Flexible magnetically coupled pushbutton switch

A method of making an electrical switch, comprising the steps of;

• making a magnetic coupler layer, with a ton and a bottom surface out of sheet magnet;
• forming at least one opening in the magnetic coupler layer;
• making a magnetic flexible layer, with a top and a bottom surface, out of a magnetic receptive rubber;
• cutting at least one flexible armature into the magnetic flexible layer;
• securing the magnetic coupler layer to the magnetic flexible layer using the magnetic attractive force between the layers;
• holding the at least one flexible armature against the bottom surface of the magnetic coupler layer using magnetic attractive force so that the flexible armature is in a normally magnetically coupled position that is at least partially below the at least one opening;
• providing at least one actuation member that is capable of passing through the at least one opening such that the at least one flexible armature may be manipulated by a switch user;
• forming at least one spacer means;
• placing the magnetic flexible layer over a bottom layer;
• using the spacer means to support the bottom surface of the magnetic flexible layer substantially above the bottom layer such that at least one armature cavity for the at least one flexible armature is formed;
• and
• forming at least one set of electrical conductors capable of switching between an electrically opened and an electrically closed position when the switch user manipulates the at least one flexible armature.

An assembly of electrical switches, comprising;

• a magnetic coupler layer, with a top and a bottom surface, characterized by an arrangement of openings;
• a magnetic flexible layer, with a top and a bottom surface, characterized by an arrangement of flexible armatures;
• a magnetic attractive force between the magnetic coupler layer and the magnetic flexible layer;
• a magnetic attractive force between the magnetic coupler layer and the flexible armatures such that the bottom surface of the magnetic coupler layer is normally magnetically coupled to the flexible armatures;
• actuation members that are capable of passing through the openings such that a switch user may manipulate the flexible armatures;
• a bottom layer;
• a spacer means that supports the magnetic flexible layer above the bottom layer such that there are armature cavities for the flexible armatures;
• and
• an arrangement of electrical conductors that enables a switch user to selectively manipulate electrical circuits connected to the assembly of electrical switches such that actuation of one of the flexible armatures electrically opens or electrically closes a specific electrical circuit.