Pedestal and spring member for key actuator of diaphragm switch

Claim 1

In a keyboard or the like which includes an insulator board having electrical contact means thereon, insulator means having a window therethrough in alignment with at least a portion of the contact means and a resilient electrically conductive sheet means positioned on the insulator layer which has the property of being deformable by a force applied thereto to make electrical contact with the contact means by extending through the insulator means window and then springing back to a position out of electrical contact with the contact means, the improvement comprising a base member positioned over the conductive layer and having a portion of a movable member slidably positioned therein, first resilient biasing means positioned between the base member and the movable member to urge the movable member and the base member apart, a lip forming a part of the base member to maintain at least a portion of the movable member within the confines of the base member by entrapping projections attached to the movable member, a second resilient biasing means positioned in contact with the movable member and positioned to apply a force to the conductive sheet means to deform it in order to make electrical contact with the contact means, said base member having guide slots along the inner wall thereof in which the projections are slidably movable, in which the base member includes a pedestal and in which the movable member includes a first bore, the first bore of the movable member positioned about at least a portion of the pedestal.