JPH0644860A - Key switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent movement of a key top forward to backward or right to left even at the time of operating a key of the key top, and to provide a key switch device of excellent operability of the key. CONSTITUTION:A pair of engaging claws 34 vertically provided from both side ends of a key top 1 is inserted into a claw guide groove 33A formed on a guide wall 3 on a holder plate 25. Each shaft body 12B of a hinge member 7 is fitted into a shaft guide groove 33B formed on the guide wall 33. When the key top 1 is not operated, an engaging protrusion 35 of the engaging claw 34 is engaged with a closed part 33C of the guide wall 33. The key top 1 is moved vertically and is guided by a guide supporting member 6 consisting of two hinge members 7 crossing each other so that they can be rotated, and of a hinge member 8.

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, which is arranged on a holder plate. The present invention relates to a key switch device in which the key operability is improved without the key top moving in the front, rear, left, and right directions even during key operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key switch device used for a keyboard of this type, a key member integrally having a key stem is inserted into a key holder portion formed on a holder plate for guiding and supporting, and a key member is provided below the key stem. A key switch device provided with a switching member is generally used. In such a key switch device, the vertical movement of the key stem in the key member is slidably guided through the key holder portion, and when the key member is depressed, the switching member is operated by the lower portion of the key stem to perform the switching operation.

When performing a key operation with such a key switch device, the vertical movement of the key member is performed by slidingly guiding the key stem of the key member through the key holder portion of the holder plate as described above. Depending on the pressing position (for example, when pressing an end position other than the central part on the key member), the key member may move up and down in a tilted state. Thus, if the key member moves up and down in a tilted state, the key stem will be twisted between the key holder part, resulting in a serious trouble in the key operation. It is possible that it will not be possible.

As a solution to such a problem, in order to prevent the key from being depressed in a tilted state when the key is depressed, there are disclosed in JP-A-60-62017 and JP-A-64-74.
The key switch device described in Japanese Patent No. 41 is known.

In the key switch device described in the former, the key member is supported by two scissors-like members which are crossed in a scissor shape by a shaft, and the switching member is arranged at a position away from the center of the key member. , When the key member is pressed down, the plurality of pins formed at the end of each scissor-like member are horizontally slid and guided between the back surface of the key member and the upper surface of the substrate, and the specially provided press button is provided on the key member. The switching member is pushed by the pushing portion while slidingly guiding the portion up and down through the holder portion.

The key switch device described in the latter is the key switch device described in the former except that the pin can be pivotally positioned between each pin formed on the scissors-like member and the back surface of the key member. The device has the same basic structure as the device, and is characterized in that the key member can be easily attached to and detached from the scissors-like member.

The key switch device described in each of these publications can guide the up and down movement of the key while maintaining the horizontal state regardless of which part of the key is pressed regardless of the pressed position on the key.

[0008]

However, in each of the key switch devices described in the above publications, the key member is restricted from moving in the front-rear, left-right direction between each pin of the scissor-like member and the substrate. Nothing is provided for it. Therefore, when the key member is operated, there is a possibility that the key member may move in the front, rear, left, and right directions together with the scissors-like member.

Further, in each of the key switch devices described in the above-mentioned publications, the pressing portion specially provided on the key member is slidably guided up and down through the holder portion to press the switching member by the pressing portion. Therefore, as described above, the key member may move in the front-rear, left-right direction during the operation of the key member, which may cause twisting between the pressing portion and the holder portion.

Therefore, in the above-described conventional key switch device, when the key member is operated, the key member moves in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and accordingly, twisting occurs between the push-down portion and the holder portion. There is a problem that the operability of the key member becomes extremely poor.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is possible to prevent the key top from moving in the front, rear, left and right directions even when the key top is operated, and at the same time, An object of the present invention is to provide a key switch device capable of operating the key top while maintaining the horizontal state of the key top regardless of the pressed position, thereby significantly improving the key operability.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a key top in which a first locking portion and a second locking portion are vertically provided from the back surface, and is arranged below the key top. And a holder member in which a third locking portion is formed at a diagonal position of the first locking portion and a fourth locking portion is formed at a diagonal position of the second locking portion, and the first locking portion. A first locking member that is locked to the first locking member and a third locking member that is locked to the third locking portion
A second member having a hinge member, a second locking member locked to the second locking portion, and a fourth locking member locked to the fourth locking portion.
A hinge support member is rotatably supported relative to each other, and a guide support member that guides the vertical movement of the key top, and a switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, A pair of claw pieces is vertically provided from both side edges of the back surface of the key top, and a pair of vertical guide grooves is provided on the holder member between the third locking portion and the fourth locking portion. Guide walls are provided upright, and the claw pieces are slidably guided along the vertical guide grooves as the key tops move up and down by being inserted into the vertical guide grooves of the guide walls. It

Further, each of the vertical guide grooves has a closing portion whose upper end is closed, and the tip end portion of each of the claw pieces is configured to be locked by each closing portion.

[0014]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, when the key top is pressed during the switching operation, a pair of claw pieces vertically hung from both side edges of the back surface of the key top are pressed on the holder member when the key top is pressed. It is slidably guided along the upper and lower guide grooves of a pair of standing guide walls. At this time, based on the fact that each claw piece is slidably guided by the upper and lower guide grooves of each guide wall,
The key top is never moved back and forth or left and right.

Further, at the same time, the first hinge member locked to the first locking portion of the key top and the third locking portion of the holder member that constitute the guide support member, and the second key top member. The locking portion and the second hinge member locked by the fourth locking portion of the holder member are rotated relative to each other and moved downward. Along with this, the guide support member presses the switching member to perform switching. Here, the guide support member that guides the vertical movement of the key top pivotally supports the two first hinge members and the second hinge member so that they can be rotated relative to each other. The key top is moved downward while maintaining the horizontal state regardless of the position of the key top.

On the other hand, when the key top is released, the key top is guided and supported as the claw pieces are slid upward along the upper and lower guide grooves of the guide walls based on the elastic restoring force of the switching member. It is moved upward together with the member and returned to the original non-depressed position. In the original non-depressed position, the tip end of each claw piece is locked by the closing portion that closes the upper end of each guide groove. As a result, each claw piece is prevented from coming off from each guide groove, and as a result, the key top will not come off from the holder member.

[0017]

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 a key switch device according to this embodiment.
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 1, there are two locking portions 2 and 3 (each locking portion 2 and 3 has a pair in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and only one of them is shown in FIG. 1). ) Is provided integrally with the main body of the key top 1 facing downward.

An engaging rod 2 is engaged with the engaging portion 2 so that an engaging rod 13 formed at one end of one of two hinge members 7 and 8 to be described later can be slid horizontally. The groove 4 is formed, and the locking portion 3 is provided with a locking groove 5 for locking the locking pins 23 and 24 formed at one end of the other hinge member 8 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. Has been formed.

Further, the locking groove 4 is formed with a locking guide portion 4A continuous with the locking groove 4, and the locking guide portion 4A locks the locking rod 13 of the hinge member 7 with the locking groove. It guides toward the locking groove 4 when snapping into the inside. Further, a locking guide portion 5A is provided below the locking groove 5 of the locking portion 3, and the locking guide portion 5A locks the locking pins 23 and 24 of the hinge member 8 into the locking groove 5. It guides toward the locking groove 5 when snapped in.

Further, a pair of locking claws 34 are vertically provided integrally with the key top 1 from both side edges on the back surface of the key top 1, and a locking projection 35 is provided at the lower end of each locking claw 34. ing. Each of the locking claws 34 is a claw guide groove 33 of a pair of guide walls 33 provided upright on the holder plate 25 described later.
It is inserted into A, and each locking projection 35 is locked to the lower end surface of the closing portion 33C provided at the upper end of the guide wall 33 (see FIG. 4).

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

As shown in FIG. 2, one of the hinge members 7 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and has a pair of plate-like bodies 9 and a locking rod 13 is provided between one ends of each plate-like body 9. It is integrally formed, and a locking pin 1 is provided at the other end of each plate-shaped body 9.
5 and 16 are formed. This locking rod 1
3 is snapped into the locking groove 4 of the locking portion 2 via the locking guide portion 4A, and the locking pins 15 and 16 are respectively locked to a locking portion 26 formed on a holder plate 25 described later. It will be snapped in.

