Office Action 1: Notice of Allowance (2025-04-25)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims

The listing of claims will replace all prior versions and listings of claims in the application.

What is claimed is:

1\. (Currently Amended) A game controller key, comprising a base, a casing and a key switch; wherein the casing is fastened to the base to form a cavity; the key switch is disposed in the cavity; a~top of the key switch is exposed from a surface of the casing; conductive silica gel is installed at a\_bottom of the key switch; a through hole is provided at a position on the base, wherein the position on the basecorresponds to the conductive silica gel; a spring is installed between the key switch and the base; a side wall of the key switch is provided with a first bump; a plate body is installed on the base; a gap is present between each of two sides of the plate body and the base; and the plate body is provided with a second bump matching the first bump.
2\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein the key switch comprises a cross switch, a switch shell and a sleeve; wherein the cross switch is installed on atop of the switch shell; the sleeve is installed at a\_bottom of the switch shell;SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1030.103
the conductive silica gel is installed in the sleeve atop of the cross switch is exposed from the surface of the casing; a-the\_spring is installed between the switch shell and the base; and the first bump is disposed on aside wall of the switch shell.

3\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 2, further compris\[es\]\] a dustproof cap, wherein the dustproof cap sleeves the cross switch and is connected to the switch shell.
4\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein the casing is detachably connected he base.SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1230.177

5\. (Original) The game controller key according to claim 4, wherein a clamping groove is formed in the casing; and a clamping hook matching the clamping groove is installed on the base.

6\. (Original) The game controller key according to claim 2, wherein the casing and the base are rectangular.

7\. (Original) The game controller key according to claim 6, wherein the switch shell is rectangular.

8\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein the first bump and the second bump are semispherical.

9\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein the first bump and the second bump are made of polyformaldehyde (POM} plastic.

10\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein a step is disposed at abottom of the base.

11\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein anend-- of the plate body is connected to the base, wherein the end of the plate body is away from the casing;and the plate body and the base are of an integrated structure.

12\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the first bump and a\_surface of the second bump are curved surfaces.

13\. (Currently Amended) The game controller key according to claim 3, wherein the through hole is formed on the casing, andthe cross switch and the dustproof cap are exposed from the through hole, wherein the through hole extends out of the casing;\[\[,\]\] and an outer surface of the dustproof cap is attached to aninner surface of the through hole of the casing.

14\. (Original) The game controller key according to claim 3, wherein the cross switch, the dustproof cap, the switch shell and the sleeve are of an integrated structure.

15\. (Currently Amended) A game controller, comprising the game controller key according to claim 1.

16\. (New) The game controller according to claim 15, wherein in the game controller key, the key switch comprises a cross switch, a switch shell and a sleeve; wherein the cross switch is installed on a top of the switch shell; the sleeve is installed at a bottom of the switch shell; the conductive silica gel is installed in the sleeve; a top of the cross switch is exposed from the surface of the casing; a second spring is installed between the switch shell and the base; and the first bump is disposed on a side wall of the switch shell.

17\. (New) The game controller according to claim 16, wherein the game controller key further comprises a dustproof cap, wherein the dustproof cap sleeves the cross switch and is connected to the switch shell.

18\. (New) The game controller according to claim 15, wherein in the game controller key, the casing is detachably connected to the base.

19\. (New) The game controller according to claim 18, wherein in the game controller key, a clamping groove is formed in the casing; and a clamping hook matching the clamping groove is installed on the base.

20\. (New) The game controller according to claim 16, wherein in the game controller key, the casing and the base are rectangular.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Allowable Subject Matter
2.	Claims 1-20 are allowed.
3.	The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:  the closest prior art is CN 105355496A (‘496).  According to ‘496, the key provides in [0024-0034] disclosure of a base 3, an upper cover {casing} 7, a mechanical shaft 1 {key switch}, a cavity, a top of the key switch exposed from a surface of the casing, a through hole provided at a position on the base, a spring 8, side walls and first and second bumps 61, a plate body 9.  However, ‘496 fails to disclose a gap is present between each of two sides of the plate body and the base.  This gap allows plate body 7 to incline outwards and thus the force curve of a traditional conductive adhesive is simulated (Spec. 6).  Additionally, ‘496 lacks a conductive silica gel.  The Incoming Written Opinion relies on CN 205069465U to provide a conductive adhesive, however this reference fails to provide the lack of a gap between each side of the plate body.  Further search teaches that U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0118669 to Mou and U.S. Pat. No. 8,698,021 to Chu do not teach a gap on each side of a plate body.
Conclusion
4.	The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is in the Notice of References Cited.
5.



CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US5107083A: Claims:
A pushbutton switch for positioning adjacent electrical contacts to be connected comprising: a) a main body of a resiliently deformable material including a switch button pillar having an internal cavity extending from one open end, said main body having a thin flexible portion provided in communication with a periphery of said open end of said switch button pillar and a base plate connected to a periphery of said flexible portion for supporting said switch button pillar via said flexible portion; b) a contact member, having a conductive material on least at one exposed surface thereof, disposed in said cavity of said switch button pillar, so that said exposed surface can be positioned adjacent electrical contacts on said base plate; and c) thin resiliently deformable flanges projecting radially outward from sidewalls of said contact member and pressed into an inner sidewall of said switch button pillar so as to support said contact member and to be movable in an axial direction of said switch button pillar.
a) a main body of a resiliently deformable material including a switch button pillar having an internal cavity extending from one open end, said main body having a thin flexible portion provided in communication with a periphery of said open end of said switch button pillar and a base plate connected to a periphery of said flexible portion for supporting said switch button pillar via said flexible portion;
b) a contact member, having a conductive material on least at one exposed surface thereof, disposed in said cavity of said switch button pillar, so that said exposed surface can be positioned adjacent electrical contacts on said base plate; and
c) thin resiliently deformable flanges projecting radially outward from sidewalls of said contact member and pressed into an inner sidewall of said switch button pillar so as to support said contact member and to be movable in an axial direction of said switch button pillar.
The pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein: said flanges comprise at least a pair of peripheral flanges displaced from one another in said axial direction.
said flanges comprise at least a pair of peripheral flanges displaced from one another in said axial direction.
The pushbutton switch of claim 2 wherein: said flanges are circumferential flanges.
said flanges are circumferential flanges.
The pushbutton switch of claim 1 comprising: a central projection on an inner surface of said cavity for contacting and urging said contact member in said axial direction.
a central projection on an inner surface of said cavity for contacting and urging said contact member in said axial direction.
The pushbutton switch of claim 1 comprising: a) said switch button pillar having a peripheral step at a middle portion of the inner side wall of said cavity; and, b) said contact member having a shoulder formed to fit and engage said step.
a) said switch button pillar having a peripheral step at a middle portion of the inner side wall of said cavity; and,
b) said contact member having a shoulder formed to fit and engage said step.
The pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein: a) said main body is formed of an insulating material; and, b) said contact member is formed of a conducting material.
a) said main body is formed of an insulating material; and,
b) said contact member is formed of a conducting material.
The pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein: a) said main body is formed of an insulating material; and, b) said contact member is formed of an insulating material with a conducting material at least on the one exposed surface.
b) said contact member is formed of an insulating material with a conducting material at least on the one exposed surface.
A pushbutton switch for positioning adjacent electrical contacts to be connected thereby comprising: a) a unitary main body of a resiliently deformable material, said main body comprising, a1) a switch button pillar portion having a cavity inside with an open end, a2) a thin flexible portion disposed about a periphery of an outer edge of said switch button pillar portion, and a3) a base plate portion disposed about a periphery of said flexible portion for supporting said switch button pillar portion via said flexible portion; b) a contact member having a conductive surface disposed in said cavity of said switch button pillar with said conductive surface positioned adjacent a location of the electrical contacts; and, c) thin resiliently deformable flange means projecting radially outward from sidewalls of said contact member and pressed onto an inner sidewall of said switch button pillar portion for supporting said contact member to be movable in an axial direction of said switch button pillar portion.
a) a unitary main body of a resiliently deformable material, said main body comprising, a1) a switch button pillar portion having a cavity inside with an open end, a2) a thin flexible portion disposed about a periphery of an outer edge of said switch button pillar portion, and a3) a base plate portion disposed about a periphery of said flexible portion for supporting said switch button pillar portion via said flexible portion;
a1) a switch button pillar portion having a cavity inside with an open end,
a2) a thin flexible portion disposed about a periphery of an outer edge of said switch button pillar portion, and
a3) a base plate portion disposed about a periphery of said flexible portion for supporting said switch button pillar portion via said flexible portion;
b) a contact member having a conductive surface disposed in said cavity of said switch button pillar with said conductive surface positioned adjacent a location of the electrical contacts; and,
c) thin resiliently deformable flange means projecting radially outward from sidewalls of said contact member and pressed onto an inner sidewall of said switch button pillar portion for supporting said contact member to be movable in an axial direction of said switch button pillar portion.
The pushbutton switch of claim 8 wherein: said flange means comprises at least a pair of peripheral flanges displaced from one another in said axial direction.
said flange means comprises at least a pair of peripheral flanges displaced from one another in said axial direction.
The pushbutton switch of claim 9 wherein: said flanges are circumferential flanges.
The pushbutton switch of claim 8 comprising: central projection means on an inner surface of said cavity for contacting and urging said contact member in said axial direction at a central point thereof to allow deformation thereof from oblique pushing of said switch button pillar portion.
