JPH0676682A - Key top and manufacture thereof - Google Patents
Key top and manufacture thereofInfo
- Publication number
- JPH0676682A JPH0676682A JP23213292A JP23213292A JPH0676682A JP H0676682 A JPH0676682 A JP H0676682A JP 23213292 A JP23213292 A JP 23213292A JP 23213292 A JP23213292 A JP 23213292A JP H0676682 A JPH0676682 A JP H0676682A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- key
- shell
- transparent sheet
- keytop
- shape
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 6
- 239000011257 shell materials Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000004049 embossing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000007666 vacuum forming Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000000463 materials Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000011347 resins Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229920005989 resins Polymers 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000000470 constituents Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000011248 coating agents Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 methods Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037237 body shape Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorants Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagrams Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010422 painting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral Effects 0.000 description 1
Abstract
Description
[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keytop, and more particularly to a keytop used for a panel switch, a single switch or the like and a method for manufacturing the keytop.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional key top, as shown in FIG. 5, constituent members 50 and 51 of different colors are separately molded and assembled so that they are exposed together on the upper surface side of the key top. There was something to leave. That is,
The first component member 50 is used as an outer shell member, and a transparent portion 50a in which characters and the like are watermark-engraved is formed on the upper surface side thereof. Then, there is one in which the second constituent member 51 having the protrusion 51a configured to be fitted into the transparent portion 50a is fitted on the upper surface from the inside of the first constituent member 50.
Another type of key top is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the key top 60 molded into a predetermined shape
On the top surface of the, such as coloring and letters that display the function of the switch 6
There is a printout of 1.
Another type of key top is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, there is also a case where a coating 71 is applied to the entire surface from the side surface to the upper surface of the key top 70, and the coating 71 is peeled off by laser processing to form the removed character 71a.
Further, as shown in FIG.
There is also one in which the character 81 is printed on the back side of 0.
9 is a plan view of each of the key tops shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are sectional views taken along the line AA in FIG.
[0007]
By the way, in the key top of the type as shown in FIG. 5, the transparent portion 50a of the first component member 50, which is the outer shell member, is engraved or The protrusion 51a must be formed on the upper surface of the second component 51. Therefore, these constituent members 50, 5
Not only is there a restriction on the resin material used and the shape of characters, but the processing cost was extremely high.
In addition, like the key top shown in FIG.
In the case of applying color or letters to the surface, there is a drawback that they are easily peeled off.
Further, even in the case of the key top shown in FIG. 7, the coated portion is easily peeled off.
Further, depending on the type of the switch, there is a type in which a pusher for pressing the switch must be provided on the back side of the keytop body. However, in the case of the key top shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to form the back surface for painting and printing into a flat surface or a shape close to it.
The pusher cannot be molded integrally with the keytop body. Therefore, when the pusher is provided, it is necessary to attach the pusher molded separately so as to sandwich the character printing portion. In this way, in the key top of FIG. 7, the back surface shape cannot be freely configured,
There was a drawback that the pusher and the like had to be molded separately.
Therefore, the technical problem of the present invention is that there are few restrictions on the molding material, there is no restriction on the composition and color of the displayed characters, and the life of the painted part can be extended. It is to provide a key top whose shape can be freely set.
[0012]
The present invention is characterized in that at least the upper surface of the key top is covered with a transparent sheet body having characters or coloring on the back surface.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the transparent sheet body having characters and the like on the back surface is formed by embossing.
Further, according to the present invention, the transparent sheet body having characters or the like on the back surface is formed into a predetermined keytop shape by a vacuum forming method, and the molded product of the keytop body is loaded in the transparent sheet body. It is characterized by doing.
Further, according to the present invention, a transparent sheet body formed into a predetermined key top shape by an embossing process or a vacuum forming method is filled with a key top body molding material such as rubber or resin to have a predetermined key top body shape. It is characterized by being molded into.
[0016]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing an embodiment of the key top of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing an application example of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a process explanation of a key top manufacturing method of the present invention. It is a figure.
The cross section of the key top in the embodiment of the present invention is also the line AA in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the key top of the present invention comprises an outer shell member 1, an inner core member 3, and a printing portion 2 formed on the back surface side of the outer shell member 1. The outer shell member 1 is formed by embossing or vacuum forming a transparent sheet body.
That is, the outer shell member 1 is a transparent sheet body formed into a predetermined key top shape (concave shape) by embossing or vacuum forming, and the back surface side of the key top surface (upper surface) is coated. The printing portion 2 is formed by.
