Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A keyboard system comprising a generally flat substrate, a plurality of switching stations provided on the substrate, each switching station comprising an electrically conductive disc, the disc having an unactuated and an actuated configuration and having an outer peripheral margin, electrically isolated support means for supporting the outer peripheral margin of the disc when in the unactuated configuration, an inner contact disposed on the substrate generally beneath the center of the disc but out of contact with the disc when in the unactuated configuration, at least two outer pole contacts disposed on the substrate radially intermediate the support means and the inner contact, the pole contacts out of contact with the disc when in the unactuated configuration, the pole contacts located relative to the inner contact so that upon actuation the disc engages the pole contacts prior to the inner contact whereby electrical connection of each pole contact with the inner contact occurs simultaneously.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A keyboard system comprising a generally flat substrate, a plurality of switching stations provided on the substrate, each switching station comprising an electrically conductive disc, the disc having an unactuated and an actuated configuration and having an outer peripheral margin, electrically isolated support means for supporting the outer peripheral margin of the disc when in the unactuated configuration, an inner contact disposed on the substrate generally beneath the center of the disc but out of contact with the disc when in the unactuated configuration, at least two outer pole contacts disposed on the substrate radially intermediate the support means and the inner contact, the pole contacts out of contact with the disc when in the unactuated configuration, the pole contacts located relative to the inner contact so that upon actuation the disc engages the pole contacts prior to the inner contact whereby electrical connection of each pole contact with the inner contact occurs simultaneously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A keyboard system according to claim 1 in which the pole contacts have a top surface spaced from the substrate a distance greater than a top surface of the inner contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A keyboard system according to claim 1 in which the support means includes a plurality of arc shaped pads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A keyboard system according to claim 3 in which the pole contacts are arc shaped pads of electrically conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A keyboard system according to claim 4 in which there are two pole contacts disposed on two opposite sides of the inner contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A keyboard system according to claim 4 in which there are three pole contacts evenly spaced around the inner contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A keyboard system according to claim 2 in which the discs are generally circular-in-plan having a selected diameter and the support means is a layer of electrically insulative material, the layer having a plurality of apertures with a diameter slightly smaller than the selected diameter of each respective disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A keyboard system according to claim 2 in which the support means includes two spaced generally U-shaped elements each having two legs depending from a bight portion, the substrate being provided with a plurality of pairs of apertures, the depending legs of the elements received in a pair of apertures so that the disc is received on the two bights.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A keyboard system according to claim 8 in which the outer pole contacts include two spaced generally U-shaped elements each having two legs depending from a bight portion, the depending legs of each outer contact element received in a respective pair of apertures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A keyboard system according to claim 9 in which the inner contact includes a single generally U-shaped element having two legs depending from a bight portion, the depending legs of the inner contact element received in a pair of apertures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A keyboard system according to claim 10 in which the generally U-shaped elements are composed of round wire, the inner contact wire having a smaller diameter than the outer contact wire.