JPH11176280A - Key switch apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily assemble a guide supporting member and a holder plate by folding the guide supporting member in approximately horizontal state at a prescribed height in a condition that a first hinge member and a second hinge member are reciprocally folded. SOLUTION: In a state that respective hinge members 47, 48 are reciprocally folded, the respective extended parts 81 of the hinge member 47 and the respective extended parts of the hinge member 48 are overlapped and as a result, a guide supporting member is kept approximately in a horizontal state. After that, while being guided by respective guiding walls from the open sides of sliding grooves 68, 69 in respective engaging parts 66, 67, engaging pins 55, 56 of the hinge member 47 and an engaging rod 61 of the hinge member 48 are slid toward the respective sliding grooves 68, 69 on a holder plate 65. When the engaging rod is further slid, the engaging rod 61 goes over an engaging projected part 69A formed in the sliding groove 69 from an inclining side. Consequently, joining of the guide supporting member and the holder plate 65 is completed.

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 disposed on a holder plate. The present invention relates to a key switch device which is extremely easy to assemble with a holder plate and has good operability of a key top.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various key switch devices have been proposed. In such a key switch device, generally, a key stem vertically provided from the back surface of a key top is vertically slid by a key holder portion formed on a holder plate. Was adopted.

In a key switch device having such a configuration,
If the part where the key stem is slid and guided by the key holder part is enlarged, the key operability is improved, but it is not possible to respond to the thinning of the keyboard. There has been a dilemma in that if the sliding guide portion is made smaller, key operability is reduced due to the torsion occurring between the two.

[0004] The present applicant has eliminated the key stem and the key holder in order to eliminate such a dilemma in the conventional key switch, and has proposed a key switch device which can cope with a thin keyboard and has good key operability. −
No. 330160. Such a key switch device is shown in FIGS. For a detailed configuration of this key switch device, reference is made to Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160, and its outline will be described below.

In FIG. 9, a key top 1 made of resin is
Locking holes 4 and locking grooves 5 of two locking portions 2 and 3 (a pair of each locking portion 2 and 3 exist) provided on the back surface thereof
Locking portions 26, 2 of a resin holder plate 25 and
The guide support member 6 (comprising two resin hinge members 7, 8) disposed between the lock groove 28 and the lock hole 29 of the lock member 7 (each of the lock portions 26, 27 exists in a pair). The locking pins 13 and 14 provided at one end of the hinge member 7 are provided in the locking holes 4, and the locking pins 15 and 16 provided at the other end are provided in the locking grooves 2.
8, the locking pins 23, 24 provided at one end of the hinge member 8 are locked in the locking groove 5, and the locking pins 21, 22 provided in the other end are locked in the locking holes 29. Up and down).

[0006] Axial support A of both hinge members 7, 8
Is a flexible circuit board 3 supported on a support plate 32
The switch is arranged at the top of a rubber spring 31 placed on the top of the rubber spring 31, and when the key top 1 is pressed down, the rubber spring 31 buckles via the shaft support A to perform a switching operation.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the hinge member 7 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 10 and 11 at both ends of a base 9. A shaft 12 extends from one side surface of the central portion of the base 9, and the shaft 12 is supported by a shaft hole 20 formed in the other hinge member 8 described later. Locking pins 13 and 14 extend from the side surfaces of the both end extending portions 10 </ b> A of the base end portion 10.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a lock which is locked by a lock hole 4 formed in the lock portion 2 of the key top 1 described above. Further, the base end portion 11 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and both ends of the U-shape have a U-shape.
Lock pins 15 and 16 similar to those described above extend from the side surface of. The locking pins 15 and 16 are locked by locking portions 26 formed on the holder plate 25.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hinge member 8 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 18 and 19 at both ends of a base 17. The shaft hole 2 is provided at the center of the base 17.
The shaft 12 provided on the base 9 of the hinge member 7 is inserted into the shaft hole 20 as described above. Also,
The base end portion 18 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and locking pins 21 and 22 are extended from the U-shaped both end extending portions 18A. The locking pins 21 and 22 are locked by locking portions 27 formed on the holder plate 25.

