US3856998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard switch assembly with improved operating means
Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1973-06-01
•
Granted: 1974-12-24
•
Expires: 1993-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates generally to key assemblies employed in electrical switch operating keyboard devices and more particularly to the assembly of parts forming an individual depressible key of such a keyboard. Each key assembly is composed of parts cooperatively interfitting to provide both a low profile for the keyboard as well as a bifurcated electrical contact provision. Included in each key assembly is a pair of coiled springs of different diameters which are coaxially and overlappingly related to one another. The smaller diameter spring of the pair is a double rate spring and as such is formed with two longitudinal sections of different helical pitches for conveying forces employed to depress the key to the switch associated with the assembly to effect closure of the same, as well as for substantially reducing if not eliminating a detrimental contact ''''bounce'''' encountered in the operation of such assemblies. The force transmitting spring member acts through a terminal member shaped to provide a teetering motion in conjunction with the desired bifurcated action for assuring closure of the contacts. The assembly is composed of parts formed mainly of plastic material molded to shape and as such provides a durable, light-weight, and low cost structure.
Inventors
- 👤 D Sims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/80; H01H13/50; H01H13/52; H01H13/702; H01H13/705; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/002; H01H2201/004; H01H2203/00; H01H2203/036; H01H2203/054; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/024; H01H2221/026; H01H2221/062; H01H2233/00; H01H2233/07; H01H2233/074; H01H2235/00; H01H2235/004; H01H2235/018; H01H2235/022; H01H2235/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A switch assembly including, in combination: a. a relatively rigid member having one of a pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof; b. a flexible diaphragm having the other one of said pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof in opposed confronting relation to said first one of said pair of contacts, said diaphragm normally supporting its contact of the pair of contacts in spaced relationship to the other contact of the pair of contacts but being deflectable in the direction of the relatively rigid member to effect closure of the pair of contacts; c. a member mounted for movement along a path toward and away from the pair of contacts and disposed on the side of the flexible diaphragm opposite to the rigid member; d. means for yieldingly resisting movement of the movable member toward the rigid member and for effecting engagement of the contacts of said pair of contacts as a concluding result of such movement, said means comprising a pair of coiled springs of different diameters and arranged coaxially with respect to one another with the smaller diameter spring being at least partially enclosed within the larger diameter spring; e. one of said pair of springs having one end seated upon a relatively stationary support and the other end engaged with the movable member in such a manner as to yieldingly resist movement thereof toward the pair of contacts; and f. the other of said pair of springs having one end effectively bearing against the flexible diaphragm and having the other end engaging the movable member in such manner as to yieldingly resist movement of the movable member toward the pair of contacts with the result that the force exerted by such movement of the movable member is effectively transmitted by the last mentioned spring to the diaphragm to deflect the same in the direction to effect closure of the pair of contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
A switch assembly including, in combination: a. a relatively rigid member having one of a pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof; b. a flexible diaphragm having the other one of said pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof in opposed confronting relation to said first one of said pair of contacts, said diaphragm normally supporting its contact of the pair of contacts in spaced relationship to the other contact of the pair of contacts but being deflectable in the direction of the relatively rigid member to effect closure of the pair of contacts; c. a member mounted for movement along a path toward and away from the pair of contacts and disposed on the side of the flexible diaphragm opposite to the rigid member; d. means for yieldingly resisting movement of the movable member toward the rigid member and for effecting engagement of the contacts of said pair of contacts as a concluding result of such movement, said means comprising a pair of coiled springs of different diameters and arranged coaxially with respect to one another with the smaller diameter spring being at least partially enclosed within the larger diameter spring; e. one of said pair of springs having one end seated upon a relatively stationary support and the other end engaged with the movable member in such a manner as to yieldingly resist movement thereof toward the pair of contacts; and f. the other of said pair of springs having one end effectively bearing against the flexible diaphragm and having the other end engaging the movable member in such manner as to yieldingly resist movement of the movable member toward the pair of contacts with the result that the force exerted by such movement of the movable member is effectively transmitted by the last mentioned spring to the diaphragm to deflect the same in the direction to effect closure of the pair of contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
320 words
