JPH0495442A - Key-top unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the outer size of the key top unit by forming a frame and the key top integrally through a link member and placing the link member under each key top so as to make the interval between the key tops narrow. CONSTITUTION:While a key top unit main body 1 formed integrally is assembled to a case 5 of a device such as a telephone set, a key top 3 is pushed up by the elasticity of hinges 4a, 4b of a link member 4. Thus, a rib 3b at the bottom face of the key top 3 is not in contact with a contact base 6 and contacts 6a of the contact base 6 are opened. Moreover, when the key top 3 is depressed in this state, the key top 3 goes down against the elasticity of the hinges 4a, 4b and the rib 3b of the bottom face of the key top 3 depresses the upper part of the contact base 6 to connect the contacts 6a, then the contacts 6a are turned on to realize a switch function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key top unit for equipment having a plurality of key tops, such as a telephone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, an integrated key top unit used in equipment such as telephone equipment includes a plurality of key tops a and a connecting member C that connects the key tops a to a frame b, as shown in FIG. It is composed of

Further, the connecting member C is formed into a substantially L-shape so as to go around the key top a, and both ends are connected to the key top a and the frame b via hinge portions d, and these hinge portions d This allows each key top a to move in the vertical direction.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The conventional key top unit described above has the key top a and the frame b integrated, so it can be easily incorporated into equipment and can prevent incorrect insertion of each key top a. Although this is effective, since the connecting member C detours around each key top a, it is necessary to widen the distance between each key top a, and as a result, many of the conventional key top units have a small external shape. It had the disadvantage of being large.

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated key top unit that does not have a large external size even when a large number of key tops are provided. be.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention integrally molds a frame and a key top via a connecting member, and also provides a connection between the frame and the connecting member and between the connecting member and the key top. A hinge portion is provided between each key top, and the connecting member is bent from these hinge portions so as to be located below the key top, and then incorporated into the case of the device.

According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the connecting member is located below each key top, so that the distance between each key top can be narrowed, and therefore, the outer shape of the key top unit can be reduced.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the key top unit.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view during molding. In FIG. 1, 1 is a key top unit main body, which is composed of a frame 2, a plurality of key tops 3, and a connecting member 4 that connects the plurality of key tops 3 and the frame 2, and is made of polypropylene resin. It is integrally molded by etc.

As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 2 is formed of a plurality of horizontal frames 2a and vertical frames 2b formed in a lattice shape,
A plurality of key tops 3 are arranged at approximately equal intervals between the vertical frames 2b, and a pair of connections are provided below each key top 3 to connect the key tops 3 and the vertical frames 2b. Part 4
is provided.

The connecting member 4 is provided to be substantially perpendicular to the vertical frame 2b, and one end thereof is connected to the vertical frame 2b of the frame 2 via a hinge portion 4a formed by making the connecting member 4 thin. On the other hand, the other end of each connecting member 4 is connected to one end of the key top 3 via a hinge portion 4b similar to that described above.

In addition, step portions 3a are formed at both ends of the key top 3 to contact the top plate of the case 5 from below, and further, at the center of the bottom surface of the key top 3, a contact board 6 is pressed from above. , ribs 3b are provided to protrude and come into contact with the contact portions 6a provided on the contact substrate 6.

The key top unit main body l constructed as described above is integrally molded as shown in FIG.

That is, the connecting members 4 are made to stand substantially upright from the vertical frame 2b of the frame 2, and the key tops 3 are positioned horizontally at the upper ends of these connecting members 4. Here, each hinge part 4a, 4b is formed thin in advance in order to impart elasticity, and each hinge part 4a, 4b is bent in the opposite direction as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Set so that the connecting part 4 is along the upper surface of the frame 2.

In this state, the frame 2 is assembled into the case 5 from below so that the upper part of each key top 3 protrudes from the square hole 5a opened in the top plate of the case 5.

Next, to explain the operation of the key top unit of this embodiment configured as described above, when the integrally molded key top unit main body 1 is assembled into the case 5 of a device such as a telephone, the connecting member 4 Due to the elasticity of the hinge parts 4a and 4b, the key top 3 is pushed up as shown in No. Nil.

Therefore, the rib 3b on the bottom surface of the key top 3 does not come into contact with the contact board 6, and the contact portion 6a of the contact board 6 is in an off state.

In addition, when the key top 3 is pushed downward in this state, the key top 3 descends against the elasticity of the hinge parts 4a and 4b, and the rib 3b on the bottom of the key top 3 presses the contact board 6 from above, causing the contact In order to connect the portion 6a, the contact portion 6a is turned on and can function as a switch.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a frame and a key top are integrally molded via a connecting member, and a hinge portion is provided between the frame and the connecting member and between the connecting member and the key top, respectively. Since the connecting member is located below each key top, the connecting member is located below each key top, and the connecting member is placed below the key top from these hinges. The space between the keys can be narrowed, and the outer shape of the key top unit can therefore be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a key top unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram during molding.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional key top unit. 2... Frame, 3... Key top, 4... Connecting member, 4a, 4b... Hinge portion, 5... Case. Fig. 1 Name of agent Patent attorney Shige Takayoshi Awano (1 person) Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] The frame and the key top are integrally molded via a connecting member, and hinge portions are provided between the frame and the connecting member and between the connecting member and the key top, and the connecting member is connected to the key top from these hinge portions. A key top unit that is folded so that it is on the bottom side and incorporated into the device case.