Mechanical pushbutton operating device

Claim 1

A device for mechanically operating one or more keys in a digital keyboard device wherein the keyboard includes at least 10 digital keys of uniform size and configuration arranged in at least three columns and at least four rows comprising in combination: a. a frame assembly adapted to be disposed over said keyboard; b. means for holding said frame assembly in a predetermined position with respect to the keyboard; c. means for operating digit-by-digit one or more keys in said keyboard, said means including: 1. an elongated platelike member having a plurality of cam projections disposed in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of said platelike member and corresponding to a predetermined number to be mechanically transmitted to said keyboard as the platelike member is passed over said keys and including 2. a keyboard bridging member supported by said frame; 3. key-actuating means including a separate cam follower for each key having a width less than one-third of the width of the key on said keyboard and pivotally mounted on said bridging member for limited rotation in a plane normal to said platelike member and adapted to coact with any corresponding cam projection on said platelike member for transmitting motion to any predetermined key in a direction normal to the plane of the platelike member, each said movable member for each successive key in a given row lying in a unique plane which is laterally displaced from the plane of every other member coacting with a key in said given row; and d. reaction means coacting between said frame and said platelike member to maintain said platelike member in said predetermined mechanical coacting relation with said keyboard.

Claim 2

A device for mechanically operating one or more keys in a digital keyboard device wherein the keyboard includes at least 10 digital keys of uniform size and configuration arranged in at least three columns and at least four rows comprising in combination: a. a frame assembly adapted to be disposed over said keyboard; b. means for holding said frame assembly in a predetermined position with respect to the keyboard; c. means for operating digit-by-digit one or more keys in said keyboard, said means including: 1. an elongated platelike member having a plurality of cam projections disposed in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of said platelike member and corresponding to a predetermined number to be mechanically transmitted to said keyboard as the platelike member is passed over said keys and including 2. a keyboard bridging member supported by said frame; 3. key-actuating means including a separate cam follower for each key having a width less than one-third of the width of the key on said keyboard and pivotally mounted on said bridging member for limited rotation in a plane normal to said platelike member and adapted to coact with any corresponding cam projection on said platelike member for transmitting motion to any predetermined key in a direction normal to the plane of the platelike member, each said movable member for each successive key in a given row lying in a unique plane which is laterally displaced from the plane of every other member coacting with a key in said given row; and d. reaction means coacting between said frame and said platelike member to maintain said platelike member in said predetermined mechanical coacting relation with said keyboard.

Claim 15

A device for mechanically operating a pushbutton telephone including a 10-key keyboard arranged in three columns and four rows, comprising in combination: a. a frame assembly adapted to be disposed over said keyboard; b. means for holding said frame assembly in a predetermined position with respect to said keyboard; c. means for operating digit by digit one or more keys in said keyboard to dial a predetermined telephone number and including an elongated generally rectangular platelike member having camming projections extending from the surface thereof for coaction with said keyboard and positioned for correspondence with said predetermined telephone number; d. a key bridging member carried by said frame; e. a cam follower for each of said keys pivotally carried by said bridging member and being contoured and dimensioned along one marginal edge for coaction with the upper surface of the corresponding key, and contoured and dimensioned along its opposite marginal edge for coaction with a camming projection on said platelike member, whereby when said cam follower encounters a camming projection on said platelike member, the corresponding key is depressed a distance sufficient to initiate a signal corresponding to said key, the individual cam follower for each of the keys in each of said four rows lying in a unique plane; f. an upper plate secured to said frame by a hinge along one marginal edge and including latch means for releasably holding said upper plate in a closed position over said bridging member, said upper plate when in the closed position being in parallel spaced relation to said bridging member to define a slot for guiding said platelike member in operative disposition for registry of the camming projections thereon with the corresponding cam followers.

Claim 16

A device for mechanically operating a pushbutton telephone including a 10-key keyboard arranged in three columns and four rows, comprising in combination: a. a frame assembly adapted to be disposed over said keyboard; b. means for holding said frame assembly in a predetermined position with respect to said keyboard; c. means for operating digit by digit one or more keys in said keyboard to dial a predetermined telephone number and including an elongated generally rectangular platelike member having camming projections extending from the surface thereof for coaction with said keyboard and positioned for correspondence with said predetermined telephone number; d. a key bridging member carried by said frame; e. a cam follower for each of said keys pivotally carried by said bridging member and being contoured and dimensioned along one marginal edge for coaction with the upper surface of the corresponding key, and contoured and dimensioned along its opposite marginal edge for coaction with a camming projection on said platelike member, whereby when said cam follower encounters a camming projection on said platelike member, the corresponding key is depressed a distance sufficient to initiate a signal corresponding to said key, the individual cam follower for each of the keys in each of said four rows lying in a unique plane; f. an upper plate secured to said frame by a hinge along one marginal edge and including latch means for releasably holding said upper plate in a closed position over said bridging member, said upper plate when in the closed position being in parallel spaced relation to said bridging member to define a slot for guiding said platelike member in operative disposition for registry of the camming projections thereon with the corresponding cam followers.