central projection means on an inner surface of said cavity for contacting and urging said contact member in said axial direction at a central point thereof to allow deformation thereof from oblique pushing of said switch button pillar portion.
The pushbutton switch of claim 8 comprising: a) said switch button pillar portion having a peripheral step at a middle portion of the inner side wall of said cavity; and, b) said contact member having a shoulder formed to fit and engage said step.
a) said switch button pillar portion having a peripheral step at a middle portion of the inner side wall of said cavity; and,
The pushbutton switch of claim 8 wherein: a) said main body is formed of an insulating material; and, b) said contact member is formed of a conducting material.
The pushbutton switch of claim 8 wherein: a) said main body is formed of an insulating material; and, b) said contact member is formed of an insulating material with a conducting material on said conductive surface.
b) said contact member is formed of an insulating material with a conducting material on said conductive surface.
The pushbutton switch of claim 8 wherein: a) said switch button pillar portion and said cavity are cylindrical in shape; and, b) said contact member is cylindrical in shape.
a) said switch button pillar portion and said cavity are cylindrical in shape; and,
b) said contact member is cylindrical in shape.
A pushbutton switch array being positionable adjacent electrical contacts to be connected thereby comprising: a) a unitary main body of a resiliently deformable material, said main body comprising: a1) a plurality of adjacent switch button pillar portions, each having an internal cavity extending from one open end, a2) thin flexible portions, each disposed about a periphery of an outer edge of each said switch button pillar portion, and a3) a base plate portion disposed about a periphery of each said flexible portion for supporting each said switch button pillar portion via said flexible portion; b) a contact member having a conductive surface disposed in each internal cavity of each switch button pillar, said conductive surface being positioned so that it can be placed adjacent a location of the electrical contacts; c) thin resiliently deformable flange means projecting radially outward from sidewalls of each contact member and pressed onto an inner sidewall of each switch button pillar portion for supporting corresponding contact members to be movable in an axial direction of each switch button pillar portion; and d) communication means connecting each said cavity with an adjacent said cavity for preventing switch sticking by vacuum formation within said cavity.
a) a unitary main body of a resiliently deformable material, said main body comprising: a1) a plurality of adjacent switch button pillar portions, each having an internal cavity extending from one open end, a2) thin flexible portions, each disposed about a periphery of an outer edge of each said switch button pillar portion, and a3) a base plate portion disposed about a periphery of each said flexible portion for supporting each said switch button pillar portion via said flexible portion;
a1) a plurality of adjacent switch button pillar portions, each having an internal cavity extending from one open end,
a2) thin flexible portions, each disposed about a periphery of an outer edge of each said switch button pillar portion, and
a3) a base plate portion disposed about a periphery of each said flexible portion for supporting each said switch button pillar portion via said flexible portion;
b) a contact member having a conductive surface disposed in each internal cavity of each switch button pillar, said conductive surface being positioned so that it can be placed adjacent a location of the electrical contacts;
c) thin resiliently deformable flange means projecting radially outward from sidewalls of each contact member and pressed onto an inner sidewall of each switch button pillar portion for supporting corresponding contact members to be movable in an axial direction of each switch button pillar portion; and
d) communication means connecting each said cavity with an adjacent said cavity for preventing switch sticking by vacuum formation within said cavity.
Ref US20040118669A1: Claims:
A gaming machine push-button actuatable electrical switch comprising: a button body for mounting to a support structure of a gaming machine, said button body configured to accept a lamp and provide power to an input of said lamp; a switch connected to said button body; an push-button mounted for movement relative to said button body; and an actuator, said actuator configured to actuate said switch in response to the actuation of said push-button; said lamp comprising a light emitting element and a polarity matching module, said light emitting element configured to illuminate at least a portion of said switch when power is provided thereto, said polarity matching module providing power to said light emitting element with a fixed polarity regardless of a polarity of power provided to said input of said lamp.
a button body for mounting to a support structure of a gaming machine, said button body configured to accept a lamp and provide power to an input of said lamp;
a switch connected to said button body;
an push-button mounted for movement relative to said button body; and
an actuator, said actuator configured to actuate said switch in response to the actuation of said push-button;
said lamp comprising a light emitting element and a polarity matching module, said light emitting element configured to illuminate at least a portion of said switch when power is provided thereto, said polarity matching module providing power to said light emitting element with a fixed polarity regardless of a polarity of power provided to said input of said lamp.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable electrical switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polarity matching module comprises a diode bridge.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable electrical switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said input of said lamp comprises a pair of electrical leads leading to said diode bridge.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable electrical switch in accordance with claim 3 wherein a resistor is positioned along one of said leads.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable electrical switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lamp includes a circuit board and diodes comprising said diode bridge are associated with said circuit board.