Further, the shaft member 1 is provided at each of central positions on the inside and the outside of each plate member 9 which face each other.
2A and 12B are formed, and the shaft body 12A is rotatably supported in shaft holes 20 formed in plate-like bodies 17 of a hinge member 8 described later. Further, the shaft body 12B is provided with a shaft guide groove 33 of a guide wall 33 provided upright on a holder plate 25 described later.
It is fitted in B. The locking rod 13 of the hinge member 7 and the locking pins 15 and 16 are configured to have the same distance from the shafts 12A and 12B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the other hinge member 8 has a pair of plate-like bodies 17, and a locking rod 21 is integrally formed between one ends of each plate-like body 17, and Plate 1
Locking pins 23 and 24 are formed at the other end of each of 7. Both ends of the locking rod 21 are locked to a locking portion 27 of a holder plate 25 described later, and the locking pins 23 and 24 are locked to the locking portion 3 via the locking guide portion 5A. It snaps into the groove 5.

In addition, between the central positions of the insides of the plate-like bodies 17, they are placed on the upper surface of a rubber spring 31 which will be described later, and when the key top 1 is pushed down, the hinge members 7 and 8 are mutually arranged. Rubber spring 31 with rotation
A push-down bar 18 for pushing down is provided. As a result, when the key top 1 is pressed, the pressing rod 18 presses the rubber spring 31 to perform the switching operation.

Axial holes 20 are formed in central portions of the plate-like bodies 17 facing each other outside the plate-like bodies 17. In the axial holes 20, the plate-like bodies 9 of the hinge member 7 are formed.
Each shaft body 12A formed in the above is rotatably supported. As a result, both hinge members 7 and 8 are rotatable by intersecting each other via the shafts 12A and the shaft holes 20, and the shaft support portion A (see FIG. 4) is formed. The locking rod 21 of the hinge member 8 and the locking pins 23 and 24 are configured to be equal in distance from the shaft holes 20.

Next, a resin holder plate 25 is disposed below the guide support member 6, and the holder plate 25 has a locking portion 26 corresponding to each switch device.
27 (Each two locking portions 26, 27 are provided, but one locking portion 26, 27 is shown in FIG. 1)
Are formed.

Each of the locking portions 26, 27 is composed of a pair of locking pieces 26A, 26B, and 27A, 27B, and each one of the locking pieces 26A, 27A has an inclined surface that is inclined inward. Locking guide portions 26C and 27C are formed. Further, both locking pieces 26A, 26 in the locking portion 26
The engaging groove 28 is formed by B, and the engaging pins 15 and 16 formed on the hinge member 7 are snapped into the engaging groove 28 via the resin elasticity of the engaging guide portion 26C. Further, both locking pieces 27A and 27B in the locking portion 27
By this, a locking groove 29 similar to the locking groove 28 is formed, and both ends of the locking rod 21 formed on the hinge member 8 are formed in the locking groove 29 through the resin elasticity of the locking guide portion 27C. Will be snapped in.

Further, on the holder plate 25, a pair of guide walls 33 (see FIG. 4) for guiding the outer side surface of each plate-like body 9 of the hinge member 7 between the both locking portions 26, 27.
Is erected. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, each guide wall 33 has a claw guide groove 33A on the outer side thereof for slidingly guiding the locking claw 34 formed on the key top 1 in the vertical direction,
The shaft guide groove 33B for slidingly guiding the shaft 12B of the hinge member 7 inside the claw guide groove 33A, and the upper end portion of the claw guide groove 33A for locking the lower end of the locking projection 35 of the locking claw 34 are provided. A closed portion 33C that is closed is provided.

The holder plate 2 constructed as described above
As shown in FIG. 4, a flexible circuit board 30 on which switch electrodes 30A are formed corresponding to the respective key switches is arranged below the switch 5. Also, a flexible circuit board 30 corresponding to the switch electrodes 30A is formed in a reverse cup shape. Rubber spring 31
Are mounted on the flexible circuit board 30. Further, a movable electrode 31A is fixed to the inner top wall of the rubber spring 31 so as to face the switch electrode 30A on the circuit board 30. The push bar 18 formed on the hinge member 8 is disposed on the upper surface of the rubber spring 31.

As a result, when the push rod 18 moves downwards as the key top 1 is pushed, the rubber spring 31 is pushed by the push rod 18, and when the pushing amount exceeds a certain amount, the rubber spring 31 buckles and moves. The switching operation is performed by bringing the electrode 31A and the switch electrode 30A on the flexible circuit board 30 into contact with each other.

A switch support plate 32 is provided below the flexible circuit board 30, and the switch support plate 32 is provided above each circuit board 30.
The holder plate 25 is supported.

