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US4243846A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pushbutton switch assembly for telecommunications and other input apparatus

Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
•
Filing: 1979-02-05
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Granted: 1981-01-06
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Expires: 1999-02-05
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Abstract

Abstract A pushbutton switch assembly has at least one of the conventional PCB's replaced by a porcelain coated steel plate. The contact circuit for the pushbutton switches is formed on the top surface of the steel plate. It is also possible to replace both PCB's of a conventional switch by forming a second circuit on the under surface of the steel plate, with the electrical devices mounted thereon. Use of the steel plate enables the normal metal mounting plate to be omitted.

Inventors

  • 👤 George V. Lenaerts
  • 👤 Roger Perks
  • 👤 Phillip J. Dudley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 07:50
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/18; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/23; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/05; H05K1/053; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10053

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
A pushbutton switch assembly comprising: a steel sheet circuit member having upper and lower surfaces; a porcelain layer on at least said upper surface; a contact circuit on said porcelain layer, said circuit including a plurality of switch positions, each position including a plurality of contact areas; a spring contact assembly mounted on said upper surface and including a plurality of contact members each contact member aligned with a switch position of said contact circuit and including contact means for electrical contact with the contact areas at the related switch position and having a snap action for rapid making and breaking of contact with said contact areas; a pushbutton assembly mounted on said spring contact assembly, said pushbutton assembly comprising a flat sheet member and a plurality of pushbuttons integral with said flat sheet member, a pushbutton for each contact member and related switch position; and circuit means associated with said lower surface of said steel sheet circuit member, said circuit means comprising an electrical circuit pattern and electrical devices connected to said circuit pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
A pushbutton switch assembly comprising: a steel sheet circuit member having upper and lower surfaces; a porcelain layer on at least said upper surface; a contact circuit on said porcelain layer, said circuit including a plurality of switch positions, each position including a plurality of contact areas; a spring contact assembly mounted on said upper surface and including a plurality of contact members each contact member aligned with a switch position of said contact circuit and including contact means for electrical contact with the contact areas at the related switch position and having a snap action for rapid making and breaking of contact with said contact areas; a pushbutton assembly mounted on said spring contact assembly, said pushbutton assembly comprising a flat sheet member and a plurality of pushbuttons integral with said flat sheet member, a pushbutton for each contact member and related switch position; and circuit means associated with said lower surface of said steel sheet circuit member, said circuit means comprising an electrical circuit pattern and electrical devices connected to said circuit pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a bezel mounted on said pushbutton assembly and including a plurality of apertures therethrough, a pushbutton positioned in each aperture and extending through said bezel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 2, including means on said bezel for mounting the pushbutton switch assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, said circuit means comprising: a printed circuit board mounted on said lower surface of said steel sheet circuit member and having upper and lower surfaces; said circuit pattern on one of said surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 4, said circuit pattern on said upper surface of said printed circuit board and said electrical devices mounted on said lower surface of said printed circuit board and connected to said circuit pattern through said printed circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 5, said electrical devices comprising hybrid circuit devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, said steel sheet circuit member having a porcelain layer on said lower surface, said circuit means comprising said electrical circuit pattern on said porcelain layer on said lower surface and electrical devices mounted on and connected to said circuit pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 7, said electrical devices comprising hybrid circuit devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, said pushbuttons arranged in columns and rows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 9, said assembly forming a telephone pushbutton dial.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, said pushbutton arranged in a single column or row.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2412624A Cited
US3290439A Cited
US3354542A Cited
US3296099A Cited
US3670409A Cited
US3745095A Cited
US3934334A Cited
US4033030A Cited
US4045636A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-01-06 1984-07-07 1985-01-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-01-06 1988-07-07 1989-01-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-01-06 1992-07-07 1993-01-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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