Method of fabricating an elastomeric keypad
US5681515A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/4998
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of fabricating an elastomeric keypad having a hard key cap over the elastomeric key. A sheet (50) containing a key cap (24) with graphics (26) is placed onto a first plate (52) of a molding tool (54). A second plate (58) is then attached to the first plate, covering the graphic film. The first plate and the second plate interact in a manner such that the key cap containing the graphic is excised out of the film and retained in the molding tool assembly. The waste material (60) surrounding the key cap is displaced away from its original position. A third plate (64) is then attached to the assembled first and second plates. The assembled molding tool creates a cavity (66) that is representative of the keypad assembly, and an elastomeric material is molded into that cavity. Afar the elastomeric material (12) solidifies, the tool is opened, the molded keypad assembly (10) containing the integrally attached rigid key caps is removed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.