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable electrical switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said circuit board is generally planar and has a first side and a second side and said diodes are located at said first side.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable switch in accordance with claim 6 wherein a resistor is located on a lead leading to said diode bridge at said second side of said circuit board.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said circuit board is located in a housing.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light emitting element comprises a light emitting diode.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light emitting element comprises a light emitting diode, said polarity matching module comprises a diode bridge, said lamp input comprises a pair of leads leading to said diode bridge, said light emitting element is connected to the output of said bridge, diodes comprising said diode bridge are associated with a circuit board and said light emitting element is located under a cover.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable switch in accordance with claim 10 wherein said lamp includes a housing in which said circuit board is located, at least a portion of said leads extending from said housing.
The gaming machine push-button actuatable switch in accordance with claim 11 wherein said lamp includes a base, said light emitting diode mounted to a first side of said base and said circuit board mounted to a second side of said base.
A method of changing a lamp of a gaming machine push-button actuatable switch comprising: removing a lens cap of a push-button of said switch; removing an existing lamp from a socket defined by a body of said switch; inserting a new lamp into said socket defined by said body of said switch, said new lamp comprising a polarity matching module having an output connected to a light emitting diode and a pair of inputs leading to said polarity matching module, said inserting including placing said inputs of said lamp into contact with electrical contacts of said switch without regard to the polarity of the power applied to said contacts of said switch.
removing a lens cap of a push-button of said switch;
removing an existing lamp from a socket defined by a body of said switch;
inserting a new lamp into said socket defined by said body of said switch, said new lamp comprising a polarity matching module having an output connected to a light emitting diode and a pair of inputs leading to said polarity matching module, said inserting including placing said inputs of said lamp into contact with electrical contacts of said switch without regard to the polarity of the power applied to said contacts of said switch.
The method in accordance with claim 13 including the step of reconnecting said lens cap after said new lamp is inserted.
The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said lamp includes a housing having a first end and a second end, said inputs comprise a pair of leads, at least a portion of said leads extending from said housing at said second end, said second end of said housing configured to fit within said socket in either a first position or a second position in which said leads will contact said contacts.
Ref US10515508B2: Claims:
In combination, a gaming machine having a button deck and a push-button mounted to said deck, comprising: a base having a top side and an opposing bottom side, said bottom side of said base connected to a closed planar top of said deck; an annular lock ring connected to said base, said annular lock ring defining a central opening and at least one peripheral inset; a button cover movable between a first undepressed position and a second depressed position, said button cover having a central portion located at said central opening of said annular lock ring, and a peripheral wall which extends downwardly from said central portion at one or more locations, at least a portion of said button cover extending into said at least one peripheral inset of said annular lock ring; means for generating a tactile feedback when said button cover is moved to said second depressed position; and an input/output mechanism which generates an output in response to movement of said button cover from said first undepressed position to said second depressed position, said input/output mechanism comprising at least one actuator located above said top of said deck and movable downwardly towards said deck when said button cover is moved from said first undepressed position to said second depressed position, and at least one detector positioned below a bottom of said deck, said at least one detector generating an output in response to the detection of movement of said at least one actuator towards said deck.
a base having a top side and an opposing bottom side, said bottom side of said base connected to a closed planar top of said deck;
an annular lock ring connected to said base, said annular lock ring defining a central opening and at least one peripheral inset;
a button cover movable between a first undepressed position and a second depressed position, said button cover having a central portion located at said central opening of said annular lock ring, and a peripheral wall which extends downwardly from said central portion at one or more locations, at least a portion of said button cover extending into said at least one peripheral inset of said annular lock ring;
means for generating a tactile feedback when said button cover is moved to said second depressed position; and
an input/output mechanism which generates an output in response to movement of said button cover from said first undepressed position to said second depressed position, said input/output mechanism comprising at least one actuator located above said top of said deck and movable downwardly towards said deck when said button cover is moved from said first undepressed position to said second depressed position, and at least one detector positioned below a bottom of said deck, said at least one detector generating an output in response to the detection of movement of said at least one actuator towards said deck.
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deck comprises a video display panel.
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deck comprises glass.
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for generating a tactile feedback comprises a discontinuity in said button cover wherein said peripheral wall deflects outwardly when said button cover is moved from said first undepressed position to said second depressed position.
The combination in accor
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