A switch assembly including, in combination: a. a relatively rigid member having one of a pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof; b. a flexible diaphragm having the other one of said pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof in opposed confronting relation to said first one of said pair of contacts, said diaphragm normally supporting its contact of the pair of contacts in spaced relationship to the other contact of the pair of contacts but being deflectable in the direction of the relatively rigid member to effect closure of the pair of contacts; c. a member mounted for movement along a path toward and away from the pair of contacts and disposed on the side of the flexible diaphragm opposite to the rigid member; d. means for yieldingly resisting movement of the movable member toward the rigid member and for effecting engagement of the contacts of said pair of contacts as a concluding result of such movement, said means comprising a pair of coiled springs of different diameters and arranged coaxially with respect to one another with the smaller diameter spring being at least partially enclosed within the larger diameter spring; e. one of said pair of springs having one end seated upon a relatively stationary support and the other end engaged with the movable member in such a manner as to yieldingly resist movement thereof toward the pair of contacts; and f. the other of said pair of springs having one end effectively bearing against the flexible diaphragm and having the other end engaging the movable member in such manner as to yieldingly resist movement of the movable member toward the pair of contacts with the result that the force exerted by such movement of the movable member is effectively transmitted by the last mentioned spring to the diaphragm to deflect the same in the direction to effect closure of the pair of contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
320 words
A switch assembly including, in combination: a. a relatively rigid member having one of a pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof; b. a flexible diaphragm having the other one of said pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof in opposed confronting relation to said first one of said pair of contacts, said diaphragm normally supporting its contact of the pair of contacts in spaced relationship to the other contact of the pair of contacts but being deflectable in the direction of the relatively rigid member to effect closure of the pair of contacts; c. a member mounted for movement along a path toward and away from the pair of contacts and disposed on the side of the flexible diaphragm opposite to the rigid member; d. means for yieldingly resisting movement of the movable member toward the rigid member and for effecting engagement of the contacts of said pair of contacts as a concluding result of such movement, said means comprising a pair of coiled springs of different diameters and arranged coaxially with respect to one another with the smaller diameter spring being at least partially enclosed within the larger diameter spring; e. one of said pair of springs having one end seated upon a relatively stationary support and the other end engaged with the movable member in such a manner as to yieldingly resist movement thereof toward the pair of contacts; and f. the other of said pair of springs having one end effectively bearing against the flexible diaphragm and having the other end engaging the movable member in such manner as to yieldingly resist movement of the movable member toward the pair of contacts with the result that the force exerted by such movement of the movable member is effectively transmitted by the last mentioned spring to the diaphragm to deflect the same in the direction to effect closure of the pair of contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said other of said pair of springs is a multi-rate spring having its coils set at least at two different helical pitches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said other of said pair of springs is a double rate spring so designed as to have the transistion from one spring rate to the other occur at the time closure of said pair of electrical contacts is effected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein the larger diameter coiled spring serves as said one of said pair of coiled springs and the smaller diameter coiled spring serves as said other of said pair of coiled springs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein the movable member is in the form of a reciprocating plunger which is hollowed interiorly to provide a chamber opening out of the plunger in the direction of the diaphragm and shaped internally to partially enclose and seat one end of the smaller diameter spring and shaped externally to enter one end of the larger diameter spring and provide a seat therefore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 5 wherein conical surfaces are presented to the respective inside diameters of the smaller and larger coiled springs to prevent lateral deflection of the springs as they are compressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein said smaller coiled spring acts upon the diaphragm through the intermediary of an element having spaced apart projections engageable with corresponding spaced areas of the diaphragm to deflect these areas in the direction for closing said pair of contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein one of said pair of contacts is split into at least two circuit parallel leads, and wherein said spaced apart projections Of said element individually align with the circuit parallel leads for providing a bifurcated action on the pair of contacts to close the same.