JP2001014970A - Key switch gear and assembly method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the assembly of a guide support member and a key top and to improve the operability of the key top. SOLUTION: A first link member 7 and a second link member 8 are assembled and connected mutually rotatably, and lock pins 15, (16) of the first link member 7 in both link members 7, 8 thus assembled are locked to a slide groove 32 of a locking part 26 of a holder plate 25. In this state, a locking bar 21 of the second link member 8 is pressed into a rotating groove 30 of a holding part of the holder plate 25. In the state of both link members 7, 8 which are locked and held to the holder plate 25, a locking bar 13 of the first link member 7 and lock pins 23, (24) of the second link member 8 are respectively snapped-in to a lock groove of a rotating locking part 2 and a lock groove of a sliding part (3) in a key top 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch, and more particularly to a key switch used for a thin keyboard attached to a notebook personal computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional key switch employs a configuration in which a key stem vertically provided from the back surface of a key top is inserted into a key holder portion formed on a holder member and guided vertically. In the key switch having such a configuration, if the portion slidably guided by the key holder portion of the key stem is made large, the key operability is improved, but the keyboard cannot be made thinner. On the other hand, if the portion where the key stem is slid and guided by the key holder portion is reduced in order to cope with the thinning of the keyboard, there is a disadvantage that the operability of the key is reduced due to the torsion occurring between the two.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional key switch, the present applicant has eliminated the key stem and the key holder portion, and made the keyboard thinner and improved the key operability shown in FIGS. The switch was proposed in the specification and drawings attached to the application form of Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160 (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160,
Unpublished at the time of the original filing of the present application).

An outline of such a key switch will be described. As shown in FIG. 11 to FIG.
In the key switch described in the specification of No. 160,
The key top 101 made of resin has a 2
Locking holes 104 and locking grooves 105 of two locking portions 102 and 103 (each locking portion 102 and 103 is a pair)
And two locking portions 126 of a resin holder member 125,
The guide support member 106 (the two resin link members 10) disposed between the locking groove 128 and the locking hole 129 of the locking member 127 (each of the locking portions 126 and 127 is present in a pair).
The locking pins 113 and 114 provided at one end of the link member 107 are locked in the locking holes 104, and the locking pins 115 and 116 provided in the other end are locked in the locking grooves 128. The locking pins 123 and 124 provided at one end of the link member 108 are locked in the locking groove 105, and the locking pins 121 and 122 provided at the other end are locked in the locking holes 129. You will be guided.

[0005] Axial support portions A of both link members 107 and 108 are arranged on the top of a rubber spring 131 mounted on a flexible circuit board 130 supported on a support plate 132, and press the key top 101. Thus, the switching operation is performed by buckling the rubber spring 131 via the shaft supporting portion A.

Here, as shown in FIG. 12, the link member 107 has two base ends 110 and 11 at both ends of the base 109.
1 are integrally formed. A shaft 112 extends from one side surface of the central portion of the base 109, and the shaft 112 is supported by a shaft hole 120 formed in the other link member 108 described later. Locking pins 113 and 114 extend from the side surfaces of both end extending portions 110A of the base end portion 110. The locking pins 113 and 114 are formed in the locking portion 102 of the key top 101 described above. Locking hole 1
04. Further, the base end portion 111 is formed in a U-shape in plan view,
From the side of 1A, the same locking pins 115, 116 as described above are used.
Is extended. The locking pins 115 and 116 are locked by locking portions 126 formed on the holder member 125.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the link member 108 has two base ends 118, 119 at both ends of the base 117.
Are integrally formed. A shaft hole 120 is formed in the center of the base 117, and the shaft 1 provided in the base 109 of the link member 107 as described above is formed in the shaft hole 120.
12 is inserted. Further, the base end portion 118 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and locking pins 121 and 122 extend from the U-shaped both end extending portions 118A. The locking pins 121 and 122 are locked by locking portions 127 formed on the holder member 125.

Further, the same locking pins 123, 124 as described above are extended from both end extending portions 119A of the base end portion 119, and the locking pins 123, 124 are connected to the locking portions 103 of the key top 101 described above. Is slidably locked in the locking groove 105 formed in the groove.

As described above, the guide support member 106 is connected to the shaft 11 formed on the base 109 of one of the link members 107.
2 is inserted through a shaft hole 120 formed in the base 117 of the other link member 108, and both link members 107 and 108 are connected via a shaft support A formed of a shaft 112 and a shaft hole 117. It is possible to rotate relative to each other.

According to the key switch device, a key switch device having good key operability while realizing a thin keyboard can be realized.

[0011]

However, in the key switch device described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160, the holder member 125 and the two link members 1 are provided.
However, there is a problem that the assembly of the guide support member 106 including the key tops 07 and 108 and the assembly of the key support 101 with the guide support member 106 cannot be performed easily and easily.

That is, in order to assemble the key switch device, first, the link member 107 and the link member 108 are assembled in a cross shape to form the guide support member 106, and then the both ends of the link member 108 at the base end 118 thereof are locked. Pin 12
1 and 122 are press-fitted into locking holes 129 of locking portions 127 of holder member 125. At this time, the locking pin 121,
The press-fit of the 122 into the locking hole 129 is performed by the end extension 118.
A, the locking pins 121 and 122 are made using the mutual resin elasticity.
29, it is difficult to position the press-fitting work, and therefore, the press-fitting operation tends to be unstable. Therefore, this press-fitting operation was considerably complicated.

The locking pins 115 and 116 at the base end 111 of the link member 107 are pressed into the locking grooves 128 of the locking portion 126. Even in such a case, since the press-fitting operation is performed by using the resin elasticity of the end extension 111A and the locking pins 115 and 116, it is undeniable that it is a complicated operation as described above.

After the linking work between the link members 107 and 108 and the locking portions 127 and 126 of the holder member 125 is completed, the locking pins 113 and 114 of the link member 107 are locked. The operation of press-fitting the locking holes 104 of the portion 102 and the operation of pressing the locking pins 123 and 124 of the link member 108 into the locking grooves 105 of the locking portion 103 are performed. The two press-fitting operations also include the locking pins 113, 114, 123, and 124 and the locking portions 102,
Since the process is performed by utilizing the resin elasticity between the process 103 and the process 103, the complicated process is the same as the above-mentioned process.

As described above, the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
In the key switch device described in the specification of No. 0, all the linking operations between the link members 107 and 108 of the guide support member 106 and the holder member 125 and the key top 101 are all performed using the resin elasticity of each member. In addition, since it is necessary to position and lock the locking pins 113 and the like inside the locking holes 104 and the like, it is necessary to perform a complicated press-fitting operation throughout the entire assembly operation of the key switch device. There was a problem that needed to be done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is extremely easy to assemble a guide support member and a key top, and a key switch device having good operability of the key top. And an assembling method thereof.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key switch device comprising: a key top having a plurality of upper locking portions formed on a lower surface; and a key top provided below the key top. And a holder member on which a lower rotation locking portion and a lower sliding locking portion are formed, and each of the key top and the holder member is locked by each locking portion, and the key top moves up and down. A first link member and a second link member that guide and support and are movably connected to each other;
A key switch device comprising: a switching portion that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the first link member and the second link member are assembled, and then the two linked members are assembled. The lower end of the first link member is locked to the lower sliding locking portion, and in this state, the lower end of the second link member is pressed into the lower rotation locking portion, and both link members are inserted into the holder. The upper end of the first link member and the upper end of the second link member are assembled by snapping the upper end of the first link member and the upper end of the second link member into the plurality of upper engaging portions of the key top. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a key switch device, comprising: a key top having a plurality of upper locking portions formed on a lower surface; a key top disposed below the key top; A holder member formed with a stop portion and a lower sliding engagement portion is engaged with each of the engagement portions of the key top and the holder member to guide and support the vertical movement of the key top and to be movable with each other. A first link member and a second link member connected to the key top, and a switching unit that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. A link assembling step of assembling the link member, a sliding locking step of locking the lower end portions of the first link members of the two linked linking members to the lower sliding locking portion; In the lower end portion of the link member is engaged with the lower sliding locking portion, the lower end portion of the second link member,
A rotation locking step of press-fitting into the lower rotation locking portion, and an upper end portion of the first link member and an upper end portion of the second link member in a state where both link members are locked and held by the holder member. A key top locking step of snapping into the plurality of upper locking portions of the key top.

[0019]

In the above-described method for assembling the key switch device according to the present invention, first, the first link member and the second link member are assembled. Thus, the first link member and the second link member are movably connected to each other. Next, the lower ends of the first link members of the two link members assembled as described above are locked by the lower sliding locking portions of the holder member, and the lower ends of the first link members are further lowered as described above. The lower end of the second link member is pressed into the lower rotation locking portion of the holder member while being locked by the sliding locking portion. Thereafter, in a state where the two link members are locked and held by the holder member, the upper end of the first link member and the upper end of the second link member are snapped into the plurality of upper locking portions of the key top and engaged. Is stopped.

In the above-described method of assembling the key switch device, the lower end of the first link member is slidably engaged with the lower sliding engagement portion of the holder member by utilizing the resin elasticity of the lower end of the first link member. The lower end portion can be easily slidably locked to the lower sliding locking portion. In a state in which the lower end of the first link member is locked by the lower sliding locking portion, the lower end of the second link member is positioned by the lower rotation locking portion of the holder member, Therefore, it is not necessary to particularly position the lower end of the second link member and the lower rotation locking portion, and it is possible to easily press-fit the lower end of the second link member into the lower rotation locking portion. Become. Further, when both link members are locked and held by the holder member, the first link member and the second
The link member is in a stable state on the holder member, and in this stable state, the upper end of the first link member and the upper end of the second link member may be snapped into the plurality of upper locking portions of the keytop. Therefore, it is possible to perform the connection work between the keytop and the holder member in a state where the first link member and the second link member are stable on the holder member.

When a switching operation is performed by the key switch device assembled as described above, a key top is pressed. When the keytop is pressed, the keytop is guided downward via the first link member and the second link member with the pressing. The switching operation is performed via the switching unit based on the pressing operation of the key top.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8 show a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a key switch according to a first embodiment. A key top 1 is molded from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. . In addition, key top 1
2, two locking portions 2 and 3 are provided integrally with the key top 1 body downward. In addition, the locking part 2,
3 has a pair in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and FIG. 1 shows only one of each pair.

The locking portion 2 rotatably locks a locking rod 13 formed at one end of the first link member 7 among two resin-made link members 7 and 8 to be described later. A groove 4 is formed. The locking portion 3 has a locking groove 5 for locking the locking pins 23 and 24 formed at one end of the second link member 8 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.

The locking groove 4 is formed by a pair of sandwiching walls 4b and 4c arranged side by side on the back surface of the key top 1. The locking groove 4 is continuous with the locking groove 4 and goes downward. A locking guide portion 4a that is opened so as to gradually expand is formed. The locking guide portion 4a guides the locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 toward the locking groove 4 when snapping into the locking groove 4. Further, the locking portion 3
At the lower position of the locking groove 5, there is provided a locking guide portion 5 a formed with a slope that expands downward, and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the second link member 8 are When snapping into the inside 5, it is guided toward the locking groove 5.

A guide support member 6 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 1 is provided below the key top 1, and the guide support member 6 is composed of two link members 7, 8. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the first link member 7 is
It is formed in a U-shape in plan view. This first link member 7
Has a pair of plate-like bodies 9, a locking rod 13 is integrally formed between one ends of the respective plate-like bodies 9, and the locking rods 13
Is integrally formed with a reinforcing member 13a formed thick in a plan view. The reinforcing member 13a on the opposite side of the locking bar 13 extends in parallel with the locking bar 13 and is formed in an H-shape (together) with the locking bar 13. The H-shaped locking bar 13 and the reinforcing member 1
Both ends with 3a are connected to a pair of plate-like bodies 9, respectively. Therefore, the two openings that occur because the locking bar 13 and the reinforcing member 13a are formed in an H shape are closed by the pair of plate-like bodies 9, respectively, and the rigidity of the locking bar 13 is improved. . As described above, the rigidity of the locking rod 13 is improved by the reinforcing member 13a.
3 through the locking guide portion 4a, the locking groove 4 of the key top 1
Can be snap-in (press-fit) inside.

Lock pins 15 and 16 are formed at the other end of each plate-like body 9, respectively.
Reference numerals 5 and 16 denote locking portions 2 formed on the holder plate 25.
6 locked. Further, a pair of shaft bodies 12 are provided at positions facing each other from the central position on the side of each plate body 9 facing each other. Each of these shafts 12
Are supported by a shaft hole 20 formed in the second link member 8. The locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 and each locking pin 1
5 and 16 are configured so that the distance from each shaft body 12 is equal.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second link member 8 has a pair of plate-like members 17, and a locking rod 21 is integrally formed between one end of each plate-like member 17. In addition, a pair of plate-like bodies 1
A thick reinforcing member 21a is integrally formed on an inner portion of a connecting portion between the locking rod 7 and the locking rod 21 so that both ends of the locking rod 21 project in a pin shape. The rigidity of both ends of the pin-shaped locking bar 21 is improved by the reinforcing member 21 a, and the locking bar 21 is attached to the holder plate 2.
5 can be press-fitted.