Next, the operation of the key switch device configured as described above will be described. First, in the non-depressed position of the key top, as shown in FIG.
Since the locking projection 35 of is locked to the closing portion 33C of the guide wall 33, it is not moved unnecessarily in the left-right direction in FIG. 4, and the key top 1 is removed from the guide wall 33. It doesn't get lost.

When the key top 1 is pushed downward, the locking claws 3 are moved as the key top 1 moves downward.
4 is slidably guided downward along the claw guide groove 33A of the guide wall 33. As a result, the key top 1 does not move in the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 and 5 when it is pressed.

Further, as the key top 1 moves downward, the locking rod 13 of the hinge member 7 slides horizontally (leftward in FIG. 1) in the locking groove 4 of the locking portion 2, and The locking pins 23 and 24 of the hinge member 8 slide horizontally in the locking groove 5 of the locking portion 3 (rightward in FIG. 1). At the same time, the locking rod 21 of the hinge member 8 is similar to the locking rod 13 in the locking groove 2 of the locking portion 27 of the holder plate 25.
While sliding in the horizontal direction in 9 (leftward in FIG. 1),
The locking pins 15 and 16 of the hinge member 7 are the locking pins 2 described above.
Like 3 and 24, it slides horizontally (rightward in FIG. 1) in the locking groove 28 of the locking portion 26.

At the same time, the hinge member 7 and the hinge member 8 mutually rotate about the shaft support portion A, and the shaft support portion A moves downward accordingly. When the shaft support portion A moves downward, the outer surface of each plate-shaped body 9 of the hinge member 7 moves downward along the inner wall surface of each guide wall 33, and the shafts formed on each plate-shaped body 9 move. The body 12A is slidably guided along the shaft guide groove 33B of each guide wall 33. Therefore, even from this point of view, when the key top 1 is pressed, the key top 1 does not move in the horizontal direction in FIG. Further, since the key top 1 is moved while being supported by both hinge members 7 and 8, the key top 1 does not move in a tilted state when the key top 1 is pressed.

As a result, the push rod 18 of the hinge member 8 is moved downward and the rubber spring 31 is gradually pushed, and when the pushing amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 31 buckles. To be done. As a result, the movable electrode 31A in the rubber spring 31 short-circuits the switch electrode 30A on the flexible circuit board 30 to perform a predetermined switching operation.

When the depression of the key top 1 is released, the pushing rod 18 of the hinge member 7 is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 31. Along with this, the locking rod 13, the locking pins 15, 16 of the hinge member 7, and the locking rod 21, the locking pins 23, 24 of the hinge member 8 perform operations opposite to those described above. As a result, the key top 1 is returned to its original position.

As described above, even when the key top 1 returns to the original non-depressed position, the respective locking claws 34 are slid and guided upward along the claw guide grooves 33A of the guide wall 33, and accordingly,
When the key top 1 is returned, it is not moved in the left and right directions in FIGS. 1 and 5. Further, the outer surface of each plate-like body 9 of the hinge member 7 moves upward along the inner wall surface of each guide wall 33, and the shaft 12A formed on each plate-like body 9 causes the shaft of each guide wall 33 to move. The key top 1 is not slidably guided along the guide groove 33B, so that the key top 1 does not move in the left-right direction in FIG. 4 even from such a point.

As described above, the key top 1 is unnecessarily front-back direction (left-right direction in FIGS. 1 and 5) and left-right direction both when pressed and when returned to the original non-pressed position. It is prevented from being moved (in the left-right direction in FIG. 4). Further, in this embodiment, the key top 1 is moved while being supported by the hinge members 7 and 8, so that the key top 1 is prevented from moving in an inclined state.

In order to assemble the key switch device having the above-mentioned structure, each shaft body 12A of the hinge member 7 is fitted into each shaft hole 20 of the hinge member 8 to assemble the guide support member 6, and then the hinge member 7 is assembled. The other shaft body 12B from above the shaft guide groove 33B formed in the guide wall 33.
Insert into 3B. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking pins 15 and 16 of the hinge member 7 are locked by the holder plate 2.
5 is disposed between the locking guide portion 26C formed on the locking piece 26A of the locking portion 26 in FIG. 5 and the locking piece 26B, and the locking rod 21 of the hinge member 8 is engaged with the locking portion 27. It is arranged between the locking guide portion 27C formed on the stop piece 27A and the locking piece 27B.

