Keyboard assembly momentary contact push button switch with tactile action

Claim 2

A spring actuated push button assembly for use in an associated keyboard assembly and which keyboard assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements, said push button assembly adapted to provide the user with a tactile feel when said switch is depressed comprising: a button member having an outwardly extending ledge terminating in a downwardly extending rim, said ledge and said rim forming a cavity area adjacent the bottom of said button member; means for electrically engaging said keyboard assembly; and a shaped spring having a flexed and an unflexed position, said spring disposed in said cavity such that when said button member is depressed, said spring moves into said flexed position thereby providing said user with a tactile feel, and when said button member is released, said spring moves into said unflexed position thereby causing said button to be disposed upward.

Claim 3

The push button assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for electrically engaging said keyboard assembly is a contact bridge, said contact bridge having arm members arranged and configured to come into electrical contact with said staple elements disposed in said keyboard.

Claim 4

The push button assembly of claim 2, wherein means for retaining said spring in said button member are disposed on the inside surface of said rim.

Claim 5

The push button assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for electrically engaging said keyboard assembly is a trough-shaped section of said spring.

Claim 6

The push button assembly of claim 4, wherein said trough-shaped section of said spring is formed when said button member is depressed and engages said spring near the center thereof.

Claim 7

The push button assembly and keyboard of claim 5, wherein said button member has means for depressing said spring, said means being disposed on said button member adjacent the bottom surface thereof.

Claim 8

The push button assembly of claim 6, where said means is a protuberance.

Claim 9

The push button assembly of claim 2, wherein said arm members are downwardly extending and are arranged and configured such that when said button member is depressed, said arm members are disposed adjacent each side of said spring.

Claim 10

The push button assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring has a sinusoidal shape comprised of two arcuous branch sections forming a downward extending trough section.

Claim 11

The push button assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring has a generally flat section and downwardly extending ends on each side thereof.

Claim 12

The push button assembly of claim 1 wherein a section of said spring forms said means for electrically engaging said keyboard assembly.

Claim 13

The push button assembly according to claim 11 wherein said means for electrically engaging said keyboard assembly is a trough-shaped section of said spring selectively formed when said spring is depressed.

Claim 14

The push button assembly according to claim 12 wherein said spring has a generally flat section and downwardly extending ends on each side thereof, said flat section forming said trough-shaped section when said spring is depressed.

Claim 15

The push button assembly according to claim 11 wherein said button assembly is disposed in mounting means for retaining said button assembly, said mounting means having support members coupled to a bottom circuit board, said button assembly disposed in said mounting means with said support members yieldably engaging said ledge member.

Claim 16

The push button assembly according to claim 14 wherein said electrical staple elements are disposed on said circuit board.

Claim 17

The push button assembly according to claim 14 wherein said support members form a plurality of openings with an associated button assembly disposed in each opening.

Claim 18

The push button assembly according to claim 14 wherein said support members include means for retaining said spring member therein.

Claim 19

A spring actuated push button switch keyboard adapted for use in a keyboard assembly which assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements comprising: a button member and an associated spring, said button member having means for retaining said spring therein; and a contact bridge disposed in said button member adjacent the bottom thereof, said contact bridge having arm members adapted to electrically engage said keyboard; wherein said spring is so disposed in said button member such that when said button is depressed, said arm members of said contact bridge come into electrical contact with said staple elements disposed in said keyboard.

Claim 20

A spring actuated push button switch keyboard adapted for use in a keyboard assembly which assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements comprising: a button member and an associated spring, said button member having means for retaining said spring therein; and a contact bridge disposed in said button member adjacent the bottom thereof, said contact bridge having arm members adapted to electrically engage said keyboard; wherein said spring is so disposed in said button member such that when said button is depressed, said arm members of said contact bridge come into electrical contact with said staple elements disposed in said keyboard.

Claim 21

The push button switch of claim 18, wherein said spring has a sinusoidal shape comprised of two arcuous branch sections forming a downward extending trough section.

Claim 22

The push button switch of claim 19, wherein said buttom member has an outwardly extending ledge terminating in a downwardly extending rim.

Claim 23

The push button switch of claim 20, wherein means for retaining said spring in said button member are disposed on the inside surface of said rim.

Claim 24

The push button switch of claim 19, wherein said switch is disposed in mounting means for retaining said switch, said mounting means having support members coupled to a bottom circuit board, said switch being disposed in said mounting means with said support members disposed over said ledge member of said button member and yieldably engaging said ledge, and said trough section of said spring engaging said bottom circuit board.