Locking pins 23 and 24 are formed at the other end of each plate 17. Each of the locking pins 23 and 24 is snapped into the locking groove 5 of the locking portion 3 of the key top 1 via the locking guide portion 5a. Further, a shaft hole 20 is formed at a central position facing each other outside each plate-like body 17,
Each shaft 12 formed on each plate 9 of the first link member 7 is rotatably fitted in each shaft hole 20. Thereby, both link members 7 and 8 can rotate intersecting each other via each shaft body 12 and shaft hole 20, and each shaft body 12 and shaft hole 20 form a shaft support portion A. Is done. The locking bar 21 of the second link member 8 and the locking pins 23 and 24 are configured so that the distance from the shaft hole 20 is equal.

Between the central portions of the plate-like members 17, they are placed on the upper surface of a rubber spring 35, which will be described later.
A pressing portion 18 is provided for pressing down the rubber spring 35 in accordance with the mutual rotation. Pressing part 18
, The rubber spring 3
5 is pressed to perform a switching operation. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the surface on the key top 1 side of the pressing unit 18 includes
A recess 18a is formed. Due to this recess 18a,
The amount of components used for the second link member 8 is reduced, and sink of the resin of the pressing portion 18 during injection molding is prevented.

Below the guide support member 6, a resin holder plate 25 is provided. On the holder plate 25, a locking portion 26 and a holding portion 27 are formed corresponding to each switch device. Have been. In addition, although each of the locking portion 26 and the holding portion 27 is provided with two each, FIG. 1 shows one locking portion 26 and the holding portion 27.

The engaging portion 26 is formed with a sliding groove 32 having the right side in FIG. 1 as an open side. The sliding groove 32 of the engaging portion 26 is formed on the first link member 7. Locking pin 1
5 and 16 are inserted. On the opposite side of the slide groove 26 from the open side, a limiting wall 26a whose upper part is closed is erected.
The restricting wall 26a regulates the sliding of the locking pins 15, 16 of the first link member 7 inward.

The holding portion 27 is formed by a first guide portion 28 and a second guide portion 29, and these guide portions allow the rotating groove 3 to be formed.
0 is formed, and both ends of a locking rod 21 formed at one end of the second link member 8 are held in the rotating groove 30. The groove 28 is provided outside the first guide portion 28.
a, and the elasticity of the first guide portion 28 is increased by the groove portion 28a.

When the locking pins 15, 16 of the first link member 7 of the guide support member 6 are slid on the holder plate 25 from the open side of the sliding groove 32, the locking pins 15, 16 slide. It is inserted into the moving groove 32. Furthermore, the second
By pressing the locking bar 21 of the link member 8 against the holding portion 27 of the holder plate 25, the first guide portion 28 moves elastically, and the locking bar 21 is held in the rotation groove 30.

The holder plate 2 configured as described above
5, a flexible circuit board 40 on which switch electrodes 40a are formed corresponding to the respective key switches is arranged as shown in FIG. Rubber spring 35 is mounted on the flexible circuit board 40. Furthermore,
A movable electrode (not shown) is fixed to the inner top wall of the rubber spring 35 facing the switch electrode 40a on the circuit board 40. The pressing portion 18 formed on the second link member 8 is disposed on the upper surface of the rubber spring 35.

Thus, when the pressing portion 18 moves downward with the pressing of the key top 1, the rubber spring 35 is pressed by the pressing portion 18, and when a certain amount of pressing is exceeded, the rubber spring 35 buckles and the movable electrode is buckled. The switching operation is performed by the contact of the switch electrode 40a on the flexible circuit board 40 with the switch electrode 40a.

A switch support plate 42 is provided below the flexible circuit board 40, and the switch support plate 42 is provided above each of the circuit boards 40,
This supports the holder plate 25.

Next, a method of assembling the key switch configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the flexible circuit board 40 and the holder plate 25 are placed on the switch support plate 42, and each shaft 12 of the first link member 7 is connected to the second link member 8
The guide support member 6 is assembled by fitting into each of the shaft holes 20.

