Title:
Keyboard panel for an electric switch contact
United States Patent 3930083
Abstract:
A keyboard panel having a rigid panel board with a plurality of apertures and a resilient material filling the apertures. The resilient material has a force transmitting and concentrating projection at each of the apertures so that the resilient material develops a tactile feel as it resists deformation.
US Patent References:
KEYBOARD ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR DIAPHRAGM ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTACT ARRAY
Krakinowski - January 1970 - 3617660
KEYBOARD, DIGITAL CODING, SWITCH FOR DIGITAL LOGIC, AND LOW POWER DETECTOR SWITCHES
Sudduth - October 1972 - 3699294
PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH WITH RESILIENT CONDUCTIVE CONTACT MEMBER WITH DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING RIDGES
Shimojo - April 1973 - 3728509
MATRIX PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH
Shimojo et al. - September 1973 - 3760137
MULTI-OUTPUT LEVEL KEYBOARD SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED OPERATOR AND CONTACT STRUCTURE
Seeger, Jr. et al. - January 1974 - 3789167
KEYBOARD ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR DIAPHRAGM ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTACT ARRAY
Krakinowski - January 1970 - 3617660
KEYBOARD, DIGITAL CODING, SWITCH FOR DIGITAL LOGIC, AND LOW POWER DETECTOR SWITCHES
Sudduth - October 1972 - 3699294
PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH WITH RESILIENT CONDUCTIVE CONTACT MEMBER WITH DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING RIDGES
Shimojo - April 1973 - 3728509
MATRIX PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH
Shimojo et al. - September 1973 - 3760137
MULTI-OUTPUT LEVEL KEYBOARD SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED OPERATOR AND CONTACT STRUCTURE
Seeger, Jr. et al. - January 1974 - 3789167
Application Number:
05/492170
Publication Date:
12/30/1975
Filing Date:
07/26/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Litton Systems, Inc. (Beverly Hills, CA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
200/5A, 428/138, 200/302.200, 200/511, 156/303.100, 200/5R, 156/293
International Classes:
H01H13/50; H01H13/70; B29D3/00; H01H1/06; B32B3/10
Field of Search:
161/109 156/293,303.1 200/159B,264,5A,288 428/131,137,138,67
Primary Examiner:
Dier, Philip
Claims:
I Claim
1. A keyboard panel comprising:
2. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said rigid means is an apertured panel board.
3. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said flexible means is a resilient material.
4. The keyboard panel of claim 3 in which said resilient material is an elastomer.
5. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said force transmitting and concentrating means is a projection of said flexible means at each of said apertures.
6. The keyboard panel of claim 5 in which said projection develops a mesa.
7. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said second surface is flush with said lip flanges.
8. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means has lateral portions suitably bonded to said second surface so that said flexible means provides an environmental seal.
9. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means is a resilient material bonded to said rigid means and further retained by said lip flange.
1. A keyboard panel comprising:
2. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said rigid means is an apertured panel board.
3. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said flexible means is a resilient material.
4. The keyboard panel of claim 3 in which said resilient material is an elastomer.
5. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said force transmitting and concentrating means is a projection of said flexible means at each of said apertures.
6. The keyboard panel of claim 5 in which said projection develops a mesa.
7. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said second surface is flush with said lip flanges.
8. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means has lateral portions suitably bonded to said second surface so that said flexible means provides an environmental seal.
9. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means is a resilient material bonded to said rigid means and further retained by said lip flange.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Message entry devices for establishing a coded message for transmission to a central station ordinarily include an array of switches adapted to be actuated to operate on logic circuitry to formulate a predetermined message. Heretofore, such message entry devices have utilized ordinary switch devices having switch actuating means adapted to be operated by the operator. As an example of such switch actuators, the message entry devices utilized keys associated with each switch adapted to be depressed to close contacts associated with the switch for operation on the logic circuitry.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved keyboard panel.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel having ease of operation while developing an environmental seal of high integrity.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel developing a relatively good tactile feel during operation.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel that is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel that has an improved force transmitting and concentrating means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a keyboard panel is provided having a rigid and apertured panel board with a resilient material carried by the board and filling its apertures. The resilient material has a force transmitting and concentrating projection at each of the apertures. When the resilient material is deformed at a selected aperture, the resilient material resists such deformation and thereby develops a relatively good tactile feel.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which may be regarded as the invention, the organization and method of operation, together with further objects, features, and the attending advantages thereof, may best be understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the keyboard panel of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, one keyboard panel 10 of the invention is illustrated as a planar panel; however, it is contemplated that the panel can be curvilinear, for example, or another selected geometry. A rigid panel 12 is mounted on a support surface and/or structure 14 by a plurality of similar fasteners, such as screws 16. The panel 12 has a plurality of similar apertures 18 that are located in a predetermined pattern as illustrated. A flexible, and preferably resilient, material 20 fills each or selected ones of the apertures 18 as described hereinafter.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the rigid panel 12 has a first or obverse surface 22 and a second or reverse surface 24 with apertures 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d opened therethrough. Each of the apertures 18 has a similar radially inwardly extending lip flange 26 that extends into the aperture and is flush with the second surface 24. The resilient material 20, which can be an elastomer such as silicone rubber, fills each of the apertures 18 and is flush with the first surface 22 as illustrated. It is contemplated that the resilient material 20 can be raised from the first surface 22. The resilient material 20 extends beyond the second surface 24 and is preferably bonded at its lateral portions 28 and 30 to the second surface of the panel 12. The resilient material is suitably formed at each or selected ones of the apertures 18 to develop similar force transmitting and concentrating projections 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3; the later figure also illustrating adjacent projections 32e and 32f which are not shown by FIG. 2. The force transmitting and concentrating projections can be of any selected geometry but are preferably the mesa projections as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3.
