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US4127758A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tactile layer having hinged dome

Assignee: Sheldahl Inc
•
Filing: 1977-10-13
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Granted: 1978-11-28
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Expires: 1997-10-13
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Abstract

Abstract A tactile layer for use in combination with diaphragm-type switch keyboards to impact a tactile signal to the user upon depression of a key. The tactile layer comprises a sheet of Mylar polyester material having integrally formed deformations therein wherein the deformation is in the form of an annular ring hingedly supporting a dome shaped projection about a generally circular transition line, the transition line being displaced a first predetermined distance from the plane of the sheet which is less than the distance which the top of the dome shaped projection is displaced from the plane of the sheet.

Inventors

  • 👤 Blaine G. Lowthorp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 01:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/702; H01H13/703; H01H2211/00; H01H2211/026; H01H2211/028; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/004; H01H2215/026; H01H2215/028; H01H2227/00; H01H2227/022

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 66 words
An article of manufacture comprising: (a) a sheet of flexible material of substantially constant thickness having first and second surfaces and having at least one integrally formed deformation extending inwardly from said first surface and outwardly from said second surface thereof, said deformation being in the form of an annular ring portion completely surrounding a circular convex dome shaped projection and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 66 words
An article of manufacture comprising: (a) a sheet of flexible material of substantially constant thickness having first and second surfaces and having at least one integrally formed deformation extending inwardly from said first surface and outwardly from said second surface thereof, said deformation being in the form of an annular ring portion completely surrounding a circular convex dome shaped projection and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The article as in claim 1 wherein said material is prestabilized polyester plastic and wherein the thickness of said sheet is about 5 mils.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The article as in claim 1 and further including an electrically conductive material disposed on said first surface in the area of the center of said dome shaped projection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The article as in claim 1 wherein the intersection of said annular ring portion and said circular dome shaped projection is displaced a predetermined distance from the plane of said sheet surrounding said deformation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The article as in claim 4 wherein the furthest displacement of said annular ring portion from the plane of said sheet surrounding said deformation is greater than said predetermined distance.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

SE24881C1 Cited
US1958050A Cited
DE1817569U Cited
US3503031A Cited
US3760137A Cited
CH545991A Cited
US3829646A Cited
US3898421A Cited
US3860771A Cited
FR2284177A1 Cited
US3971902A Cited
US4034176A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-11-27 1982-05-29 1982-11-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-11-27 1986-05-29 1986-11-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-11-27 1990-05-29 1990-11-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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