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein said element has a limited universal tilting movement as closure of said pair of contacts is being effected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The switch arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein said element is in the form of a plate-like member having the central portion thereof deflectable out of its normal plane when said smaller diameter coiled spring is transmitting the force of the movable member toward the diaphragm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The switch construction defined in claim 11 wherein each conductive switch element carried by said flexible diaphragm is divided into at least two parts each of which is acutely angled into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the base panel when the operating member is depressed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The switch construction defined in claim 11 wherein each conductive switch element carried by said flexible diaphragm is split into at least two circuit parallel leads each having a gap therein, and wherein the leads terminate at the gap in a radius of curvature and are capable when the operating member is depressed of being acutely angled into point engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the base panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a keyboard-type switch construction in which laminates are superposed in close proximity to one another, the combination: a. a supporting member having an electrically insulating surface divided into a plurality of switching areas; b. an electrical conducting switch contact element carried upon said surface of the supporting member within each of said switching areas; c. a flexible diaphragm overlying the said plurality of switching areas of the supporting member and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, said diaphragm carrying an electrical conductive switch element on the side thereof facing said supporting member and within each of said switching areas thereof, each said switch element having an edge portion thereof terminating centrally of its switching area and being deflectible with the diaphragm to assume an angle to the surface of the supporting member; d. a switch actuator located on the side of the diaphragm opposite to said supporting member within each of said switching areas thereof and mounted for movement toward and away from the supporting member, each such switch actuator being effEctive upon movement toward the supporting member to engage and depress an adjacent portion of said diaphragm and thence to move that switch contact element which is carried by the diaphragm within the switching area of the moving actuator at an angle toward and into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the supporting member; and e. spring means associated with each switch actuator and yieldingly opposing its movement toward the supporting member and being operable to return its associated actuator and the adjacent depressed portion of the diaphragm to normal inoperative position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a keyboard-type switch construction in which laminates are superposed in close proximity to one another, the combination: a. a supporting member having an electrically insulating surface divided into a plurality of switching areas; b. an electrical conducting switch contact element carried upon said surface of the supporting member within each of said switching areas; c. a flexible diaphragm overlying the said plurality of switching areas of the supporting member and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, said diaphragm carrying an electrical conductive switch element on the side thereof facing said supporting member and within each of said switching areas thereof, each said switch element having an edge portion thereof terminating centrally of its switching area and being deflectible with the diaphragm to assume an angle to the surface of the supporting member; d. a switch actuator located on the side of the diaphragm opposite to said supporting member within each of said switching areas thereof and mounted for movement toward and away from the supporting member, each such switch actuator being effEctive upon movement toward the supporting member to engage and depress an adjacent portion of said diaphragm and thence to move that switch contact element which is carried by the diaphragm within the switching area of the moving actuator at an angle toward and into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the supporting member; and e. spring means associated with each switch actuator and yieldingly opposing its movement toward the supporting member and being operable to return its associated actuator and the adjacent depressed portion of the diaphragm to normal inoperative position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The switch construction defined in claim 14 wherein each conductive switch element carried by said flexible diaphragm is divided into at least two parts each of which is acutely angled into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the base panel when the operating member is depressed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The switch construction defined in claim 14 wherein each conductive switch element carried by said flexible diaphragm is split into at least two circuit parallel leads each having a gap therein, and wherein the leads terminate at the gap in a radius of curvature and are capable when the operating member is depressed of being acutely angled into point engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the base panel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
The switch construction defined in claim 14 wherein the spring means includes a coiled spring in each of said switching areas and effectively extending between each of said switch actuators and the portion of the diaphragm within the switch area of the actuator, said spring being a multi-rate spring operable to transfer from a lower spring rate to a higher spring rate at approximately the time the contact element carried by the diaphragm makes initial engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the supporting member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
279 words
