Patent US5061094A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5061094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard for typewriters, printers or the like
Assignee: TA Triumph-Adler GmbH
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Filing: 1990-12-19
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Granted: 1991-10-29
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Expires: 2010-12-19
Abstract
Abstract In a keyboard for typewriters, printers or the like, where a contact bearing film is disposed underneath the keys, there is provided for achieving a cost-efficient arrangement, while avoiding the use of separate restoring springs, that the contact bearing film (10) has U-shaped cut-outs (11) in the area of the keys (1), the film tongues (12) are bent by 180° and are acted upon by the key tappet (3) of the keys (1), the contacts (14, 15) formed between the base of the film, the underside of the film tongue (12), and the film tongue (12) act at the same time as a restoring spring.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunter Buttner
- 👤 Friedrich Forschner
- 👤 Manfred Fuchtenkort
- 👤 Rudolf Schmeykal
- 👤 Alfred Wieland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/52; H01H2205/00; H01H2205/01; H01H2229/00; H01H2229/024; H01H2229/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A keyboard for typewriters, printers, input devices for data processing apparatus or the like, comprising a support plate, a film disposed on the support plate having printed contacts and strip conductors thereon, and a guide arrangement connected with the support plate for a plurality of keys, each key being provided with a key head and a key tappet having a free end in such a way that the keys can be operated and guided vertically to the plane of the support plate, the free end of the key tappet making contact with at least one said contact when being operated, a tongue (12) stamped out of said contact carried by said film in an area underneath each said key tappet and bent inwardly by approximately 180° to assume an approximate U-shape, said bent tongue resting under the free end of each said key tappet (3), said contacts being disposed in the areas of the bent film tongue (12) and the film (10) which face each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A keyboard for typewriters, printers, input devices for data processing apparatus or the like, comprising a support plate, a film disposed on the support plate having printed contacts and strip conductors thereon, and a guide arrangement connected with the support plate for a plurality of keys, each key being provided with a key head and a key tappet having a free end in such a way that the keys can be operated and guided vertically to the plane of the support plate, the free end of the key tappet making contact with at least one said contact when being operated, a tongue (12) stamped out of said contact carried by said film in an area underneath each said key tappet and bent inwardly by approximately 180° to assume an approximate U-shape, said bent tongue resting under the free end of each said key tappet (3), said contacts being disposed in the areas of the bent film tongue (12) and the film (10) which face each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A keyboard in accordance with claim 1, wherein said keys are operated against a restoring force and lateral cut-outs for adjusting the restoring force of the film tongues (12) are provided in a transition area between the film tongue (12) and film base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A keyboard in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide arrangements (4) have support shoulders (16), where each support shoulder (16) maintains one film tongue (12) in its position bent by 180° or presses it into this position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A keyboard in accordance with claim 1, wherein an elastic transition area is formed by an elastic, pin-like projection (18) of the key tappet (3).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A keyboard in accordance with claim 1, wherein the key head (2) is made of relatively hard plastic and the key tappet (3), made of relatively soft plastic, is molded to the key head (2) in a two-component injection molding process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A keyboard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said printed contacts comprise a first set of contacts (14) and a switching contact (15).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A keyboard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guide arrangement is of one piece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |