JP3392840B2 - Key switch device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device having a key top, and a guide support member for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top is connected and locked to a holder member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various kinds of key switch devices have been proposed. In such a key switch device, generally, a key stem vertically extending from the back surface of a key top is vertically guided by a key holder part formed on a holder plate. The configuration was adopted.

In the key switch device having such a structure,
If the part where the key stem is slidably guided by the key holder part is enlarged, the key operability is improved, but it is not possible to make the keyboard thinner. On the other hand, the key stem is made to fit the key holder part in order to make the keyboard thinner. There has been a dilemma that the key operability is deteriorated due to the twisting between the two parts if the sliding guide part is made smaller.

A key switch device which eliminates the key stem and the key holder in order to solve such a problem is described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5236.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5236 discloses a push button switch having an X frame body which rotatably supports an outer rectangular frame body and an inner rectangular frame body in an X shape. With this push button switch, the upper part of the outer rectangular frame is rotatably supported between the back surface of the key top and the groove part of the upper holder, and the leg parts are attached to the printed circuit board with a downward U-shaped cross section. The second lower holder of the mold is slidably supported, and the upper portion of the inner rectangular frame is slidably supported between the back surface of the key top and the flat portion of the upper holder.
Moreover, the leg portion is rotatably supported by a first lower holder having a downwardly U-shaped cross section attached to the printed circuit board, and a rubber switch for switching is provided between the key top and the printed circuit board.

[0006]

However, when assembling the push button switch described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5267, the legs of the outer rectangular frame body and the inner rectangular frame forming the X frame body are assembled. To connect and lock the legs of the shaped frame to the key top, first position the legs of the outer rectangular frame in the grooves of the upper holder, and place the legs of the inner rectangular frame in the upper holder. The protrusion formed on the lower surface of the key top needs to be inserted into the protrusion through hole of the upper holder while being placed on a flat portion and maintaining such a state.

The above-mentioned work of connecting the X frame and the key top is performed by positioning the leg portion of the outer rectangular frame body in the groove portion of the upper holder and the leg portion of the inner rectangular frame body in the flat portion of the upper holder. It must be carried out in an extremely unstable state in which it remains on top. Therefore, the work for connecting and locking the X frame and the key top is extremely complicated work, and the push button switch cannot be easily assembled.

As described above, in the conventional key switch device, the work of connecting and locking the key top and the link member is quite complicated work, and there is a problem that the key switch device cannot be easily assembled. There is.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides a key switch device capable of simply performing a connecting and locking operation for connecting and locking a key top and a link member. The purpose is to provide.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, a key switch device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a key top, and a first locking portion and a second locking portion arranged below the key top. And a holder member disposed below the first locking portion and the second locking portion and having the third locking portion and the fourth locking portion formed, and the key top and the holder member are coupled and locked, A key switch device comprising a guide support member for guiding the vertical movement of a key top, a spring elastically deformable by an up / down operation by the key top, and a switching unit for performing a switching operation by elastic deformation of the spring. The guide support member is composed of a first link member and a second link member that are arranged in a cross shape in a side view in an X shape, and both link members are movably connected at a middle crossing portion, Second link part Of the free ends of the key top and the fourth locking part of the holder member are rotatably locked to the free ends located on one side of the free line passing through the midway intersection. The first locking member and the fourth locking member are formed, and among the free ends of the first link member and the second link member, the free ends located on the other side of the perpendicular line are located on the other side. A second locking member and a third locking member slidably locked to the second locking portion and the third locking portion of the holder member, respectively, are formed, and the first locking portion opens downward. the locking groove having an open portion is formed, the first link member, and having a pair of plate-like body, a first coupling for connecting between the ends of the plate-like body constituting the first locking member having a member, the second link member, and having a pair of plate-like body has a second connecting member connecting the end of each plate-like body The first coupling member, when engaged with the locking grooves of the first engaging portion based on the pressing of the key top, while suppressing bending deformation in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped body, first from the open portion 1 Snap into the locking groove of the locking part.
Is Puin, the second locking member on the side where at the second link member is not formed second connecting member snap into the second locking portion by deformation of the plate-like body on the basis of the pressing of the key top
It is characterized by being done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the key switch device according to the first aspect, wherein the locking groove has a cut portion continuous with the locking groove, and the first connecting member is When the key is pressed by the key top and locked in the locking groove of the first locking portion, the bending deformation of the first link member cooperates with the elastic deformation generated in the first locking portion based on the cut portion. While being restrained, the opening portion is rotatably locked in the locking groove of the first locking portion.