A switch assembly including, in combination: a. a relatively rigid member having one of a pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof; b. a flexible diaphragm having the other one of said pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof and in opposed confronting relation to said first mentioned one of said pair of contacts, said diaphragm normally supporting its contact of the pair of contacts in spaced relationship to the other contact of the pair of contacts but being deflectible in the direction of the relatively rigid member to effect engagement of the pair of contacts; c. a switch actuating member mounted for movement along a path toward and away from the pair of contacts and disposed on the side of the flexible diaphragm opposite to the rigid member; d. means for yieldingly resisting movement of the movable member toward the rigid member and for effecting engagement of the contacts of said pair of contacts in the course of such movement, said means comprising at least one spring member arranged to yieldingly oppose movement of the movable member toward the rigid member; e. one of said pair of contacts having at least two spaced apart circuit parallel portions, and the other of said pair of contacts having surface areas thereof confronting the circuit parallel portions of the first contact; and f. spaced apart projections individually aligning with the circuit parallel portions and responding to movement of the movable member toward the rigid member for first engaging and then deflecting corresponding spaced apart areas of the diaphragm toward the rigid member thereby to cause a bifurcated switch closing action to occur between the pair of contacts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
279 words
A switch assembly including, in combination: a. a relatively rigid member having one of a pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof; b. a flexible diaphragm having the other one of said pair of electrical contacts on a surface portion thereof and in opposed confronting relation to said first mentioned one of said pair of contacts, said diaphragm normally supporting its contact of the pair of contacts in spaced relationship to the other contact of the pair of contacts but being deflectible in the direction of the relatively rigid member to effect engagement of the pair of contacts; c. a switch actuating member mounted for movement along a path toward and away from the pair of contacts and disposed on the side of the flexible diaphragm opposite to the rigid member; d. means for yieldingly resisting movement of the movable member toward the rigid member and for effecting engagement of the contacts of said pair of contacts in the course of such movement, said means comprising at least one spring member arranged to yieldingly oppose movement of the movable member toward the rigid member; e. one of said pair of contacts having at least two spaced apart circuit parallel portions, and the other of said pair of contacts having surface areas thereof confronting the circuit parallel portions of the first contact; and f. spaced apart projections individually aligning with the circuit parallel portions and responding to movement of the movable member toward the rigid member for first engaging and then deflecting corresponding spaced apart areas of the diaphragm toward the rigid member thereby to cause a bifurcated switch closing action to occur between the pair of contacts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
273 words
In a keyboard-type switch construction in which laminates are superposed in close proximity to one another, the combination: a. a base panel having an electrically insulating surface divided into a plurality of switching areas; b. an electrical conducting switch contact element carried upon said surface of the base panel within each of said switching areas; c. a flexible diaphragm overlying the said plurality of switching areas of the base panel and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, said diaphragm carrying an electrical conductive switch contact element on the side thereof facing said base panel and within each of said switching areas thereof; d. a depressible switch operating member located on the side of the diaphragm opposite to said base panel within each of said switching areas thereof and supported for movement toward and away from the base panel, each said member being effective upon depressive movement to engage and deflect an adjacent portion of said diaphragm and cause the switch contact element carried thereby within the switching area of the depressed member to move into engagement with the fixed contact element within the corresponding switching area of the base panel; e. spring means opposing the depression of each of said switch operating members and for returning the same and the diaphragm to normal undeflected state; and f. each said switch contact element carried by said flexible diaphragm having an electrically conductive extension terminating approximately midway of its switching area and capable when the adjacent portion of the diaphragm is deflected by the switch operating member of being acutely angled into edgewise engagement with the corresponding switch contact element carried by the base panel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
273 words
