Patent · US Expired

Membrane switch with means for preventing contamination of the interior thereof

US4249044A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
6References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1979
Grant dateFeb 3, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2239/03
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A membrane switch has a substrate and a plurality of first conductors formed on the substrate. A flexible membrane having a plurality of second conductors formed thereon is positioned relative to the substrate by a spacer which may be adhesively secured to both membrane and substrate. There are openings in the spacer in register with aligned first and second conductors. The membrane is caused to move toward the substrate through an opening to cause contact between the aligned first and second conductors in response to pressure upon the exterior of the membrane. There are vent passage means interconnecting the spacer openings, which vent passage means may be open to the atmosphere.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.