JP3818181B2 - Key structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a key structure applied to a key of a keyboard device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a key structure applied to a key of a keyboard device, one that is integrally formed of resin, or one that is made by sticking resin or the like on a key pressing surface (upper surface) using wood as a base material is generally known. It has been.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in many cases, the key structure integrally formed with the resin described above has a U-shaped cross-section, etc. from the viewpoint of preventing the occurrence of so-called “sinking” at the base part of the projecting part such as the key switch driving part. In this way, a hollow portion is provided. For this reason, there is a problem that rigidity is lowered and deformation is likely to occur.
[0004]
In addition, the key structure with resin or the like pasted on the surface of the above-mentioned wooden base material is made of wood, so the texture is high, but it is not easy to process compared to resin, and a homogeneous key structure is inexpensive. It is difficult to manufacture.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and a first object of the invention is to provide a key structure that can increase the rigidity and suppress the deformation of the key.
[0006]
A second object of the present invention is to provide a key structure that can give a wooden texture to a key at low cost.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the first object, a key structure according to claim 1 of the present invention is a resin key base body formed by integrally connecting an upper part and a lower part and a connecting part for connecting the upper part and the lower part. A key structure comprising an intermediate member provided between the upper portion and the lower portion of the key base body, the upper end portion of the intermediate member being in contact with the upper portion of the key base body In addition, the lower end portion of the key base body extends to the vicinity of the lower portion, and is formed of a different material from the key base body having rigidity equal to or higher than that of the key base body.
[0008]
According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the rigidity and suppress the deformation of the key.
[0009]
In order to achieve the second object, a key structure according to claim 2 of the present invention is a resin key base body comprising an upper part, a lower part and a connecting part connected to the upper part, and the key base body A key structure comprising an intermediate member provided at a portion that is visually recognized between the upper part and the lower part, wherein the intermediate member has an upper end portion of the key base body. While contacting the upper part, the lower end part was extended to the lower part vicinity of the key base body, and was comprised with the wood-type material, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0010]
According to this configuration, a wood texture can be given to the key at low cost. The key structure may be applied only to white keys.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the key structure according to the second aspect, wherein the key structure is configured for a white key, and the intermediate member is provided only in a portion of the side surface where the black key is not adjacent. .
[0012]
According to this configuration, it is possible to further reduce the cost while maintaining the wood texture by arranging the intermediate member in the minimum necessary range.
[0013]
In each of the above claims, the intermediate member is preferably made of wood. Thereby, the wood texture can be enhanced.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a key structure and another example according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in (a), (c) and (d) are related to another example, (b). It is an enlarged view corresponding to F1 part shown in FIG. The key structure 1 is applied to, for example, a white key of a keyboard device, but may be applied to a black key. Hereinafter, the player side of the key structure 1 is referred to as the front.
[0016]
The key structure 1 includes a key base body 10 made of synthetic resin and a wood part 20 (20L, 20R). As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the key base body 10 includes an upper plate portion 10a that is an upper portion, a lower plate portion 10c that is a lower portion, and a connecting portion 10b (intermediate member) that connects them. The front plate portion 10d is integrally formed. Further, from the lower plate portion 10c, a keyed guide portion 4 and a key actuator 5 are integrally formed so as to protrude from the key arrangement direction (left and right direction of the key structure 1) during key operation. ing. The key actuator 5 drives a key switch (not shown) directly or indirectly via a mass body driving unit (not shown). A rotation fulcrum portion 3 is provided at the rear portion of the key base body 10, and the key structure 1 rotates in the vertical direction around the rotation fulcrum portion 3 as a rotation center during key operation.