Further, locking pins 23 and 24 similar to the above are extended from both end extending portions 19A of the base end portion 19, and the locking pins 23 and 24 are the locking portions 3 of the key top 1 described above. Is slidably locked in the locking groove 5 formed in the groove.

As described above, the guide support member 6 is constructed by inserting the shaft 12 formed in the base 9 of one hinge member 7 into the shaft hole 20 formed in the base 17 of the other hinge member 8. The two hinge members 7 and 8 are mutually rotatable via a shaft support portion A including a shaft 12 and a shaft hole 17. According to such a key switch device, a key switch device having good key operability while realizing a thin keyboard can be realized.

[0011]

However, in the key switch device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160, assembling of the holder plate 25 and the guide support member 6 including the two hinge members 7 and 8, and , Guide support member 6
There is a problem that assembly with the key top 1 cannot be performed easily and easily.

That is, in order to assemble the key switch device, first, the hinge member 7 and the hinge member 8 are assembled in a cross shape to form the guide support member 6, and then the both ends of the hinge member 8 are locked at the base end portion 18. The pins 21 and 22 are pressed into the locking holes 29 of the locking portions 27 of the holder plate 25. At this time, the press-fitting of the locking pins 21 and 22 into the locking holes 29 is performed by utilizing the resin elasticity of the end extension 18A and the locking pins 21 and 22. Is difficult to position in the locking hole 29, and therefore the press-fitting operation is likely to be unstable. Therefore, this press-fitting operation was considerably complicated.

Further, the locking pins 15 and 16 at the base end 11 of the hinge member 7 are pressed into the locking grooves 28 of the locking portion 26. Even in such a case, since the press-fitting operation is performed by utilizing the resin elasticity of the end extension 11A and the locking pins 15 and 16, it is undeniable that it is a complicated operation as described above. In particular, a portion of the hinge member 7 below the shaft 12 and a portion of the hinge member 8 below the shaft hole 20 are bent as shown in FIG.
As described above, the guide support member 6 itself becomes high in accordance with the bending of the hinge members 7 and 8. In such a situation, when assembling the guide support member 6 and the holder plate 25, the lower portions of the hinge members 7, 8 cannot be brought into contact with the holder plate 25, and the locking pins 21 of the hinge member 8, The press-fitting operation of the locking member 27 into the locking portion 27 and the press-fitting operation of the locking pins 15, 16 of the hinge member 7 into the locking portion 26 must be performed in an extremely unstable state. Thus, it is difficult to simply and uniformly assemble the guide support member 6 to the holder plate 25.

After the connecting work between the hinge members 7, 8 and the locking portions 27, 26 of the holder plate 25 is completed, the locking pins 13, 1
The operation of press-fitting the locking pins 4 into the locking holes 4 of the locking portion 2 and the operation of pressing the locking pins 23 and 24 of the hinge member 8 into the locking grooves 5 of the locking portion 3 are performed. Since both press-fitting operations are performed by using the resin elasticity between the locking pins 13, 14, 23, and 24 and the locking portions 2, 3, the operation is complicated. Met.