[0012]

In the key switch device according to claim 1 having the above-mentioned structure, the first is the first step in assembling the key switch device.
After arranging the link member and the second link member so as to be movable with respect to each other to form the guide support member, the third link of the first link member is formed.
The locking member is slidably locked to the third locking portion of the holder member, and the fourth locking member of the second link member is rotationally locked to the fourth locking portion of the holder member.

Next, the key top is placed on the first link member and the second link member, and the key top is lightly pressed downward. Here, the guide support member is configured by movably connecting the first link member and the second link member at the midway intersection, and the fourth locking member of the second link member is the fourth engagement member. Since it is pivotally locked by the stopper, it does not move in the horizontal direction when the key top is pressed, and the fourth locking member of the second link member is the fourth when the key top is pressed.
As the third locking member of the first link member slides outward in the third locking portion while rotating at the locking portion, the guide support member is smoothly lowered.

Also, a pair of plate-like members in the first link member
The first connecting member that forms a first locking member by connecting between the end portions of the body is a plate-shaped body when being locked in the locking groove of the first locking portion based on the pressing of the key top. Sand in the locking groove of the first locking portion from the opening while suppressing bending deformation in the thickness direction of the
The second locking member on the side where the second linking member is not formed in the second link member is inserted into the second locking portion due to the deformation of each plate-shaped member due to the pressing of the key top.
It will be snapped in . As a result, while smoothly lowering the guide support member without moving it horizontally,
The first connecting member forming the first locking member of the first link member is rotationally locked to the first locking portion of the keytop, and the second locking member of the second link member is locked to the first locking member of the keytop. It becomes possible to slidably lock the two locking portions. As a result, it is possible to easily perform the connecting and locking operation for connecting and locking the key top and the link member.

Further, in the key switch device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the first locking portion is formed with a locking groove having an opening portion that opens downward and a cut portion continuous with the locking groove. Therefore, the first connecting member, which constitutes the first locking member by connecting the ends of the pair of plate-like members in the first link member, locks the first locking portion based on the pressing of the key top. When locked in the groove, elastic deformation occurs in the first locking portion due to the cut portion. Since elastic deformation occurs in the first locking portion based on the notch, the first connecting member utilizes the elastic deformation of the first locking portion when locked in the locking groove. At the same time, it acts to suppress the bending of the first link member.

As described above, it is possible to increase the elastic deformation of the first locking portion having the locking groove based on the notch, and the first connecting member is used as the locking groove of the first locking portion of the keytop. It is possible to reduce the resistance force generated between the first connecting member and the locking groove when it is rotatably locked to the first connecting member, and as a result, the first connecting member effectively bends the first link member. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to easily and surely perform the connecting and locking operation for rotatably connecting and locking the first connecting member of the first link member to the first engaging portion arranged below the key top. Becomes

When performing the switching operation by the key switch device assembled as described above, the key top is pressed. When the key top is pressed, the key top is guided downward via the guide support member along with the pressing. As the key top is pressed, the guide support member is also moved downward, and the switching operation is performed via the switching member. Further, when the pressing operation of the key top is released, the key top returns to the original non-pressed position.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the key switch device according to the present embodiment.
1 is molded from a synthetic resin such as ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface by printing or the like.

Further, from the back surface of the key top 41, there are two locking portions 42, 43 (each locking portion 42, 43 has a pair in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and only one of them is shown in FIG. 1). Is provided downwardly and integrally with the main body of the key top 41.