Claim 25

The push button switch of claim 22, wherein said electrical staple elements are disposed on said circuit board.

Claim 26

The push button switch of claim 18, wherein said arm members are downwardly extending and are arranged and configured such that when said button member is depressed, said arm members are disposed adjacent each side of said spring.

Claim 27

The push button switch of claim 18, wherein said button is made of a nonconductive material.

Claim 28

A momentary contact push button switch having tactile action for use in a keyboard assembly, which keyboard assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements comprising: a button member having an outwardly extending ledge at the bottom thereof terminating in a downwardly extending rim; a contact bridge disposed in said button member, said contact bridge having downwardly extending arm members for making an electrical contact with said staple elements; and a sinusoidal-shaped spring having two arcuous branch sections forming a central, downward extending trough section, said branch sections coupled to said rim on the inside surface thereof such that when said button member is depressed, said arm members on said contact bridge come into electrical contact with predetermined staple elements.

Claim 29

A momentary contact push button switch having tactile action for use in a keyboard assembly, which keyboard assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements comprising: a button member having an outwardly extending ledge at the bottom thereof terminating in a downwardly extending rim; a contact bridge disposed in said button member, said contact bridge having downwardly extending arm members for making an electrical contact with said staple elements; and a sinusoidal-shaped spring having two arcuous branch sections forming a central, downward extending trough section, said branch sections coupled to said rim on the inside surface thereof such that when said button member is depressed, said arm members on said contact bridge come into electrical contact with predetermined staple elements.

Claim 30

The push button switch of claim 26, wherein said two branch sections are disposed in slots located on the inside surface of said rim.

Claim 31

The push button switch of claim 26, wherein said switch is disposed in mounting means for retaining said switch, said mounting means having support members coupled to a bottom circuit board, said switch being disposed in said mounting means with said support members disposed over said ledge member of said button member and yieldably engaging said ledge, and said trough section of said spring engaging said bottom circuit board.

Claim 32

The push button switch of claim 28, wherein said electrical staple elements are disposed on said circuit board.

Claim 33

The push button switch of claim 26, wherein said button is made of a nonconductive material.

Claim 34

A momentary contact push button switch disposed in an associated keyboard assembly which keyboard assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements comprising: a button member having an outwardly extending ledge member at the bottom thereof terminating in a downwardly extending rim; a contact bridge disposed in said button member, said contact bridge having downwardly extending arm members for making an electrical contact with said staple elements; l a sinusoidal-shaped spring having two arcuous branch sections forming a central, downward extending trough section, said branch sections coupled to said rim on the inside surface thereof such that when said button member is depressed, said arm members on said contact bridge come into electrical contact with said staple elements; and wherein said keyboard assembly is comprised of a top framework having a plurality of openings for said button members, and a bottom circuit board coupled to said top framework, said top framework having outwardly extending arm member for engaging and retaining said button member therein, and said bottom circuit board containing said stape elements.

Claim 35

A momentary contact push button switch disposed in an associated keyboard assembly which keyboard assembly includes a plurality of electrical staple elements comprising: a button member having an outwardly extending ledge member at the bottom thereof terminating in a downwardly extending rim; a contact bridge disposed in said button member, said contact bridge having downwardly extending arm members for making an electrical contact with said staple elements; l a sinusoidal-shaped spring having two arcuous branch sections forming a central, downward extending trough section, said branch sections coupled to said rim on the inside surface thereof such that when said button member is depressed, said arm members on said contact bridge come into electrical contact with said staple elements; and wherein said keyboard assembly is comprised of a top framework having a plurality of openings for said button members, and a bottom circuit board coupled to said top framework, said top framework having outwardly extending arm member for engaging and retaining said button member therein, and said bottom circuit board containing said stape elements.

Claim 36

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 31, wherein said outwardly extending arm members of said top framework engage said ledge member of said button member.

Claim 37

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 31, wherein said spring is disposed beneath said contact bridge generally between said downwardly extending arm members.

Claim 38

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 31, wherein said top framework has a plurality of support members forming said opening.

Claim 39

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 31, wherein said spring has first and second ends, said ends being disposed in slots located on the inside surface of said rim.

Claim 40

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 35, wherein said spring is disposed in said slots, said slots being disposed on opposite sides of said rim.

Claim 41

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 35, wherein said button member has means for depressing said spring, said means for depressing said spring being disposed on said button member adjacent the bottom surface thereof.

Claim 42

The push button switch and keyboard of claim 37, where said means is a protuberance.