CN110444430B

CN110444430B - Key structure

Info

Publication number: CN110444430B
Application number: CN201910747578.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵令溪
Original assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd; Darfon Electronics Corp
Current assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd; Darfon Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2019-05-03
Filing date: 2019-08-14
Publication date: 2022-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-14
Also published as: CN110444429A; CN110033977A; CN110444428A; CN110444428B; CN110444430A; CN110444429B

Abstract

The invention discloses a key structure, which comprises a keycap, a base and two supports which are pivoted with each other and connected between the keycap and the base, wherein the keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the two supports. In one embodiment, the two brackets are pivotally connected by a shaft that mates with the C-shaped shaft hole. In another embodiment, each of the brackets has a structure of U-shape and has a half-shaft hole and a shaft part at its two ends. The two brackets are pivoted by the shaft part rotatably abutting against the corresponding half shaft holes. In the invention, the two supports of the key structure have a high-stability pin joint framework, 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.

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 in an occluded end surface area, so that the tail end structure of the support is not limited in multiple directions, and the stability of the keycap is also damaged.

Moreover, when the overall size of the key structure is reduced, the bracket has a sufficient 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. Furthermore, in general, the incorporation of a complete bore-shaft structure may result in permanent deformation or damage to the stent. 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, an object of the present invention is to provide a key structure, in which the pivot joints of two supports can be matched with a C-shaped shaft hole or a half-hole, so as to have a high-stability pivot joint structure and realize automatic assembly.

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 and provided with a first shaft; the second support is connected between the keycap and the base, the second support is provided with a second C-shaped shaft hole, the first support and the second support are clamped into the second C-shaped shaft hole through the first shaft to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction, the second C-shaped shaft hole is provided with a second opening, the direction of the second opening is perpendicular to the rotating axial direction, 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 second support includes a second key cap connection portion and a second base connection portion, the second support is rotatably connected to the key cap via the second key cap connection portion, the second support is rotatably connected to the base via the second base connection portion, a direction from the second key cap connection portion to the second base connection portion is defined as a second extending direction, and a direction of the second opening is parallel to or perpendicular to the second extending direction.

As an optional technical solution, the second base connection portion is located between the second keycap connection portion and the second C-shaped axial hole.

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 via the first key cap connecting portion, and the first base connecting portion is located between the first key cap connecting portion and the first shaft.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket and the second bracket are connected through the first shaft and the second C-shaped shaft hole to form a V-shaped structure.

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

As an optional technical solution, the second C-shaped shaft hole extends along the rotation axis and has a bottom in the rotation axis direction.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket further includes a first C-shaped shaft hole, the second bracket further includes a second shaft, the first bracket and the second bracket are clamped into the second C-shaped shaft hole through the first shaft, and the second shaft is clamped into the first C-shaped shaft hole to be pivotally connected with respect to the rotational axis, the first C-shaped shaft hole has a first opening, and the first opening faces the second bracket.

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

In addition, the present invention further 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 and is of a first n-shaped structure, the first support comprises a first keycap connecting part and a first shaft part, the first support is rotatably connected to the keycap through the first keycap connecting part, and the first shaft part is positioned at the first tail end of the first n-shaped structure; the second support is connected between the keycap and the base and is of a second U-shaped structure, the second support comprises a second keycap connecting part and a second half shaft hole, the second support is rotatably connected to the keycap through the second keycap connecting part, the second half shaft hole is positioned at the third end of the second U-shaped structure, the first support and the second support are rotatably abutted against the second half shaft hole through the first shaft part so as to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction, 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 second half-axle hole extends along the rotation axis and has a bottom in the rotation axis direction.

As an alternative solution, the second half shaft hole has a semicircular groove surface extending along the rotational axial direction, and the second half shaft hole slidably contacts the first shaft portion with the semicircular cylindrical surface.

Alternatively, the first shaft portion is a cylinder, and the cylinder protrudes and extends along the rotational axis.

As an optional technical solution, the first shaft portion includes an incomplete cylindrical surface, the incomplete cylindrical surface extends along the rotational axis, and the first shaft portion slidably contacts the second half shaft hole with the incomplete cylindrical surface.

As an optional technical solution, the first bracket further includes a first half-axle hole, the first half-axle hole is located at the second end of the first n-shaped structure, the second bracket includes a second shaft portion, the second shaft portion is located at the fourth end of the second n-shaped structure, the first bracket and the second bracket rotatably abut against the second half-axle hole through the first shaft portion, and the second shaft portion rotatably abuts against the first half-axle hole to be pivotally connected with respect to the rotational axis.

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

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 the pin joint structure of the shaft and the C-shaped shaft hole, the structure elasticity and the limit in each direction are provided during the assembly, the strength and the rotation stability of the pin joint structure can be maintained, and the permanent deformation or the damage of the bracket in the process of combining the bracket can be avoided. In the structure that the shaft part is matched with the half hole, the projection of the sliding contact surface between the two brackets on a plane vertical to the rotating axial direction can still present a section of complete circular arc required by the rotating motion of the brackets, and the limit design in the rotating axial direction and the vertical direction is provided so as to maintain certain pivoting strength and rotating stability. 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 advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood by the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

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

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

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a first bracket of the key structure in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a second bracket of the key structure in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the first bracket and the second bracket of fig. 2 horizontally assembled, the sectional position being shown by the line X-X in fig. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second bracket according to another embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a partial exploded view of a key structure according to another embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a first bracket of the key structure in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a second bracket of the key structure of fig. 7.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a first bracket according to another 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 and 4, the first frame 14 includes a first frame body 142, and two first keycap connecting portions 144, two first base connecting portions 146, a first shaft 148 and a first C-shaped shaft hole 150 disposed on the first frame body 142. The first frame body 142 is of a first n-shaped structure, the two first keycap connectors 144 and the two first base connectors 146 are located at two opposite sides of the first n-shaped structure in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis a1, the two first base connectors 146 are respectively located at two outer sides of two ends of the first n-shaped structure (or located at an inner side in accordance with the arrangement position of the first chute 124 in other embodiments), and the first shaft 148 and the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 are also respectively located at the two ends and extend parallel to the rotational axis a 1. The first shaft 148 and the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 are relatively stable in rotation when they are coaxial, i.e., when the coaxial axis overlaps the rotational axis a 1. The first base coupling portion 146 is located between the first shaft 148 (or the first C-shaped shaft hole 150) and the first key cap coupling portion 144. The first C-shaped shaft hole 150 is located at the end of the side arm of the first n-shaped structure, and has a first opening 150a and an incomplete circular groove surface (extending along the rotational axis a 1), and the opening direction of the first opening 150a is perpendicular to the rotational axis a 1. The first support 14 is rotatably coupled to the key cap 10 via the cooperation of the first key cap link 144 and the first support link 104; the first frame connecting portion 104 is a shaft hole 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 pivotally connected to the first frame connecting portion 104. The first bracket 14 is rotatably connected to the base 12 via the cooperation of the first base connecting portion 146 and the first sliding slot 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.