[0017]
The cross-sectional shape of the key structure 1 is such that “H” is laid down as shown in FIG. The wood portions 20L and 20R are disposed in the concave portions 10bL and 10bR on both sides of the connecting portion 10b. The wood parts 20L and 20R are fitted in the recesses 10bL and 10bR, and are bonded and fixed to the upper plate part 10a, the connecting part 10b, and the lower plate part 10c of the key base body 10. The wood part 20 is formed of wood having rigidity equal to or higher than the resin constituting the key base body 10. Moreover, the upper ends 20La and 20Ra of the wood portions 20L and 20R are in contact with the upper plate portion 10a of the key base body 10, and the lower ends 20Lb and 20Rb are in contact with the lower plate portion 10c. As a result, the rigidity in the vertical direction of the entire key structure 1 is increased.
[0018]
The wood part 20 not only increases the rigidity of the key structure 1 but also plays a role of imparting a wood texture to the key structure 1. That is, in the arrangement range of the wood part 20, the wood part 20 occupies most of the regions of the side surfaces 1 a and 1 b of the key structure 1. Further, since the lower plate portion 10c is not normally visible due to the presence of the adjacent key, it seems to the player that the key structure 1 is made of wood except for the upper surface and the front surface. Thereby, a wooden texture is given to the key structure 1, and a high-class feeling is given. From the viewpoint of imparting a wood texture, the wood part 20 may be arranged in a wide range, but from the viewpoint of cost reduction, in this embodiment, the wood part 20 is visually recognized as an appearance at the time of key operation as much as possible. It is designed to be provided only at the part (so-called visible suspension part).
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a keyboard to which the key structure 1 is applied. The key structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 illustrates, for example, a white key applied to the B key, and the wood portion 20R is disposed in a range AR2 in the longitudinal direction of the key structure 1. On the other hand, the wood part 20L is disposed in a range AR1 in the longitudinal direction of the key structure 1 as shown in FIG. That is, the black key 2 is arranged on the left side as viewed from the player of the key structure 1 for the B key, but the wood part 20L is not arranged in the portion adjacent to the black key 2 of the key structure 1.
[0020]
Although not shown in the drawings, the wooden parts 20 are similarly provided only in the portions where the black keys are not adjacent to each other on both sides of the key structure 1 for white keys. Thereby, the wood texture is given at low cost. The wood part 20 may be widely arranged from the front part to the rear part of both side surfaces of the all-white key structure 1, or the wood part 20 may be similarly applied to the black key. .
[0021]
In the other example of FIG. 1C, the end 10ab of the upper plate portion 10a of the key base body 10 slightly protrudes to the side of the key structure 1 from the wood portion 20L (slightly exaggerated drawing). ) By projecting to the side, when the key structure 1 is viewed from above with the keyboard not pressed, the side surface 1a (particularly the wood portion 20L) of the key structure 1 is hidden behind the upper plate portion 10a and cannot be seen. ing. This eliminates the key side finishing process and reduces production costs. Further, in another example of FIG. 1D, the end 10aa has an R shape and is smoothly connected to the wood portion 20L. Thereby, since there is no edge part, the safety | security when a finger | toe touches the side surface 1a of the key structure 1 at the time of a performance is improved. Note that the cost can be reduced by processing the end portion on the opposite side of the upper plate portion 10a in the same manner as the end portions 10aa and 10ab.
[0022]
According to the present embodiment, the upper plate portion 10a and the lower plate portion 10c are connected by the connecting portion 10b to form the key base body 10, and the recesses 10bL and 10bR have rigidity equal to or higher than that of the key base body 10. Since the wood parts 20L and 20R having the above are embedded, the rigidity is increased and the deformation of the key structure 1 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the key structure 1 is configured only by the key base body 10. .
[0023]
Further, the wood parts 20L and 20R are made of wood and provided on the side surfaces 1a and 1b, which are parts that are visually recognized when playing, so that when the keys are pressed, the side surfaces of the key structure 1 adjacent to the key pressing key are displayed. The wood part 20 is visually recognized and a wood texture is felt. Moreover, as compared with the conventional key structure in which resin or the like is adhered to the surface of the base material of the wood, it is possible to manufacture a homogeneous key structure that is easy to process and inexpensive. Therefore, a wood texture can be given to the key at low cost.
