# US 4,392,037 A · Stabilized button for an electrical keyboard

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- Number: US 4,392,037 A
- Document ID: US4392037A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/270,689
- Filed: 1981-06-04
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1980-06-07
- Assignees: Burroughs Corporation
- Inventors: Anthony Fleming
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392037A

## CPC

- H01H 3/122: {with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor}
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

A large area button in an electrical keyboard is prevented from jamming by being stabilized against tilt which results from depressive forces being applied remotely from the center of the button, the stabilization being achieved by the provision of two anti-roll bars attaching the button to the body of the keyboard and each preventing deviation of one of two axes of the button from being orthogonal both to one another and to the direction of depression of the button.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A keyboard with depressable keys mounted on a base, the keyboard having apparatus for stabilizing the movement of the keys along the axes orthogonal to the direction of depression of the keys comprising:
one or more rigid members, each said member movably secured at multiple points to said key and movably secured at multiple points to said base, said multiple securing points for said key and said base being along lines maintaining a parallel relation with one of said axis orthogonal to the direction of key depression, said secured rigid members stabilizing movement of said keys along the axes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 having multiple rigid members stabilizing movement along axes which are non-parallel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 in which said rigid member is pivotably secured to said key so as to maintain a parallel relation between the line of multiple securing points of said rigid member on said key and one of said axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 in which said rigid member is slidably secured to said base so as to maintain a parallel relation between the line of multiple securing points of said rigid member on said base and one of said axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 in which said rigid member is a frame defining a planar figure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said frame is a wire.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 in which said rigid member is secured to said base by one or more tabs placing one side of said rigid wire member against said base to make sliding contact therewith, the contact line being parallel with one of said axis.