Patent DE650921C successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4656078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4656078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key top with an identification legend
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1985-09-23
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Granted: 1987-04-07
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Expires: 2005-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A key top of a manually operated key, comprising a base member having a top face on which a legend identifying said key is printed, and a transparent protective layer covering at least an area of said top face of the base member in which the legend is disposed. The protective layer is made of a mixture of a transparent base material, and a transparent finely particulate material which is different in refractive index from said base material.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Goto
- 👤 Takeo Hosoe
- 👤 Toshinori Oda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:57
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/12; H; H01; H01H; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/028; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24876; Y10T428/24884; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A key top of a key, comprising: a base member having a top face on which a legend identifying said key is printed; a transparent protective layer of substantially uniform thickness covering at least an area of said top face of the base member in which said legend is disposed, said protective layer being made of a mixture of a transparent base material, and a transparent finely particulate material of visible-light reflecting size mixed with said transparent base material, said finely particulate material being different in refractive index from said base material and having a substantially uniform distribution throughout entire thickness of said protective layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A key top of a key, comprising: a base member having a top face on which a legend identifying said key is printed; a transparent protective layer of substantially uniform thickness covering at least an area of said top face of the base member in which said legend is disposed, said protective layer being made of a mixture of a transparent base material, and a transparent finely particulate material of visible-light reflecting size mixed with said transparent base material, said finely particulate material being different in refractive index from said base material and having a substantially uniform distribution throughout entire thickness of said protective layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A key top as recited in claim 1, wherein said base material of the protective layer consists of an achromatic synthetic resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A key top as recited in claim 1, wherein said base material of the protective layer consists of an achromatic acrylic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A key top as recited in claim 1, wherein said finely particulate material is at least one achromatic material selected from a group consisting of silica sand, silicic acid, anhydrous silica and calcium carbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A key top as recited in claim 1, wherein said legend consists of an imprint of a color different from that of said top face, said imprint being transferred from a decalcomania sheet carrying an image of said legend.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A key top as recited in claim 1, wherein said protective layer has a thickness of not less than 50 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The key top of claim 1, wherein said transparent finely particulate material is intimately mixed with said transparent base material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-06 | 1990-10-06 | 1991-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-06 | 1994-10-06 | 1995-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-06 | 1998-10-06 | 1999-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |