Claims
- 1. A key switch comprising:a pair of lever members which are rotatably linked together at crossing portions thereof by pivotally mounting a linking shaft in a shaft-receiving hole; a key top which supports the pair of lever members so as to raise and lower the lever members; a resilient member for biasing the key top upwards; and a switch element for performing a switching operation with the raising and lowering of the key top; wherein the pair of lever members are formed from first and second resin materials having different shrinkage coefficients; wherein the shaft-receiving hole is formed in the lever member formed of the first resin material; and wherein the linking shaft entering in the shaft-receiving hole is formed at the lever member formed of the second resin material having a larger shrinkage coefficient than that of the first resin material.
- 2. A method of producing a key switch including a pair of lever members which are rotatably linked together at crossing portions thereof by pivotally mounting a linking shaft in a shaft-receiving hole, a key top which supports the pair of lever members so as to raise and lower the lever members, a resilient member for biasing the key top upwards, and a switch element for performing a switching operation with the raising and lowering of the key top, the method comprising the step of:molding the lever member having the shaft-receiving hole as a result of hardening a first resin material in a die; and molding the other lever member having the linking shaft as a result of hardening a second resin material having a larger shrinkage coefficient than the first resin material in a die in which the shaft-receiving hole forms a portion of a cavity in order to form the other lever member, whereby the linking shaft is formed in a pivotally mounted state in the shaft-receiving hole and whereby the two lever members are rotatably linked together.
- 3. A key switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising:an actuator for rotatably engaging the upper end of one of the lever members therewith and rotatably or slidably engaging the upper end of the other lever member therewith, the actuator retaining the key top, whereby the key top supports the pair of lever members through the actuator.
- 4. A key switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising:a plate having a first louver portion for slidably engaging the lower end of one of the lever members therewith and a second louver portion for rotatably or slidably engaging the lower end of the other lever member therewith; and a holding plate, the plate being mounted to the holding plate.
- 5. A key switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the first resin material is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin material, and the second resin material is polyacetal resin.
- 6. A method of producing a key switch according to claim 2, wherein the first resin material is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin material, and the second resin material is polyacetal resin.
- 7. A method of producing a key switch according to claim 2, further comprising:rotatably engaging the upper end of one of the lever members to an actuator; and rotatably or slidably engaging the upper end of the other lever member to the actuator, the actuator retaining the key top, whereby the key top supports the pair of lever members through the actuator.
- 8. A method of producing a key switch according to claim 2, further comprising:slidably engaging the lower end of one of the lever members within a first louver portion of a plate; and rotatably or slidably engaging the lower end of the other lever member with a second louver portion of the plate.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-321238 |
Nov 1999 |
JP |
|
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/696,712 filed on the same date herewith and entitled “KEY SWITCH WITH EASILY ATTACHABLE KEY TOP, ” the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (11)