Sequential switching assembly having plural, spaced flexible contact layers

A switching device capable of producing consecutive switching functions comprising:

• a first metallic contact member having a first forcibly movable contact area portion defined therein by a plurality of curved slots and a support portion surrounding said first forcibly movable contact area portion,
• a second metallic contact member having a second forcibly movable contact area portion defined therein by a plurality of curved slots and a support portion surrounding said forcibly movable contact area portion,
• at least one of said contact area portions being normally in a different plane than its associated support portion,
• a third metallic contact member,
• first means for combining said metallic contact members into a unitary structure with said first and second contact members adjacent each other and electrically isolated from each other and with said second and third contact members adjacent each other and electrically isolated from each other, and with said first and second contact area portions in axial alignment with at least a portion of said third metallic contact member, said means permitting movement of said first and second contact area portions along said alignment axis,
• second means for maintaining adjacent contact members at different potentials, and
• force conveying means for first effecting movement along said alignment axis of only said first contact area portion without movement of said support portion surrounding said first contact area portion and without changing the shape of said first contact area portion to achieve a first switching action and, after sufficient movement of said first contact area portion, for effecting movement of both said first and second contact area portions along said alignment axis without movement of said support portion surrounding said first contact area portion and without movement of said support portion surrounding said second contact area portion and without changing the shape of either said first or second contact area portions to achieve a second switching action.

A keyboard switching apparatus for effecting one or more switching functions when an actuating means is depressed comprising:

• a plurality of switching members each capable of producing multiple switching functions, each said switching members being comprised of a first forcibly movable metallic contact area portion defined by a plurality of curved slots and a support portion surrounding said first forcibly movable contact area portion, a second forcibly movable metallic contact area portion defined by a plurality of curved slots and a support portion surrounding said second forcibly movable contact area portion, and a third metallic contact area portion,
• first means for combining said switching members into a unitary structure with said first and second contact area portions of each switching member adjacent each other and electrically isolated from each other, with said second and third contact area portions of each switching member adjacent each other and electrically isolated from each other, and with said movable contact area portions of each switching member in axial alignment with at least a portion of said third contact area portion, said first means permitting movement of said first and second contact area portions of each contact member along the alignment axis of that switching member without movement of the support portions surrounding said first and second contact area portions and without changing the shape of said first and second contact area portions,
• second means for maintaining adjacent contact area portions of each switching member at different potentials, and
• a plurality of switch actuating means, each of said switch actuating means being in operative association with a different one of said switching members with each actuating means being capable of achieving movement when a force is applied thereto of only said first contact area portion associated therewith to achieve one switching function or movement of both said first and second contact area portions associated therewith to achieve two switching functions, with said first contact area portion of each switching member being capable of movement independent of movement of said second contact area portion of that switching member and with said second contact area portion of each switching member being capable of movement only in conjunction with movement of said first contact area portion of that switching member.

A keyboard switching apparatus for effecting one or more switching functions when an actuating means is depressed comprising:

• a plurality of switching members each capable of producing multiple switching functions, each of said switching members being comprised of a first forcibly movable metallic contact area portion defined by a plurality of curved slots and a support portion surrounding the first contact area portion, a second forcibly movable metallic contact area portion defined by a plurality of curved slots and a support portion surrounding said second contact area portion, and a third metallic contact area portion,
• first means for combining said switching members into a unitary structure with said first and second contact area portions of each switching member adjacent each other and electrically isolated from each other, with said second and third contact area portions adjacent each other and electrically isolated from each other, and with said movable contact area portions of each switching member in axial alignment with at least a portion of said third contact area portion, said first means permitting movement of said first and second contact area portions of each contact member along the alignment axis of that switching member,
• second means for maintaining adjacent contact area portions of each switching member at different potentials, and
• a plurality of force conveying means, each of said force conveying means being in operative association with a different one of said switching members for first effecting movement along the alignment axis of its associated switching member of only said first contact area portion of that switching member without changing the shape of said first contact area to achieve a first switching action and, after sufficient movement of said first contact area portion, for effecting movement of both said first and second contact area portions along said alignment axis of said associated switching member without changing the shape of either said first or second contact area portions to achieve a second switching action.