US3622729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key switch device for electronic musical instruments
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-07-23
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1990-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A key switch device for an electronic musical instrument having a frame body made, for example, of plastics material having at least one longitudinal member and a pair of spaced lateral members extending at right angles to the longitudinal member. A plurality of movable contact members fixed to the longitudinal member and arranged in a juxtaposed relationship. At least one elongated fixed contact member fitted at both ends thereof to the lateral members, and extending transversely of the movable contact members. Actuators provided for the respective movable contact members, whereby the relative position of the movable and fixed contact members can be easily secured. By superposing a plurality of key switch devices of the same construction, a multiple contact key switch may be readily obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Ohno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:58
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; G10H1/344; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/265; G10H2220/275; G10H2220/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A key switch device for an electronic musical instrument comprising a frame body of electrically insulating material having at least one longitudinal member and a pair of spaced lateral members disposed substantially at right angles to said longitudinal member; a plurality of movable contact members of electrically conductive elastic material mutually spaced at a prescribed interval and extending from the longitudinal member substantially at right angles thereto with base ends thereof fixed to the longitudinal member; at least one longitudinally elongated fixed contact member of electrically conductive material disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal member so as to face the movable contact members, both ends of said fixed contact member are fitted to the lateral members; and actuators provided for the movable contact members so as to urge them to the longitudinally elongated fixed contact member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A key switch device for an electronic musical instrument comprising a frame body of electrically insulating material having at least one longitudinal member and a pair of spaced lateral members disposed substantially at right angles to said longitudinal member; a plurality of movable contact members of electrically conductive elastic material mutually spaced at a prescribed interval and extending from the longitudinal member substantially at right angles thereto with base ends thereof fixed to the longitudinal member; at least one longitudinally elongated fixed contact member of electrically conductive material disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal member so as to face the movable contact members, both ends of said fixed contact member are fitted to the lateral members; and actuators provided for the movable contact members so as to urge them to the longitudinally elongated fixed contact member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The key switch device according to claim 1 which further comprises projections formed on one side of said frame body and depressions formed on the opposite side thereof, both the projections and the depressions being located at the corresponding parts of the frame body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The key switch device according to claim 2 wherein each of the actuators consists of a piece of electrically insulating material fixed to each movable contact member and having substantially the same height as that of the frame body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The key switch device according to claim 1 wherein the members of the frame body are integrally prepared from plastics material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The key switch device according to claim 4 wherein the base end of each movable contact member is embedded in the frame body by insert molding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The key switch device according to claim 4 wherein the base end of each movable contact member is perforated with a hole, and there is integrally formed a projection on the longitudinal member corresponding to each movable contact member, said projection being inserted through the hole and deformed flat under heat so as to fix the movable contact member to the frame body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
The key switch device according to claim 4 wherein each of the movable contact members is provided on each side of its base end with a cut and setup portion of a length substantially equal to the width of the longitudinal member of the frame body, and the longitudinal member has a groove formed transversely thereof and corresponding to each movable contact member, said groove being defined by both vertical sidewalls, and said cut and setup portions being engaged with the sidewalls of the groove thereby to fix the movable contact member to the frame body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
The key switch device according to claim 1 wherein each of the movable contact members is provided on both sides of its free end with notches and a slot extending between said notches and bifurcating the free end and each of the actuators is perforated with a hole permitting the free end of the movable contact member to be pushed therethrough under a required force against the intrinsic elasticity of the movable contact member, thereby to fit the hole of the actuator into the notches so as to couple the actuator with the movable contact member with the least possibility of either of them falling off from the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
The key switch device according to claim 1 wherein both the movable contact members and the actuators consist of elongated plate members, there being formed projected and recessed portions on the opposite sides of the actuators, and each of the movable contact members being perforated with a through hole consisting of a slot long enough to allow the passage of the entire width of each actuator and a round hole communicating with the central part of the slot and formed large enough to permit the recessed portions of the actuator to rotate therein but not to allow the passage of the projected portions thereof, whereby the actuator can be inserted in the movable contact member through the slot of the through hole until the recessed portion is set in the round hole, and is rotated within the round hole so as to allow the projected portion of the actuator to be in contact with the movable contact member, thereby to securely couple the actuator with the movable contact member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The key switch device according to claim 9 wherein the recessed portions of the actuator assume a wedged form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The key switch device according to claim 1 wherein the movable contact members are mechanically fixed to a printed circuit board and electrically connected thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The key switch device according to claim 1 wherein the fixed contact member is mechanically fixed to a printed circuit board and electrically connected thereto.
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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) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |