Keyboard switch

Claim 1

In a keyboard switch for a keyboard comprising a plurality of key tops arranged in an array, an attachment plate disposed in parallel with and spaced beneath the array of key tops, a base plate disposed in parallel with and spaced by a given spacing beneath the attachment plate, a plurality of switch bodies mounted on the base plate and attached so as to project upward through the attachment plate, each of the key tops being mounted over a respective one of the switch bodies such that it can be pushed down thereon to render a switch in the switch body operative, attachment means for movably attaching each of the key tops to the attachment plate mounted over the respective switch bodies, and circuit elements mounted on the base plate which are electrically connected to the keyboard switches for operation of the keyboard, wherein said circuit elements include a larger circuit element having a height greater than the spacing between the base plate and the attachment plate, the improvement comprising at least one key top on said keyboard having a width substantially wider than the associated switch body over which said one key top is mounted, and said larger circuit element being mounted on said base plate adjacent to and independently of the associated switch body of said at least one key top, a cut away portion in said attachment plate under said at least one key top and aligned with said larger circuit element, said circuit element having a height larger than the given spacing between said base plate and said attachment plate but less than the combined spacing between said base plate and the keytops and being arranged on said base plate so as to project through said cut away portion in said attachment plate and extend under said at least one key top, whereby said larger circuit element can be accomodated on said keyboard without increasing the spacing between the base and attachment plates and, consequently, the volume taken up by the keyboard.