Push button switch

Abstract

The push button switch provided includes a housing, a key cap, an elastic actuator, and a membrane switch layer. The housing has a key top guide integral with the housing, and two slots are provided at the vicinity of the key top guide. The key top has a cap and two deformable hooks. The cap has a bottom surface, and a plunger is provided and extends from the bottom surface. The two deformable hooks are provided and extend from an edge of the cap. Each deformable hook corresponds to one of the slots and is disposed within the corresponding slot. The plunger is slidably disposed within the key top guide, which allows a reciprocal movement of the key top with respect to the housing. The actuator has an elastic dome and a deformable sheet membrane integral with the elastic dome. The elastic dome supports the plunger and deforms responsive to the reciprocal movement of the key top. The membrane switch layer is disposed underneath the actuator. The deformable hook includes a hook portion, and a leg is provided and extends from the hook portion. As the key top moves downward under an external force, the leg first impacts against the deformable membrane to prevent the bottom surface of the key top from colliding against a bottom surface of the key top guide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.