The second frame 16 includes a second frame body 162, and two second key cap joints 164, two second base joints 166, a second shaft 168 and a second C-shaped shaft hole 170 disposed on the second frame body 162. The second frame body 162 is of a second n-shaped structure, the two second keycap connectors 164 and the two second base connectors 166 are located at opposite sides of the second n-shaped structure, the two second base connectors 166 are respectively located at outer sides of two ends of the second n-shaped structure (or at inner sides thereof in other embodiments according to the arrangement position of the second sliding groove 126), and the second shaft 168 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 are also respectively located at the two ends and extend parallel to the rotational axis a 1. The second shaft 168 and the second C-shaped shaft hole are relatively stable in rotation when they are coaxial, i.e., when the coaxial axis overlaps the rotational axis a 1. Second base-link 166 is located between second shaft 168 (or second C-shaped shaft aperture 170) and second keycap-link 164. The second C-shaped shaft hole 170 is located at the end of the side arm of the second n-shaped structure, and has a second opening 170a and an incomplete circular groove surface (extending along the rotational axis a 1), and the opening direction of the second opening 170a is perpendicular to the rotational axis a 1. The second support 16 is rotatably coupled to the keycap 10 via the cooperation of the second keycap link 164 with 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 first frame connecting portion 104. The second bracket 16 is rotatably connected to the base 12 via the engagement of the second base connecting portion 166 with the second sliding groove 126; the second sliding slot 126 is parallel to the bottom plate 122 and extends perpendicular to the rotation axis a1, and the second base connecting portion 166 is cylindrical and 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. The first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are pivoted relative to the rotating shaft direction a1 by the first shaft 148 being inserted into the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 and the second shaft 168 being inserted into the first C-shaped shaft hole 150; due to the contact and the limitation of the incomplete circular groove surface of the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 and the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 at each rotation angle, the first shaft 148 and the second shaft 168 can smoothly and stably rotate under high pivoting strength. In a top view of the key structure 1, the first support 14 and the second support 16 are connected to form a square structure, and the elastic restoring member 20 is disposed through the square structure to abut against the key cap 10. From a side view of the key structure 1, 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 the present embodiment, the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 have deformation elasticity due to the existence of the notch (the first opening 150 a/the second opening 170a), so that the second shaft 168 and the first shaft 148 can be respectively inserted into the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 through the first opening 150a and the second opening 170 a. The size of the first opening 150a and the second opening 170a may be set smaller than the shaft diameter of the second shaft 168 and the first shaft 148 (or the diameter of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170), for example, about two-thirds or one-half of the shaft diameter, so as to consider the operation of the second shaft 168 and the first shaft 148 being clamped into the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 and the clamping effect of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 on the second shaft 168 and the first shaft 148. Further, as shown in fig. 3, the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 has a bottom portion 150b in the rotational axial direction a1, and the first opening 150a extends in a direction parallel to the rotational axial direction a1 so as to penetrate the bottom portion 150 b. In another aspect, the bottom portion 150b is implemented by a sidewall structure extending perpendicular to the rotational axis a 1. Therefore, the bottom 150b can increase the structural strength of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150, and limit the second shaft 168 in the rotational axial direction a1, which is helpful for improving the retaining effect of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 on the second shaft 168; also, the penetration of the first opening 150a through the base 150b may avoid or inhibit the base 150b from affecting the operation of the second shaft 168 to snap into the first C-shaped shaft aperture 150. In another embodiment, the size of the first opening 150a and the thickness of the bottom 150b are fine-tuned to achieve the holding effect and the structural strength of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 on the second shaft 168; however, in practice, the first opening 150a is not necessarily required to penetrate the bottom 150 b. Further, similarly to the first C-shaped shaft hole 150, the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 has a bottom portion 170b in the rotational axial direction a1, and the second opening 170a extends in a direction parallel to the rotational axial direction a1 to penetrate the bottom portion 170 b. In another aspect, the bottom 170b is realized by a sidewall structure extending perpendicular to the rotational axis a 1. The functions and the descriptions of the variations of the bottom 170b can be found in the description of the bottom 150b, and are not repeated herein.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, 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. As shown in fig. 3, a first extending direction 14a (indicated by arrows in fig. 3, i.e. the direction indicated by the two side arms of the first support 14) is defined on the first support 14, the direction from the first keycap connecting portion 144 to the first base connecting portion 146 is substantially parallel to the first extending direction 14a (or the direction from the first opening 150a to the second support 16); as shown in fig. 4, a second extending direction 16a (indicated by arrows in fig. 4, i.e. the direction indicated by the two side arms of the second frame 16) is defined on the second frame 16, the direction from the second keycap connecting portion 164 to the second base connecting portion 166 is substantially parallel to the second extending direction 16a (or the direction of the second opening 170a towards the first frame 14). Therefore, when the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are assembled to the base 12, the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 enter the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 through the first inlet 124a and the second inlet 126a, respectively. The pivoting of the first and

second frames

14, 16 may be performed by assembling the first and

second frames

14, 16 end-to-end (i.e., the ends of the side arms) horizontally with a jig and an automated device, as shown in fig. 5, aligning the first shaft 148 with the second opening 170a and the second shaft 168 with the first opening 150a (e.g., simply placing the first and

second frames

14, 16 substantially horizontally), and then horizontally approaching the first and

second frames

14, 16 end-to-end (i.e., the ends of the side arms) (as shown by arrows, i.e., parallel to the first and second extending

directions

14a, 16a, i.e., perpendicular to the rotational axis direction a1), until the first shaft 148 passes through the second opening 170a to be snapped into the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 and the second shaft 168 passes through the first opening 150a to be snapped into the first C-shaped shaft hole 150, thereby completing the pivoting of the first and

second frames

14, 16. When the first shaft 148, the second C-shaped shaft hole 170, the second shaft 168 and the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 are coaxial, i.e. the coaxial axial direction overlaps with the rotation axial direction a1, the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 can rotate stably. At this time, the first base connecting portion 146 and the second base connecting portion 166 are also slidably disposed in the first sliding slot 124 and the second sliding slot 126, respectively. In practice, the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 may be pivoted to each other and then connected to the base 12; for example, the first and

second brackets

14 and 16 are compressed and deformed along the rotation axis a1 so that the first and second

base connecting portions

146 and 166 can enter the first and second sliding

grooves

124 and 126; in this case, the first chute 124 and the second chute 126 are not limited to having the

inlets

124a and 126 a. In addition, in practical applications, the direction of the first opening 150a is not limited to be parallel to the first extending direction 14a, and the direction of the second opening 170a is not limited to be parallel to the second extending direction 16 a. For example, the second opening 170a is substantially perpendicular to the second extending direction 16a (disposed upward as shown in fig. 6), or forms another angle with the second extending direction 16 a.

In addition, in the embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the first sliding groove 124 and the second sliding groove 126 are structurally integrated into a plastic member, and the plastic member can be combined with the bottom plate 122 (such as but not limited to a metal plate) by means of insert injection, or combined with the bottom plate 122 by means of injection molding and riveting (such as a heated cylinder passing through the bottom plate 122). In another embodiment, the first sliding slot 124 and the second sliding slot 126 are structurally integrated to the bottom plate 122, for example, a metal plate is used as the bottom plate 122, and a portion of the plate is bent to form the first sliding slot 124 and the second sliding slot 126 (for example, but not limited to, by stamping).

In addition, in the embodiment, the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 have the same structure, which is helpful for reducing the manufacturing cost of the key structure 1; however, in practice, this is not a limitation. For example, the first frame 14 includes two C-shaped axle holes, the second frame 16 includes two corresponding axle holes, and the first frame 14 and the second frame 16 can be pivotally connected by this arrangement. Even if the first bracket 14 is identical in construction to the second bracket 16, the same bracket may be configured with shaft holes extending in the same direction (e.g., the first shaft 148 extends in the rotational axis direction a1 toward the lower left corner of fig. 3, the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 (or the opening axis of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150) also extends in the rotational axis direction a1 toward the lower left corner of fig. 3, and extends in the same direction as the first shaft 148; similarly, the second shaft 168 extends in the rotational axis direction a1 toward the lower right corner of fig. 4, the second C-shaped shaft hole 170 (or the opening axis of the second C-shaped shaft hole 170) also extends in the rotational axis direction a1 toward the lower right corner of fig. 4, and extends in the same direction as the second shaft 168), or the bracket and the holes are configured to extend toward each other (e.g., the first shaft 148 extends in the rotational axis direction a1 toward the lower left corner of fig. 3, the first C-shaped shaft hole 150 (or the opening axis of the first C-shaped shaft hole 150) also extends in the rotational axis direction a1 but toward the right corner of fig. 3, i.e.g., and extend toward each other with first shaft 148; similarly, the second shaft 168 may extend, for example, in the rotational axial direction a1 toward the lower right corner of fig. 4, with the second C-shaped shaft aperture 170 (or the open axial direction of the second C-shaped shaft aperture 170) also extending in the rotational axial direction a1 but toward the upper left corner of fig. 4, i.e., toward the second shaft 168, and toward each other with the second shaft 168. In addition, in the embodiment, both sides of the first support 14 and the second support 16 are connected to the keycap 10 and the base 12, so in practical operation, the first support 14 and the second support 16 can be only pivoted at one side (for example, the first support 14 and the second support 16 are only pivoted through the first shaft 148 and the second C-shaped shaft hole 170, wherein the first support 14 and the second support 16 are both substantially L-shaped structures), and still have a certain degree of linkage stability.

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 the pivot structure of the embodiment, the pivot structure is matched with the C-shaped shaft hole, so that structural elasticity and limit in each direction during assembly are provided, the strength and the rotation stability of the pivot structure can be maintained, and the permanent deformation or damage of the bracket in the process of combining the bracket is avoided. The two supports of the key structure have a high-stability pin joint framework, and can be horizontally and automatically assembled in an end-to-end mode, so that the lifting stroke of the keycap can have better track stability.

Please refer to fig. 7 to fig. 9. The key structure 3 according to another embodiment is similar to the key structure 1, so the key structure 3 follows the reference numerals of the key structure 1 in principle. For other descriptions of the key structure 3, reference may be made to the description of the key structure 1 and its variations, which are not repeated herein. In the key structure 3, the first support 34 is a first n-shaped structure, the first support 34 includes a first half-axle hole 342 and a first axle part 344, the first half-axle hole 342 and the first axle part 344 are respectively located at two ends of the first n-shaped structure, in other words, the two ends of the first n-shaped structure are defined as a first end and a second end, the first axle part 344 is located at the first end of the first n-shaped structure, and the first half-axle hole 342 is located at the second end of the first n-shaped structure. The second bracket 36 is a second-n-shaped structure, the second bracket 36 includes a second half-axle hole 362 and a second axle part 364, the second half-axle hole 362 and the second axle part 364 are respectively located at two ends of the second-n-shaped structure, in other words, the two ends of the second-n-shaped structure are defined as a third end and a fourth end, the second axle part 364 is located at the third end of the second-n-shaped structure, and the second half-axle hole 362 is located at the fourth end of the second-n-shaped structure. The first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36 are rotatably abutted in the second half-axis hole 362 via the first axis portion 344 and rotatably abutted in the first half-axis hole 342 via the second axis portion 364 to be pivotally connected with respect to a rotating axial direction a1 (shown in dotted lines). The key cap 10 is movable up and down relative to the base 12 via the first and

second supports

34, 36.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first half shaft hole 342 has a semicircular groove surface 342a, and the semicircular groove surface 342a extends along the rotational axial direction a 1; on the other hand, the semicircular groove surface 342a corresponds to a concave surface of a circular arc having an approximately 180 degree central angle around the rotational axial direction a 1. The first shaft portion 344 is directly connected to the first bracket body 142 in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axial direction a1 and includes an incomplete cylindrical surface 344a, the incomplete cylindrical surface 344a extending in the rotational axial direction a 1. Correspondingly, the second half shaft hole 362 has a semicircular groove surface 362a, the semicircular groove surface 362a extending in the rotational axial direction a 1; the semicircular groove surface 362a corresponds to a concave surface of a circular arc having an approximate central angle of 180 degrees around the rotational axial direction a 1. The second shaft portion 364 is directly connected to the second holder body 162 in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axial direction a1 and includes an incomplete cylindrical surface 364a, the incomplete cylindrical surface 364a extending in the rotational axial direction a 1. The first shaft portion 344 slidably contacts the semicircular groove surface 362a via the incomplete cylindrical surface 344a to rotatably abut against the second semicircular shaft hole 362; the second shaft portion 364 slidably contacts the semicircular groove surface 342a via the incomplete cylindrical surface 364a to rotatably abut against the first semicircular hole 342.

The assembly method may be similar to that shown in fig. 5 of the previous embodiment, and the jig and the automation equipment are used to perform horizontal end-to-end assembly, in which the first shaft 344 is aligned with the second half-axis hole 362 and the second shaft 364 is aligned with the first half-axis hole 342 (for example, simply placing the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36 approximately horizontally), and then horizontally approaching the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36 to each other (i.e., perpendicular to the rotating axial direction a1) in a manner that the end of the first reversed-U-shaped structure faces the end of the second reversed-U-shaped structure until the first shaft 344 slides over the end protrusion (slightly deformed) of the second half-axis hole 362 to be snapped into the second half-axis hole 362 and the second shaft 364 slides over the end protrusion (slightly deformed) of the first half-axis hole 342 to be snapped into the first half-axis hole 342, thereby completing the pivotal connection of the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the opening directions of the first half shaft hole 342 and the second half shaft hole 362 are the same (for example, both are upward as shown in fig. 8 and 9), so that the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36 are not easily separated from each other in the vertical direction after being pivoted. The first half shaft hole 342 has a bottom portion 342b in the rotational axis direction a1, which increases the structural strength of the first half shaft hole 342 and restricts the second shaft portion 364 in the rotational axis direction a 1; similarly, the second shaft half hole 362 has a bottom 362b in the rotational axis direction a1, which increases the structural strength of the second shaft half hole 362 and limits the first shaft 344 in the rotational axis direction a 1. Wherein, from another aspect, the bottom portions 342b, 344b are realized by sidewall structures extending perpendicular to the rotational axial direction a 1. In addition, in the embodiment, the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36 have the same structure, which is helpful for reducing the manufacturing cost of the key structure 3; however, in practice, this is not a limitation. For example, the first bracket 34 includes two half-shaft holes, the second bracket 36 includes two shaft portions, and the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 36 can be pivotally connected by this arrangement. In addition, in practical applications, the first shaft portion 344 may also be a cylinder, as shown in fig. 10. The cylinder projects in the rotational axial direction a1 and slidably contacts the second shaft-half hole 362. Similarly, the second shaft portion 364 may be a cylinder that protrudes and extends along the rotational axial direction a1 and slidably contacts the first shaft half 342.

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 the structure of the present embodiment in which the shaft portion is engaged with the half-hole, the projection of the sliding contact surface between the two brackets on the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis direction can still present a complete arc required by the rotational motion of the brackets, and has a limit design in the rotational axis direction and the perpendicular direction to maintain a certain degree of pivoting strength and rotational stability. 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 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 provided with a first shaft; and

the second support is connected between the keycap and the base and provided with a second C-shaped shaft hole, the first support and the second support are clamped into the second C-shaped shaft hole through the first shaft to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction, the second C-shaped shaft hole is provided with a bottom in the rotating axial direction and provided with a second opening, the direction of the second opening is perpendicular to the rotating axial direction, the keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the first support and the second support, and the second opening penetrates through the bottom.

2. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the second support comprises a second keycap connecting part and a second base connecting part, the second support is rotatably connected with the keycap through the second keycap connecting part, the second support is rotatably connected with the base through the second base connecting part, the direction from the second keycap connecting part to the second base connecting part is defined as a second extending direction, and the direction of the second opening is parallel to or perpendicular to the second extending direction.

3. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein: the second base connecting part is positioned between the second keycap connecting part and the second C-shaped shaft hole.

4. The key structure according to claim 3, wherein: the first support comprises a first keycap connecting part and a first base connecting part, the first support is rotatably connected with the keycap through the first keycap connecting part, and the first base connecting part is positioned between the first keycap connecting part and the first shaft.

5. The key structure according to claim 4, wherein: the first bracket and the second bracket are connected through the first shaft and the second C-shaped shaft hole to form a V-shaped structure.

6. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein: the base comprises a sliding groove, the sliding groove is provided with an inlet, and the second support is arranged in the sliding groove in a sliding mode through the second base connecting portion so as to be rotatably connected with the base.

7. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the second C-shaped axial bore extends in the rotational axial direction.

8. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first support further comprises a first C-shaped shaft hole, the second support further comprises a second shaft, the first support and the second support are clamped into the second C-shaped shaft hole through the first shaft, the second shaft is clamped into the first C-shaped shaft hole to be pivoted relative to the rotating shaft, the first C-shaped shaft hole is provided with a first opening, and the first opening faces the second support.

9. The key structure according to claim 8, wherein: the first bracket and the second bracket have the same structure.

10. 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 is of a first n-shaped structure, the first support comprises a first keycap connecting part and a first shaft part, the first support is rotatably connected to the keycap through the first keycap connecting part, and the first shaft part is positioned at the first tail end of the first n-shaped structure; and

the second support is connected between the keycap and the base and is of a second inverted-U-shaped structure, the second support comprises a second keycap connecting part and a second half shaft hole, the second support is rotatably connected to the keycap through the second keycap connecting part, the second half shaft hole is positioned at the third end of the second inverted-U-shaped structure, the first support and the second support are rotatably abutted against the second half shaft hole through the first shaft part so as to be pivoted relative to the rotating axial direction, and the keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the first support and the second support;

The second half shaft hole extends along the rotating axial direction, a bottom is arranged on the second half shaft hole in the rotating axial direction, a bottom is arranged on the first shaft part in the rotating axial direction, and the bottoms of the first shaft part and the second half shaft hole in the rotating axial direction are respectively positioned on opposite sides; the second half shaft hole is provided with a semicircular groove surface.

11. The key structure according to claim 10, wherein: the semicircular groove surface extends along the rotating axial direction, and the second half shaft hole is in sliding contact with the first shaft part through a semicircular cylindrical surface.

12. The key structure according to claim 10, wherein: the first shaft portion is a cylinder that projects and extends in the rotational axis direction.

13. The key structure according to claim 10, wherein: this first axial region contains incomplete cylinder face, and this incomplete cylinder face extends along this rotatory axial, and this first axial region is with this incomplete cylinder face sliding contact this second half shaft hole.

14. The key structure according to claim 10, wherein: the first support also comprises a first half shaft hole which is positioned at the second end of the first U-shaped structure, the second support comprises a second shaft part which is positioned at the fourth end of the second U-shaped structure, the first support and the second support can be rotatablely propped against the second half shaft hole through the first shaft part, and the second shaft part can be rotatablely propped against the first half shaft hole to be pivoted relative to the rotary axial direction.

15. The key structure according to claim 14, wherein: the first bracket and the second bracket have the same structure.