Thereafter, the respective link members 7 and 8 are rotated to each other so as to be in the state shown in FIG. 5, and the locking pins 15 and 16 of the first link member 7 are moved to the open side of the sliding groove 32 in the locking portion 26. Then, the locking rod 21 of the second link member 8 is arranged on the guide portion of the holding portion 27 while being slid toward the inside of the slide groove 32 on the holder plate 25. In this case, in order to lock the locking pins 15 and 16 of the first link member 7 in the sliding groove 32, it is sufficient to simply slide the locking pins 15 and 16 into the sliding groove 32, Each locking pin 15, 16
Since it is not necessary to use the resin elasticity of the above, each locking pin 15, 16 can be easily locked in the sliding groove 32. In this way, the locking pins 15 and 16 are
The locking rod 21 and the rotation groove 30 are slidably locked in
The locking rods 2 are positioned opposite each other and therefore
It is not necessary to particularly position 1 and the rotation groove 30. From this state, the locking bar 21 is pressed into the rotating groove 30 and clamped. At this time, the first guide portion 28 of the holding portion 27 moves elastically with the press-fitting of the locking bar 21, so that the locking bar 21 can be easily held. Thus, the connection between the guide support member 6 and the holder plate 25 is completed.

Next, the locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 and the locking groove 4 of the key top 1 held in the state shown in FIG. , 24 and the locking groove 5 of the key top 1 are opposed to each other, and then the key top 1 is lightly pressed down (see FIG. 7). At this time, the guide ribs 50, 51, 52,
53, the key top 1 can be smoothly connected to the link member 7,
8 can be led. Thereby, the locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 is snapped into the locking groove 4 while being guided by the locking guide portion 4a, and at the same time, the locking pins 23 and 24 of the second link member 8 are locked. It is snapped into the locking groove 5 while being guided by the guide portion 5a. Such a state is shown in FIG. Thus, the connection between the guide support member 6 and the key top 1 is completed.

The assembly of the key switch is completed by the above operation.
In addition, the connection work with the key top 1 can be performed extremely easily, thereby simplifying the work of assembling the key switch, shortening the assembling time, and ensuring the assembling of the key switch. is there.

Next, the operation of the key switch assembled as described above will be described. When the key top 1 is pressed down, the key top 1 is rotated downward in the locking hole 4 of the locking portion 2 of the first link member 7 as the key top 1 moves downward, and the second link is rotated. Locking pin 2 of member 8
The reference numerals 3 and 24 slide horizontally in the locking groove 5 of the locking portion 3. At the same time, the locking rod 21 of the second link member 8 rotates clockwise in the rotation groove 30 of the holding portion 27 of the holder plate 25, and the locking pins 15 and 16 of the first link member 7 It slides horizontally in the sliding groove 32 of the locking portion 26.

As a result, the shaft supporting portion A for supporting the link members 7 and 8 with each other moves downward and gradually presses down the rubber spring 35, and when the pressing amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber support 35 is pushed down. The spring 35 is buckled.
Thereby, the movable electrode (not shown) in the rubber spring 35 is connected to the switch electrode 4 on the flexible circuit board 40.
0a is short-circuited and predetermined switching is performed.

When the key top 1 is released from being depressed, the shaft supports A of the link members 7 and 8 are pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 35. Accordingly, the first
Locking rod 13, locking pins 15, 16 of link member 7, and
The locking bar 21 and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the second link member 8 perform operations reverse to those described above, and as a result, the key top 1 returns to the original position.

Here, since the locking rods 13 and 21 do not move in the horizontal direction but only rotate in the locking groove 4 and the rotation groove 30, respectively, the key top 1 is moved in the horizontal direction. The key top 1 is moved up and down without being moved, while keeping the key surface of the key top 1 horizontal.

The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described in detail above, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example,
The locking bar 21 of the second link member 8 in this embodiment may be a locking pin formed on each plate 17. In addition, the holding portion 27 formed on the holder plate has only the resin-specific elasticity of the first guide portion 28 and the second guide portion 29,
The locking bar 21 may be sandwiched.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the holding portion 27. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the holding portion 61 in the second embodiment includes a wall portion 62 erected from the holder plate 25 over the entire width of the holder plate 25, and the holder plate 25 near both ends of the wall portion 62. And the rubber spring 35 of the wall portion 62
The elastic piece 63 facing the surface facing the
And formed from Outside wall portion 62 (inelastic piece 63 side)
Is formed with a groove 62a, thereby increasing the elasticity of the wall 62. The elastic piece 63 is provided so as to be elastically deformable toward the rubber spring 35, and has a projection 63a projecting toward the wall 62 at its upper end as shown in FIG.
Are formed.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a bending prevention wall 64 is provided upright from the holder plate 25 in the vicinity of the inside of the both locking portions 26 at a predetermined interval from the locking portions 26. ing. When the first link member 7 is bent inward and the locking pins 15 and 16 are locked by the locking portions 2,
6 is prevented.

In the method of assembling the key switch of the second embodiment formed as described above, the flexible circuit board 40 and the holder plate 25 are mounted on the switch support plate 42, similarly to the key switch of the first embodiment. And the first
The guide support member 6 is assembled by fitting each shaft 12 of the link member 7 into each shaft hole 20 of the second link member 8.

Thereafter, the link members 7 and 8 are rotated relative to each other, and the locking pins 15 and 16 of the first link member 7 are moved from the opening side of the sliding groove 32 in the locking portion 26 to the holder plate 2.
5 while sliding toward the inside of the sliding groove 32.
The locking bar 21 of the link member 8 is disposed on the holding portion 61.
In this state, the amount of bending of the first link member 7 toward the inside of the plate-like body 9 is regulated by the deflection preventing wall 64, and the locking pins 15 and 16 are prevented from coming off the locking portion 26. In order to lock the locking pins 15, 16 of the first link member 7 in the sliding groove 32, the respective locking pins 15, 1
6 simply slides into the slide groove 32.
Since it is not necessary to use the resin elasticity of each locking pin 15, 16, each locking pin 15, 16 can be easily locked in the sliding groove 32. Thus, the locking pin 1
5 and 16 are slidably locked in the sliding groove 32 and
1 and the holding wall 61 are positioned so as to face each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to particularly position the locking bar 21 and the holding wall 61.

From this state, the locking bar 21 is pressed into the holding portion 61. With this press-fitting, the elastic piece 63 is elastically deformed toward the rubber spring 35, and the locking bar 21 is
Is sandwiched within. In this state, the locking rod 2 is
1 is restricted, and the projection 63a on the upper end of the elastic piece 63 is restricted.
This prevents the locking bar 21 from coming off the holding portion 61. By this press-fitting, the connection between the guide support member 6 and the holder plate 25 is completed.

Next, the locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 and the locking groove 4 of the keytop 1 are opposed to each other, and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the second link member 8 are engaged with the keytop 1. Stop groove 5
Are pressed, and the key top 1 is lightly pressed down. At this time, the key top 1 can be smoothly guided to the link members 7 and 8 by the guide ribs 50, 51, 52, and 53 provided on the back surface of the key top 1. As a result, the locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 is moved to the locking guide 4a.
The snap pins 23 and 24 of the second link member 8 are snapped into the locking grooves 5 while being guided by the locking guide portions 5a. Thus, the connection between the guide support member 6 and the key top 1 is completed.

With the above operation, the assembly of the key switch of the second embodiment is completed. As in the case of the key switch of the first embodiment, the connecting operation of the link members 7, 8 with the holder plate 25 and the key top 1 is performed. Can be performed very easily, thereby simplifying the operation of assembling the key switch, shortening the assembling time, and ensuring the assembling of the key switch.

Next, when the key top 1 of the assembled key switch is to be removed by replacement or the like, the key top 1 is pulled up and the locking pins 15, 1 of the link members 7, 8 are lifted.
6, 23, 24, key top 1 and boulder plate 25
A load is applied to each of the locking portions 2, 3, 26 and the holding portion 61.
In the holding portion 61 of the holder plate 25, a force is applied to the locking bar 21 of the first link member 7 in the upper right or upper direction in FIG. 9, but the locking bar 21 is held on the right and upper sides by the elastic pieces 63. As a result, the locking bar 21 does not come off the holding portion 61.

On the other hand, in the locking groove 4 of the key top 1, a force is applied to the locking rod 13 of the first link member 7 from the lower right to the lower direction in FIG. As a result, the locking rod 13 comes off the locking groove 4.

When the key top 1 is lifted, a force is applied to the locking pins 15 and 16 of the first link member 7 at the locking portions 26 of the holder plate 25 in the upper left or upper direction in FIG. At this time, the plate-like body 9 of the first link member 7 is elastically bent inward, but the movement of the plate-like body 9 inward is restricted by the deflection preventing wall 64. Therefore, the plate-like body 9
Does not become so large that the locking pins 15 and 16 come off the sliding groove 32.

On the other hand, in the locking portion 3 of the key top 1, the locking pins 23 and 24 of the second link member 8
When a force is applied in the lower left or lower direction, the plate-like body 17 of the second link member 8 is elastically bent inward, and the locking pins 23 and 24 are disengaged from the sliding groove 5 of the locking portion 3. As a result, Key Top 1
Only the key top 1 can be replaced, because only the guide support member 6 comes off. At this time, the guide support member 6 does not come off the holder plate 25.

[0059]

As described above, according to the key switch device and the method of assembling the same according to the present invention, the lower end portion of the first link member is slidably engaged with the lower sliding engagement portion of the holder member. The lower end can be easily slidably engaged with the lower sliding engagement portion. Further, in a state where the lower end of the first link member is locked by the lower sliding locking portion,
The lower end portion of the second link member is positioned at the lower rotation locking portion of the holder member. Therefore, there is no need to particularly position the lower end portion of the second link member and the lower rotation locking portion. The work of press-fitting the lower end of the second link member into the lower rotation locking portion can be easily performed. Further, in a state where both link members are locked and held by the holder member, the first link member and the second link member are in a stable state on the holder member, and the upper end of the first link member is in such a stable state. Since the upper end of the second link member may be snapped into the plurality of upper locking portions of the key top, the key top and the holder are stably held on the first link member and the second link member on the holder member. This makes it possible to perform a connection operation with members.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a key switch according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a first link member used for the key switch of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a configuration of a second link member used for the key switch of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state before a guide support member used for the key switch of the first embodiment is connected to a holder plate.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state after a guide support member used for the key switch of the first embodiment has been connected to a holder plate.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a guide support member used in the key switch of the first embodiment guides a key top.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state where a key top is arranged on a guide support member used for the key switch of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the key switch according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a key switch according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a holder plate and a first link member according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment embodying the configuration of a conventional key switch.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a configuration of a first link member used for a conventional key switch.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a configuration of a second link member used for a conventional key switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 2 Lock part (rotation locking part of key top) 3 Lock part (sliding locking part of key top) 7 1st link member 8 2nd link member 13 Lock bar (1st link member) 15, 16 Locking pin (lower end of first link member) 21 Locking bar (lower end of second link member) 23, 24 Locking pin (upper end of second link member) 25 Holder plate (Holder member) 26 Locking portion (lower sliding locking portion of holder member) 27, 61 Holding portion (lower rotation locking portion of holder member) 35 Rubber spring (part of switching member) 40 Flexible circuit board ( 40a Switch electrode (part of switching member) 40a Switch electrode (part of switching member)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takeyuki Takagi 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Isao Mochizuki 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-city Brother Industrial Co., Ltd. Inside the company (72) Inventor Hiroaki Okada 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya Inside Brother Industries, Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key top having a plurality of upper locking portions formed on a lower surface thereof, a lower rotation locking portion and a lower sliding locking portion provided below the key tops. And a first link member and a second link member which are respectively locked by the locking portions of the key top and the holder member, guide the vertical movement of the key top, and are movably connected to each other. And a switching unit that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the first link member and the second link member are assembled, The lower end of the first link member of the link member is engaged with the lower sliding engagement portion, and in this state, the lower end of the second link member is press-fitted into the lower rotation engagement portion, and both link members are connected. For the holder member The key switch device is assembled by snapping an upper end of the first link member and an upper end of the second link member into the plurality of upper locking portions of the key top in a state of being stopped and held. . 2. A key top having a plurality of upper locking portions formed on a lower surface, a lower rotation locking portion and a lower sliding locking portion provided below the key top. And a first link member and a second link member which are respectively locked by the locking portions of the key top and the holder member, guide the vertical movement of the key top, and are movably connected to each other. In a method for assembling a key switch device, comprising: a switching portion that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top; a link assembling step of assembling the first link member and the second link member; A sliding locking step of locking the lower ends of the first link members of both link members to the lower sliding locking portion; and locking the lower ends of the first link members to the lower sliding locking portion. Is A rotation locking step of press-fitting a lower end portion of a second link member into the lower rotation locking portion in a state; and the first link member in a state where both link members are locked and held in the holder member. And a key top locking step of snapping the upper end of the second link member and the upper end of the second link member into the plurality of upper locking portions of the key top.