A key top body 3 made of resin, rubber or the like is loaded in the recess inside the outer shell member 1. The pusher 31 for pressing the switch is a portion of the key top body 3 that projects toward the center of the lower end side. Needless to say, the shape of the keytop body 3 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and may differ depending on the type of switch.
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the key top of the present invention is incorporated in the housing 4, and the pusher 31 of the key top main body 3 is arranged so as to contact the upper end surface of the switch 5.
Next, a method of manufacturing the key top of the present invention will be described.
First, in the first step, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the printing portion 2 is formed by coating on one surface side (back surface side) of the flat plate-shaped transparent sheet body 1 serving as an outer shell member. To do.
Next, in the second step, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the transparent sheet body 1 is formed in a concave shape so that the printed portion 2 is placed inside so that the outer peripheral shape of the desired key top is obtained. To form. The concave shape of the transparent sheet body 1 is formed by, for example, an embossing method or a vacuum forming method.
The order of the first step and the second step may be reversed. That is, the printing portion 2 may be formed after the transparent sheet body 1 is formed in a concave shape.
Next, in the third step, as shown in FIG. 3C, a rubber or an inner core member is formed in the concave portion of the transparent sheet body 1 in which the printing portion 2 is formed on the back surface by the above step. The keytop body 3 made of resin is filled to mold the keytop body 3 into a desired shape. In this case, the concave transparent sheet body 1 functions as an outer mold for molding the keytop body 3. However, in the present invention, the key top body 3 preliminarily molded into a predetermined shape may be loaded into the transparent sheet body 1.
FIG. 4 shows an example in which the key top of the present invention is applied to a plurality of key tops such as a panel switch arranged, and the key tops are interconnected by a hinge portion. Even if such a plurality of key tops are integrally connected to each other, the key tops shown in FIGS.
The transparent sheet body 1 of each keytop can be integrally molded by the method shown in FIG. Then, the material for molding the keytop main body 3 is filled in the concave portion corresponding to each keytop of the integrally molded transparent sheet body 1 to mold each keytop main body 3.
[0029]
As described above, according to the present invention, the key top has the double structure of the outer shell member and the inner core member, and the outer shell member is formed by embossing or vacuum forming the transparent sheet body. Further, since the printing portion (colored portion) is provided on the back surface side of the key top surface of the outer shell member and the inner core member made of resin or rubber is provided in the recess of the outer shell member, there are few restrictions on the molding material. In addition, there are no restrictions on the structure or color of the displayed characters. Moreover, since the display character portion (painted portion) is formed on the back surface side of the transparent sheet body, the coloring is not peeled off and the life of the transparent sheet body can be extended. Furthermore, the shape of the key top can be freely set.
Further, in the present invention, if the transparent sheet bodies, which are the outer shell members of the respective keytops, are coated and printed in a state of being connected to each other and resin molding is carried out, a significant cost reduction can be achieved.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a key top of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an application example of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a process explanatory diagram of a method for manufacturing a keytop according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the key top of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view. (B) is FIG. 4 (a)
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a key top of a first conventional example.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a key top of a second conventional example.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a key top of a third conventional example.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a key top of a fourth conventional example.
9 is a plan view of the key top of FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG.
1 Outer shell member (transparent sheet) 2 Printed part (colored part) 3 Inner core member (resin or rubber)
Claims (3)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP23213292A JPH0676682A (en) | 1992-08-31 | 1992-08-31 | Key top and manufacture thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP23213292A JPH0676682A (en) | 1992-08-31 | 1992-08-31 | Key top and manufacture thereof |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
JPH0676682A true JPH0676682A (en) | 1994-03-18 |
Family
ID=16934503
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
JP23213292A Pending JPH0676682A (en) | 1992-08-31 | 1992-08-31 | Key top and manufacture thereof |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
JP (1) | JPH0676682A (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS4851718A (en) * | 1971-10-29 | 1973-07-20 | ||
JPS5868813A (en) * | 1981-10-19 | 1983-04-23 | Mitsubishi Rayon Co | Surface sheet for flat keyboard and method of producing same |
JPS6020415A (en) * | 1983-06-22 | 1985-02-01 | Bayer Ag | Method of producing key |
-
1992
- 1992-08-31 JP JP23213292A patent/JPH0676682A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS4851718A (en) * | 1971-10-29 | 1973-07-20 | ||
JPS5868813A (en) * | 1981-10-19 | 1983-04-23 | Mitsubishi Rayon Co | Surface sheet for flat keyboard and method of producing same |
JPS6020415A (en) * | 1983-06-22 | 1985-02-01 | Bayer Ag | Method of producing key |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
A02 | Decision of refusal |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A02 Effective date: 19970722 |