In a keyboard-type switch construction in which laminates are superposed in close proximity to one another, the combination: a. a base panel having an electrically insulating surface divided into a plurality of switching areas; b. an electrical conducting switch contact element carried upon said surface of the base panel within each of said switching areas; c. a flexible diaphragm overlying the said plurality of switching areas of the base panel and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, said diaphragm carrying an electrical conductive switch contact element on the side thereof facing said base panel and within each of said switching areas thereof; d. a depressible switch operating member located on the side of the diaphragm opposite to said base panel within each of said switching areas thereof and supported for movement toward and away from the base panel, each said member being effective upon depressive movement to engage and deflect an adjacent portion of said diaphragm and cause the switch contact element carried thereby within the switching area of the depressed member to move into engagement with the fixed contact element within the corresponding switching area of the base panel; e. spring means opposing the depression of each of said switch operating members and for returning the same and the diaphragm to normal undeflected state; and f. each said switch contact element carried by said flexible diaphragm having an electrically conductive extension terminating approximately midway of its switching area and capable when the adjacent portion of the diaphragm is deflected by the switch operating member of being acutely angled into edgewise engagement with the corresponding switch contact element carried by the base panel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The switch construction defined in claim 19 wherein each conductive switch element carried by said flexible diaphragm is divided into at least two circuit parallel leads each having a gap therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The switch construction defined in claim 20 wherein each said circuit parallel lead terminates at the gap in a radius of curvature and is capable when the adjacent portion of the diaphragm is deflected by the operating member of being acutely angled to bring its curved terminating end into point engagement with the corresponding switch contact element carried by the base panel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a keyboard-type switch construction in which laminates are superposed in close proximity to one another, the combination: a. a supporting member having an electrically insulating surface divided into a plurality of switching areas; b. an electrical conducting switch contact element carried upon said surface of the supporting member within each of said switching areas; c. a flexible diaphragm overlying the said plurality of switching areas of the supporting member and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, said diaphragm carrying an electrically conductive switch element on the side thereof facing said supporting member and within each of said switching areas thereof, each said switch element having an edge portion thereof terminating within the border of its switching area and being deflectible with the diaphragm to assume an acute angle to the surface of the supporting member; and d. a switch actuator located on the side of the diaphragm opposite to said supporting member within each of said switching areas thereof and mounted for movement toward and away from the supporting member, each such switch actuator being effective upon movement toward the supporting member to engage and deflect the adjacent portion of said diaphragm and thereby cause the switch contact element which is carried by the diaphragm within the switching area of the moving actuator to move at an acute angle toward and into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the supporting member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a keyboard-type switch construction in which laminates are superposed in close proximity to one another, the combination: a. a supporting member having an electrically insulating surface divided into a plurality of switching areas; b. an electrical conducting switch contact element carried upon said surface of the supporting member within each of said switching areas; c. a flexible diaphragm overlying the said plurality of switching areas of the supporting member and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, said diaphragm carrying an electrically conductive switch element on the side thereof facing said supporting member and within each of said switching areas thereof, each said switch element having an edge portion thereof terminating within the border of its switching area and being deflectible with the diaphragm to assume an acute angle to the surface of the supporting member; and d. a switch actuator located on the side of the diaphragm opposite to said supporting member within each of said switching areas thereof and mounted for movement toward and away from the supporting member, each such switch actuator being effective upon movement toward the supporting member to engage and deflect the adjacent portion of said diaphragm and thereby cause the switch contact element which is carried by the diaphragm within the switching area of the moving actuator to move at an acute angle toward and into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the supporting member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
The switch construction defined in claim 22 wherein each conductive switch element carried by said flexible diaphragm is divided into at least two parts, each of which is acutely angled into edgewise engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the base panel when the operating member is sufficiently depressed to deflect the adjacent portion of the diaphragm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
85 words
The switch construction defined in claim 23 wherein each conductive switch element carried By said flexible diaphragm is split into at least two circuit parallel leads each having a gap therein, and wherein the terminating end of each lead is progressively reduced in width at the gap such that when the operating member is depressed and deflects the adjacent portion of the diaphragm the terminating ends of the leads are acutely angled into point engagement with the corresponding contact element carried by the base panel.
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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) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |