Keyboard strip switch assembly having multifurcated conductive screen contact with contact cleaning wiping-action

Claim 1

An electrical switch array adapted to be actuable such as by finger pressure comprising a plurality of individual electrical switches for effecting selected electrical connections to an associated electrical or electronic curcuitry comprising, in combination, a base of non-conductive material, conductive material formed as a planar surface on said base to provide discrete stationary contacts, flexible conductive screen material means positioned adjacent said stationary contacts, resilient means having apertures corresponding to the stationary contacts positioned intermediate said screen material and said formed material to provide a spacing therebetween, a flexible film positioned over said screen material and having indicia thereon corresponding to respective contact areas, areas of said film and said screen material being selectively actuable from an initial position against said conductive material for providing a multifurcated electrical contact with high pressure over a small area with at least one selected stationary contact, said flexible screen material when actuated by finger pressure also providing a horizontal component of movement on said stationary contact to effect a wiping and cleaning action thereto whereby good electrical contact characteristics are obtained between said flexible screen material and said resilient means tending to restore the moved area of said film and said flexible screen material to their initial position.