The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to a keyboard device with plural key structures.
Generally, the widely-used peripheral input device of a computer system includes for example a mouse device, a keyboard device, a trackball device, or the like. Via the keyboard device, characters or symbols can be directly inputted into the computer system. As a consequence, most users and most manufacturers of input devices pay attention to the development of keyboard devices. As known, a keyboard device with plural key structures is one of the widely-used keyboards.
Hereinafter, a key structure with a scissors-type connecting element of a conventional keyboard will be illustrated with reference to
The scissors-type connecting element 12 is arranged between the base plate 15 and the keycap 11, and the base plate 15 and the keycap 11 are connected with each other through the scissors-type connecting element 12. The scissors-type connecting element 12 comprises a first frame 121 and a second frame 122. A first end of the first frame 121 is connected with the keycap 11. A second end of the first frame 121 is connected with the base plate 15. The rubbery elastomer 13 is enclosed by the scissors-type connecting element 12. The membrane switch circuit member 14 comprises plural key intersections (not shown). When one of the plural key intersections is triggered, a corresponding key signal is generated. The rubbery elastomer 13 is disposed on the membrane switch circuit member 14. Each rubbery elastomer 13 is aligned with a corresponding key intersection. When the rubbery elastomer 13 is depressed, the rubbery elastomer 13 is subjected to deformation to push the corresponding key intersection of the membrane switch circuit member 14. Consequently, the corresponding key signal is generated.
The operations of the conventional key structure 1 in response to the depressing action of the user will be illustrated as follows. Please refer to
However, the conventional keyboard device 1 still has some drawbacks. For example, during the process of assembling the keycap 11 with the scissors-type connecting element 12, a hook 111 is firstly propped open by a connection shaft (not shown) of the scissors-type connecting element 12 and then the keycap 11 and the scissors-type connecting element 12 are combined together. Generally, the keycap 11 and the hook 111 are made of a plastic material. While the hook 111 is propped open, the structure of the hook is easily damaged. For example, a plastic pull-white problem possibly occurs or even the hook 111 is broken.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a keyboard device for reducing the possibility of damaging the keycap during the assembling process.
The present invention provides a keyboard device, wherein the keycap of the keyboard device is not easily damaged.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device. The keyboard device includes a base plate, a connecting element and a keycap. The connecting element is located over the base plate and connected with the base plate. The keycap is exposed outside the keyboard device and connected with the connecting element. The keycap includes an elastic hook that is connected with the connecting element. The elastic hook is made of an elastic material.
In an embodiment, the keycap is made of a plastic material, and the elastic hook is formed on an inner surface of the keycap through at least one of a double injection process, a high-frequency welding process and an ultrasonic hot welding process.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device. The keyboard device includes a base plate, a connecting element and a keycap. The connecting element is located over the base plate and connected with the base plate. The keycap is exposed outside the keyboard device and connected with the connecting element. The keycap includes an elastic structure, a first hooking part and a second hooking part. The elastic structure hook is installed on an inner surface of the keycap. The first hooking part is installed on the inner surface of the keycap and arranged beside a first side of the elastic structure. The first hooking part is contacted with the connecting element. The second hooking part is installed on the inner surface of the keycap and arranged beside a second side of the elastic structure. The second hooking part is contacted with the connecting element. The keycap is bent in response to elasticity of the elastic structure, so that the first hooking part is moved away from the second hooking part.
In an embodiment, the keycap is made of a plastic material, and the elastic structure is made of an elastic material, wherein the elastic structure is formed on the inner surface of the keycap through a double injection process.
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a keyboard device. The keyboard device has an elastic hook or an elastic structure that is made of an elastic material. The elastic hook or the elastic structure is installed on an inner surface of a keycap. While the keycap is assembled with a connecting element, the elastic hook or the elastic structure is subjected to elastic deformation in response to the elasticity of the elastic hook or the elastic structure. Consequently, the structure of the keycap is not damaged.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
For solving the drawbacks of the conventional technologies, the present invention provides a keyboard device.
The structure of a keyboard device of the present invention will be described with reference to
The switch circuit board 22 is arranged between the plural keycaps 20 and the base plate 21. The elastic elements 24 are arranged between the corresponding keycaps 20 and the switch circuit board 22. When one of the plural keycaps 20 is depressed by the user, the keycap 20 is moved downwardly. As the keycap 20 is moved downwardly to push the elastic element 24, the switch circuit board 22 is triggered to generate a corresponding key signal. In an embodiment, the switch circuit board 22 is a membrane switch circuit board, and the elastic elements 24 are rubbery elastomers. The inner structure of the switch circuit board 22 comprises an upper wiring plate, a lower wiring plate and a separation layer. The upper wiring plate, the lower wiring plate and the separation layer are well known to those skilled in the art, and are not redundantly described herein.
Please refer to
The connecting element 23 comprises a first frame 231 and a second frame 232. A first end of the first frame 231 is connected with the keycap 20. A second end of the first frame 231 is connected with the corresponding base plate hooks 211 of the base plate 21. The second frame 232 is combined with the first frame 231. Moreover, the second frame 232 can be swung relative to the first frame 231. A first end of the second frame 232 is connected with the corresponding base plate hook 211 of the base plate 21. A second end of the second frame 232 is connected with the keycap 20. The first frame 231 comprises plural first connection shafts 2311. The plural first connection shafts 2311 are located at the first end of the first frame 231. The second frame 232 comprises plural second connection shafts 2321. The plural second connection shafts 2321 are located at the second end of the second frame 232. In this embodiment, the connecting element 23 is a scissors-type connecting element.
Please refer to
A process of assembling the keycap 20 with the connecting element 23 will be described as follows. Firstly, the first connection shafts 2311 of the first frame 231 are introduced into the corresponding elastic hooks 202. Due to the elastic properties of the elastic hooks 202, the elastic hooks 202 are pushed by the corresponding first connection shafts 2311 and the elastic hooks 202 are subjected to elastic deformation. That is, the elastic hooks 202 are propped open. When the elastic hooks 202 are no longer pushed by the corresponding first connection shafts 2311, the elastic hooks 202 are restored to their original shapes in response to the elastic properties of the elastic hooks 202. Consequently, the elastic hooks 202 are engaged with the corresponding first connection shafts 2311.
Since the open-type hooks 203 are open to the outside, the second connection shafts 2321 of the second frame 232 can be easily engaged with the corresponding open-type hooks 203. The connecting element 23 is connected with the base plate 21 and the keycap 20 through the corresponding base plate hooks 211, the corresponding elastic hooks 202 and the corresponding open-type hooks 203. Consequently, the second frame 232 can be swung relative to the first frame 231. As the second frame 232 is swung relative to the first frame 231, the keycap 20 is moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate 21.
The operation of depressing the keycap 20 will be described as follows. While one of the keycaps 20 is depressed by the user, the keycap 20 is moved downwardly relative to the base plate 21. Since the connecting element 23 is pushed by the keycap 20, the connecting element 23 is correspondingly swung. Moreover, as the keycap 20 is moved downwardly to push the elastic element 24, the elastic element 24 is subjected to deformation to trigger the switching circuit board 22. Consequently, the corresponding key signal is generated. When the keycap 20 is no longer depressed, the keycap 20 is moved upwardly relative to the base plate 21 in response to a restoring elastic force of the elastic element 24. As the keycap 20 is moved upwardly, the connecting element 23 is correspondingly swung and switched from the stacked state to the open-scissors state again. Consequently, the keycap 20 is returned to its original position.
As mentioned above, the elastic hooks 202 are made of the elastic material. In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the flexural modulus of the elastic material is higher than the flexural modulus of the plastic material. Consequently, during the process of assembling the keycap 20 with the connecting element 23, the elastic hooks 202 are subjected to restorable elastic deformation. Due to the restorable elastic deformation, the elastic hooks 202 are not damaged while the elastic hooks 202 are propped open by the corresponding first connection shafts 2311.
The present invention further comprises a second embodiment, which is distinguished from the first embodiment.
The present invention further comprises a third embodiment, which is distinguished from the above embodiment.
An inner surface 401 of the keycap 40 is shown in
A process of assembling the keycap 40 with the connecting element 43 will be described as follows. Firstly, the first connection shaft 4311 of the first frame 431 is introduced into the corresponding elastic hooks 402. That is, the first connection shaft 4311 of the first frame 431 is introduced into the space between the first hooking part 4021 and the second hooking part 4022. Meanwhile, the first hooking part 4021 and the second hooking part 4022 are pushed by the corresponding first connection shaft 4311. Due to the elasticity of the elastic structure 404 and the force of the first connection shaft 4311 acting on the first hooking part 4021, the elastic structure 404 is subjected to restorable elastic deformation. Meanwhile, the keycap 40 is bent along the elastic structure 404 and the first hooking part 4021 is moved away from the second hooking part 4022. Consequently, the first connection shaft 4311 of the first frame 431 is introduced into the space between the first hooking part 4021 and the second hooking part 4022. After the first connection shaft 4311 is introduced into the hook 402, the first hooking part 4021 and the second hooking part 4022 are not pushed by the corresponding first connection shaft 4311. Meanwhile, the keycap 40 is switched from the bent state to the original shape in response to the elastic properties of the elastic structure 404. Consequently, the first hooking part 4021 and the second hooking part 4022 are engaged with both sides of the first connection shaft 4311. Under this circumstance, the first connection shaft 4311 and the hook 402 are engaged with each other.
As mentioned above, the elastic structure 404 is made of the elastic material. Moreover, the flexural modulus of the elastic material is higher than the flexural modulus of the plastic material. During the process of assembling the keycap 40 with the connecting element 43, the keycap 40 is bent in response to the restorable elastic deformation of the elastic structure 404. Consequently, the first hooking part 4021 or the second hooking part 4022 is not damaged when pushed by the first connection shaft 4311.
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a keyboard device. The keyboard device has an elastic hook or an elastic structure that is made of an elastic material. The elastic hook or the elastic structure is installed on an inner surface of a keycap. While the keycap is assembled with a connecting element, the elastic hook or the elastic structure is subjected to elastic deformation in response to the elasticity of the elastic hook or the elastic structure. Consequently, the structure of the keycap is not damaged.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and similar structures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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106123679 A | Jul 2017 | TW | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4802779 | Allaire | Feb 1989 | A |
5757292 | Amro | May 1998 | A |
6091036 | Hu | Jul 2000 | A |