[0024]
Further, since the wood portion 20 is provided only in the key structure 1 for the white key, the cost is reduced, and the wood portion 20 is provided only in the portion of the side surface where the black key is not adjacent. The cost can be further reduced while maintaining the wood texture.
[0025]
The configuration of the key base body 10 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. That is, any key base body may be used as long as the upper and lower portions of the key are connected and joined together. For example, as shown in a modified example in FIG. In addition, a plurality of coupling portions may be provided.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1B according to another configuration example of the key structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the protrusion 31a is provided downward from the upper plate portion 31, while the connecting portion 32a and the lower plate portion 32b are integrally formed, and the upper portion of the connecting portion 32a is formed. Is provided with a groove-like recess 32aa that fits in the protrusion 31a. And the key base body couple | bonded integrally is comprised by carrying out the adhesive fitting of the protrusion part 31a of the upper board part 31 to the recessed part 32aa of the connection part 32a. In this case, the arrangement state of the wood parts 20L and 20R is the same as the example of FIG.
[0027]
Moreover, as shown in FIG.3 (b), you may form integrally so that the upper board part 33a and the lower board parts 33d and 33e may be connected by the two connection parts 33b and 33c. In this case, a recess 35 is formed between the connecting portions 33b and 33c. And the wood parts 34L and 34R thinner than the wood parts 20L and 20R are disposed outside the connecting parts 33b and 33c.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the lower end surface of the wooden portion does not necessarily need to be in contact with the lower end portion of the key base body, and may be released.
[0029]
From the viewpoint of providing a wood texture, the wood part may be a wood-based material, not wood, for example, a wood-tone decorative board (including printing, coating, painting, attached board, etc.), plywood, wood You may employ | adopt material (MDF) etc. In particular, in the case of the example of FIG. 3 (b), since the thickness of the wood part is thin, a plate material such as a decorative board or plywood may be used.
[0030]
In addition, from the viewpoint of increasing the rigidity of the key structure 1 away from the problem of wood texture, the wood part may be a different material from the key base body, having a rigidity equal to or higher than that of the key base body, It is not necessarily a wood-based material and may be replaced with metal or the like. In particular, when a correction material is used, it is possible to increase the rigidity without causing warpage.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the key can be prevented from being deformed by increasing the rigidity.
[0032]
According to claim 2 of the present invention, a wood texture can be imparted to the key at low cost.
[0033]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the cost while maintaining the wood texture by arranging the intermediate member in a necessary minimum range.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a key structure and another example according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a keyboard to which a key structure is applied.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1B according to another configuration example of the key structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key structure, 10 Key base body, 10a Upper board part (upper part), 10b Connection part (intermediate member), 10c Lower board part (lower part), 20L, 20R Wood part, 20La, 20Ra Upper end part, 20Lb, 20Rb Lower end part

Claims (3)

A resin-made key base body integrally formed by connecting an upper part and a lower part and a connecting part connecting the upper part and the lower part, and an intermediate member provided between the upper part and the lower part of the key base body A key structure comprising:
The intermediate member has an upper end contacting the upper part of the key base body, a lower end extending to the vicinity of the lower part of the key base body, and having rigidity equal to or higher than the key base body. A key structure comprising a different material from the key base body. A resin key base body composed of an upper part, a lower part, and a connecting part connected to the upper part, and a portion that is visually recognized between the upper part and the lower part of the key base body and is visually recognized. A key structure composed of intermediate members,
The intermediate member has an upper end that is in contact with the upper part of the key base body, and a lower end that extends to the vicinity of the lower part of the key base body, and is made of a wood-based material. Key structure to perform. 3. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein the key structure is configured for a white key, and the intermediate member is provided only in a portion of the side surface where the black key is not adjacent.

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