As described above, the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
In the key switch device of No. 0, all the connecting operations between the hinge members 7, 8 of the guide support member 6, the holder plate 25, and the key top 1 are all performed using the resin elasticity of each member. In addition, since it is necessary to lock the locking pins 13 and the like while positioning the locking pins 13 and the like inside the locking holes 4 and the like, it is necessary to perform a complicated press-fitting work throughout the assembly work of the key switch device. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a key switch device in which assembling of a guide support member and a holder plate is extremely easy and operability of a key top is excellent. The purpose is to provide.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key switch device comprising: a key top having a first locking portion and a second locking portion suspended from a back surface; And a holder member having a third locking portion at a diagonal position of the first locking portion and a fourth locking portion at a diagonal position of the second locking portion, A first hinge member having a first locking member locked to the first locking portion and a third locking member locked to the third locking portion, and locked to the second locking portion. A second locking member and a second hinge member having a fourth locking member locked by the fourth locking portion are arranged so as to be mutually movable, and a guide for guiding the vertical movement of the key top; A support member; and a switching member for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the first hinge is provided. A first locking member and a third locking member of the member are connected by a first plate-like body, a central portion of the first plate-like body is formed at a predetermined height, and a first extension portion is formed from the central portion. And connecting the second locking member and the fourth locking member of the second hinge member with a second plate-shaped member, forming a central portion of the second plate-shaped member at the predetermined height, and A second extending portion is formed from the portion, and the guide support member is folded in a substantially horizontal state at the predetermined height in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded. . Further, the key switch device according to the second aspect is characterized in that the first key switch device is located at the first position from the back surface.
A key top on which a locking portion and a second locking portion are suspended; and a third locking portion and the second locking portion provided at a diagonal position of the first locking portion, the key top being disposed below the key top. A holder member having a fourth locking portion formed at a diagonal position of the locking portion, a first locking shaft member locked to the first locking portion, and a second locking member locked to the third locking portion. A second hinge having a first hinge member having three locking shaft members, a second locking shaft member locked by the second locking portion, and a fourth locking shaft member locked by the fourth locking portion. A hinge member and a guide supporting member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top, and a switching member for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top; The first locking shaft member and the third locking shaft member of one hinge member are connected by a first plate-shaped body having a predetermined height. A first locking shaft member and a third locking shaft member are formed at predetermined diagonal positions in the first plate-like body, and a second locking shaft member and a fourth locking shaft member of the second hinge member are formed. Are connected by a second plate-shaped member having the same height as the predetermined height, and the second locking shaft member and the fourth locking shaft member are connected to the predetermined diagonal position in the second plate-shaped member. The first hinge member and the second hinge member are formed in opposite diagonal positions, and the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded.
The axis of the locking shaft member, the axis of the second locking shaft member and the third
The axes of the locking shaft members are respectively arranged within the range of the predetermined height.

[0018]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, when assembling the key switch device, first, the first hinge member and the second hinge member are arranged in a mutually movable state, and the first hinge member and the second hinge member are connected to each other. Fold each other. Here, in the key switch device of the first aspect, the first locking member and the third locking member of the first hinge member are connected by the first plate-like body,
A central portion of the first plate-shaped body is formed at a predetermined height, and a first extending portion is formed from the central portion. Similarly, the second locking member and the fourth locking member of the second hinge member are connected by a second plate-like body, and a central portion of the second plate-like body is formed at the predetermined height, and A second extending portion is formed from the central portion. With such a configuration, in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded, the guide support member is folded substantially horizontally at the predetermined height. Further, in the key switch device of the second aspect, the first locking shaft member and the third locking shaft member of the first hinge member are formed at predetermined diagonal positions on the first plate-like body having a predetermined height. In addition, the second locking shaft member and the fourth locking shaft member of the second hinge member are at diagonal positions opposite to the predetermined diagonal position in the second plate-shaped body having the same height as the predetermined height. Is formed.
Then, in a state in which the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded, the axis of the first locking shaft member and the axis of the fourth locking shaft member, and the axis of the second locking shaft member and the second The axes of the three locking shaft members are arranged within a range of a predetermined height. Accordingly, the guide support member is folded substantially horizontally at the predetermined height in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are folded together, and in this state, the axis of the first locking shaft member, The axis of the fourth locking shaft member, the axis of the second locking shaft member, and the axis of the third locking shaft member are respectively arranged within a predetermined height range of the first and second plate members. It will be. The third locking member of the first hinge member and the fourth locking member of the second hinge member are connected to the third locking member formed on the holder member in a state where the guide support member is folded horizontally as described above. Portion and the fourth locking portion. At this time,
In the key switch device according to the first or second aspect, when assembling the guide support member and the holder member, the guide support member is folded horizontally so that each of the first hinge member and the second
The lower portion of the hinge member can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the holder member, whereby the assembly of the guide support member with respect to the holder member can be performed stably, easily, and uniformly.

