JP4112960B2 - keyboard - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a keyboard having a plurality of keys, and more particularly, to a structure for supporting keyboard keys.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Keyboards for personal computers, word processors, etc. are composed of a key top with a sliding part projecting on the back and a base with a cylindrical guide part. The sliding part of the key top is moved up and down on the cylindrical guide part. It was configured to be movably fitted (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The key top is pushed down when the user strikes the key, and the sliding portion on the back side presses the contact to input the key data, and then is pushed up again by an elastic body such as a spring or rubber.
[0003]
In this keyboard, the sliding portion provided on the back surface of the key top is fitted to the cylindrical guide portion of the base to fix the position of the key top. If the guide portion is shortened, the key tops become erratic and unstable (see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3). Therefore, this keyboard has a structure unsuitable for thinness and miniaturization.
[0004]
For this reason, a keyboard has been developed that does not use a sliding portion protruding from the back surface of the key top and a guide portion of the base. The keyboard includes a key top, a support member made up of two hinge members, and a switching member.
[0005]
The two hinge members are respectively locked to the back surface of the key top and the base so as to intersect when viewed from the side, and the intersecting portions are fixed to each other by a shaft so as to be rotatable with respect to each other. One of the hinge members is configured such that the locking portion on the back surface of the key top is slidable, and the other hinge member is configured so that the locking portion on the holder member is slidable (Patent Document 2 and Patent Document). 3).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-3158 (FIG. 13)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-76224 (page 1-2, Fig. 3)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-6-36647 (Claim 1, paragraph 0003)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional keyboard as described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 described above requires an independent hinge member for each key, and further, an operation for combining independent hinge members for each key is required. It was necessary.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard capable of reducing the number of parts and the assembly process as compared with the conventional one and reducing the cost.
[0009]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a keyboard having a structure that can be easily reduced in thickness, weight, and size.
[0010]
Furthermore, the keyboard may apply a force to the end portion of the keyboard instead of the center of the key top depending on how the finger is placed when the key is pressed. In order to stabilize the operability of the key, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard having a structure in which the key top is pushed down while keeping the level without being inclined.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the keyboard of the present invention includes a plurality of keys on a base, and each key includes a key top, a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top, and the key top. The guide member has a fixed end fixed to the base and a sliding end that slides on the base, and has an elastic body that is pressed by descending and a contact that is interlocked with the vertical movement of the key top. And a plurality of contact portions that are in contact with the back surface of the key top, and link portions that extend from the contact portions toward the fixed end portion and the sliding end portion, respectively. And
[0012]
By adopting such a configuration, the link part is interlocked via the end part and the contact part, so that even if a biased force is applied to any of the multiple contact parts, the other links also move together. The key top can be pushed down while keeping the level without being inclined. Further, by using a guide member having a plurality of link portions, the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost and the manufacturing time can be saved and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the assembly process is simplified, the keyboard yield is improved.
[0013]
In the keyboard of the present invention, the link portion extending from each contact portion to the fixed end portion has a common portion in the vicinity of the fixed end portion, and extends from each contact portion to the sliding end portion. The link part has a common part in the vicinity of the sliding end part.
[0014]
By adopting such a configuration, the link portions are interlocked at the common portion, so that the movement of the link portion is further interlocked and the key top can be pushed down while maintaining the level.
[0015]
The keyboard according to the present invention is characterized in that the guide member is formed by cutting and raising a plate-like member.
[0016]
By adopting such a configuration, the guide member is formed by cutting and raising the plate-like member, so that it is easy to reduce the thickness, weight and size of the keyboard.
[0017]
The keyboard according to the present invention is characterized in that the plate-like member is shared by a plurality of keys.
[0018]
By adopting such a configuration, since the guide member is a member common to a plurality of keys, the number of parts and the assembly process can be further reduced, and the manufacturing cost and the manufacturing time can be saved and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the assembly process has been further simplified, the keyboard yield is also improved.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the keyboard of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the guide member. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the keys of the keyboard of the present invention are pressed.
[0021]
The keyboard 1 of the present invention has a plurality of keys on a base 2, and each key has a key top 3, a guide member 4, an elastic body 5, and a contact 6.
[0022]
In the present specification, the base 2 includes a printed board, a support plate, a frame, and the like disposed below the key top 3.
[0023]
The key top 3 is a member that is pressed by the user, and is generally manufactured by molding a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin.
[0024]
The guide member 4 has a fixed end 7 fixed to the base 2 and a sliding end 8 that slides on the base 2, and is in contact with the back surface of the key top 3 at the contact portion 9 and the contact portion 10. Yes. Then, the link portion 11 extending from the contact portion 9 toward the fixed end portion 7, the link portion 12 extending from the contact portion 9 toward the sliding end portion 8, and the contact portion 10 to the fixed end portion 7. It has the link part 13 extended toward the direction, and the link part 14 extended toward the sliding end part 8 from the contact part 10. As shown in FIG.
[0025]
The plurality of link portions toward the end portions 7 and 8 may be completely independent or may pass through a common portion from the middle. In FIG. 1, the link portion 11 and the link portion 13 heading toward the fixed end portion 7, and the link portion 12 and the link portion 14 heading toward the sliding end portion 8 are both independent.
[0026]
The fixed end portion 7 is fixed to the base 2 by, for example, a screw 15 or the like, but is linked to the link portions 11 and 13 so as to be rotatable by a hinge. In FIG. 1, the link part 11 and the link part 13 are connected independently with the fixed end part 7, and the connection part 16 with the fixed end part 7 functions as each hinge.
[0027]
The sliding end portion 8 is slidably contacted with the base 2 by, for example, a screw 17 and a groove 18, but is connected to the link portions 12 and 14 so as to be rotatable by a hinge. In FIG. 1, the sliding end portion 8 can also rotate the link portions 12 and 14 independently by the hinge of the connecting portion 19. When the key top 2 is pushed down, the sliding end portion 8 slides in accordance with the rotation of the link portion.
[0028]
One of the contact portions 9 and 10 is fixed to the back surface of the key top 3, and the other is in contact with the back surface of the key top 3 so as to be slidable. Moreover, the connection part of the sliding parts 9 and 10 and a link part becomes a hinge, and can rotate a link part. Increasing the number and area of the contact portions 9 and 10 is preferable because the key top 3 can be stably operated.
[0029]
The guide member 4 can be formed by cutting and bending a single plate-like member. 6A to 6D show the cut portion 61 and the bent portions 62 and 63 of the plate-like member 60 for forming the guide member 4, wherein the cut portion 61 is indicated by a solid line, and the valley-folded bent portion 62 is indicated by a dotted line. A mountain-folded bent portion 63 is drawn by a one-dot chain line. 6A to 6D, the contact portion with the key top is hatched with a diagonal line rising to the right.
[0030]
The shape of the cutting part 61 and the positions of the bent parts 62 and 63 can be designed as appropriate, but if designed so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center or center line of the part that is bent and raised to support the key top, the key top Can be stably supported.
[0031]
Synthetic resin or metal can be used as the plate-like member, and the cut portion and the link portion may be formed when the plate-like member is formed, or may be formed by punching after being formed into a plate shape. The bent portions 62 and 63 can be hinges for rotating the link portion. In order to make it easier to rotate, a cut may be made as shown in the figure. Further, in order to prevent the bent portions 62 and 63 from being completely cut, an adhesive tape may be applied and reinforced.
[0032]
FIG. 6A shows a plate-like member 60 for forming the guide member 4 having the shape shown in FIG. The plate-like member 60 is raised by the cutting portion 61 from the bent portion 62 on the fixed end portion 7 side (corresponding to the connecting portion 16) to the bent portion 62 on the sliding end portion 8 side (corresponding to the connecting portion 19). Are bisected in parallel. And the bending part 63 is arrange | positioned so that the contact parts 9 and 10 may become symmetrical about the intermediate point of the cutting part 61. FIG.
[0033]
Each link part 11-14 of the guide member 4 can be rotated independently by each hinge, but the link parts 11 and 12 are connected via the contact part 9, and the link parts 13 and 14 connect the contact part 10. Are connected through. On the other hand, the link portions 11 and 13 are combined at the fixed end portion 7, and the link portions 12 and 14 are combined at the sliding end portion 8. Accordingly, each link portion operates in conjunction with each other, and can be lowered while keeping the key top 3 parallel.
[0034]
The elastic body 5 is disposed so as to be pressed by the key top 3 or the link portions 11 to 14 in order to push up the key top 3 pushed down by the keystroke again. In FIG. 1, it arrange | positions so that it may be pressed by the link part 12. In FIG. As the elastic body 5, rubber, a spring, or the like is used.
[0035]
The contact 6 is linked to the vertical movement of the key top 3 and plays a role of generating an electrical signal by connecting to another contact when the key is pressed. The contact 6 may be provided directly on the key top, but as shown in the figure, a space is provided at the bottom of the elastic body 5, the contact 6 is disposed on the ceiling of the space, and the surface of the base 2 in the space is provided. The contact 20 and the contact 21 may be disposed.
[0036]
In the keyboard 1 having such a configuration, when the key top 3 is pressed, the key top 3 is pushed down, and the link portions 11 to 14 of the guide member 4 are rotated to press the elastic body 5, and as a result, The space at the bottom of the body 5 is also crushed, and the contact 6 is connected to the contact 17 and the contact 18 (FIG. 3). Thereafter, the link portions 11 to 14 and the key top 3 are pushed up by the recovery force of the elastic body 5, and the connection between the contact 6, the contact 20 and the contact 21 is also released (FIG. 1).
[0037]
Next, another embodiment in which the shape of the guide member is different will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of another keyboard of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a guide member 40 of the keyboard of FIG. 4, the same members as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0038]
The guide member 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a fixed end 41 fixed to the base 2 and a sliding end 42 that slides on the base 2, and the back surface of the key top 3 and the contact portions 43-. 46 is in contact. The link portions 47 to 50 extend from the contact portions 43 to 46 toward the fixed end portion 41, respectively, and are connected to the fixed end portion 41 via the common portion 51. Further, link portions 52 to 55 respectively extend from the contact portions 43 to 46 toward the sliding end portion 42, and are connected to the sliding end portion 42 via the common portion 56.
[0039]
As described above, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the link portions are combined on the way to the end portion to become a common portion and connected to the end portion. Each link part has a hinge on each of the contact part side and the end part side and is configured to be rotatable.
[0040]
The hinge on the contact portion side can be provided by cutting the connection portion between the link portion and the contact portion.
[0041]
The hinge on the end side can be provided at a connection portion between the common portion and the end portion or a portion that merges with the common portion. 4 and 5, the link portions 47 and 49 are rotated by the hinge of the connecting portion between the fixed end portion 41 and the common portion 51, and the link portions 48 and 50 are connected to the fixed end portion 41 and the common portion 51. The hinge of the part and each link part are rotated by the hinge of the part united with the common part 51. Similarly, the link portions 53 and 55 are rotated by the hinge of the connecting portion between the sliding end portion 42 and the common portion 56, and the link portions 52 and 54 are the hinges of the connecting portion between the sliding end portion 42 and the common portion 56. And each link part rotates by the hinge of the part united with the common part 56. FIG.
[0042]
One of the contact portions 43 and 45 and the contact portions 44 and 46 that overlap when viewed from the side is fixed to the back surface of the key top 3, and the other slides on the back surface of the key top 3. Abutting as possible.
[0043]
FIG. 6B shows a cut portion 61 and bent portions 62 and 63 of the plate-like member 60 for forming the guide member 40. A portion of the plate-like member 60 raised from the bent portion 62 on the fixed end 7 side to the bent portion 62 on the sliding end 8 side is partly divided into four by the cutting portion 61 and raised. The bent portion 63 is arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to the center of the portion.
[0044]
With this configuration, when the key top 3 is pushed down, the link portions (47 and 49, 48 and 50) extending from the contact portions (43 and 45, 44 and 46) overlapping each other as viewed from the side surface to the respective end portions. , 52 and 54, 53 and 55) rotate in the same manner as the link portion extending from the non-overlapping contact portion. Furthermore, since the common part is united, each link part can be interlocked.
[0045]
Further, the guide member 40 has four contact portions 43 to 46 and can support the key top 3 stably. Furthermore, since the link part which goes to each edge part is united | combined in the common part, it will interlock | cooperate finely and can maintain the parallel of a key top more.
[0046]
6C and 6D show the cutting part 61 and the bent parts 62 and 63 of the guide member having another shape. In FIG. 6C, in the part raised from the bent part 62 on the fixed end part 7 side of the plate-like member 60 to the bent part 62 on the sliding end part 8 side, it is divided into three in parallel, and the cut part 61 and the bent part 62, 63 is arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to the center line in the vertical direction of the drawing.
[0047]
FIG. 6D shows an example in which the width of the link portion is changed so that the area of the contact portion is widened. The cutting part 61 and the bending part 63 are designed to be symmetric with respect to the center of the raised part. In FIG. 6D, since the contact portion is large, the key top can be stably supported.
[0048]
FIG. 7 shows a plate-like member 70 common to a plurality of keys. In FIG. 7, the plate-like member 70 cuts the guide member for each key, cuts and raises the link portion 71, and forms the sliding end portion 72. When the plate-like member 70 common to a plurality of keys is used in this way, the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the keyboard according to the present invention, the guide member has a fixed end fixed to the base, a sliding end that slides on the base, a plurality of contact portions that are in contact with the back surface of the key top, and each contact. Since the link part is interlocked via the end part and the contact part by having the link part extending toward each of the fixed end part and the sliding end part from the part, any of the plurality of contact parts Even if a biased force is applied, the other links also move in conjunction with each other, and the key tops can be pushed down while maintaining the level without being inclined. Further, by using a guide member having a plurality of link portions, the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost and the manufacturing time can be saved and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the assembly process is simplified, the keyboard yield is improved.
[0050]
Moreover, since the link part has a common part in the keyboard of the present invention, each link part is interlocked at the common part. Therefore, the movement of the link part is further interlocked, and the key top is pushed down while maintaining the level. be able to.
[0051]
Further, the keyboard of the present invention cuts and raises the plate-like member to form the guide member, thereby facilitating the reduction in thickness, weight and size of the keyboard.
[0052]
Moreover, the keyboard of the present invention can further reduce the number of parts and the assembly process by using a plate-like member common to a plurality of keys, thereby saving manufacturing costs and manufacturing time and reducing costs. In addition, since the assembly process has been further simplified, the keyboard yield is also improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a schematic sectional view of a keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a guide member of the keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a keyboard according to the present invention. Schematic sectional view [FIG. 5] Schematic perspective view of another keyboard guide member of the present invention [FIG. 6] (A) to (D) are diagrams showing the shape of the link portion of the present invention [FIG. 7] Common plate Diagram showing the shaped member 【Explanation of symbols】
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard 2 Base | substrate 3 Keytop 4 Guide member 5 Elastic body 6,20,21 Contact 7 Fixed end part 8 Sliding end part 9,10 Contact part 11,12,13,14 Link part 15,17 Screw 16,19 Connection Part 18 groove

Claims (4)

  A keyboard having a plurality of keys on a base, wherein each key is a key top, a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top, and an elastic body pressed by the lowering of the key top, A contact that is linked to the vertical movement of the key top, and the guide member contacts a fixed end fixed to the base, a sliding end that slides on the base, and a back surface of the key top. A keyboard comprising: a plurality of contact portions; and a link portion extending from each contact portion toward each of the fixed end portion and the sliding end portion. In claim 1, the link portion extending from each contact portion to the fixed end portion has a common portion in the vicinity of the fixed end portion, and the link portion extending from each contact portion to the sliding end portion is A keyboard having a common portion in the vicinity of the sliding end portion.   3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is formed by cutting and raising a plate-like member.   4. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the plate-like member is shared by a plurality of keys.

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