CN102184789A

CN102184789A - Combined key cap and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN102184789A
Application number: CN2011101204924A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王逸尘; 胡才荣
Original assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd; Darfon Electronics Corp
Current assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd; Darfon Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2011-05-02
Filing date: 2011-05-02
Publication date: 2011-09-14

Abstract

The invention relates to a combined key cap and a manufacturing method thereof. The combined key cap comprises an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein the outer shell is made of a first material and has a film barrel structure; the film barrel structure is provided with an internal space; the inner shell is made of a second material, has a thin plate barrel structure, is embedded into the internal space and is combined with the outer shell. The invention provides a double-color and double-material key cap or a technology and a manufacturing method of the combined key cap.

Description

Composite type keycap and its manufacture method

Technical field

The present invention refers to composite type keycap (keycap) and its manufacture method in the button especially about button and its manufacture method.

Background technology

The technology that dijection is shaped has been applied in the manufacturing process of many industry or consumer products, and relevant preceding case technology can be with reference to United States Patent (USP) 4935184.

Nonopaque type key also is found in many consumer products, and relevant preceding case technology can be with reference to Taiwan patent announcement numbers 285345 or Taiwan patent announcement numbers 200705495.And but the relevant preceding case technology of illuminated keyboard can be with reference to Taiwan patent announcement numbers 200802040.

To knowing the general personage of this technology, each keycap comprises key top (keytop) and key skirt (keyskirt) two parts, and so-called key skirt is meant around the key top, the part that slightly becomes inclined plane disc seat (bezel) pattern and be connected with the key top.With present technology, product, the key top all is identical with the two-part material of key skirt, color, and is that once-forming is finished with single injection molding method.

The technology of double-colored or two material keycaps or composite type keycap is not disclosed so far as yet, so the aesthetic design of keycap has just lacked variation.

For attractive in appearance and changeableization of keycap, the technology and the manufacture method of the present invention proposes double-colored, two material keycaps or composite type keycap.

Summary of the invention

One of purpose of the present invention provides the composite type keycap, to increase the aesthetic variation of keycap.

Two of purpose of the present invention provides the manufacture method of composite type keycap.

According to the composite type keycap that one embodiment of the invention provides, it comprises: shell body and inner housing.This first kind of made shell body of material becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space; This second kind of made inner housing of material becomes the thin plate tubular, and this inner housing embedding is somebody's turn to do interior space and is combined with this shell body.

Keycap as described, this first kind of material is PETG.

Keycap as described, this shell body comprises: the key top, it has first color; And the key skirt, its be positioned at key top around, this key skirt and key push up and are connected and have second kind of color, to constitute double-colored formula keycap.

Keycap as described, this second kind of material is transparent material, shell body has the light-permeable zone, passes through for light.

Keycap as described, this shell body are made by in-molded technology.

According to an embodiment, the invention provides a kind of manufacture method of keycap, it comprises: form shell body with in-molded technology, it becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space, and shell body is to be made of first kind of material; Form inner housing, it becomes the thin plate tubular, and inner housing is to be made of second kind of material; Reach the interior space that inner housing is embedded this shell body, and this inner housing combines with this shell body.

The manufacture method of keycap as described, this first kind of material is PETG.

The manufacture method of keycap as described, this shell body comprise the key top, and it has first color; And the key skirt, it has second kind of color, to constitute double-colored formula keycap.

The manufacture method of keycap as described, this key top, key skirt are mat rubbing method or print process form this key top, key skirt on this first kind of material patterns.

According to an embodiment, the invention provides a kind of manufacture method of keycap, it comprises: form inner housing, it becomes the thin plate tubular, and inner housing is to be made of second kind of material; Form shell body with in-molded technology, it becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space, and shell body is to be made of first kind of material; Reach the interior space that inner housing is embedded this shell body, and this inner housing combines with this shell body.

The invention provides the technology and the manufacture method of double-colored, two material keycaps or composite type keycap.

Can be further understood by following description of drawings and embodiment detailed description in the advantages and spirit of the present invention.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 discloses an embodiment;

Fig. 2 A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F discloses an embodiment of manufacture method.

Embodiment

With reference to figure 1, an embodiment of a kind of composite type keycap 10 of the present invention comprises first kind of shell body 101 that material is made, and it slightly becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space; And second kind of inner housing 103 that material is made, it slightly becomes the thin plate tubular, and inner housing 103 embeddings are somebody's turn to do interior space and are combined to form a kind of composite type keycap 10 with shell body 101.

According to an embodiment, wherein first kind of material is PETG (PET).

According to an embodiment, wherein shell body 101 comprises key top 101A, and it has first color; And key skirt 101B, its be positioned at key top 101A around, key skirt 101B and key top 101A are connected, key skirt 101B has second kind of color, and is like this to constitute a kind of composite type keycap 10 of double-colored formula.

According to an embodiment, wherein this second kind of material is transparent material, and shell body 101 has light-permeable zone 105, passes through for light.105 pairs of this transmission regions should keycap function, when for example being delete key (delete), the profile of this transmission region 105 promptly is shown as " delete ", by that analogy.When the arrangement of keyboard inner bottom plating had the LED-backlit source, light can pass through this transmission region 105, allowed the user know the symbol of seeing each keypress function.

Have certain methods can make shell body 101, and according to an embodiment, wherein shell body 101 is made by in-molded technology (In Mold Forming-IMF).This IMF is owned by France in known plastic rubber shaping technology.

More than being the narration of double-colored composite type keycap, below is the narration of manufacture method.Manufacture method Fig. 2 A that can arrange in pairs or groups, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and being understood completely.

One embodiment of the manufacture method of keycap of the present invention, this manufacture method comprises (1) and forms shell body 200 with in-molded technology, shell body 200 slightly becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space, and shell body 200 is to constitute (shown in Fig. 2 C) by first kind of material; (2) form inner housing 204, it slightly becomes the thin plate tubular, and inner housing 204 is to be made of second kind of material; Reach (3) interior space with inner housing 204 these shell bodies 200 of embedding, inner housing 204 combines (as Fig. 2 D, shown in the 2E) with shell body 200.

As Fig. 2 A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E is shown in the processing procedure of details that 2F discloses.Fig. 2 A wherein, 2B, the process of 2C promptly comprises in-molded technology.

Clearly, step (1), (2) can exchange sequences, also are the scopes of institute of the present invention desire protection so class embodiment changes.

According to an embodiment, wherein first kind of material is PETG (PET).

According to an embodiment, wherein shell body 200 comprises key top 200A, and it has first color (for example green); And key skirt 200B, its be positioned at key top 200A around, 200A is connected with the key top, key skirt 200B has second kind of color (for example yellow), so to constitute the composite type keycap of a kind of double-colored formula (greenish-yellow double-colored).Shown in Fig. 2 A to 2B, according to an embodiment, this key top 200A, key skirt 200B are mat rubbing method or print process, form color (as being respectively green, the yellow) pattern of this key top 200A, key skirt 200B on this first kind of material.Transmission region 206 pairing symbols are illustration with A among Fig. 2 B.

Fig. 2 D to 2E is depicted as combination step, and Fig. 2 E to 2F is depicted as the cutting step, can finish composite type, printing opacity, double-colored keycap 10.

Though the manufacture method of above composite type keycap is to be the example explanation with single keycap.But must be appreciated that, when factory's volume production,, once, carry out a step normally at all buttons (about 85) of a complete keyboard for the efficient of producing, the demand of automation.So, after aforesaid manufacture method is finished, will once finish all keycaps of a complete keyboard.

The above only is preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equalizations of being done according to the present patent application claim change and modify, and all should belong to covering scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. composite type keycap is characterized in that comprising:

First kind of shell body that material is made, it becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space; And

Second kind of inner housing that material is made, it becomes the thin plate tubular, and this inner housing embedding is somebody's turn to do interior space and is combined with this shell body.

2. keycap as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: this first kind of material is PETG.

3. keycap as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: this shell body comprises:

The key top, it has first color; And

The key skirt, its be positioned at key top around, this key skirt and key push up and are connected and have second kind of color, to constitute double-colored formula keycap.

4. keycap as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: this second kind of material is transparent material, and shell body has the light-permeable zone, passes through for light.

5. keycap as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that: this shell body is made by in-molded technology.

6. the manufacture method of a keycap is characterized in that comprising:

Form shell body with in-molded technology, it becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space, and shell body is to be made of first kind of material;

Form inner housing, it becomes the thin plate tubular, and inner housing is to be made of second kind of material; And

Inner housing is embedded the interior space of this shell body, and this inner housing combines with this shell body.

7. method as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that: this first kind of material is PETG.

8. method as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that: this shell body comprises the key top, and it has first color; And the key skirt, it has second kind of color, to constitute double-colored formula keycap.

9. method as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that: this key top, key skirt are mat rubbing method or print process form this key top, key skirt on this first kind of material patterns.

10. the manufacture method of a keycap is characterized in that comprising:

Form inner housing, it becomes the thin plate tubular, and inner housing is to be made of second kind of material;

Form shell body with in-molded technology, it becomes the film tubular, and this film tubular has interior space, and shell body is to be made of first kind of material; And