Keypads
AssigneeKeymat Technology Limited
InventorPeter Willis Jarvis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keypad is provided wherein the keys are sealingly mounted in keyholes provided in a housing by means of a key mount which centers each key and seals the space between each key and the edge of its keyhole. The key mount also provides an electrical contact which is brought into engagement with underlying circuitry in response to depression of a key. The key mount also resiliently mounts the key within the keyhole so after depression of the key the key mount returns the key to its initial position in which the contact is spaced from the circuitry.
Claims16
A keypad comprising a housing including a key plate having a plurality of keyholes, at least two of said plurality of keyholes each being surrounded by a respective locating flange extending away from the key plate, said keypad further comprising a plurality of key mounts and a plurality of associated keys wherein each key mount locates a respective associated key relative to a respective key hole so that the associated key projects through the respective key hole, at least two key mounts of said plurality of key mounts each including an endless peripheral rib having an endless channel for sealing engagement with a said respective locating flange, surrounding one of said at least two keyholes to prevent the passage of damaging matter into an interior portion of said at least two key mounts, each key-mount further comprising a first contact attached thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.