Apparatus for, and method of, discharging static electricity in a display and push-button switch

Claim 1

A static electricity discharging device used in a switch for an electrical equipment comprising: (a) a push button having a body portion penetrating into said electrical equipment and being movable into and out of an operative position so as to operate the switch of the electrical equipment; (b) an elastic member in mating relationship with said body portion such that said elastic member is maintained in position with respect to said push button, said elastic member normally maintaining said push button out of said operative position, said elastic member being elastically deformable by said push button when said push button is moved to said operative position; and (c) an electrically-conductive layer disposed on a surface of said elastic member and also in mating relation with said body portion, said electrically-conductive layer being electrically grounded whereby external static electricity applied to said push button is passed directly to the ground through said electrically-conductive layer wherein said body portion of said push button includes an elongated body which has a flange formed therearound intermediate opposite ends thereof, a front portion extending forwardly form said flange, and a rear portion extending rearwardly from said flange, said elastic member having an annular shape, said electrically-conductive layer being of an annular shape and being affixed to one side of said elastic member, said rear portion of said push button body extending through said electrically-conductive layer and said elastic member with said electrically-conductive member held in contact with one side of said flange facing away from said front portion of said push button body, and the other side of said elastic member adapted to be mated with a support wall of the electrical equipment.