Keyboard having improved magnetic actuator

Claim 2

For use in a magnetic keyboard assembly including a key stem having a magnet mounting aperture, a magnet having a slotted portion extending longitudinally thereof and providing a pair of abutment edges for limiting axial movement of said magnet when mounted in said stem aperture, and means for limiting axial rotation of said magnet within a predetermined range when mounted in said stem aperture.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for limiting axial rotation comprises a longitudinally extending portion of said magnet having a pair of stop surfaces each for engagement with a different portion of the surface of said aperture when said magnet is in a different one of two maximum permissible angular positions.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for limiting axial rotation comprises a pair of raised surfaces of said magnet extending axially thereof, each said surface providing a stop surface for engaging a different portion of the surface of said aperture when said magnet is in a different one of two maximum permissible angular positions.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pair of raised surfaces is located generally opposite said slotted portion.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnet is configured as a cylinder with a pair of longitudinally extending substantially opposed land surfaces, said means for limiting axial rotation comprising a first pair of substantially parallel sidewalls extending from a first one of said land surfaces to the surface of said cylinder, a portion of each said sidewall being engageable with a different portion of the surface of said aperture when said magnet is in a different one of two maximum angular positions, said slotted portion comprising a cutaway portion of the other one of said land surfaces.

Claim 7

In a keyboard device comprising a mounting means of magnetic material having low magnetic remanence and having an opening therein; a key assembly including a key stem reciprocably received by said opening and a key top mounted at one end of said stem, said key assembly adapted to be reciprocated between a nonactuated position and an actuated position; said key stem having a middle body portion with an aperture therein; and an elongate magnetic member mounted in said aperture substantially transversE of the body axis of said key stem; the improvement wherein said elongate magnetic member has a longitudinally extending slotted portion providing a pair of abutment edges for engagement with said key stem to limit axial movement of said magnetic member therein, and means for limiting axial rotation of said magnetic member in said aperture within a predetermined range.

Claim 8

In a keyboard device comprising a mounting means of magnetic material having low magnetic remanence and having an opening therein; a key assembly including a key stem reciprocably received by said opening and a key top mounted at one end of said stem, said key assembly adapted to be reciprocated between a nonactuated position and an actuated position; said key stem having a middle body portion with an aperture therein; and an elongate magnetic member mounted in said aperture substantially transversE of the body axis of said key stem; the improvement wherein said elongate magnetic member has a longitudinally extending slotted portion providing a pair of abutment edges for engagement with said key stem to limit axial movement of said magnetic member therein, and means for limiting axial rotation of said magnetic member in said aperture within a predetermined range.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for limiting axial rotation comprises a longitudinally extending portion of said magnetic member having a pair of stop surfaces each for engagement with a different portion of the surface area of said aperture when said magnetic member is in a different one of two maximum permissible angular positions.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for limiting axial rotation comprises a pair of raised surfaces of said magnetic member extending axially thereof, each said surface providing a stop surface for engaging a different portion of the surface of said aperture when said magnetic member is in a different one of two maximum permissible angular positions.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pair of raised surfaces is located generally opposite said slotted portion.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said magnetic member is configured as a cylinder with a pair of longitudinally extending substantially opposed land surfaces, said means for limiting axial rotation comprising a first pair of substantially parallel sidewalls extending from a first one of said land surfaces to the surface of said cylinder, a portion of each said sidewall being engageable with a different portion of the surface of said aperture when said magnet is in a different one of two maximum permissible angular positions, said slotted portion comprising a cutaway portion of the other one of said land surfaces.