Keyboard design
OwnerAlain M. Bebieinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrical switch keyboards comprise a one-piece mat made of resilient material laid in sealing engagement upon a frame within which switching elements are positioned to operate in conjunction with key portions of the mat. The mat is the uppermost layer of the keyboard and comprises the key portions connected by integral spring portions to frame positioning portions. Operation elements carried on integral extensions depending from the key portions of the mat function with the switching elements in the frame to produce switching currents upon actuation of the key portions.
Claims24
An electrical switch keyboard comprising:
- a frame defining an upper surface plane,
- a one-piece mat made of resilient material laid in sealing engagement upon said frame, said mat being an upper layer of the keyboard with portions thereof positioned above said plane,
- key portions formed integrally in said mat structured to move relative to said frame along a designated axis angled relative to said upper surface plane,
- means in part integrally depending below said mat from said key portions to guide said key portions in said relative movement to said frame so that they can not appreciably tilt sidewise of said designated axis upon actuation by an operator for movement along said designated axis, and
- switching elements positioned within said frame to operate in conjunction with said key portions,
- each of said key portions having an operation element to function with said switching elements to produce switching currents upon depression of the respective key portion.
An electrical switch keyboard comprising:
- a frame defining an upper surface plane,
- a one-piece mat made of resilient material laid in sealing engagement upon said frame, said mat being an upper layer of the keyboard with portions thereof positioned above said plane,
- key portions formed integrally in said mat structured to move relative to said frame along an axis substantially perpendicular to said upper surface plane,
- means to guide said key portions in said relative movement so that they can not tilt sidewise of said axis upon actuation by an operator,
- said guidance means comprising
- a piston-like element depending from each key portion and
- a structure in said frame which provides a slide track for said piston-like element to a switching position,
- switching elements positioned within said frame to operate in conjunction with said key portions,
- each said piston element having an operation member depending therefrom to function with said switching elements to produce switching currents upon depression of the respective key portion.
An electrical switch keyboard comprising:
- a frame defining an upper surface plane,
- a one-piece mat made of resilient material laid in sealing engagement upon said frame, said mat being an upper layer of the keyboard with portions thereof positioned above said plane,
- key portions formed integrally in said mat with connected spring portions and frame positioning portions, said key portions being structured to move relative to said frame along an axis substantially perpendicular to said upper surface plane,
- means to guide said key portions in said relative movement so that they can not tilt sidewise of said axis upon actuation by an operator, and
- switching elements positioned within said frame to operate in conjunction with said key portions,
- each said key portion having an operation element depending therefrom to function with said switching elements to produce switching currents upon depression of the respective key portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.