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Patent US4477700A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4477700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tactile membrane keyboard with elliptical tactile key elements
Assignee: Rogers Corp
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Filing: 1983-11-14
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Granted: 1984-10-16
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Expires: 2003-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A tactile or snap action membrane keyboard is presented wherein the tactile or snap action key elements are protrusions in a membrane sheet, each protrusion having a flat elliptical top surface or plateau with a plurality of inclined ramps from the base sheet to the plateau.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick A. Balash
- 👤 Mary T. Caton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/785; H01H13/702; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/026; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/004; H01H2215/022; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
A tactile snap action switch element comprising: a sheet of base material; and at least one snap action protrusion formed in said sheet of base material, said protrusion being elliptical.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tactile snap action switch element comprising: a sheet of base material; and at least one snap action protrusion formed in said sheet of base material, said protrusion being elliptical.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tactile snap action switch element as in claim 1 wherein: said protrusion has a flat elliptical top surface, and a plurality of ramps from said base sheet to said flat top.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tactile snap action switch element as in claim 2 wherein: said ramps are at the major and minor axes of said elliptical top surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tactile snap action switch element as in claim 1 wherein: said protrusion has a flat elliptical top, a curved side wall between said sheet of base material and said flat top, and a plurality of ramps in said side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tactile snap action switch element as in claim 4 wherein: said ramps intersect said flat elliptical top at the major and minor axes thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A keyboard comprising: a sheet of base material; a plurality of tactile elements formed in said sheet of base material, each of said tactile elements being an elliptical protrusion in said base material asymmetric with respect to a line or plane of reference; first electrically conductive means associated with each tactile element; and second electrically conductive means aligned with each of said tactile elements, said first electrically conductive means contacting said second electrically conductive means to complete an electric circuit upon actuation of each of said tactile elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
A keyboard comprising: a sheet of base material; a plurality of tactile elements formed in said sheet of base material, each of said tactile elements being an elliptical protrusion in said base material asymmetric with respect to a line or plane of reference; first electrically conductive means associated with each tactile element; and second electrically conductive means aligned with each of said tactile elements, said first electrically conductive means contacting said second electrically conductive means to complete an electric circuit upon actuation of each of said tactile elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A keyboard as in claim 6 wherein: each of said tactile elements has a flat elliptical top surface and a plurality of ramps from said base sheet to said flat top.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A keyboard as in claim 6 wherein: said ramps are at the major and minor axes of said elliptical top surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A keyboard as in claim 6 wherein: each of said tactile elements has a first section in the shape of a portion of a truncated cone, and at least one second section in a shape different from said first section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A keyboard as in claim 9 wherein: said ramps intersect said flat elliptical top at the major and minor axes thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A keyboard as in claim 6 including: an insulating spacer sheet between said sheet of base material and said second electrically conductive means; said insulating spacer having a plurality of elliptical openings aligned with each of said tactile elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |