US5504283A — Key switch device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A key switch device, comprising: a substrate formed of a plastically deformable material; a circuit pattern printed on an insulated upper surface of said substrate so as to form a unitary structure with said substrate, said circuit pattern including a fixed contact pattern having at least a pair of fixed contacts formed in said circuit pattern; a key top provided in relationship corresponding to each said fixed pair of contacts; a guide supporting member connected to a lower portion of said key top for supporting said key top and guiding vertical movement of said key top; a movable contact for performing a switching operation between said fixed contacts in association with said vertical movement of said key top; and a mounting portion formed in said substrate for mounting said guide supporting member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A key switch device, comprising: a substrate formed of a plastically deformable material; a circuit pattern printed on an insulated upper surface of said substrate so as to form a unitary structure with said substrate, said circuit pattern including a fixed contact pattern having at least a pair of fixed contacts formed in said circuit pattern; a key top provided in relationship corresponding to each said fixed pair of contacts; a guide supporting member connected to a lower portion of said key top for supporting said key top and guiding vertical movement of said key top; a movable contact for performing a switching operation between said fixed contacts in association with said vertical movement of said key top; and a mounting portion formed in said substrate for mounting said guide supporting member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 204 words

The key switch device as defined in claim 1, wherein: said key top has a connecting portion adapted to be connected to said guide supporting member, said connecting portion projecting from a lower surface of said key top at a position corresponding to said mounting portion of said substrate; said guide supporting member comprising two link members intersecting each other and mutually rotatably connected at a point of intersection, each of said two link members having support pins extending from at least one end of at least one of said two link members; said mounting portion of said substrate comprising a first group of mounting members located on one side with respect to a vertical line passing the point of intersection and a second group of mounting members located on the other side with respect to the vertical line, at least one of said first group and said second group comprising elongated linear mounting portions for slidably receiving said support pins; and said connecting portion of said key top comprises a first group of mounting members located on one side with respect to the vertical line and a second group of mounting members located on the other side with respect to the vertical line.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The key switch device as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion is formed by pressing said substrate from a lower surface thereof and a raised surface is formed on said upper surface of said substrate at a portion with which said support pins of said guide supporting member are in contact.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 91 words

A key switch device, comprising: a key having a top and a back surface; a guide supporting member; engaging means on the back surface of said key for attaching said guide supporting member to said key; a substrate formed of a deformable material having a fixed contact pattern printed on an insulated upper surface of said substrate to form a unitary structure; mounting means formed in said substrate for attaching said guide supporting member to said substrate; and a movable contact for performing a switching operation with said fixed contact pattern.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 91 words

A key switch device, comprising: a key having a top and a back surface; a guide supporting member; engaging means on the back surface of said key for attaching said guide supporting member to said key; a substrate formed of a deformable material having a fixed contact pattern printed on an insulated upper surface of said substrate to form a unitary structure; mounting means formed in said substrate for attaching said guide supporting member to said substrate; and a movable contact for performing a switching operation with said fixed contact pattern.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mounting means has four elements so positioned to define corners of a rectangle having said fixed contact pattern contained therein.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 5, said movable contact comprises: a spring element; and an electrical contact mounted to said spring element, wherein said spring element is mounted on said substrate between said four elements and below a center portion of said guide supporting member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said substrate is a metallic sheet and said mounting means are punch formed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 41 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising pad means positioned between each of a first pair of said four elements and a second pair of said four elements for facilitating unimpeded movement of said guide supporting member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pad means are raised portions of said substrate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pad means are insulating thick films adhered to said substrate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each pad means between a pair of said four elements comprises two pads, one of said two pads immediately adjacent each element of said pair of elements.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said substrate is a plastic formed with said mounting means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising pad means positioned between each of a first pair of said four elements and a second pair of said four elements for facilitating unimpeded movement of said guide supporting member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pad means are raised portions of said substrate.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pad means are insulating thick films adhered to said substrate.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

The key switch device as claimed in claim 13, wherein each pad means between a pair of said four elements comprises two pads, one of said two pads immediately adjacent each element of said pair of elements.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 94 words

A method for producing a key switch, comprising the steps of: forming a substrate having means for mounting a key supporting member; molding components of the key supporting member and a key top; applying a fixed contact pattern to the substrate to form a unitary structure; mounting a support element of a movable contact onto the unitary structure; assembling the components of the key supporting member; attaching the key supporting member to the means formed in the substrate for mounting the key supporting member; and attaching the key top to the key supporting member.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 94 words

A method for producing a key switch, comprising the steps of: forming a substrate having means for mounting a key supporting member; molding components of the key supporting member and a key top; applying a fixed contact pattern to the substrate to form a unitary structure; mounting a support element of a movable contact onto the unitary structure; assembling the components of the key supporting member; attaching the key supporting member to the means formed in the substrate for mounting the key supporting member; and attaching the key top to the key supporting member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of creating raised pad portions on the substrate to provide a sliding surface for the key supporting member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the forming step for the substrate and the creating step are a step of molding the substrate of a resin having molded therewith the means for mounting the key supporting member and the raised pad portions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the substrate is formed of metal and the step of forming the substrate comprises the steps of: punching out portions of the substrate to define the means for mounting the key supporting member; and forming the means for mounting the key supporting member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the step of applying an insulating layer to the substrate prior to applying the fixed contact pattern to produce the unitary structure, wherein said step of creating raised pad portions is by coating a material having a low coefficient of friction on the substrate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-04-02	1999-10-02	2000-04-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-04-02	2003-10-02	2004-04-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-04-02	2007-10-02	2008-04-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Key switch device

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