EP1901322A1 - Touche pour clavier - Google Patents

Touche pour clavier Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1901322A1
EP1901322A1 EP06026063A EP06026063A EP1901322A1 EP 1901322 A1 EP1901322 A1 EP 1901322A1 EP 06026063 A EP06026063 A EP 06026063A EP 06026063 A EP06026063 A EP 06026063A EP 1901322 A1 EP1901322 A1 EP 1901322A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
base member
key
key body
keyboard
keys
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06026063A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
David Fu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1901322A1 publication Critical patent/EP1901322A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/84—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/044—Repetitive strain injury [RSI] considerations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2227/00—Dimensions; Characteristics
    • H01H2227/03—Hardness

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to keyboard keys and more particularly to keyboard keys that are made of a material of adjustable rigidity.
  • the standard input device for a computer is a keyboard.
  • discomfort or injuries, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, associated with repetitive use of the keyboard are becoming a major concern for users. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a keyboard improvement so that the discomfort/injuries arising from keyboard use can be reduced.
  • US 5,290,115 discloses a soft pad to be adhesively attached to the keytop of each key in a keyboard such that the soft pad provides additional cushioning effect.
  • the pad can cover or blur the symbol on the original key, and the extra thickness of the pad may change the typing pattern of a typist, as human fingers are extremely sensitive to even a thickness difference of 0.5 mm.
  • US 5,813,777 discloses a cushioned key with a hollow cushion compartment in which silicone gel is filled. Such design provides little cushion effect since the gel is contained inside the key instead of on top of the key, and the manufacturing process for such key may be troublesome due to the complexities in molding of the key and the injection of the gel.
  • US 7,040,824 describes a self-adhesive reusable translucent gel pad, each capable of being installed to a key in the keyboard.
  • the major disadvantages of such pads are that the pads may easily detach from the keys and the increased thickness of the keys may significantly affect the typing pattern of a typist.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a new design for the keyboard keys such that additional cushioning effect can be provided by the keys themselves instead of installing extra pads on each of the keyboard keys.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a new design for the keyboard keys such that the rigidity of the keys is adjustable by modifying the composition of the material from which the keys are made of.
  • the present invention provides a new design for keyboard keys which comprises: 1) a base member including a fixing portion and a connecting portion; 2) a key body having a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the bottom surface of the key body is attached to the fixing portion of the base member, and the base member is composed of a material substantially different from the key body such that the base member is more rigid than the key body.
  • the present invention also provides a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, each key comprising: 1) a base member including a fixing portion and a connecting portion; 2) a key body having a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the bottom surface of the key body is attached to the fixing portion of the base member, and the base member is composed of a material substantially different from the key body such that the base member is more rigid than the key body.
  • Each of the keys is also attached to the keyboard via the connecting portion of the base member.
  • the configuration of the base member is not limited as long as it can provide firm connection with the key body via the fixing portion and can be easily installed in a keyboard via the connecting portion.
  • the base member is a T-shape element comprising latches at the bottom of the T, wherein the lateral bar serves as the fixing portion to attach to the key body, and the latches serve as the connecting portion so that the key can be detachably installed on the keyboard.
  • the material comprising the key body is not limited as long as the material is chosen such that the rigidity of the key body is substantially lower than that of the base member, providing the desired cushioning effect.
  • the key body can be made of at least one material selected from a group consisting of: plastics, rubbers, resins, silicone and the combination thereof. It is to be understood that in order to provide a cushioning effect, the rigidity of the key body has to be substantially less than the base member.
  • the base member can be made of ABS plastic, and the key body can be foamless polyurethane.
  • the rigidity of the key body is not limited. During the manufacture of the key body, the mixing ratio of different materials may be changed such that the rigidity of the key body can be adjusted accordingly.
  • the manufacture of the keyboard keys of the present invention generally involves mold making, molding, curing and, optionally, laser carving. It can be understood that the conditions of each step may vary depending on the materials used to make the key body. For example, in the molding step for a material such as ABS, injection molding may be employed, whereas for a material such as a resin rotational molding may be applied.
  • keyboard is not limited to any certain type of computer keyboards.
  • the keyboard is a standard 104-key keyboard. It can be understood that the keyboard keys of the present invention can be employed in any computer keyboard.
  • a cross sectional view of a conventional keyboard key 10 is shown.
  • a conventional keyboard key 10 is typically integrated as a single unit, comprising a cap portion 12 and a stem portion 14, wherein at the bottom of the stem portion 14 there are provided two latches 16.
  • the cap portion 12 has a top surface 121 and two sides 122,123.
  • a keyboard key has one top surface and four sides. Latches 16 are used to install the key onto a keyboard. Therefore, a conventional keyboard key looks like a cap mounted on top of a hollow stem.
  • the conventional keyboard keys are made of one single rigid material. Therefore, during typing little cushioning effect is provided.
  • the keyboard key 20 comprises a key body 22 and a T-shape base member 24 including a bar portion 26 and a stem portion 28. At the bottom of the stem portion 28 are two outwardly extended latches 30.
  • the key body 22 has the same outer perimeter, namely a top surface 221 and two sides 222,223, as the conventional key 10 shown in Fig. 1. However, the key body 22 is actually a solid trapezoid except for the space occupied by the base member 24. Thus the key body 22 further comprises a bottom surface 224.
  • the materials comprising the key body and the base member are selected such that the key body can firmly engage the base member while still be softer than the base member in order to provide extra cushioning effect. Therefore, the choice of the materials is readily comprehensive to a person skilled in the art in order to achieve the above goal.
  • the materials for the key body can be, but not limited to, plastics such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PP (polypropylene), foamless PS (polystyrene), foamless PU (polyurethane) and the like; rubbers; resins such as polyester and epoxy resins; and silicone.
  • the key body 22 and the base member 24 are made by the following procedure: making a mold that has the shape of the key body, injection-molding the key body using the mold with the base member in it, curing the key body at a temperature around 80 degree C, and carving the identifier, such as a letter, a number or a symbol, using laser carving technique.
  • the molding techniques as well as the curing conditions may vary accordingly, and the specific process conditions are not the characteristics of the present invention.
  • the rigidity of the key body can be adjusted.
  • the fact that the rigidity of the key can be adjusted allows the manufacturer to design different cushioning indices of the keys to meet the needs of different target customers.

Landscapes

  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP06026063A 2006-09-13 2006-12-15 Touche pour clavier Withdrawn EP1901322A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US52041306A 2006-09-13 2006-09-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1901322A1 true EP1901322A1 (fr) 2008-03-19

Family

ID=38800926

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06026063A Withdrawn EP1901322A1 (fr) 2006-09-13 2006-12-15 Touche pour clavier

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1901322A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN101145459A (fr)
TW (1) TW200814117A (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5290115A (en) * 1989-05-25 1994-03-01 Little Karen K Cushioning means for keyboard keys
DE4413588A1 (de) * 1993-04-20 1994-11-10 Shinetsu Polymer Co Abdeckung für Druckknopfschalter mit hartem Tastenoberteil
US5933133A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-08-03 Lohr; Daniel James Low-impact keyboard
DE20003679U1 (de) * 2000-02-29 2000-08-17 TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG, 78315 Radolfzell Bauteil

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5290115A (en) * 1989-05-25 1994-03-01 Little Karen K Cushioning means for keyboard keys
DE4413588A1 (de) * 1993-04-20 1994-11-10 Shinetsu Polymer Co Abdeckung für Druckknopfschalter mit hartem Tastenoberteil
US5933133A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-08-03 Lohr; Daniel James Low-impact keyboard
DE20003679U1 (de) * 2000-02-29 2000-08-17 TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG, 78315 Radolfzell Bauteil

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW200814117A (en) 2008-03-16
CN101145459A (zh) 2008-03-19

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