EP0658910A1 - Improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies - Google Patents

Improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0658910A1
EP0658910A1 EP94309301A EP94309301A EP0658910A1 EP 0658910 A1 EP0658910 A1 EP 0658910A1 EP 94309301 A EP94309301 A EP 94309301A EP 94309301 A EP94309301 A EP 94309301A EP 0658910 A1 EP0658910 A1 EP 0658910A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layer
membrane switch
paper
switch graphic
interface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP94309301A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Stuart John Lewison
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
C&K Switches Ltd
Original Assignee
C&K Switches Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by C&K Switches Ltd filed Critical C&K Switches Ltd
Publication of EP0658910A1 publication Critical patent/EP0658910A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/002—Legends replaceable; adaptable
    • H01H2219/008—Adhesive

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies of the kind comprising a flexible membrane which is adapted to enclose a switch operating member through which the switch is adapted to be operated by finger pressure, or other mechanical means.
  • Known switch graphic assemblies of the kind set forth comprise plastic films usually of polyester or polycarbonate materials having a gloss and textured outer front face and an underside inner face on which graphics can be printed by using a screen printing technique.
  • a membrane switch graphic assembly comprises superimposed outer and inner layers of flexible material, the outer layer being constituted by a transparent or translucent plastics material, the inner layer comprising paper, with an intermediate layer of clear adhesive situated at the interface of the two layers, whereby printed material applied to the outer face of the paper at the interface with the intermediate layer is visible through the outer layer.
  • Providing printed material on paper has the advantage that the screen printing step onto the plastics material can be eliminated.
  • the outer layer may comprise a transparent or translucent plastics material of which the outer face may be of embossed configuration.
  • the underside of the paper layer may be secured, for example by adhesive, to a housing or circuit assembly or the like through which the switch operating member can be operated.
  • Conductive ink can be printed on the underside of the graphic assembly, onto the paper, thereby forming an integral and active part of the circuit assembly.
  • the membrane switch graphic assembly comprises a flexible outer layer 1 of transparent or translucent plastics material suitably a polyester or a polycarbonate.
  • An inner layer 2 comprises paper. The two layers are superimposed upon each other and a layer 3 of clear adhesive provides a permanent connection between the two materials at the interface of the two layers.
  • Print matter on the outer face of the paper layer 2 is externally visible through the clear adhesive 3 and the outer layer 1.
  • the outer face of the layer 1 of plastics material is embossed.
  • the graphic assembly When the graphic assembly is installed in a component assembly with the panel enclosing a switch operating member, for example a push button switch, the graphic assembly may be attached by adhesive 4 to the housing or circuit assembly through which the member can be operated.
  • a switch operating member for example a push button switch

Abstract

A membrane switch graphic assembly comprising superimposed outer and inner layers of flexible material is disclosed. The outer layer (1) is constituted by a transparent or translucent plastics material, and the inner layer (2) comprises paper. An intermediate layer (3) of clear adhesive is situated at the interface of the two layers. Printed material applied to the outer face of the paper at the interface with the intermediate layer is visible through the outer layer (1).

Description

  • This invention relates to improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies of the kind comprising a flexible membrane which is adapted to enclose a switch operating member through which the switch is adapted to be operated by finger pressure, or other mechanical means.
  • Known switch graphic assemblies of the kind set forth comprise plastic films usually of polyester or polycarbonate materials having a gloss and textured outer front face and an underside inner face on which graphics can be printed by using a screen printing technique.
  • According to our invention a membrane switch graphic assembly comprises superimposed outer and inner layers of flexible material, the outer layer being constituted by a transparent or translucent plastics material, the inner layer comprising paper, with an intermediate layer of clear adhesive situated at the interface of the two layers, whereby printed material applied to the outer face of the paper at the interface with the intermediate layer is visible through the outer layer.
  • Providing printed material on paper has the advantage that the screen printing step onto the plastics material can be eliminated.
  • The outer layer may comprise a transparent or translucent plastics material of which the outer face may be of embossed configuration.
  • The underside of the paper layer may be secured, for example by adhesive, to a housing or circuit assembly or the like through which the switch operating member can be operated.
  • Conductive ink can be printed on the underside of the graphic assembly, onto the paper, thereby forming an integral and active part of the circuit assembly.
  • One embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the single Figure is a section through a membrane switch graphic assembly.
  • The membrane switch graphic assembly comprises a flexible outer layer 1 of transparent or translucent plastics material suitably a polyester or a polycarbonate. An inner layer 2 comprises paper. The two layers are superimposed upon each other and a layer 3 of clear adhesive provides a permanent connection between the two materials at the interface of the two layers.
  • Printed matter on the outer face of the paper layer 2 is externally visible through the clear adhesive 3 and the outer layer 1.
  • The outer face of the layer 1 of plastics material is embossed.
  • When the graphic assembly is installed in a component assembly with the panel enclosing a switch operating member, for example a push button switch, the graphic assembly may be attached by adhesive 4 to the housing or circuit assembly through which the member can be operated.
  • Our membrane switch graphic assembly is simple to manufacture and construct. No sophisticated printing techniques are required.

Claims (5)

  1. A membrane switch graphic assembly comprising superimposed outer and inner layers of flexible material, the outer layer (1) being constituted by a transparent or translucent plastics material,
       characterised in that:
       the inner layer (2) comprises paper, and
       an intermediate layer (3) of clear adhesive is situated at the interface of the two layers,
       whereby printed material applied to the outer face of the paper at the interface with the intermediate layer (3) is visible through the outer layer (1).
  2. A membrane switch graphic assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer face of the outer layer (1) is of embossed configuration.
  3. A membrane switch graphic assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the underside of the paper layer (2) is secured to a housing or circuit assembly through which a switch operating member can be operated.
  4. A membrane switch graphic assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the underside of the paper layer (2) is secured by adhesive (4) to the housing or circuit assembly.
  5. A membrane switch graphic assembly according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that conductive ink is printed onto the underside of the paper layer (2), thereby forming an integral and active part of the circuit assembly.
EP94309301A 1993-12-18 1994-12-13 Improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies Ceased EP0658910A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9325935 1993-12-18
GB939325935A GB9325935D0 (en) 1993-12-18 1993-12-18 Improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0658910A1 true EP0658910A1 (en) 1995-06-21

Family

ID=10746861

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94309301A Ceased EP0658910A1 (en) 1993-12-18 1994-12-13 Improvements in membrane switch graphic assemblies

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0658910A1 (en)
GB (1) GB9325935D0 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2164496A (en) * 1984-09-15 1986-03-19 Motorola Israel Ltd Back-illuminated membrane key
FR2632745A1 (en) * 1988-06-13 1989-12-15 Alsthom Cgee Active keyboard implemented by programmable logic - has provision for altering function by re-programming and replacement of overlay
US4975676A (en) * 1989-11-13 1990-12-04 Spectra Symbol Corp. Glass membrane touch-controlled circuit apparatus for voltage selection

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2164496A (en) * 1984-09-15 1986-03-19 Motorola Israel Ltd Back-illuminated membrane key
FR2632745A1 (en) * 1988-06-13 1989-12-15 Alsthom Cgee Active keyboard implemented by programmable logic - has provision for altering function by re-programming and replacement of overlay
US4975676A (en) * 1989-11-13 1990-12-04 Spectra Symbol Corp. Glass membrane touch-controlled circuit apparatus for voltage selection

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9325935D0 (en) 1994-02-23

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