral with said sheet and not in registration with said contacts for resisting depression of said projections beyond a selected distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising: an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a plurality of projections adapted for registration with said contacts, said projections being surrounded by means for resisting depression of said projections beyond a selected distance, rigid frame means having openings therethrough, indicia bearing key means, aligned with said openings, formed on a top surface member for said array above said frame means, soft elastomeric button means disposed between said indicia bearing key means and said elastomeric sheet extending through said openings in said rigid frame means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising: an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a plurality of projections adapted for registration with said contacts, said projections being surrounded by means for resisting depression of said projections beyond a selected distance, rigid frame means having openings therethrough, indicia bearing key means, aligned with said openings, formed on a top surface member for said array above said frame means, soft elastomeric button means disposed between said indicia bearing key means and said elastomeric sheet extending through said openings in said rigid frame means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
Manual data input apparatus comprising: a manual keying surface, an elastic diaphragm switch array, actuator means composed of deformable material for coupling said keying surface to a switch to be actuated in said array through deformable means, and said actuator means including deformable means for restraining motion of a key area of said actuator beyond a predetermined displacement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Manual data input apparatus comprising: a manual keying surface, an elastic diaphragm switch array, actuator means composed of deformable material for coupling said keying surface to a switch to be actuated in said array through deformable means, and said actuator means including deformable means for restraining motion of a key area of said actuator beyond a predetermined displacement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
Manual data input apparatus comprising: a manual keying surface, an elastic diaphragm switch array, an actuator means composed of deformable material for transmitting force from said keying surface to an individual switch to be actuated in said array through resilient deformable means, and said actuator means including deformable means for reacting to displacement thereof in excess of a predetermined displacement required to close said switch effective as a stop for said actuator means, effective for inhibiting further deflection and effective for inhibiting actuation of adjacent switches by materially limiting displacement of said actuator means at positions remote from a said switch to be actuated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
Manual data input apparatus comprising: a manual keying surface, an elastic diaphragm switch array, an actuator means composed of deformable material for transmitting force from said keying surface to an individual switch to be actuated in said array through resilient deformable means, and said actuator means including deformable means for reacting to displacement thereof in excess of a predetermined displacement required to close said switch effective as a stop for said actuator means, effective for inhibiting further deflection and effective for inhibiting actuation of adjacent switches by materially limiting displacement of said actuator means at positions remote from a said switch to be actuated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A keyboard, for data entry including as follows: a keyboard, an actuator member comprising a sheet including an input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, an array of means for switching comprising a plurality of diaphragm switches each having an actuation surface confronting said output surface of said actuator member, said actuator member having a plurality of projections extending therefrom to contact said actuation surface with said projections being in alignment with said switches, and said keyboard cooperating with said actuator member to permit selective actuation of each of said switches by depressing a segment of said keyboard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
A keyboard, for data entry including as follows: a keyboard, an actuator member comprising a sheet including an input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, an array of means for switching comprising a plurality of diaphragm switches each having an actuation surface confronting said output surface of said actuator member, said actuator member having a plurality of projections extending therefrom to contact said actuation surface with said projections being in alignment with said switches, and said keyboard cooperating with said actuator member to permit selective actuation of each of said switches by depressing a segment of said keyboard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
A keyboard for data entry including as follows: elastomeric keyboard means for bearing indicia, an actuator member basically comprising an elastomeric sheet including an input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, said keyboard means overlying said actuator member, an array of means for switching comprising a plurality of elastic diaphragm switches each having an actuation surface confronting said output surface of said actuator member, said actuator member having a plurality of projections extending therefrom to contact saiD actuation surface with projections in alignment with the input member of one of said switches for cooperation therewith to respond to deflection of said actuation member in a specific area to provide closure of contacts of a switch in said specific keyboard area, and stop means included in said actuator member operative for restraining deflection of said actuator beyond a predetermined distance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
A keyboard for data entry including as follows: elastomeric keyboard means for bearing indicia, an actuator member basically comprising an elastomeric sheet including an input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, said keyboard means overlying said actuator member, an array of means for switching comprising a plurality of elastic diaphragm switches each having an actuation surface confronting said output surface of said actuator member, said actuator member having a plurality of projections extending therefrom to contact saiD actuation surface with projections in alignment with the input member of one of said switches for cooperation therewith to respond to deflection of said actuation member in a specific area to provide closure of contacts of a switch in said specific keyboard area, and stop means included in said actuator member operative for restraining deflection of said actuator beyond a predetermined distance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for stopping comprises a plurality of additional projections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said additional projections are shorter than said first named projections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein a rigid frame with key holes is disposed between said keyboard means and said actuator member to provide separation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein a plurality of soft elastomeric pads couple said keyboard means and said actuator member through said key holes.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