The engaging portion 42 has an engaging groove 44 for rotatably engaging an engaging rod 53 formed at one end of one of the two link members 47 and 48 described later. Further, the locking portion 43 is formed with a locking groove 45 for locking the locking pins 63 and 64 formed at one end of the other link member 48 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. There is. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the locking portion 42 is composed of a pair of resin pieces 44B having a locking groove 44 whose lower part is opened, and the upper portion of the locking groove 44 is provided with an engaging portion thereof. A notch 44C is formed continuously with the stop groove 44.
As described above, the resin elasticity of each resin piece 44B is increased based on the fact that the cut portion 44C is formed in the upper portion of the locking groove 44.

Further, the locking groove 44 is formed with a locking guide portion 44A which is continuous with the locking groove 44 and which is opened so as to gradually expand downward. 44A guides the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 toward the locking groove 44 when snapping it into the locking groove 44.

Further, at a lower position of the locking groove 45 of the locking portion 43, there is provided a locking guide portion 45A formed by forming an inclined surface which expands downward, and the locking guide portion 45A.
Guides the locking pins 63, 64 of the link member 48 toward the locking groove 45 when the locking pins 63, 64 are snapped into the locking groove 45.

Below the key top 41, the key top 1
A guide support member 46 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the two is provided. The guide support member 46 includes two link members 4
It is composed of 7 and 48.

As shown in FIG. 2, one of the link members 47 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and has a pair of plate-like bodies 49 and a locking rod 53 between one ends of the plate-like bodies 49. Are integrally formed with each other, and locking pins 55 and 56 are formed at the other ends of the plate-like bodies 49, respectively. Also,
As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, both end portions 47A of the link member 47 are formed to be thinner than the central portion 47B in a side view.

The locking rod 53 has the locking guide portion 44A.
Is snapped into the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42, and the locking pins 55 and 56 are locked to a locking portion 66 formed on a holder plate 65 described later.

Here, the locking rod 53 has sufficient rigidity to withstand the stress generated between the locking rod 53 and the locking portion 42 during the snap-in, and based on the rigidity thereof. When snapped into the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42, the resin elasticity of each resin piece 44B increases due to the action of the notch portion 44C formed on the upper portion of the locking groove 44 as described above. , The function of surely suppressing the flexural deformation of the link member 47 is performed. Thereby, the link member 47 and the key top 1 can be easily connected.

Further, a pair of shaft bodies 52 are provided so as to face each other from the central position on the side where the plate bodies 49 face each other. Each of these shaft bodies 52 is pivotally supported in a shaft hole 60 formed in the other link member 48 described later. The locking rod 53 of the link member 47 and the locking pins 55 and 56 are configured to be equal in distance from the shaft bodies 52.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the other link member 48 has a pair of plate-like bodies 57, and locking rods 61 are integrally formed between one ends of the plate-like bodies 57, and Locking pins 63 and 64 are formed at the other end of each plate 57. Further, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, both end portions 48A of the link member 48 are formed thinner than the central portion 48B in a side view, and each end portion 48A faces each end portion 47A of the link member 47. is doing.

As a result, when the key top 41 is pressed to perform the switching operation, as will be apparent from FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the link member 47 and the link member 48 have both end portions 47A, 47A. Even if 48A has a positional relationship of vertically overlapping, both end portions 47A, 48A of the link member 47 and the link member 48 have central portions 47B, 48B.
Since it is thinner than the key top 41
Even if both ends 47A of each link member 47 and both ends 48A of the link member 48 approach each other in accordance with the descending motion of
While lowering the key top 41, both ends 47A, 4
8A can be prevented from contacting. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a large key stroke without hindering the lowering operation of the key top 41 on the way. Further, the stroke lowest point of the key top 41 can be lowered, and the key switch device can be made thinner.
Both ends of the locking rod 61 are locked to locking portions 67 of a holder plate 65, which will be described later, and each locking pin 63,
Reference numeral 64 is snapped into the locking groove 45 of the locking portion 43 via the locking guide portion 45A.

Axial holes 60 are formed in central portions of the plate-shaped members 57, which face each other outside the plate-shaped members 57, and the plate-shaped members of the link member 47 are formed in the axial holes 60. Each shaft body 52 formed in 49 is rotatably fitted.

As a result, both link members 47 and 48 are rotatable by intersecting each other through each shaft body 52 and shaft hole 60, and the shaft support portion is formed by each shaft body 52 and shaft hole 60. A is formed. The locking rod 61 of the link member 48 and the locking pins 63 and 64 are configured to be equal in distance from the shaft hole 60.

Further, between the central positions of the plate-like members 57, they are placed on the upper surface of a rubber spring 71, which will be described later, and when the key top 41 is pushed down, the link members 47, 48 rotate relative to each other. With the rubber spring 71
A push-down bar 58 for pushing down is provided. As a result, when the key top 41 is pressed, the pressing rod 58 presses the rubber spring 71 to perform the switching operation.

Next, a resin holder plate 65 is disposed below the guide support member 46, and the holder plate 65 is provided with an engaging portion 6 corresponding to each switch device.
6, 67 (each of the locking portions 66, 67 is provided with two each, but one locking portion 66, 67 is shown in FIG. 1) are formed.

A sliding groove 68 having the right side in FIG. 1 as an opening side is formed in the engaging portion 66, and the engaging portion 6 is formed.
Locking pins 55 and 56 formed on the link member 47 are inserted into the sliding grooves 68 of the reference numeral 6. Further, similar to the sliding groove 68 of the locking portion 66, the locking portion 67 is formed with a sliding groove 69 whose right side in FIG. 1 is an opening side, and inside the sliding groove 69 in FIG. A locking projection 69A having an inclined surface is formed on the right side. The locking rod 6 formed on the link member 48 is provided in the sliding groove 69 of the locking portion 67.
Both ends of 1 are inserted. In addition, on the holder plate 65, the link member 47 is provided between the locking portions 66 and 67.
A pair of guide walls 73 (refer to FIG. 4) for guiding the outer side surface of each plate-like body 49 in FIG.

As a result, the locking pins 55 and 56 of the link member 47 in the guide support member 46 and the link member 48.
The locking rod 61 of the above is slid on the holder plate 65 while guiding the outer surface of each plate-like body 49 of the link member 47 to each guide wall 73 from the open side of the sliding groove 68 and the sliding groove 69, respectively. Thus, the locking pins 55, 56 and the locking rod 61 are fitted into the sliding grooves 68, 69. Then, after the locking rod 61 has passed over the locking projection 69A in the sliding groove 69 at the time of such insertion, the locking rod 6 is
Therefore, the locking rod 61 and the locking pins 55 and 56 are rotatably held in the sliding grooves 69 and 68, respectively.

Holder plate 6 constructed as described above
As shown in FIG. 4, a flexible circuit board 70 on which switch electrodes 70A are formed corresponding to the respective key switches is disposed below the switch 5. Also, a flexible circuit board 70 corresponding to the switch electrodes 70A is formed in a reverse cup shape. Rubber spring 71
Are mounted on the flexible circuit board 70. Further, a movable electrode 71A is fixed to the inner top wall of the rubber spring 71 facing the switch electrode 70A on the circuit board 70. Further, on the upper surface of the rubber spring 71, a push rod 58 formed on the link member 48 is arranged.

As a result, when the push rod 58 moves downward with the depression of the key top 41, the rubber spring 7
1 is pushed by the push rod 58, and when the pushing amount exceeds a certain amount, the rubber spring 71 is buckled to move the movable electrode 71A.
The switching operation is performed by bringing the switch electrode 70A on the flexible circuit board 70 into contact with each other.

A switch support plate 72 is arranged below the flexible circuit board 70, and the switch support plate 72 is arranged above each circuit board 70.
The holder plate 65 is supported. As a result, between the switch support plate 72, the flexible circuit board 70, and the holder plate 65, the switch support plate 72, the flexible circuit board 70, and the holder plate 65 are arranged in this order from the bottom, as is clear from FIGS. There is a vertical positional relationship such that In this vertical position relationship,
The rubber spring 71 is placed on the flexible circuit board 70 below the holder plate 65. The upper portion of the rubber spring 71 has an attachment hole 107 described later.
It is projected above the holder plate 65 via A. Based on this, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper portion of the rubber spring 71 can be reliably brought into contact with the push-down bar 58 of the link member 48 constituting the guide support member 46. Therefore, even if the flexible circuit board 70 is arranged below the holder plate 65 as described above, the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 71 placed on the flexible circuit board 70 is transmitted to the key top 41. 41 can be biased upwards.

In the above structure, the engaging portion formed on the rear surface of the key top 41 existing on the left side in FIG. 1 and the holder plate 45 on the basis of the perpendicular line L passing through the center of the shaft support portion A. The stopper 67 has a locking groove 44 and a locking rod 61 that lock the locking rod 53 rotatably.
Is provided with a sliding groove 69 for rotatably locking in cooperation with the locking projection 69A. Further, a locking portion 43 formed on the back surface of the key top 41 existing on the right side of the perpendicular L in FIG. 1 and a locking portion 66 formed on the holder plate 65.
The locking pins 63, 64 and the locking pin 55, respectively.
A locking groove 45 and a sliding groove 68 for locking 56 to be slidable in the horizontal direction are provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the link member 4
7 and the link member 48 in a side view, the locking rod 53,
The three points of the shaft support portion A and the respective locking pins 55 and 56 are arranged on a straight line, and the three points of the locking rod 61, the shaft support portion A and the respective locking pins 63 and 64 are arranged on a straight line. ing. Then, the locking rod 53 and each locking pin 5 in the link member 47
The length between 5 and 56 is equal to the length between the locking rod 61 and the locking pins 63 and 64 in the link member 48.

Next, a method of assembling the key switch device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the flexible circuit board 70 and the holder plate 65 are placed on the switch support plate 72, and the shaft bodies 52 of the link member 47 are connected to the shaft holes 6 of the link member 48.
The guide support member 46 is assembled by fitting into 0.

After that, the link members 47 and 48 are rotated to fold each other to be in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 5, and the locking pins 55 and 56 of the link member 47 and the locking rod of the link member 48. The guide 61 is slid toward the inside of the slide grooves 68, 69 on the holder plate 65 while being guided by the guide walls 73 from the open side of the slide grooves 68, 69 in the lock portions 66, 67. Then, when it is further slid, the locking rod 61 of the link member 48 rides over the locking projection 69A formed in the sliding groove 69 from the slope side. This state is shown in FIG. Thereby, the guide support member 4
The connection between 6 and the holder plate 65 is completed.

Thus, the locking rod 61 of the link member 48 is
And the sliding groove 69, and the locking pins 55 and 56 of the link member 47 and the sliding groove 68 are connected to each other.
6 from the opening side of each sliding groove 68, 69 to the holder plate 6
Because it is done only by sliding on 5,
The guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65 can be connected very easily. At this time, since the guide support member 46 is guided by the respective guide walls 73 when it is slid, the guide support member 46 will not be disengaged from the respective sliding grooves 68, 69, and accordingly, the guide wall 73 will be removed.
Therefore, the connecting work can be performed more easily.

Further, the link member 47 and the link member 48
As shown in FIG. 5, since they are substantially horizontal when folded, they are extremely easy to handle, and
The connecting work between the link members 47 and 48 and the holder plate 65 can be easily performed as described above.

Next, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 held in the state of FIG. 6 and the locking groove 44 of the key top 41 face each other, and the locking pins 63 and 64 of the link member 48 and the key. After facing the locking groove 45 of the top 41 (see FIG. 7), the key top 41 is lightly pressed downward. As a result, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 is snapped into the locking groove 44 while being guided by the locking guide portion 44A, and at the same time, the locking pins 63 and 64 of the link member 48 are locked by the locking guide portion 45A. It is snapped into the locking groove 45 while being guided by. Such a state is shown in FIG. As a result, the connection between the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 is completed.

At this time, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47
Is locked in the locking groove 44 from the open portion while suppressing flexural deformation of the link member 47 when locked in the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42 when the key top 41 is pressed, and The locking pins 63, 64 on the side of the link member 48 where the locking rod 61 is not formed utilize the elastic force of each plate 57 when the key top 41 is pressed to engage the locking portion 43. Stop groove 45
It is slidably locked inside. This allows the guide support member 46 to smoothly descend without moving horizontally while the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 is moved to the key top 4.
1 is rotationally locked to the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42, and the locking pins 63 and 64 of the link member 48 are slidably locked to the locking groove 45 of the locking portion 43 of the key top 41. It becomes possible to do. As a result, it becomes possible to easily perform the connecting and locking operation for connecting and locking the key top 41 and the link members 47 and 48.

Further, the notch 44 is formed in the upper portion of the locking groove 44.
Since C is formed, the notch 44C
Based on the above, the resin elasticity of each resin piece 44B can be increased. Therefore, when the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 is rotationally locked to the locking groove 44 in the locking portion 42 of the key top 41, the large resin elasticity of each resin piece 44B is utilized to easily and reliably. It becomes possible to lock by rotation.

Thus, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 is
And the locking groove 44 of the key top 41 and the locking pins 63 and 64 of the link member 48 and the locking groove 45 of the key top 41 are connected from the state shown in FIG.
Since the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 can be connected to each other very easily, the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 can be connected very easily because the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 are simply pressed down. In particular, the locking rod 53 has rigidity enough to withstand the stress generated between the locking rod 53 and the locking portion 42 at the time of snap-in, and based on the rigidity, the engagement of the locking portion 42. When snapped into the stop groove 44, the link member 47 is surely restrained from bending and deforming. Thereby, the link member 47 and the key top 1 can be connected more easily.

Although the assembly of the key switch device is completed by the above work, the work of connecting each link member 47, 48 to the holder plate 65 and the key top 41 can be carried out very easily. As a result, the assembling work of the device can be simplified and the assembling time can be shortened, and the key switch device can be surely assembled regardless of the assembling ability of the operator.

Next, the operation of the key switch device assembled as described above will be described. Key top 41
When is pressed downward, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 rotates counterclockwise in the locking hole 44 of the locking portion 42 as the key top 41 moves downward, and the link member 48 moves. The locking pins 63 and 64 are the locking grooves 45 of the locking portion 43.
Inside, slide horizontally (to the right in FIG. 1). At the same time, the locking rod 61 of the link member 48 is locked in the sliding groove 69 of the locking portion 67 of the holder plate 65.
The locking pins 55 and 56 of the link member 47 slide horizontally in the sliding groove 68 of the locking portion 66 (rightward in FIG. 1) while rotating clockwise in cooperation with 9A.

When the key top 41 is pushed down, the guide support member 46 is restricted between the guide walls 73 in the left-right direction in FIG. 4, so that the key top 41 is prevented from unnecessarily rattling.

As a result, when the shaft support A for supporting the link member 47 and the link member 48 mutually moves downward, the rubber spring 71 is gradually pushed down, and when the pushing amount exceeds a certain limit. And rubber spring 71
Is buckled. As a result, the movable electrode 71A in the rubber spring 71 short-circuits the switch electrode 70A on the flexible circuit board 70, and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

When the key top 41 is pressed to perform the switching operation as described above, both end portions 47A of the link members 47 and both end portions 48A of the link member 48 come close to each other as the key top 41 descends. Also, since both end portions 47A, 48A of the link member 47 and the link member 48 are formed to be thinner than the central portions 47B, 48B, both end portions 47 during the descent of the key top 41.
It is possible to prevent the contact between A and 48A. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a large key stroke without hindering the lowering operation of the key top 41 on the way. Further, the stroke lowest point of the key top 41 can be lowered, and the key switch device can be made thinner.

When the depression of the key top 41 is released, the shaft support portion A of both link members 47 and 48 is moved to the rubber spring 71.
It is pushed up by the elastic restoring force of. Along with this, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47, the locking pin 55,
56, the locking rod 61 of the link member 48, the locking pin 6
3 and 64 perform the reverse operations to the above operations, and as a result,
The key top 41 is returned to the original position.

Here, since the locking rods 53 and 61 do not move in the horizontal direction but only rotate in the locking groove 44 and the sliding groove 69, respectively, the key top 41 moves in the horizontal direction. The key surface of the key top 1 is vertically moved without being moved.

As described in detail above, in the key switch device according to this embodiment, when the key switch device is assembled,
The holder plate while guiding the locking pins 55 and 56 of the link member 47 and the locking rod 61 of the link member 48 from the open sides of the sliding grooves 68 and 69 of the locking portions 66 and 67 by the guide walls 73. The guide support is made by sliding the guide rod 65 toward the inside of the sliding grooves 68 and 69 and sliding the locking rod 61 of the link member 48 over the locking protrusion 69A formed in the sliding groove 69. Since the member 46 and the holder plate 65 are connected,
The work of connecting the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65 can be extremely simplified.

Especially when the guide support member 46 is slid,
Since the guide support member 46 is reliably guided by the guide walls 73 toward the slide grooves 68, 69, the guide support member 46 does not come off from the slide grooves 68, 69. The guide wall 73 allows the connecting work to be performed more easily.

The guide support member 46 and the key top 41 are also provided.
When connecting with, the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 and the locking groove 44 of the key top 41 are opposed to each other, and the locking pins 63 and 64 of the link member 48 and the key top 41 are locked. After facing the groove 45, the key top 41 is lightly pressed downward to snap the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 into the locking groove 44 while being guided by the locking guide portion 44A. Since the locking pins 63 and 64 of the link member 48 are snapped into the locking groove 45 while being guided by the locking guide portion 45A, the guide support member 46 is provided.
The key top 41 and the key top 41 can be connected very easily. In particular, the locking rod 53 has rigidity enough to withstand the stress generated between the locking rod 53 and the locking portion 42 at the time of snap-in, and based on the rigidity, the locking portion 42.
When it is snapped into the locking groove 44, the link member 47 is reliably restrained from bending and deforming.
Thereby, the link member 47 and the key top 1 can be connected more easily.

Further, the notch 44 is formed in the upper portion of the locking groove 44.
Since C is formed, the notch 44C
Since the resin elasticity of each resin piece 44B can be increased based on the above, when the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 is rotationally locked to the locking groove 44 in the locking portion 42 of the key top 41, the locking rod 53 is locked. The resistance force generated between 53 and the locking groove 44 can be reduced, and as a result, the locking rod 53 can effectively suppress the bending of the link member 47. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably perform the connecting and locking operation of rotatably connecting and locking the locking rod 53 of the link member 47 to the locking portion 42 arranged below the key top 41.

Further, in the key switch device assembled by the simple assembling work as described above, the link member 47 is used.
The locking bar 53 of the locking member 42 is rotatably held in the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42 without moving, and the link member 48
The locking rod 61 is held rotatably in the sliding groove 69 in cooperation with the locking projection 69A, and the movement of the guide support member 46 is restricted between the pair of guide walls 73. As a result, the key top 41 is prevented from moving in any of the front, rear, left and right directions when the key is operated. As a result, the key operability can be significantly improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the locking projection 69A is provided in the sliding groove 69 of the locking portion 67.
However, the locking protrusion may be formed in the sliding groove 68 of the locking portion 66.

[0062]

As described above, in the key switch device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the guide support member is configured by movably connecting the first link member and the second link member at the midway intersection. Moreover, since the fourth locking member of the second link member is rotationally locked by the fourth locking portion, it does not move horizontally when the key top is pressed, and
When the key top is pressed, the fourth locking member of the second link member rotates at the fourth locking portion, and the third locking member of the first link member moves outward in the third locking portion. The guide support member is smoothly lowered due to the sliding, and the first connecting member that constitutes the first locking member by the first link member is fixed to the first locking portion by the pressing of the key top. when locked to the locking groove, Sand the engaging groove of the first locking portion from the opening while suppressing bending deformation in the thickness direction of the plate-like body
Is Ppuin, and the second locking member on the side where at the second link member is not formed second coupling member, Sand in the second locking portion by deformation of the plate-like body on the basis of the pressing of the key top
When the key top and the link member are connected to each other, the key top is lightly pressed downward to smoothly lower the guide support member without horizontally moving the first link member. Second locking member of the second link member is pivotally locked to the first locking portion of the keytop, and the second locking member of the second link member is second locking portion of the keytop. Can be slidably locked to. As a result, it is possible to extremely easily perform the connecting and locking operation for connecting and locking the key top and the link member.

Further, according to the key switch device of the second aspect, a locking groove having an open portion is formed in the rotary locking portion which constitutes the first locking portion, and the locking groove is formed in the locking groove. Since the continuous cut portion is formed, it is possible to increase the elastic deformation of the rotary locking portion having the locking groove based on the cut portion, and thus the pair of plate-shaped members of the first link member can be formed. Resistance generated between the connecting member and the locking groove when the connecting member that connects the end portions and constitutes the first locking member is rotatably locked in the locking groove of the first locking portion The force can be reduced, and as a result, the connecting member can effectively suppress the bending of the first link member. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the connecting and locking operation for rotatably connecting and locking the connecting member of the first link member to the first locking portion arranged on the lower side of the key top.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a key switch device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one link member.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the other link member.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the key switch device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state before the guide support member is connected to the holder plate.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state after the guide support member is connected to the holder plate.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a key top is arranged on a guide support member connected to a holder plate.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a key top is connected to a guide support member connected to a holder plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

41 key top 42, 43, 66, 67 Locking part 44, 45 locking groove 44A, 45A Locking guide 44B resin piece 44C notch 46 Guide support member 47, 48 Link member 47A, 48A Link member ends 47B, 48B Link member center part 55, 56, 63, 64 Locking pin 65 Holder plate 71 rubber spring 68, 69 Sliding groove 69A locking protrusion 71 rubber spring 73 Information wall

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/14 H01H 13/52

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A key top, and a first locking part and a second part arranged below the key top.
A locking part, and a third locking part disposed below the first locking part and the second locking part.
A holder member having a locking portion and a fourth locking portion, a guide support member for coupling and locking the key top and the holder member, and guiding the vertical movement of the key top, and a vertical operation by the key top. A key switch device comprising an elastically deformable spring and a switching unit that performs a switching operation by elastically deforming the spring, wherein the guide support member is arranged in an X shape in a side view.
The link member and the second link member are formed, and both link members are movably connected to each other at an intermediate crossing portion, and the free ends of the first link member and the second link member pass through the intermediate crossing portion. A first locking member and a fourth locking member that are rotatably locked to the first locking portion of the key top and the fourth locking portion of the holder member, respectively, at free ends located on one side across the perpendicular line. A locking member is formed, and among the free ends of the first link member and the second link member, the second locking portion of the key top and the holder member are provided at the free ends located on the other sides of the perpendicular line. Locking groove having a second locking member and a third locking member slidably locked to the third locking portion, and having an opening portion that opens downward in the first locking portion. forming a first link member, the <br/> both to have a pair of plate-like body, each plate And connecting the ends of the body having a first coupling member constituting the first locking member, said second link member, the <br/> both to have a pair of plate-like body, each plate A second connecting member for connecting between the ends of the body is provided.
And, wherein the first coupling member, when engaged with the locking grooves of the first engaging portion based on the pressing of the key top, the plate of each plate-like body
While suppressing flexural deformation in the thickness direction , the second engaging member is snapped into the engaging groove of the first engaging portion from the open portion , and the second link member does not form the second connecting member. The stop member snaps into the second locking portion due to the deformation of each plate-shaped body based on the pressing of the key top.
Key switch device characterized in that it is. 2. The engaging groove is formed with a notch continuous with the engaging groove, and the first connecting member is engaged with the engaging groove of the first engaging portion based on the pressing of the key top. In the locking groove of the first locking portion from the opening portion while suppressing the bending deformation of the first link member in cooperation with the elastic deformation generated in the first locking portion due to the cut portion. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein the key switch device is rotatably engaged with the key switch device.