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US4324472A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Switch for camera

Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1979-05-18
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Granted: 1982-04-13
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Expires: 1999-05-18
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Abstract

Abstract A switch for a camera employs a switching element which is formed of pressure sensitive conductive rubber or conductive rubber, to which an external pressure may be applied to cause it to bridge across a pair of conductive contacts, thus turning the switch on and off. The switch is disposed on the surface of a camera so as to be accessible to an external pressure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Katumi Terada
  • 👤 Michiharu Saito

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 03:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H1/029; H01H2231/00; H01H2231/046

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 108 words
A switch for a camera adapted to be disposed on the surface of said camera including a shutter release button, said switch comprising: a button seat which surrounds said shutter release button and which is movable independently of and along said shutter release button; a switching element which is made of a resilient and conductive material, said switching element being disposed beneath said button seat; a pair of conductive contacts; said switching element being adapted to bridge across said pair of conductive contacts in response to an external pressure applied to said switching element through said button seat when it is depressed, whereby said switch is rendered conductive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 108 words
A switch for a camera adapted to be disposed on the surface of said camera including a shutter release button, said switch comprising: a button seat which surrounds said shutter release button and which is movable independently of and along said shutter release button; a switching element which is made of a resilient and conductive material, said switching element being disposed beneath said button seat; a pair of conductive contacts; said switching element being adapted to bridge across said pair of conductive contacts in response to an external pressure applied to said switching element through said button seat when it is depressed, whereby said switch is rendered conductive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching element is normally in direct contact with said pair of conductive contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 64 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insulating sheet which has at least one opening formed therein and which is disposed between said switching element and said pair of conductive contacts, said switching element being adapted to be pressed against said pair of conductive contacts through said opening by said external pressure to thereby bridge across said pair of conductive contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 86 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching element comprises a first portion which is adapted to bear against said pair of conductive contacts in response to said external pressure and a second portion which is disposed out of contact with said pair of conductive contacts, said first portion having a shorter length than said second portion in the direction of said external pressure, whereby said first portion is normally spaced from said pair of conductive contacts in the absence of said external pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said resilient and conductive material is pressure sensitive conductive rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said resilient and conductive material is conductive rubber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6, wherein said button seat comprises a plurality of projections for applying concentrated pressure to selected regions of said switching element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein said shutter release button is movable independently of and along said button seat.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3950627A Cited
US3946408A Cited
US3988556A Cited
US4021630A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-04-12 1985-10-12 1986-04-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-04-12 1989-10-12 1990-04-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-04-12 1993-10-12 1994-04-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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