Abstract: A standard keypad comprises a rigid support plate having a front face and formed with an array of throughgoing apertures, respective push-buttons projecting at the apertures through the plate past the front face thereof, and a continuous flexible membrane overlying the front face and formed in front of each of the push-buttons with a relatively thick projecting portion. Thus the membrane seals the apertures around the buttons while allowing same to be depressed via the projecting portions. The switch associated with the push-buttons urges the push-buttons and the overlying thick portions forward from the front face. A shield assembly has a rigid shield plate formed with an array of throughgoing apertures aligned with and generally identical to those of the support plate and having a rear face confronting the front face of the support plate and an opposite front face. The projecting portions of the membrane project forward through the apertures of the shield plate past the front face thereof.

Abstract: A protective cover for the push-button array of a push-button telephone set having a planar surface through the push-buttons extend, comprise a flexible elastomeric sheet having at least one recessed portion with side walls forming a pocket which overlies each of the push-buttons on said telephone set and permits individual displacement of the underlying telephone set push-buttons. The sheet has a skirt portion extending laterally beyond the side walls of the pocket and the sheet is continuous between its lateral edges, whereby the entire push-button array is overlaid by the cover and thereby protected against spilled liquids or other environmental hazards. Surrounding the sheet is a metal frame having a channel on the internal periphery into which the sheet extends and is permanently secured.

Abstract: A protective cover is disclosed for the push button array of a push button dial telephone set. The cover comprises a flexible elastomeric sheet having a grid of upwardly-directed pockets, the lower-facing ends of which are open for snugly receiving and thereby overlying the corresponding array of push buttons on said telephone set. The pockets are elastically depressible independently of one another toward their open ends to permit individual displacement of the underlying telephone set push buttons received in the pockets. The sheet includes a skirt portion extending laterally beyond the grid and the sheet is continuous between its lateral edges whereby the entire push button array is overlaid by the cover and thereby protected against spilled liquids or other environmental hazards. The outwardly facing parts of the pocket portions carry readable indicia thereupon corresponding to the indicia on the underlying push buttons.

Abstract: A gasket is disclosed for use in effectively sealing to communications equipment, a protective cover for a key-actuated switching array which projects through a generally planar surface on the equipment. The protective cover is of the type comprising a flexible elastomeric sheet having one or more recessed pockets adapted to overlie and receive the array of key-actuated switches, whereby each of switches is independently depressible through the sheet. The sheet includes a skirt-like border portion extending laterally beyond the pockets, and the sheet is continuous between its lateral edges, whereby the key switch array may be overlaid by the one or more pockets, with the skirt-like border portion contacting the planar surface beyond the array. The array is thereby protected from spillage of liquids or the like. The gasket is adapted to extend completely around the periphery of the sheet in overlying relation to the border portion.