Thin keyboard switch assembly with hinged actuator mechanism
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsEdwin Joseph Selker, William Marvin Dyer, Jeffrey Daniel Allison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are keyswitches and a keyboard assembly comprising a sheet member having a plurality of key faces fixed thereon in a conventional keyboard arrangement, a plurality of cutouts in the sheet member partially surrounding each key face, and a plurality of living hinges in the sheet member at one side of each key face, whereby the key face may be depressed, causing the key face to pivot about the living hinges to operate a corresponding set of electrical contacts, indicating operation of the key. A conventional rubber spring may transmit the pivot motion of the key face to the electrical contacts.
Claims17
A keyswitch assembly comprising:
- electrical contact members having normally separated contacts which make electrical contact when vertically compressed;
- and
- a living hinge member supporting a key face affixed thereon and pivotable about at least one horizontal axis when said key face is depressed to provide a vertical compressive force to said electrical contact members to make said electrical contact, indicating operation of said key, said living hinge member comprising:
- a sheet member having a cutout partially surrounding said key face, on three sides thereof, said cutout continuing, extending inward towards the center of said keyface to a terminus at each end thereof, forming a center section supporting said keyface;
- a first living hinge along the axis formed between the points where said partially surrounding cutout continues, extending inward;
- and
- a second living hinge extending between said termini.
A keyboard face member comprising:
- a sheet member having at least one key face fixed thereon;
- a cutout in said sheet member partially surrounding said key face, on three sides thereof, said cutoff continuing, extending inward towards the center of said cutoff key face at the termini of said cutout;
- a first living hinge along the axis formed between the points where said partially surrounding cutout continues, extending inward;
- and
- a second living hinge extending between said termini, whereby said key face may be depressed, causing said key face to pivot about said living hinges.
A keyboard assembly comprising:
- a sheet member having a plurality of key faces fixed thereon;
- a cutout in said sheet member partially surrounding each said key face, extending on both sides thereof, said cutout continuing, extending inward towards the center of said key face at the termini of said cutout;
- a first living hinge at each said key face along the axis formed between the points where said partially surrounding cutout continues, extending inward;
- and
- a second living hinge at each said key face extending between said termini, whereby said key face may be depressed, causing said key face to pivot about said living hinges to to provide a vertical compressive force;
- and
- a plurality of sets of electrical contact members having normally separated contacts which make electrical contact when vertically compressed by said vertical compressive force,indicating operation of said key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.