Operatively, the keyboard panel 10 of the invention covers and is spaced from one or more conventional keys (not shown) that are to be selectively actuated. If a key associated with aperture 18b, for example, is to be actuated, an actuating force is applied to the resilient material 20 which fills aperture 18b at its first surface as schematically represented by applied force arrow 34. The applied force deforms the resilient material 20 within aperture 18b and displaces the first surface to the generally concave phantom surface 36. Concomitantly, the force concentrating projection 32b is similarly displaced to the phantom key-actuating position 38 where the projection 32b impinges upon and actuates the conventional key (not shown) as desired. Because the resilient material is preferably selected to resist such deformation at a selected aperture, the hardness of the material amplifies the sensation of movement and thereby provides a tactile feel of key actuation. The lip flanges 26 and the lateral portions 28 and 30 provide additional locking of the resilient material to the panel 12 so that the applied force 34, unless it is unnecessarily large, does not destroy the integrity of the resilient material bond to the second surface 24. This is important where an environmental integrity of the keyboard panel 10 is critical and is desired.
As will be evidenced from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction as illustrated, and it is contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications that do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Message entry devices for establishing a coded message for transmission to a central station ordinarily include an array of switches adapted to be actuated to operate on logic circuitry to formulate a predetermined message. Heretofore, such message entry devices have utilized ordinary switch devices having switch actuating means adapted to be operated by the operator. As an example of such switch actuators, the message entry devices utilized keys associated with each switch adapted to be depressed to close contacts associated with the switch for operation on the logic circuitry.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved keyboard panel.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel having ease of operation while developing an environmental seal of high integrity.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel developing a relatively good tactile feel during operation.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel that is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is an object of the invention to provide a keyboard panel that has an improved force transmitting and concentrating means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a keyboard panel is provided having a rigid and apertured panel board with a resilient material carried by the board and filling its apertures. The resilient material has a force transmitting and concentrating projection at each of the apertures. When the resilient material is deformed at a selected aperture, the resilient material resists such deformation and thereby develops a relatively good tactile feel.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which may be regarded as the invention, the organization and method of operation, together with further objects, features, and the attending advantages thereof, may best be understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the keyboard panel of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, one keyboard panel 10 of the invention is illustrated as a planar panel; however, it is contemplated that the panel can be curvilinear, for example, or another selected geometry. A rigid panel 12 is mounted on a support surface and/or structure 14 by a plurality of similar fasteners, such as screws 16. The panel 12 has a plurality of similar apertures 18 that are located in a predetermined pattern as illustrated. A flexible, and preferably resilient, material 20 fills each or selected ones of the apertures 18 as described hereinafter.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the rigid panel 12 has a first or obverse surface 22 and a second or reverse surface 24 with apertures 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d opened therethrough. Each of the apertures 18 has a similar radially inwardly extending lip flange 26 that extends into the aperture and is flush with the second surface 24. The resilient material 20, which can be an elastomer such as silicone rubber, fills each of the apertures 18 and is flush with the first surface 22 as illustrated. It is contemplated that the resilient material 20 can be raised from the first surface 22. The resilient material 20 extends beyond the second surface 24 and is preferably bonded at its lateral portions 28 and 30 to the second surface of the panel 12. The resilient material is suitably formed at each or selected ones of the apertures 18 to develop similar force transmitting and concentrating projections 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3; the later figure also illustrating adjacent projections 32e and 32f which are not shown by FIG. 2. The force transmitting and concentrating projections can be of any selected geometry but are preferably the mesa projections as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3.
Operatively, the keyboard panel 10 of the invention covers and is spaced from one or more conventional keys (not shown) that are to be selectively actuated. If a key associated with aperture 18b, for example, is to be actuated, an actuating force is applied to the resilient material 20 which fills aperture 18b at its first surface as schematically represented by applied force arrow 34. The applied force deforms the resilient material 20 within aperture 18b and displaces the first surface to the generally concave phantom surface 36. Concomitantly, the force concentrating projection 32b is similarly displaced to the phantom key-actuating position 38 where the projection 32b impinges upon and actuates the conventional key (not shown) as desired. Because the resilient material is preferably selected to resist such deformation at a selected aperture, the hardness of the material amplifies the sensation of movement and thereby provides a tactile feel of key actuation. The lip flanges 26 and the lateral portions 28 and 30 provide additional locking of the resilient material to the panel 12 so that the applied force 34, unless it is unnecessarily large, does not destroy the integrity of the resilient material bond to the second surface 24. This is important where an environmental integrity of the keyboard panel 10 is critical and is desired.
As will be evidenced from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction as illustrated, and it is contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications that do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.