204 words
A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an array of pairs of electric contacts wherein a movable contact of each said pair is carried on an elastic sheet and is separated from the opposing contact of the respective pair by a spacer having an opening therethrough in alignment with and larger than said pair of opposing contacts; a deformable operator member overlying said elastic sheet and having on the side adjacent said elastic sheet an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said contacts on said elastic sheet and adapted when depressed to move the respectively aligned contact on said sheet into contact with its opposing contact; said operating member having arranged around each said nib a plurality of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length, and spaced from said nib to be beyond the edges of said aligned opening in said spacer; said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nib of said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
204 words
A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an array of pairs of electric contacts wherein a movable contact of each said pair is carried on an elastic sheet and is separated from the opposing contact of the respective pair by a spacer having an opening therethrough in alignment with and larger than said pair of opposing contacts; a deformable operator member overlying said elastic sheet and having on the side adjacent said elastic sheet an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said contacts on said elastic sheet and adapted when depressed to move the respectively aligned contact on said sheet into contact with its opposing contact; said operating member having arranged around each said nib a plurality of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length, and spaced from said nib to be beyond the edges of said aligned opening in said spacer; said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nib of said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13 having a rigid frame member in said trough areas.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 14 having an elastomer indicia bearing member overlaying said deformable operator member and said rigid frame and having an indicia area in alignment with each said operating area of said deformable operator.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
215 words
A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an array of pairs of electric contacts wherein a movable contact of each said pair is carried on an elastic sheet and is separated from the opposing contact of the respective pair by a spacer having an opening therethrough in alignment with and larger than said pair of opposing contacts; a deformable operator member overlying said elastic sheet and having on the side adjacent said elastic sheet an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said contacts on said elastic sheet and adapted when depressed to move the respectively aligned contact on said sheet into contact with its opposing contact; said operating member having an arrangement of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length arranged to surround groups of at least one of said operating nib and spaced from said surrounded group of nibs a distance whereby said additional nibs are ineffective to close contacts associated with said surrounded group of nibs; said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area in alignment with each said group of surrounded nibs, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
215 words
A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an array of pairs of electric contacts wherein a movable contact of each said pair is carried on an elastic sheet and is separated from the opposing contact of the respective pair by a spacer having an opening therethrough in alignment with and larger than said pair of opposing contacts; a deformable operator member overlying said elastic sheet and having on the side adjacent said elastic sheet an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said contacts on said elastic sheet and adapted when depressed to move the respectively aligned contact on said sheet into contact with its opposing contact; said operating member having an arrangement of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length arranged to surround groups of at least one of said operating nib and spaced from said surrounded group of nibs a distance whereby said additional nibs are ineffective to close contacts associated with said surrounded group of nibs; said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area in alignment with each said group of surrounded nibs, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 16 having a rigid frame member in said trough areas.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 17 having an elastomer indicia bearIng member overlying said deformable operator member and said rigid frame and having an indicia area in alignment with each said operating area of said deformable operator.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
160 words
A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an elastic diaphragm switch comprising an array of pairs of electric contacts; a deformable operator member overlying said switch array and having on the side adjacent said switch array, an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said pairs of contacts on said switch array and adapted when depressed to close the respective pair of contacts; said operating member having arranged around each said nib, a plurality of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length and spaced from said nib a distance whereby said additional nibs are ineffective to close said contacts; said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nib of said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
160 words
A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an elastic diaphragm switch comprising an array of pairs of electric contacts; a deformable operator member overlying said switch array and having on the side adjacent said switch array, an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said pairs of contacts on said switch array and adapted when depressed to close the respective pair of contacts; said operating member having arranged around each said nib, a plurality of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length and spaced from said nib a distance whereby said additional nibs are ineffective to close said contacts; said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nib of said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 19 having a rigid frame member in said trough areas.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 20 having an elastomer indicia bearing member overlaying said deformable operator member and said rigid frame and having an indicia area in alignment with each said operating area of said deformable operator.
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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) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |