Key guide structure in keyboard apparatus

Abstract

Keyboard apparatus has a frame and a key pivotably mounted on the frame. Key guide structure includes a key-side guide member provided inside the key, and a frame-side guide member provided on the frame. The key-side guide member has at least one convexly-formed portion projecting from the inner surface of a distal end portion of the key, remote from a pivot point of the key, toward the pivot point. The frame-side guide member permits movement of the key-side guide member along a pivoting direction of the key, but limits lateral movement of the key-side guide member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the objects and other features of the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a bottom view of a white key in a keyboard apparatus to which is applied a key guide structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a bottom perspective view of the key;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing principal sections of a key frame in the keyboard apparatus;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side sectional views showing principal sections of the keyboard apparatus; more particularly, FIG. 3A shows a released position of a key while FIG. 3B shows a depressed position of a key in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional top plan view, taken along the A-A line of FIG. 3B, showing a key guide section with the key mounted to the key frame;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views explanatory of sizes of a key-side guide member and frame-side guide member in the embodiment;

FIGS. 6A-6D are views showing a first group of modifications of the key guide section in the embodiment;

FIGS. 7A-7F are views showing a second group of modifications of the key guide section in the embodiment;

FIGS. 8A-8C are views showing a third group of modifications of the key guide section in the embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a view showing example positions where a key guide section is provided in a conventional keyboard apparatus.

Claims

1. A key guide structure in a keyboard apparatus having a frame and a key pivotably mounted on the frame, said key guide structure comprising: a key-side guide member provided inside the key and having at least one convexly-formed portion projecting from an inner surface of a distal end portion of the key, remote from a pivot point of the key, toward the pivot point; anda frame-side guide member provided on the frame in such a manner that said frame-side guide member permits movement of said key-side guide member along a pivoting direction of the key but limits lateral movement of said key-side guide member.

2. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame-side guide member has two members defining a guide channel to allow one said convexly-formed portion of said key-side guide member to enter the guide channel, and wherein, by the guide channel, said frame-side guide member not only guides movement, along the pivoting direction of the key, of said key-side guide member but also limits lateral movement of said key-side guide member.

3. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the two members of said frame-side guide member defines two side surfaces of the guide channel.

4. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame-side guide member further includes a member interconnecting said two members to define a bottom of the guide channel.

5. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame-side guide member comprises a guide rail defined by a single member, and said key-side guide member is disposed so as to sandwich the guide rail by two said convexly-formed portions so that the guide rail not only guides movement, along the pivoting direction of the key, of said key-side guide member but also limits lateral movement of said key-side guide member.

6. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said key-side guide member is formed integrally with the key.

7. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame-side guide member is formed integrally with the frame.

8. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of the keys are arranged on the frame.

9. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein said keyboard apparatus is a keyboard apparatus of an electronic keyboard instrument, the plurality of the keys include white and black keys, and said key-side guide member and said frame-side guide member are provided in correspondence with the white key.

10. A key guide structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said key-side guide member and said frame-side guide member slidingly contact each other with a lubricant agent between respective sliding contact portions of said key-side guide member and said frame-side guide member.