Membrane switch
AssigneeMolex Incorporated
InventorsLouis Emmanuel Dagneau de Richecour, Alfred Bientz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of fabricating a membrane switch, an article of manufacture and the membrane switch, itself, are disclosed. The membrane switch is of the type including a pair of insulating layers each having at least one contact area formed thereon in facing relation the contact area of the other layer. A protective layer is disposed between the insulating layers at least in the vicinity of the facing contact areas to maintain the contact areas separated during a subsequent fabrication step involving the application of heat and/or pressure. The protective layer is removed after the fabrication step is performed.
Claims17
A method of fabricating a membrane switch including a pair of insulating layers each having at least one contact area formed thereon in facing relation with the contact area of the other layer, comprising the steps of:
- juxtaposing said pair of insulating layers with the contact areas thereon in facing relation;
- inserting a protective layer between said insulating layers at least in a vicinity of said facing contact areas to maintain the contact areas separated during a subsequent fabrication step involving an increased temperature;
- and
- removing said protective layer after said fabrication step is performed.
An article of manufacture in a fabrication of a membrane switch, comprising:
- a pair of juxtaposed insulating layers each having at least one conductive contact area thereon in facing relation with the contact area of the other layer;
- and
- a protective layer removably mounted between the insulating layers at least in a vicinity of the facing contact areas to maintain the contact areas separated, the protective layer being removable from between the insulating layers to enable the switch for use.
A membrane switch, comprising a pair of juxtaposed insulating layers each having at least one conductive contact area thereon in facing relation with the contact area of the other layer, and the insulating layers being joined about a substantial peripheral portion surrounding the facing contact areas leaving a peripheral opening between the layers communicating with the facing contact areas, said peripheral portion including a first side and a second side opposed to each other and said peripheral opening substantially comprises the entire second side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.