The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to a key structure of a scissors-type connecting member.
Generally, the widely-used peripheral input device of a computer includes for example a mouse device, a keyboard device, a trackball device, or the like. Via the keyboard device, the user may directly input characters and symbols into the computer. As a consequence, most users and most manufacturers of the input devices pay much attention to the keyboard devices.
Hereinafter, the configurations and the functions of a conventional keyboard device will be illustrated with reference to
Hereinafter, the components of a key structure of the conventional keyboard device will be illustrated with reference to
In a case that the key structure 2 is not depressed, the keycap 21 of the key structure 2 is located at a first height (not shown). Whereas, when the key structure 2 is depressed, a downward pressing force is exerted on the keycap 21, and the elastic element 23 is compressed in response to the pressing force. Moreover, as the keycap 21 is depressed, the inner frame 221 and the outer frame 222 of the scissors-type connecting member 22 are correspondingly swung with the keycap 21. Consequently, the inner frame 221 and the outer frame 222 are parallel with each other. At the same time, the membrane switch circuit 24 on the base plate 25 is pressed and triggered by the elastic element 23. Consequently, the membrane switch circuit 24 generates a corresponding electronic signal. Meanwhile, the keycap 21 of the key structure 2 is descended from the first height to a second height (not shown). The difference between the first height and the second height indicates a travelling distance of the key structure 2.
In a case that the pressing force exerted on the keycap 21 is eliminated, the keycap 21 will be moved upwardly in response to a restoring force of the elastic element 23. As the keycap 21 is moved upwardly, the inner frame 221 and the outer frame 222 are towed by the keycap 21 and correspondingly rotated. Consequently, the keycap 21 is returned to its original position where the keycap 21 has not been depressed (i.e. at the first height).
From the above discussions, after the pressing force exerted on the keycap 21 is eliminated, the keycap 21 should be moved upwardly and returned to its original position (i.e. at the first height). For achieving this purpose, the elastic element 23 should provide a sufficient restoring force to push the keycap 21 back to its original position. In addition, the inner frame 221 and the outer frame 222 need to cooperate with each other to precisely control the upward moving action of the keycap 21 in the vertical direction. In other words, the performance of the scissors-type connecting member 22 is a very important factor that influences the quality and the use life of the key structure 2. Moreover, for combining the inner frame 221 with the outer frame 222, the user needs to prop open the outer frame 222 to widen the distance between the two openings 2221, which are respectively located at bilateral sides of the outer frame 222. Consequently, the rotating shaft 2211 can be successfully inserted into the openings 2221 to result in the combination between the inner frame 221 and the outer frame 222. The procedure of propping-open the outer frame 222 increases the assembling time of the key structure 2 and is detrimental to the throughput of the keyboard device. Moreover, since the outer frame 222 has the openings 2221, if the thickness of the key structure 2 is slimed, the whole structure of the outer frame 222 becomes weak and is easily damaged. In other words, the conventional scissors-type connecting member 22 is not suitable for slimness of the key structure 2.
The present invention provides an easily-assembled scissors-type connecting member and a key structure with such a scissors-type connecting member.
The present invention also provides a low-damage scissors-type connecting member and a key structure with such a scissors-type connecting member.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scissors-type connecting member. The scissors-type connecting member includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame includes a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is disposed on a first sidewall of the first frame. The rotating shaft has an extension bulge. The extension bulge is disposed on an axial surface of the rotating shaft. The second frame is connected with the first frame and swingable relative to the first frame, and includes a receiving recess. The receiving recess is formed in a second sidewall of the second frame for accommodating the rotating shaft. A position-limiting cavity is disposed within the receiving recess for accommodating the extension bulge, thereby limiting a rotating range of the extension bulge.
In an embodiment, the second frame further includes a sliding recess. The sliding recess is formed in the second sidewall of the second frame and in communication with the receiving recess. As the rotating shaft is contacted with the sliding recess, the rotating shaft is inserted into the sliding recess and further moved on the second sidewall of the second frame along the sliding recess, so that the rotating shaft is introduced into the receiving recess and accommodated within the receiving recess.
In an embodiment, the second frame further includes a guiding slant. The guiding slant is formed in a top surface of the second frame and in communication with the sliding recess for guiding the rotating shaft to be introduced into the sliding recess. As the rotating shaft is contacted with the top surface of the second frame, the rotating shaft is contacted with the guiding slant and further moved into the sliding recess along the guiding slant.
In an embodiment, the first frame further includes an auxiliary slant. The auxiliary slant is formed on the axial surface of the rotating shaft, and disposed under the extension bulge to be contacted with the guiding slant, thereby assisting in introducing the rotating shaft into the sliding recess. As the rotating shaft is contacted with the top surface of the second frame, the auxiliary slant is contacted with the guiding slant and moved along the guiding slant, so that the rotating shaft is introduced into the sliding recess.
In an embodiment, a profile of the position-limiting cavity is identical to a profile of the extension bulge, and a size of the position-limiting cavity is larger than a size of the extension bulge.
In an embodiment, the first frame is an inner frame, and the second frame is an outer frame. The first frame is coupled to an inner side of the second frame.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key structure. The key structure includes a base plate, a keycap, and a scissors-type connecting member. The keycap is disposed over the base plate. The scissors-type connecting member is arranged between the base plate and the keycap for connecting the base plate with the keycap, so that the keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate. The scissors-type connecting member includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame includes a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is disposed on a first sidewall of the first frame. The rotating shaft has an extension bulge. The extension bulge is disposed on an axial surface of the rotating shaft. The second frame is connected with the first frame and swingable relative to the first frame, and includes a receiving recess. The receiving recess is formed in a second sidewall of the second frame for accommodating the rotating shaft. A position-limiting cavity is disposed within the receiving recess for accommodating the extension bulge, thereby limiting a rotating range of the extension bulge.
In an embodiment, the second frame further includes a sliding recess. The sliding recess is formed in the second sidewall of the second frame and in communication with the receiving recess. As the rotating shaft is contacted with the sliding recess, the rotating shaft is inserted into the sliding recess and further moved on the second sidewall of the second frame along the sliding recess, so that the rotating shaft is introduced into the receiving recess and accommodated within the receiving recess.
In an embodiment, the second frame further includes a guiding slant. The guiding slant is formed on a top surface of the second frame and in communication with the sliding recess for guiding the rotating shaft to be introduced into the sliding recess. As the rotating shaft is contacted with the top surface of the second frame, the rotating shaft is contacted with the guiding slant and further moved into the sliding recess along the guiding slant.
In an embodiment, the first frame further includes an auxiliary slant. The auxiliary slant is formed on the axial surface of the rotating shaft, and disposed under the extension bulge to be contacted with the guiding slant, thereby assisting in introducing the rotating shaft into the sliding recess. As the rotating shaft is contacted with the top surface of the second frame, the auxiliary slant is contacted with the guiding slant and moved along the guiding slant, so that the rotating shaft is introduced into the sliding recess.
In an embodiment, a profile of the position-limiting cavity is identical to a profile of the extension bulge, and a size of the position-limiting cavity is larger than a size of the extension bulge.
In an embodiment, the key structure further includes a membrane switch circuit and an elastic element. The membrane switch circuit is disposed on the base plate. When the membrane switch circuit is triggered, the membrane switch circuit generates a key signal. The elastic element is disposed on the membrane switch circuit. A lower portion of the elastic element is contacted with the membrane switch circuit. The elastic element is penetrated through the scissors-type connecting member. An upper portion of the elastic element is contacted with the keycap. When the elastic element is pushed by the keycap, the membrane switch circuit is triggered by the elastic element. When a pressing force exerted on the keycap is eliminated, an elastic force provided by the elastic element is exerted on the keycap.
In an embodiment, the first frame is an inner frame, and the second frame is an outer frame. The first frame is coupled to an inner side of the second frame.
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 obviating the drawbacks encountered from the prior art, the present invention provides a scissors-type connecting member and a key structure with such a scissors-type connecting member. Hereinafter, a key structure and a scissors-type connecting member thereof will be illustrated with reference to
Please refer to
The detailed configurations of the scissors-type connecting member 30 will be illustrated as follows. The first frame 301 of the scissors-type connecting member 30 comprises a rotating shaft 3011 and an auxiliary slant 3012. The second frame 302 of the scissors-type connecting member 30 comprises a receiving recess 3021, a sliding recess 3022, and a guiding slant 3023. In the first frame 301, the rotating shaft 3011 is disposed on a first sidewall 3013 of the first frame 301. Moreover, the rotating shaft 3011 has an extension bulge 3011A, which is disposed on an axial surface 3011B of the rotating shaft 3011. The auxiliary slant 3012 is formed on the axial surface 3011B of the rotating shaft 3011, and disposed under the extension bulge 3011A. The auxiliary slant 3012 may be contacted with the guiding slant 3023 in order to assist in introducing the rotating shaft 3011 into the sliding recess 3022. For example, as the rotating shaft 3011 is contacted with a top surface 3025 of the second frame 302, the auxiliary slant 3012 may be contacted with the guiding slant 3023 and further moved along the guiding slant 3023. Consequently, the rotating shaft 3011 may be smoothly introduced into the sliding recess 3022. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 3011, the auxiliary slant 3012 and the extension bulge 3011A are integrally formed with the first frame 301.
In the second frame 302, the receiving recess 3021 is formed in a second sidewall 3024 of the second frame 302. The receiving recess 3021 is used for accommodating the rotating shaft 3011. Moreover, a position-limiting cavity 3021A is disposed within the receiving recess 3021 for accommodating the extension bulge 3011A, thereby limiting a rotating range of the extension bulge 3011A. That is, due to the structures of the extension bulge 3011A and the position-limiting cavity 3021A, the swinging range of the second frame 302 relative to the first frame 301 is limited. Moreover, the sliding recess 3022 is formed in the second sidewall 3024 of the second frame 302 and in communication with the receiving recess 3021. As the rotating shaft 3011 is contacted with the sliding recess 3022, the rotating shaft 3011 may be inserted into the sliding recess 3022 and further moved on the second sidewall 3024 of the second frame 302 along the sliding recess 3022. Consequently, the rotating shaft 3011 will be introduced into the receiving recess 3021 and accommodated within the receiving recess 3021. The guiding slant 3023 is formed on the top surface 3025 of the second frame 302 and in communication with the sliding recess 3022. The guiding slant 3023 is used for guiding the rotating shaft 3011 to be introduced into the sliding recess 3022. As the rotating shaft 3011 is contacted with the top surface 3025 of the second frame 302, the rotating shaft 3011 may be contacted with the guiding slant 3023 and further moved into the sliding recess 3022 along the guiding slant 3023.
Hereinafter, a process of combining the first frame 301 with the second frame 302 will be illustrated with reference to
Please refer to
The present invention further provides a second embodiment of a key structure with a scissors-type connecting member. The base plate, the keycap, the membrane switch circuit and the elastic element included in the key structure of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, and are not redundantly described herein. Hereinafter, the scissors-type connecting member of the key structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated with reference to
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a scissors-type connecting member and a key structure with such a scissors-type connecting member. The scissors-type connecting member comprises a first frame and a second frame. A receiving recess is formed in the second frame to replace the opening of the conventional scissors-type connecting member. Consequently, the structural strength of the second frame is enhanced, and the possibility of causing damage of the second frame is largely reduced. Moreover, since an extension bulge is disposed on a rotating shaft of the first frame and a position-limiting cavity is disposed within the receiving recess of the second frame, the rotating range of the extension bulge is limited by the position-limiting cavity. Since the rotating range of the extension bulge is limited by the position-limiting cavity, the scissors-type connecting member can be maintained in the open-scissors state. Consequently, the structures of the scissors-type connecting member can facilitate the assemblage of the key structure. Moreover, an auxiliary slant is formed on the rotating shaft of the first frame and disposed under the extension bulge, but no auxiliary slant is disposed over the extension bulge. During the process of combining the first frame with the second frame, the auxiliary slant may be considered as a foolproof structure for preventing the first frame to be stacked on the second frame in a wrong direction. Consequently, the possibility of erroneously combining the first frame with the second frame will be eliminated.
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 embodiment. 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 such modifications and similar structures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201210478428.8 | Nov 2012 | CN | national |