US5089671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater zoom switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-12-15
•
Granted: 1992-02-18
•
Expires: 2009-12-15
Abstract
Abstract Conductive pads are disposed in a housing which consists of a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid. One of the pads is mounted on the underside of a push-button, and the push-button is surrounded by a flexible membrane which closes one end of the housing. When the push-button is pressed, the fluid between the conductive pads is displaced, and the membrane stretches sufficiently to accommodate the displaced fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Val Ranetkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/702; H01H13/703; H01H2211/00; H01H2211/002; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/036; H01H2221/038; H01H2231/00; H01H2231/044; H01H2231/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A switch arrangement, comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end to define an interior chamber; a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid completely filling said interior chamber; a flexible, stretchable membrane covering said open end of said housing, said flexible membrane having an inner surface, facing said closed end of said housing, and an opposed outer surface; a push-button molding formed on said outer surface of said flexible membrane; wherein, when said push-button molding is not depressed, said switch arrangement is in an open state, and, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction towards said closed end of said housing, said switch arrangement is in a closed state; and wherein, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction toward said closed end of said housing, the fluid under said membrane in the area of said push-button molding is displaced in a direction away from the space between said push-button molding and said closed end, said flexible membrane being expanded in the area surrounding said push-button molding to provide additional volume to accommodate said displaced fluid, said additional volume being equal to the volume of said displaced fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A switch arrangement, comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end to define an interior chamber; a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid completely filling said interior chamber; a flexible, stretchable membrane covering said open end of said housing, said flexible membrane having an inner surface, facing said closed end of said housing, and an opposed outer surface; a push-button molding formed on said outer surface of said flexible membrane; wherein, when said push-button molding is not depressed, said switch arrangement is in an open state, and, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction towards said closed end of said housing, said switch arrangement is in a closed state; and wherein, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction toward said closed end of said housing, the fluid under said membrane in the area of said push-button molding is displaced in a direction away from the space between said push-button molding and said closed end, said flexible membrane being expanded in the area surrounding said push-button molding to provide additional volume to accommodate said displaced fluid, said additional volume being equal to the volume of said displaced fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a valve through which said chamber is filled with said fluid and for degassing said fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a rubber material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a flexible plastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a flexible metal material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switch as defined in any one of claims 3, 4 or 5 and including a spring under said push-button molding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
203 words
A control unit comprising a plurality of switch arrangements, each said switch arrangement comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end to define an interior chamber; a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid completely filling said interior chamber; a flexible, stretchable membrane covering said open end of said housing, said flexible membrane having an inner surface, facing said closed end of said housing, and an opposed outer surface; a push-button molding formed on said outer surface of said flexible membrane; wherein, when said push-button molding is not depressed, said switch arrangement is in an open state, and, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction towards said closed end of said housing, said switch arrangement is in a closed state; and wherein, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction toward said closed end of said housing, the fluid under said membrane in the area of said push-button molding is displaced in a direction away from the space between said push-button molding and said closed end, said flexible membrane being expanded in the area surrounding said push-button molding to provide additional volume to accommodate said displaced fluid, said additional volume being equal to the volume of said displaced fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
203 words
A control unit comprising a plurality of switch arrangements, each said switch arrangement comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end to define an interior chamber; a degassed, non-compressible, electrically insulating fluid completely filling said interior chamber; a flexible, stretchable membrane covering said open end of said housing, said flexible membrane having an inner surface, facing said closed end of said housing, and an opposed outer surface; a push-button molding formed on said outer surface of said flexible membrane; wherein, when said push-button molding is not depressed, said switch arrangement is in an open state, and, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction towards said closed end of said housing, said switch arrangement is in a closed state; and wherein, when said push-button molding is depressed in the direction toward said closed end of said housing, the fluid under said membrane in the area of said push-button molding is displaced in a direction away from the space between said push-button molding and said closed end, said flexible membrane being expanded in the area surrounding said push-button molding to provide additional volume to accommodate said displaced fluid, said additional volume being equal to the volume of said displaced fluid.
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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) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-08-19 | 1996-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-17 | 1999-08-19 | 2000-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-17 | 2003-08-19 | 2004-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |