CN110444429B

CN110444429B - Key structure

Info

Publication number: CN110444429B
Application number: CN201910747543.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵令溪
Original assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd
Current assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-03
Filing date: 2019-08-14
Publication date: 2021-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-14
Also published as: CN110444430A; CN110444430B; CN110033977A; CN110444428B; CN110444428A; CN110444429A

Abstract

The invention discloses a key structure, which comprises a keycap, a base and two supports, wherein the two supports are mutually pivoted relative to a rotating axial direction and are connected between the keycap and the base. One of the brackets comprises a first shaft groove, a first shaft part and a separation groove formed between the first shaft groove and the first shaft part; the other bracket comprises a second shaft groove, a second shaft part and a partition wall positioned between the second shaft groove and the second shaft part. The two brackets are respectively and correspondingly rotatably arranged in the second shaft groove and the first shaft groove through the first shaft part and the second shaft part so as to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction; wherein, the separating wall is inserted into the separating groove, and the keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the two brackets. The key structure of the invention adopts an incomplete hole shaft structure, so that the structural strength of the bracket can be maintained. In addition, each bracket has a shaft part and a shaft groove structure, and a certain degree of pivoting strength and rotation stability can be maintained through mutual embedding.

Description

Key structure

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mechanical key structure, and more particularly to a mechanical key structure having a key cap supported and actuated by two supports.

Background

Many mechanical key structures use a scissor-foot support to support the keycap, with the two supports of the scissor-foot support typically pivotally connected to each other by a complete hole-axis structure located in the middle of the support. The hole-shaft fit can provide a good degree of stability for the brackets to pivot relative to each other. However, if the brackets are pivoted by a complete hole-axis structure, the two brackets must be assembled along the pivoting axis, or the two brackets are assembled in a staggered manner at a specific angle, so that the process adjustment and jig design in the automatic assembly, or the difficulty caused by the dislocation and over-cutting, which affects the yield and productivity, are avoided.

U.S. Pat. No. 6060676 discloses that the two supports are connected in a snap-fit manner by a tooth-like structure at the ends of the arms, and such tooth-like structure needs to be disengaged and involuted through a plurality of concave-convex structures during the pressing stroke of the key, so as to increase the instability of the key cap during the pressing stroke. And the tooth-shaped structure is only embedded in a concave-convex structure of an occlusion end surface area, and the tail end structure of the bracket has a plurality of directions without limitation, so that the stability of the keycap is also damaged.

Moreover, when the overall size of the key structure is reduced, the bracket has enough configuration space to form a complete hole-shaft structure; even if a complete hole shaft structure is formed, the structural strength is likely to be insufficient, and the pivoting stability of the support is reduced. In addition, in general, the complete bore-shaft structure may cause permanent deformation or damage to the stent during assembly. When the overall size of the key structure is reduced, the permanent deformation or damage may affect the strength of the bracket itself and the stability of the combination between the bracket and the bracket, further affecting the stability of the key structure.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the problems in the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key structure, in which the bracket is engaged with the half shaft half hole, so as to facilitate assembly and still have a considerable strength of the pivot structure and stability of operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a key structure, comprising: the key cap, base, first support and second support. The base is arranged below the keycap; the first support is connected between the keycap and the base, the first support comprises a first shaft groove and a first shaft part, the first shaft groove and the first shaft part extend along the rotating axial direction, and a first separation groove is formed between the first shaft groove and the first shaft part at an interval in the rotating axial direction; the second support is connected between the keycap and the base, the second support comprises a second shaft groove, a second shaft part and a first partition wall, the second shaft groove and the second shaft part extend along the rotating axial direction, the first partition wall is located between the second shaft groove and the second shaft part, the first support and the second support are respectively and correspondingly and rotatably arranged in the second shaft groove and the first shaft groove through the first shaft part and the second shaft part so as to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction, the first partition wall is inserted into the first partition groove, and the keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the first support and the second support.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket includes a first shaft side wall and a first groove side wall, the first shaft side wall is connected to the first shaft portion relative to the first shaft groove, and the first groove side wall is connected to the first shaft groove relative to the first shaft portion.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket includes adjacent dividing walls, the first dividing wall and the adjacent dividing wall are adjacently disposed, the second bracket includes adjacent dividing walls, the first dividing wall and the adjacent dividing wall are adjacently disposed, and the adjacent dividing wall is inserted into the adjacent dividing wall.

As an optional technical solution, the first support includes a first key cap connecting portion and a first base connecting portion, the first support is rotatably connected to the key cap and the base via the first key cap connecting portion and the first base connecting portion, and the first base connecting portion is located between the first key cap connecting portion and the first shaft portion.

As an optional technical solution, a direction from the first keycap connecting part to the first base connecting part is defined as a first extending direction, the first support has a first end and a second end, the first support has a first guiding surface, the first guiding surface is disposed at the first end of the first support adjacent to the first axial slot in the first extending direction, and the first guiding surface extends in parallel to the rotational axis.

As an optional technical solution, the base includes a sliding slot, the sliding slot has an inlet, and the first bracket is slidably disposed in the sliding slot via the first base connecting portion to be rotatably connected with the base.

As an optional technical solution, the second support includes a second key cap connecting portion and a second base connecting portion, the second support is rotatably connected to the key cap and the base via the second key cap connecting portion and the second base connecting portion, the second base connecting portion is located between the second key cap connecting portion and the second shaft portion, and the first support and the second support are connected to form a V-shaped structure.

As an optional technical solution, a direction from the second keycap connecting part to the second base connecting part is defined as a second extending direction, the second support has a third end and a fourth end, the second support has a second guiding surface, the second guiding surface is disposed at the third end of the second support adjacent to the second axial slot in the second extending direction, and the second guiding surface extends in parallel to the rotational axis.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket is of a n-shaped structure, and the first shaft groove and the first shaft portion are located at one end of the n-shaped structure.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket includes a third axial slot, a third axial portion and a second partition wall, the third axial slot and the third axial portion extend along the rotational axial direction and are located at the other end of the n-shaped structure, the second partition wall is located between the third axial slot and the third axial portion, the second bracket includes a fourth axial slot and a fourth axial portion, the fourth axial slot and the fourth axial portion extend along the rotational axial direction, a second partition groove is formed between the fourth axial slot and the fourth axial portion at an interval in the rotational axial direction, and the first bracket and the second bracket are also respectively rotatably disposed in the fourth axial slot and the third axial slot through the third axial portion and the fourth axial portion so as to be pivotally connected with each other relative to the rotational axial direction.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket and the second bracket are the same in structure.

As an optional technical solution, the key cap includes a first limit protrusion and a second limit protrusion, the first support includes a first surface limit structure, the first surface limit structure is disposed opposite to the first limit protrusion, a first distance is provided between the first surface limit structure and the first limit protrusion, the second support includes a second surface limit structure, the second surface limit structure is disposed opposite to the second limit protrusion, a second distance is provided between the second surface limit structure and the second limit protrusion, and a sum of the first distance and the second distance falls within a predetermined range.

As an optional technical solution, the first limit protrusion has a first protruding curved surface, and the first surface limit structure is a corresponding third protruding curved surface.

As an optional technical solution, the key structure further includes an abutting structure, the abutting structure is disposed on the first support and/or the second support, the base includes a limiting portion, the limiting portion is disposed opposite to the abutting structure, and when the keycap is not pressed, the abutting structure abuts against the limiting portion.

As an optional technical solution, the abutting structure includes a first protruding column and a second protruding column, the first protruding column and the second protruding column extend in parallel to the rotational axis direction, and the first protruding column and the second protruding column are correspondingly disposed on the first bracket and the second bracket.

As an optional technical solution, the limiting portion includes a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface, when the keycap is not pressed, the first protruding pillar and the second protruding pillar correspondingly abut against the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface, and when the keycap is pressed, the first protruding pillar and the second protruding pillar are separated from the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface.

As an optional technical solution, the limiting portion includes a first guiding side surface and a second guiding side surface, the first protruding column and the second protruding column are located between the first guiding side surface and the second guiding side surface, the first guiding side surface or the second guiding side surface is an inclined surface, and when the keycap moves relative to the base, the first protruding column and the second protruding column correspondingly abut against the first guiding side surface and the second guiding side surface.

As an optional technical solution, the limiting portion includes a first guiding side surface and a second guiding side surface, the first protruding column and the second protruding column are located between the first guiding side surface and the second guiding side surface, the first guiding side surface or the second guiding side surface is a curved surface, and when the keycap moves relative to the base, the first protruding column and the second protruding column correspondingly abut against the first guiding side surface and the second guiding side surface.

Compared with the prior art, the key structure adopts an incomplete hole shaft structure, so that the structural strength of the support can be maintained. In addition, each bracket has a shaft part and a shaft groove structure, and a certain degree of pivoting strength and rotation stability can be maintained through mutual embedding. The two supports of the key structure have high-stability pin joint frameworks, and meanwhile, the key structure can be horizontally and automatically assembled end to end, so that the lifting stroke of the key cap can have better track stability.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific examples, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a key structure in fig. 1 according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a partially exploded view of the key structure of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the first and second brackets of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the first pivot portion of the first bracket in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the third pivot portion of the first bracket in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the second pivot portion of the second bracket in fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a fourth pivot portion of the second bracket in fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the connection of the first bracket and the second bracket according to an embodiment.

Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a first bracket and a second bracket according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the key cap of FIG. 2.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the key structure of fig. 1 taken along line X-X.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the key structure of FIG. 11 after the key cap is pressed.

Fig. 13 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the key structure of fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of circle a in fig. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a key structure according to one embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a key structure according to one embodiment.

Detailed Description

Please refer to fig. 1 and fig. 2. The key structure 1 according to an embodiment includes a key cap 10, a base 12, a first support 14, a second support 16, a switch circuit board 18 and an elastic reset element 20. The base 12 is disposed under the key cap 10, the first support 14 and the second support 16 are pivotally connected to each other relative to a rotational axis a1 (shown in fig. 2 by dashed lines) and are respectively connected between the key cap 10 and the base 12, the switch circuit board 18 is disposed on the base 12, and the elastic reset element 20 is disposed on the switch circuit board 18 corresponding to the switch 182 (shown in fig. 2 by a dashed circle) of the switch circuit board 18. The key cap 10 can vertically move up and down relative to the base 12 through the first support 14 and the second support 16, and the key cap 10 moving down can press the elastic restoring member 20 to trigger the switch 182. In practical operation, the switch circuit board 18 may be, but is not limited to, a conventional thin film circuit board, and the details of the structure thereof are not described herein; to simplify the drawing, the switch circuit board 18 is still shown as a single entity. The resilient return member 20 may be, but is not limited to, a silicone or rubber dome.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the key cap 10 includes a cap body 102, and two first frame connecting portions 104 and two second frame connecting portions 106 disposed on the cap body 102. The base 12 includes a bottom plate 122, and two first sliding slots 124 and two second sliding slots 126 disposed on the bottom plate 122. Referring to fig. 3, the first frame 14 includes a first frame body 142, and two first keycap connection portions 144, two first base connection portions 146, a first pivot portion 148, and a third pivot portion 150 disposed on the first frame body 142. The first support 14 is connected to the first support connection 104 of the key cap 10 via the first key cap connection 144; the first bracket 14 is connected with the first slide groove 124 of the base 12 via the first base connecting portion 146. The second frame 16 includes a second frame body 162, and two second key cap connecting portions 164, two second base connecting portions 166, a second pivot portion 168 and a fourth pivot portion 170 disposed on the second frame body 162. The second support 16 is connected to the second support connection 106 of the key cap 10 via a second key cap connection 164; the second bracket 16 is connected to the second runner 126 of the base 12 via a second base connection 166. The first pivoting portion 148 is pivotally connected to the second pivoting portion 168, and the third pivoting portion 150 is pivotally connected to the fourth pivoting portion 170; thereby, the first frame 14 is pivotally connected to the second frame 16.

Further, please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3 to fig. 5. In the embodiment, the first frame body 142 is of a n-shaped structure, the two first keycap connection portions 144 and the two first base connection portions 146 are located at two opposite sides of the n-shaped structure in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis a1, and the first pivot portion 148 and the third pivot portion 150 are respectively located at two ends (i.e., ends of the side arms) of the n-shaped structure outside (or at an inner side according to the position of the first sliding groove 124 in other embodiments). The first base connecting portion 146 is located between the first key cap connecting portion 144 and the first pivot portion 148 (and the third pivot portion 150) (or between the first key cap connecting portion 144 and the rotation axis a 1). The first support 14 is rotatably coupled to the key cap 10 via the structural cooperation of the first key cap link 144 and the first support link 104; the first frame connecting portion 104 is a sliding groove structure, the first key cap connecting portion 144 is a column, and the first key cap connecting portion 144 extends from the first frame body 142 in parallel to the rotation axis a1 and is rotatably and slidably disposed on the first frame connecting portion 104. The first bracket 14 is rotatably connected to the base 12 via the structural cooperation of the first base connection 146 and the first runner 124; the first sliding groove 124 is parallel to the bottom plate 122 and extends perpendicular to the rotation axis a1, the first base connecting portion 146 is cylindrical, and the first base connecting portion 146 extends from the first bracket body 142 parallel to the rotation axis a1 and is rotatably and slidably disposed in the first sliding groove 124. As shown in fig. 4, the first pivot portion 148 includes a first axial slot 1482 and a first axial portion 1484, the first axial slot 1482 and the first axial portion 1484 extend along the rotation axis a1, and the first axial slot 1482 and the first axial portion 1484 are located at one end of the n-shaped structure; the first axial groove 1482 is separated from the first shaft section 1484 in the rotational axial direction a1 to form a first partition groove 1486 (corresponding to a space extending perpendicular to the rotational axial direction a 1). When the first shaft groove 1482 is coaxial with the first shaft portion 1484 (i.e., its coaxial axis overlaps the rotational axis a1), the first bracket 14 is relatively stable to rotate. As shown in fig. 5, the third pivot portion 150 includes a third axial slot 1502, a third axial portion 1504, and a second partition 1506, wherein the third axial slot 1502 and the third axial portion 1504 extend along the rotation axis a1, and the third axial slot 1502 and the third axial portion 1504 are located at the other end of the n-shaped structure. A second partition wall 1506 (corresponding to a wall extending perpendicularly to the rotational axis direction a1) is connected between the third shaft groove 1502 and the third shaft portion 1504. Similarly, the first bracket 14 can rotate more stably when the third shaft slot 1502 and the third shaft portion 1504 are coaxial (i.e., the coaxial axis thereof overlaps with the rotational axis a 1). In the rotational axial direction a1, the first shaft portion 1484 faces the first shaft groove 1482 in opposite directions (toward lower left/upper right sides of the drawing, respectively, in fig. 4) and extends toward each other; the third shaft groove 1502 and the third shaft portion 1504 also face opposite directions (toward upper right/lower left sides of the drawing, respectively, in fig. 5) in the rotational axial direction a1 and extend away from each other.

Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 6 and fig. 7. In the embodiment, the second frame body 142 has a n-shaped structure, the two second keycap connectors 164 and the two second base connectors 166 are located at two opposite sides of the n-shaped structure in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis a1, and the second pivot 168 and the fourth pivot 170 are located at two ends (i.e., ends of the side arms) of the n-shaped structure respectively. The second base connection 166 is located between the second key cap connection 164 and the second pivot portion 168 (and the fourth pivot portion 170) (or between the second key cap connection 164 and the rotation axis a 1). The second support 16 is rotatably coupled to the key cap 10 via the structural cooperation of the second key cap link 164 and the second support link 106; the second frame connecting portion 106 is a sliding slot structure, the second key cap connecting portion 164 is a column shape, and the second key cap connecting portion 164 extends from the second frame body 162 in parallel to the rotation axis a1 and is rotatably and slidably disposed on the second frame connecting portion 106. The second bracket 16 is rotatably connected to the base 12 via the structural cooperation of the second base connection 166 and the second runner 126; the second sliding slot 126 is parallel to the bottom plate 122 and extends perpendicular to the rotation axis a1, the second base connecting portion 166 is cylindrical, and the second base connecting portion 166 extends from the second bracket body 162 parallel to the rotation axis a1 and is rotatably and slidably disposed in the second sliding slot 126. As shown in fig. 6, the second pivot portion 168 includes a second shaft groove 1682, a second shaft portion 1684 and a first partition wall 1686, the second shaft groove 1682 and the second shaft portion 1684 extend along the rotation axis a1, and the first partition wall 1686 (corresponding to a wall extending perpendicular to the rotation axis a1) is connected between the second shaft groove 1682 and the second shaft portion 1684. When the second shaft groove 1682 and the second shaft portion 1684 are coaxial (i.e., the coaxial axis thereof overlaps with the rotational axial direction a1), the second bracket 16 can rotate relatively stably. As shown in fig. 7, the fourth pivot portion 170 includes a fourth shaft groove 1702 and a fourth shaft portion 1704, and the fourth shaft groove 1702 and the fourth shaft portion 1704 extend in the rotational axis direction a 1; the fourth shaft groove 1702 and the fourth shaft 1704 are separated from each other in the rotational axis direction a1 to form a second partition groove 1706 (corresponding to a space extending perpendicular to the rotational axis direction a 1). Similarly, the second bracket 16 can rotate relatively stably when the fourth shaft groove 1702 and the fourth shaft portion 1704 are coaxial (i.e., the coaxial axis thereof overlaps with the rotational axis a 1). In the rotational axial direction a1, the second shaft portions 1684 face opposite directions (toward the lower right/upper left side of the drawing, respectively, in fig. 6) from the second shaft grooves 1682 and extend away from each other; the fourth shaft portion 1704 and the fourth shaft groove 1702 also face opposite directions (toward the upper left/lower right in the drawing as viewed in fig. 7) in the rotational axial direction a1 and extend toward each other.

Please refer to fig. 3 to 7. The first shaft portion 1484 is rotatably disposed within the second shaft slot 1682, and the second shaft portion 1684 is rotatably disposed within the first shaft slot 1482; thereby, the first pivot portion 148 and the second pivot portion 168 are pivotally connected with respect to the rotation axis a1, wherein the first partition wall 1486 is inserted into the first partition groove 1686. The third shaft portion 1504 is rotatably disposed in the fourth shaft slot 1702, and the fourth shaft portion 1704 is rotatably disposed in the third shaft slot 1502; accordingly, the third pivoting portion 150 and the fourth pivoting portion 170 are pivoted relative to the rotation axis a1, wherein the second partition wall 1506 is inserted into the second partition groove 1706. The first frame 14 and the second frame 16 are integrated, and the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 are connected to form a square structure in a top view of the key structure 1, and the elastic restoring member 20 is inserted therein to abut against the key cap 10. When the key cap 10 is not pressed, the first support 14 and the second support 16 are connected to form a V-shaped structure in a side view of the key structure 1.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first pivot portion 148 includes a first shaft side wall 1488 and a first groove side wall 1490 (both of which are walls extending perpendicular to the rotational axis direction a1), the first shaft side wall 1488 is connected to the first shaft portion 1484 relative to the first shaft groove 1482, and the first groove side wall 1490 is connected to the first shaft groove 1482 relative to the first shaft portion 1484, that is, the first groove side wall 1490, the first shaft groove 1482, the first partition groove 1486, the first shaft portion 1484 and the first shaft side wall 1488 are sequentially arranged along the rotational axis direction a 1. The first shaft side wall 1488 and the first groove side wall 1490 correspondingly increase the structural strength of the first shaft portion 1484 and the first groove 1482, and the first shaft side wall 1488 and the first groove side wall 1490 also have the function of positioning the second groove 1682 and the second shaft portion 1684. The first partition wall 1686 can increase the structural strength of the second shaft groove 1682 and the second shaft portion 1684, and in cooperation with the first partition wall 1486, it also has the function of positioning the second shaft groove 1682 and the second shaft portion 1684.

Similarly, the fourth pivot portion 170 includes a second sidewall 1708 and a second slot sidewall 1710 (both corresponding to a wall extending perpendicular to the rotation axis a1), the second sidewall 1708 is connected to the fourth slot 1704 relative to the fourth slot 1702, and the second slot sidewall 1710 is connected to the fourth slot 1702 relative to the fourth slot 1704, that is, the second slot sidewall 1710, the fourth slot 1702, the second partition slot 1706, the fourth slot 1704 and the second sidewall 1708 are sequentially arranged along the rotation axis a 1. The second shaft side wall 1708 and the second groove side wall 1710 correspondingly increase the structural strength of the second shaft portion 1704 and the fourth shaft groove 1702, and the second shaft side wall 1708 and the second groove side wall 1710 also have the function of positioning the third shaft groove 1502 and the third shaft portion 1504. The second partition 1506 can increase the structural strength of the third axial slot 1502 and the third axial portion 1504, and in cooperation with the second partition 1706, it also has the effect of positioning the fourth axial slot 1702 and the fourth axial portion 1704.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a first extending direction 14a (an arrow is shown in fig. 3 to fig. 5, that is, a direction indicated by two side arms of the first frame 14) is defined as a direction pointing from the first key cap connecting portion 144 to the first base connecting portion 146, the first frame 14 has a first end and a second end, the first pivot portion 148 has a first guiding surface 1492, and the first guiding surface 1492 is disposed at the first end of the first frame 14 (specifically, the first frame body 142) adjacent to the first axial slot 1462 in the first extending direction 14a and extends parallel to the rotational axis a 1. The lower outer first guide surfaces 1492 help the second shaft portions 1684 to be locked in the first shaft grooves 1482, and the inner edges of the first guide surfaces 1492 provide a limit for the second shaft portions 1684 in the first shaft grooves 1482 in the first extending direction 14 a. Similarly, a second extending direction 16a (an arrow is shown in fig. 3, fig. 6 and fig. 7, i.e. directions indicated by two side arms of the second frame 16) is defined as a direction pointing from the second key cap connecting portion 164 to the second base connecting portion 166, the second frame 16 has a third end and a fourth end, the second pivot portion 168 has a second guiding surface 1688, and the second guiding surface 1688 is disposed at the third end of the second frame 16 (specifically, the second frame body 162) adjacent to the second groove 1682 in the second extending direction 16a and extends parallel to the rotating axis a 1. The lower-outside and higher-inside second guide surfaces 1688 help the first shaft portion 1484 to be caught in the second shaft groove 1682, and the inner edge of the second guide surfaces 1688 provides a limit for the first shaft portion 1484 in the second shaft groove 1682 in the second extending direction 16 a. In addition, in the present embodiment, the first shaft portion 1484 and the second shaft portion 1684 are implemented in a (incomplete) cylindrical shape, which has a guiding function, so that the first guiding surface 1492 and the second guiding surface 1688 can be omitted in practical operation.

Similarly, the third pivot portion 148 has a third guiding surface 1508, and the third guiding surface 1508 is disposed at the second end of the first bracket body 142 adjacent to the third axial slot 1502 in the first extending direction 14a and extends parallel to the rotating axial direction a 1. The low outer, high inner third guide surface 1508 helps the fourth shaft portion 1704 to snap into the third shaft slot 1502 and provides a stop in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation a 1. Similarly, the fourth pivot portion 170 has a fourth guiding surface 1712, and the fourth guiding surface 1712 is disposed at the fourth end of the second frame body 162 adjacent to the fourth axial slot 1702 in the second extending direction 16a and extends parallel to the rotating axis a 1. The low outer and high inner fourth guide surfaces 1712 help third shaft portion 1504 snap into fourth shaft slot 1702 and provide a stop in the direction perpendicular to axis of rotation a 1. In addition, in the present embodiment, the third shaft portion 1504 and the fourth shaft portion 1704 are implemented in a (non-complete) cylindrical shape, which has a guiding function, so that the third guiding surface 1508 and the fourth guiding surface 1712 can be omitted in the actual operation.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first shaft portion 1484 is implemented as a partial cylinder (extending along the rotational axis a1), the second shaft groove 1682 is implemented as a partial circular groove surface (extending along the rotational axis a1), the first shaft portion 1484 and the second shaft groove 1682 are in sliding contact with a contact surface therebetween, the contact surface extends along the rotational axis a1 and extends at least 180 degrees of a central angle with respect to the rotational axis a 1. In practice, however, the sliding contact between the first shaft portion 1484 and the second shaft groove 1682 may be implemented by a plurality of line contacts, for example, the first shaft portion 1484 may instead be implemented by a plurality of ribs extending along the rotational axial direction a1, and the ends of the plurality of ribs logically line contact (the curved surface of) the second shaft groove 1682, for example, a semicircular hole surface extending around the rotational axial direction a 1. The above description also applies to the contact relationship between the second shaft portion 1684 and the first shaft slot 1482, between the third shaft portion 1504 and the fourth shaft slot 1702, and between the fourth shaft portion 1704 and the third shaft slot 1502, which is not repeated herein. In actual operation, the contact relationship between the first shaft section 1484 and the second shaft groove 1682, between the second shaft section 1684 and the first shaft groove 1482, between the third shaft section 1504 and the fourth shaft groove 1702, and between the fourth shaft section 1704 and the third shaft groove 1502 are not limited to the same.

Please refer to fig. 2. In the present embodiment, a first sliding groove 124 and a second sliding groove 126 are integrated into a plastic component, and the plastic component can be combined with the bottom plate 122 (such as but not limited to a metal plate) by insert injection, or combined with the bottom plate 122 by injection molding and then riveting (such as by heat molding a cylinder passing through the bottom plate 122). However, in practical applications, the base 12 may be formed by stamping a single metal plate, which is not described in detail herein. The first chute 124 and the second chute 126 are opposite in structure, wherein the first chute 124 extends parallel to the bottom plate 122 and has a first inlet 124a, and the second chute 126 extends parallel to the bottom plate 122 and has a second inlet 126 a. When assembling the first and

second frames

14, 16 to the base 12, the first and second

base connecting portions

146, 166 are respectively inserted into the first and

second inlets

124a, 126 a. The pivotal connection of the first and

second brackets

14, 16 may be made by jig and automated equipment for horizontal end-to-end (i.e., end of side arm) assembly. Wherein the first pivot joint 148 and the second pivot joint 168 are horizontally aligned (e.g., the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are simply horizontally disposed), and the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are horizontally adjacent to each other with the ends facing the ends (i.e., the ends of the side arms) (i.e., parallel to the first extending direction 14a and the second extending direction 16a, i.e., perpendicular to the rotational axis a1) until the first pivot joint 148 and the second pivot joint 168 are engaged (i.e., the first shaft 1484 is engaged in the second shaft groove 1682, the second shaft 1684 is engaged in the first shaft groove 1482), and the third pivot joint 150 and the fourth pivot joint 170 are engaged (i.e., the third shaft 1504 is engaged in the fourth shaft groove 1702, the fourth shaft 1704 is engaged in the third shaft groove 1502); the pivotal connection of the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 is completed. When the first shaft groove 1482, the first shaft portion 1484, the second shaft groove 1682, the second shaft portion 1684, the third shaft groove 1502, the third shaft portion 1504, the fourth shaft groove 1702, and the fourth shaft portion 1704 are coaxial (i.e., their coaxial axial directions overlap with the rotational axial direction a1), the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 can rotate relatively stably. At this time, the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 are slidably disposed in the first sliding slot 124 and the second sliding slot 126, respectively. In practical operation, the first shaft side wall 1488 and the first groove side wall 1490 may be removed to increase the structural elasticity of the first shaft groove 1482 and the second shaft portion 1484, which is favorable for the first pivot portion 148 to be horizontally connected with the second pivot portion 168; similarly, the second sidewall 1708 and the second groove sidewall 1710 can be removed to increase the structural flexibility of the fourth shaft groove 1702 and the fourth shaft portion 1704, which is beneficial for the connection between the third pivot portion 150 and the fourth pivot portion 170 in the horizontal direction.

In addition, in practice, the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 may be pivoted to each other and then connected to the base 12. In the former case, for example, the first and

second brackets

14 and 16 are perpendicular to each other, so that the first and second

pivotal portions

148 and 168 can be easily connected. In the latter case, for example, the first base connector 146 and the second base connector 166 are forcibly fitted into the first chute 124 and the second chute 126. For another example, the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are compressed and deformed along the rotation axis a1 so that the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 can enter the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126; at this time, the first chute 124 and the second chute 126 are not limited to have the first inlet 124a and the second inlet 126 a. When the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 are implemented by using a non-inlet structure, or the distance between the first inlet 124a and the second inlet 126a is larger, so that the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 need to be placed into the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 and then pivoted with each other, the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 can provide longer sliding ways, that is, the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 can slide and rotate in the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 more stably, thereby facilitating the stable operation of the key structure 1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3 to fig. 7, the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 have the same structure, wherein the first pivot portion 148 and the fourth pivot portion 170 have the same structure, and the third pivot portion 150 and the second pivot portion 168 have the same structure. This design helps to reduce the manufacturing cost of the key structure 1; however, in practice, this is not a limitation. For example, in the first frame 14, the third pivot portion 150 is implemented with the same structure as the first pivot portion 148; correspondingly, in the second frame 16, the fourth pivot portion 170 is implemented with the same structure as the second pivot portion 168. For another example, the third pivoting portion 150 and the fourth pivoting portion 170 may be implemented by other conventional pivoting structures (e.g., a common hole-axis fit, or other connecting structures capable of rotating with each other). For another example, the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 are pivotally connected only by a set of pivotal parts; as shown in fig. 8, the first frame 14 'and the second frame 16' are pivotally connected by a third pivot portion 150 and a fourth pivot portion 170, wherein the first frame 14 'corresponds to the first frame 14 without the first pivot portion 148, and the second frame 16' corresponds to the second frame 16 without the second pivot portion 168. In addition, in the embodiment, the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 are pivotally connected to each other in a V-shaped configuration, but in practical operation, the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 may also be pivotally connected to each other in an X-shaped configuration by appropriate structural modifications, for example, the first pivot portion 146 is located between the first key cap connecting portion 142 and the first base connecting portion 144, and the second pivot portion 166 is located between the second key cap connecting portion 162 and the second base connecting portion 164.

In addition, in the embodiment, the connection between the first pivot portion 148 and the second pivot portion 168 includes a set of slot wall positioning structures (i.e., the first partition slot 1486 matches with the first partition wall 1686); however, in practice, this is not a limitation. As shown in fig. 9, the first pivot portion 148' of the first frame 14 ″ further includes an adjacent partition wall 1487, and the adjacent partition wall 1487 is adjacent to the first partition groove 1486, as compared to the first pivot portion 148 of the first frame 14 (as shown in fig. 3 to 5); correspondingly, the second pivot portion 168' of the second frame 16 ″ further includes an adjacent partition 1687, and the adjacent partition 1687 is adjacent to the first partition 1686, compared to the second pivot portion 168 of the second frame 16 (as shown in fig. 3, 6, and 7). In other words, a first partition wall 1486 and an adjacent partition wall 1487 are located between the first shaft 1482 and the first shaft 1484, and a first partition wall 1686 and an adjacent partition wall 1687 are located between the second shaft 1682 and the second shaft 1684. In the rotational axial direction a1, the first shaft portion 1484 of the first pivot joint 148' faces in the same direction as the first shaft groove 1482 (toward the lower right side in the drawing in fig. 9); the shaft portion and the shaft groove of the third pivot portion 150' also face the same direction. Similarly, in the rotational axial direction a1, the second shaft groove 1682 of the second pivot joint 168' faces the same direction as the second shaft portion 1684 (toward the upper right side of the drawing in fig. 9); the shaft and the shaft groove of the fourth pivot portion 170' also face the same direction. With the first shaft portion 1484 rotatably disposed in the second shaft groove 1682, the second shaft portion 1684 rotatably disposed in the first shaft groove 1482, the first partition wall 1486 inserted into the first partition groove 1686, and the adjacent partition wall 1487 inserted into the adjacent partition groove 1687, the first pivoting portion 148 'is pivotally connected to the second pivoting portion 168'. In addition, in this embodiment, the third pivot portion 150 'of the first frame 14 "has the same structure as the first pivot portion 148', the fourth pivot portion 170 'of the second frame 16" has the same structure as the second pivot portion 168', and the first frame 14 "has the same structure as the second frame 16". This helps to reduce the manufacturing cost, but in practice, this is not a limitation. In addition, regarding the variation of the first bracket 14 "and the second bracket 16", reference may be made to the description of the variation related to the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16, which is not repeated herein.

Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 10 to fig. 12. The key cap 102 includes two first limiting protrusions 108 and two second limiting protrusions 110 disposed on the key cap 102, the two first limiting protrusions 108 are disposed adjacent to the two first support connecting portions 104 and between the two first support connecting portions 104, and the two second limiting protrusions 110 are disposed adjacent to the two second support connecting portions 106 and between the two second support connecting portions 106. The first bracket 14 includes two first surface-limiting structures 152, and the two first surface-limiting structures 152 are disposed on the first bracket body 142 opposite to the two first limiting protrusions 108. The second bracket 16 includes two second surface-limiting structures 172, and the two second surface-limiting structures 172 are disposed on the second bracket body 162 relative to the two second limiting protrusions 110. Furthermore, the first limiting protrusion 108 and the second limiting protrusion 110 are located between the first surface limiting structure 152 and the second surface limiting structure 172, so that the first surface limiting structure 152 and the second surface limiting structure 172 form a structural constraint on the first limiting protrusion 108 and the second limiting protrusion 110, so that the horizontal position of the keycap 10 relative to the first support 14 and the second support 16 can be controlled.

In the present embodiment, the first limit protrusion 108 has a first protruding curved surface 1082, and the first protruding curved surface 1082 faces the corresponding first surface limit structure 152; the first surface-limiting structure 152 is a corresponding third convex curved surface implemented by the sidewall of the groove on the first bracket body 142. The first limit protrusion 108 extends into the groove, and a first distance d1 is formed between the first surface limit structure 152 and the first limit protrusion 108 (i.e., the minimum distance between the first convex surface 1082 and the third convex surface of the first surface limit structure 152). The second limit protrusion 110 has a second convex surface 1102, and the second convex surface 1102 faces the corresponding second surface limit structure 172; the second surface limiting structure 172 is a corresponding fourth convex curved surface implemented by the side wall of the groove on the second bracket body 142. The second limit protrusion 110 extends into the groove, and a second distance d2 is formed between the second surface limit structure 172 and the second limit protrusion 110 (i.e., the minimum distance between the second convex surface 1102 and the fourth convex surface of the second surface limit structure 172). The presence of the gap helps to inhibit or eliminate wear between the components during actuation. In practice, the sum of the first spacing distance d1 and the second spacing distance d2 can substantially fall within a suitable predetermined range by designing the structural relationship of the first limiting protrusion 108, the second limiting protrusion 110, the first surface limiting structure 152 and the second surface limiting structure 172 (e.g., by simulating the relative positions of the components when the key cap 10 is in different vertical positions to determine the structural profile of the limiting

protrusions

108, 110 and the surface limiting structures 152, 172).

In different practical embodiments, the sum of the first distance d1 and the second distance d2 can be set to different values or different value ranges as required according to the sizes of the component structures of the key structure 1, so that during the operation of the key structure 1 (for example, a user presses the key cap 10), at least a gap can be maintained between the first position-limiting protrusion 108 and the first surface-limiting structure 152 or between the second position-limiting protrusion 110 and the second surface-limiting structure 172, so as to achieve the effects of smooth operation of the component and positioning of the key cap 10. For example, when the overall size of the first and

second supports

14 and 16 and the key cap 10 is small or the length and width of the first and

second supports

14 and 16 relative to the key cap 10 is small, the sum of the first and second distances d1 and d2 may be set to 0.01mm to 0.05mm, or 0.05mm to 0.15mm, or 0.15mm to 0.25 mm; when the overall size of the first and

second supports

14 and 16 and the key cap 10 is large or the length and width of the first and

second supports

14 and 16 relative to the key cap 10 is large, the sum of the first and second distances d1 and d2 may be set to 0.35mm to 0.45mm, or 0.45mm to 0.55mm, or 0.55mm to 0.65 mm. For another example, in one embodiment, the length of the keycap 10 is about 15mm, the pressing height stroke is 1mm to 2mm, and the sum of the first distance d1 and the second distance d2 may be set to 0.25mm to 0.35 mm.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first limiting protrusion 106 and the second limiting protrusion 108 are structurally and logically symmetrical, and the first surface limiting structure 150 and the second surface limiting structure 170 are also structurally and logically symmetrical, but not limited to this in actual operation; for example, based on the different sizes and linkage relationships of the components of the first support 14 and the second support 16, the motion tracks of the first support 14 and the second support 16 relative to the key cap 10 may be different, and the first protruding curved surface 1082 and the second protruding curved surface 1102 of the key cap 10 need to have different outlines (the corresponding first surface stopper 152 and the corresponding second surface stopper 172 are also the same). In addition, in practical operation, the first and

second limit protrusions

108 and 110 may be designed to protrude from the bottom surface of the key cap 10 by 0.65mm to 0.75 mm. The first and

second surface restraints

152, 172 may be configured as 1/4 cylindrical surfaces having a radius of 0.5 mm. The grooves on the first and second brackets 14, 16 (with the first and second surface-limiting

structures

152, 172 disposed on one side thereof) may be designed to be 1mm long, 1.6mm wide, and 0.8mm deep.

Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 13 and fig. 14. In the present embodiment, the key structure 1 further includes two abutting structures, which include two first studs 154 disposed on two sides of the first frame 14 and two second studs 174 disposed on two sides of the second frame 16; one of the abutting structures includes a first stud 154 and a second stud 174. The first and

second posts

154, 174 extend parallel to the rotational axis a1 and may be, but are not limited to being, integrally formed with the first and

second brackets

14, 16, respectively. The base 12 includes two position-limiting portions 128, and the two position-limiting portions 128 are disposed opposite to the two abutting structures (i.e., disposed opposite to the first protruding pillar 152 and the second protruding pillar 172); one of the limiting portions 128 corresponds to one of the first studs 152 and one of the second studs 172. In the present embodiment, the position-limiting portion 128 is implemented by a groove structure and is integrally formed in the plastic member including the first sliding slot 124 and the second sliding slot 126. The position-limiting portion 128 includes a first position-limiting surface 1282 and a second position-limiting surface 1284. When the key cap 10 is not pressed, the first protruding pillar 154 and the second protruding pillar 174 correspondingly abut against the first position-limiting surface 1282 and the second position-limiting surface 1284 of the position-limiting portion 128, as shown in fig. 13 and 14. When the key cap 10 is pressed, the first protrusion 154 and the second protrusion 174 are separated from the first position-limiting surface 1282 and the second position-limiting surface 1284. Therefore, the highest position of the keycap 10 can be limited, thereby facilitating the stable operation of the key structure 1 and facilitating the pressing hand feeling of the user.

In addition, in the embodiment, the position-limiting portion 128 is implemented by the groove bottom surface of the groove structure, but in practical operation, the position-limiting portion 128 can also be implemented by the groove side surface of the groove structure, and the sliding connection relationship between the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 and the base 12 is matched, and the profile of the groove side surface can be used to limit and restrict the sliding motion of the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 in the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 (for example, when the keycap 10 moves up and down relative to the base 12, the change of the horizontal position of the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 relative to the base 12 can be controlled), which is helpful to stabilize the motion of the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 relative to the base 12, and is further beneficial to the stable motion of the key structure 1. For example, as shown in fig. 15, the position-limiting portion 128 includes a first guiding side surface 1286 and a second guiding side surface 1288, and the first guiding side surface 1286 and the second guiding side surface 1288 are disposed opposite to and adjacent to the first position-limiting surface 1282 and the second position-limiting surface 1284. The first and

second studs

154, 174 are located between the first and second guiding

sides

1286, 1288, and the first and second guiding

sides

1286, 1288 are both sloped. The first and

second posts

154, 174 substantially remain against the first and

second guide sides

1286, 1288, respectively, as the key cap 10 moves relative to the base 12. For another example, as shown in fig. 16, the position-limiting portion 128 includes a first guiding side surface 1286 'and a second guiding side surface 1288', wherein the first guiding side surface 1286 'and the second guiding side surface 1288' are disposed opposite to and adjacent to the first position-limiting surface 1282 and the second position-limiting surface 1284, respectively. The first and second

protruding columns

154, 174 are located between the first and second guiding sides 1286', 1288', and the first and second guiding sides 1286', 1288' are curved. When the key cap 10 moves relative to the base 12, the first protruding pillar 154 and the second protruding pillar 174 substantially keep abutting against the first guiding side 1286 'and the second guiding side 1288', respectively. In addition, in practical operation, the first guiding side surface and the second guiding side surface are not limited to be the same, for example, one is an inclined surface and the other is a curved surface.

The above detailed description of the preferred embodiments is intended to more clearly illustrate the features and spirit of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention by the preferred embodiments disclosed above. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the invention is therefore to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements as is within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A key structure, comprising:

a keycap;

the base is arranged below the keycap;

the first support is connected between the keycap and the base and comprises a first shaft groove and a first shaft part, the first shaft groove and the first shaft part are of an incomplete hole shaft structure, the first shaft groove and the first shaft part extend along the rotating axial direction, and a first separation groove is formed between the first shaft groove and the first shaft part at intervals in the rotating axial direction; and

the second support is connected between the keycap and the base and comprises a second shaft groove, a second shaft part and a first partition wall, the second shaft groove and the second shaft part are of an incomplete hole shaft structure, the second shaft groove and the second shaft part extend along the rotary axial direction, the first partition wall is located between the second shaft groove and the second shaft part, the first support and the second support are rotatably arranged in the second shaft groove through the first shaft part and rotatably arranged in the first shaft groove through the second shaft part so as to be pivoted relative to the rotary axial direction, the first partition wall is inserted into the first partition groove, and the keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the first support and the second support.

2. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first bracket comprises a first shaft side wall and a first groove side wall, the first shaft side wall is connected to the first shaft part relative to the first shaft groove, and the first groove side wall is connected to the first shaft groove relative to the first shaft part.

3. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first support comprises adjacent partition walls, the first partition wall and the adjacent partition walls are arranged adjacently, the second support comprises adjacent partition walls, the first partition wall and the adjacent partition wall are arranged adjacently, and the adjacent partition walls are inserted into the adjacent partition walls.

4. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first support comprises a first keycap connecting part and a first base connecting part, the first support is correspondingly and rotatably connected with the keycap and the base through the first keycap connecting part and the first base connecting part, and the first base connecting part is positioned between the first keycap connecting part and the first shaft part.

5. The key structure according to claim 4, wherein: the first support has a first end and a second end, the first support has a first guiding surface, the first guiding surface is disposed at the first end of the first support adjacent to the first axial slot in the first extending direction, and the first guiding surface extends in parallel with the rotational axis.

6. The key structure according to claim 5, wherein: the base comprises a sliding groove, the sliding groove is provided with an inlet, and the first support is arranged in the sliding groove in a sliding mode through the first base connecting portion so as to be rotatably connected with the base.

7. The key structure according to claim 4, wherein: the second support comprises a second keycap connecting part and a second base connecting part, the second support is correspondingly and rotatably connected with the keycap and the base through the second keycap connecting part and the second base connecting part, the second base connecting part is positioned between the second keycap connecting part and the second shaft part, and the first support and the second support are connected to form a V-shaped structure.

8. The key structure according to claim 7, wherein: the second support has a third end and a fourth end, the second support has a second guiding surface, the second guiding surface is disposed at the third end of the second support adjacent to the second axial slot in the second extending direction, and the second guiding surface extends in parallel with the rotational axis.

9. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first support is in a n-shaped structure, and the first shaft groove and the first shaft part are positioned at one end part of the n-shaped structure.

10. The key structure according to claim 9, wherein: the first bracket comprises a third shaft groove, a third shaft part and a second partition wall, the third shaft groove and the third shaft part extend along the rotating axial direction and are positioned at the other end part of the inverted U-shaped structure, the second partition wall is positioned between the third shaft groove and the third shaft part, the second bracket comprises a fourth shaft groove and a fourth shaft part, the fourth shaft groove and the fourth shaft part extend along the rotating axial direction, a second partition groove is formed between the fourth shaft groove and the fourth shaft part at an interval in the rotating axial direction, and the first bracket and the second bracket are respectively and correspondingly and rotatably arranged in the fourth shaft groove and the third shaft groove through the third shaft part and the fourth shaft part so as to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction.

11. The key structure according to claim 10, wherein: the first bracket and the second bracket have the same structure.

12. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the keycap comprises a first limiting protrusion and a second limiting protrusion, the first support comprises a first surface limiting structure, the first surface limiting structure is arranged relative to the first limiting protrusion, a first distance is formed between the first surface limiting structure and the first limiting protrusion, the second support comprises a second surface limiting structure, the second surface limiting structure is arranged relative to the second limiting protrusion, a second distance is formed between the second surface limiting structure and the second limiting protrusion, and the sum of the first distance and the second distance is within a preset range.

13. The key structure according to claim 12, wherein: the first limiting protrusion part is provided with a first protruding curved surface, and the first surface limiting structure is a corresponding third protruding curved surface.

14. The key structure of claim 1, further comprising an abutting structure disposed on the first and/or second supports, wherein the base comprises a position-limiting portion disposed opposite to the abutting structure, wherein the abutting structure abuts against the position-limiting portion when the key cap is not pressed.

15. The key structure according to claim 14, wherein: the abutting structure comprises a first protruding column and a second protruding column, the first protruding column and the second protruding column extend in parallel to the rotating axial direction, and the first protruding column and the second protruding column are correspondingly arranged on the first support and the second support.

16. The key structure of claim 15, wherein: the limiting part comprises a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface, when the keycap is not pressed, the first protruding column and the second protruding column correspondingly abut against the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface, and when the keycap is pressed, the first protruding column is separated from the first limiting surface and the second protruding column is separated from the second limiting surface.

17. The key structure according to claim 16, wherein: the limiting part comprises a first guide side face and a second guide side face, the first protruding column and the second protruding column are located between the first guide side face and the second guide side face, the first guide side face or the second guide side face is an inclined face or a curved face, and when the keycap moves relative to the base, the first protruding column and the second protruding column correspondingly abut against the first guide side face and the second guide side face.