The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1997
Ronald Kenneth Finlay, Ajax, CA;
Invotronics Manufacturing, Scarborough, CA;
Abstract
A silicone dome switch assembly including a printed circuit board on which is mounted a dome member having a chimney structure. The chimney structure has a substantially rigid upper portion, a collapsible wall below the upper portion, and a substantially rigid lower portion. A vertically aligned contact post is connected at its top end to the upper pportion. The post's bottom end of the post is provided with a movable electrical contact. A light duct connects a light source to the lower portion and a reflector is attached to the post to deflect light from the light source up into the chimney. A key having a graphic area formed on it, is secured to the rigid upper portion, thus capping the chimney structure. When the key is pressed, it pushes downward the rigid upper portion, causing the collapsible wall to deform. This action pushes the contact post with the carbon pill towards the printed circuit board, completing an electrical circuit. The assembly may have multiple chimneys, each having a separate light duct.