Subsequently, the key top 1 is placed on the guide support member 6, the locking rod 13 of the hinge member 7 is made to face the locking guide portion 4A of the locking portion 2 of the key top 1, and The locking pins 23 and 24 of the hinge member 8 are opposed to the locking guide portion 5A of the locking portion 3 of the key top 1 (see FIG. 6).

After that, when the key top 1 is lightly pushed downward, the locking pins 15 and 16 of the hinge member 7 are snapped into the locking groove 28 through the resin elasticity of the locking guide portion 26C. The locking rod 21 of the hinge member 8 is also snapped into the locking groove 29 via the resin elasticity of the locking guide portion 27C. At the same time, the locking rod 1 of the hinge member 7
3 is snapped into the locking groove 4 via the locking guide portion 4A, and the locking pins 23, 24 of the hinge member 8
Is snapped into the locking groove 5 via the locking guide portion 5A. This completes the assembly of the key switch device.

As described above, the hinge members 7 and 8 can be easily connected to the holder plate 25 and the key top 1 by simply depressing the key top 1 easily. The work can be simplified and the work load can be reduced.

As described in detail above, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, the pair of locking claws 34 vertically extending from both side edges of the key top 1 are formed on the guide wall 33 on the holder plate 25. Since it is inserted into the groove 33A, even if the key top 1 moves up and down when the key top 1 is operated, it is possible to prevent the key top 1 from moving in the front-rear and left-right directions. Therefore, the key operability of the key top 1 can be remarkably improved.

Further, since each shaft body 12B of the hinge member 7 is fitted into the shaft guide groove 33B formed in the guide wall 33, even if the key top 1 moves up and down when the key top 1 is operated, the key top 1 is Since the key top 1 does not move in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the vertical movement can be reliably performed while maintaining the horizontal state of the key top 1 in combination with the above effect.

Further, when the key top 1 is not operated, the locking projections 35 of the locking claws 34 are engaged with the closed portion 3 of the guide wall 33.
Since it is locked to 3C, the key top 1 is attached to the guide wall 33.
It is possible to reliably prevent the key top 1 from coming off, and, in combination with the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 31, it is possible to properly regulate the non-depressed position of the key top 1.

Further, since the key top 1 is vertically moved and guided by the guide support member 6 composed of the two hinge members 7 and 8 which are rotatably intersected with each other, the key top is operated when the key top is operated. It is possible to prevent the key 1 from moving up and down in a tilted state, and as a result, it is possible to significantly improve the key operability of the key top 1 in combination with preventing the key top 1 from moving in the front, rear, left and right directions as described above. is there.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the key top from moving in the front, rear, left and right directions even when the key top is operated, and the key top is in the horizontal state regardless of the pressed position of the key top. It is possible to provide a key switch device capable of operating the key top while holding the key top, and thereby significantly improving the key operability, and its industrial effect is great.

[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 hinge member.

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

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

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a locking claw and a claw guide groove.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before the key switch device is assembled.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Key Top 2, 3, 26, 27 Locking Part 4, 5, 28, 29 Locking Groove 6 Guide Supporting Member 7, 8 Hinge Member 13, 21 Locking Rod 15, 16, 23, 24 Locking Pin 25 Holder Plate 31 Rubber spring 33 Guide wall 33A Claw guide groove 33B Shaft guide groove 33C Closing part 34 Locking claw 35 Locking protrusion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key top in which a first locking portion and a second locking portion are vertically provided from a back surface, and the key top is disposed below the key top and is
A holder member having a third locking portion at a diagonal position of the locking portion and a fourth locking portion at a diagonal position of the second locking portion; and a holder member locked to the first locking portion. A first hinge member having a first locking member and a third locking member locked to the third locking portion, and a second locking member and a fourth locking portion locked to the second locking portion. A guide supporting member that pivotally supports a second hinge member having a fourth locking member to be locked so as to be rotatable with each other, and a guide support member that guides the vertical movement of the key top, and the vertical movement of the key top. A switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with the above, and a pair of claw pieces is vertically provided from both side edges of the back surface of the key top, and the holder member has the third engaging portion and the fourth engaging portion. A pair of guide walls having upper and lower guide grooves are erected between the stoppers, and the claw pieces are arranged above and below the guide walls. Key switch, characterized in that it is slidably guided along the vertical guide grooves with the vertical movement of the key top by being inserted into the inner groove. 2. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein each of the upper and lower guide grooves has a closing portion whose upper end is closed, and a tip portion of each of the claw pieces is locked by the closing portion. apparatus.