Further, since the guide support member can be folded in a substantially horizontal state, its handling becomes extremely easy, and the connection work between each of the first and second hinge members and the holder member is easily performed. It becomes possible.

Next, when the key top is placed on each of the first and second hinge members and the key top is lightly pressed downward, the first locking member of the first hinge member is engaged with the first locking portion. At the same time, the second locking member of the second hinge member is locked to the second locking portion.

When the switching operation is performed by the key switch device assembled as described above, the key top is depressed. When the keytop is pressed, the keytop is guided downward via the guide support member with the pressing. In response to the depression of the key top, the guide support member is also moved downward, whereby the switching operation is performed via the switching member.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below 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.
Numeral 1 is molded from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. Also, from the back surface of the key top 41, two locking portions 42, 43 (each of the locking portions 42, 43 has a pair in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and FIG. 1 shows only one of each pair). ) Is provided integrally with the key top 41 body downward.

The locking portion 42 has a locking groove 44 for rotatably locking a locking bar 53 formed at one end of one of two hinge members 47, 48 to be described later. The locking portion 43 is formed with a locking groove 45 for locking locking pins 63 and 64 formed at one end of the other hinge member 48 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. I have.

The locking groove 44 is formed with a locking guide portion 44A which is continuous with the locking groove 44 and is opened so as to gradually expand downward. 44A guides the locking bar 53 of the hinge member 47 toward the locking groove 44 when snapping into the locking groove 44. Further, the locking groove 4 of the locking portion 43
5 is provided with a locking guide portion 45A having a slope extending downward, and the locking guide portion 45A connects the locking pins 63 and 64 of the hinge member 48 with the locking grooves. It is guided toward the locking groove 45 when snapping into the inside 45.

Below the key top 41, a key top 1 is provided.
A guide support member 46 for guiding and supporting the up and down movement is provided, and the guide support member 46 is provided with two hinge members 4.
7 and 48.

One hinge member 47 is formed in a U-shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 2, and has a pair of plate members 49. A locking bar 53 is provided between one end of each plate member 49. In addition to being integrally formed, locking pins 55 and 56 are formed at the other end of each plate-like body 49. As described above, each plate-like body 49 includes the locking rod 53 and the locking pins 55 and 56.
And are connected. The locking bar 53 is snapped into the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42 via the locking guide portion 44A, and the locking pins 55 and 56 are provided on a holder plate 65 described later. Locked to the stop 66. Further, a pair of shaft bodies 52 are provided at positions facing each other from the central position on the side of each plate-like body 49 facing each other. Each of these shaft members 52 is supported by a shaft hole 60 formed in the other hinge member 48 described later.
The locking bar 53 of the hinge member 47 and the locking pins 55, 5
6 are configured so that the distances from the respective shaft bodies 52 are equal. Here, the central portion 80 of each plate-like body 49 has a predetermined height as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, and has a diagonal position on both sides of the central portion 80 (in FIG.
From the upper left position and the lower right position), a pair of extending portions 81 having a height approximately half the predetermined height of the central portion 80 is formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the other hinge member 48 has a pair of plate-like members 57, and a locking bar 61 is integrally formed between one end of each plate-like member 57. Lock pins 63 and 64 are formed at the other end of the plate-like body 57, respectively. Thus, each plate-like body 57 connects the locking bar 61 and the locking pins 63 and 64. Both ends of the locking bar 61 are locked by locking portions 67 of a holder plate 65 described later, and the locking pins 63 and 64 are locked by the locking guide portion 45A. It is snapped into the groove 45.

Further, shaft holes 60 are formed at central positions facing each other on the outside of each plate-like body 57, and each plate-like body of the hinge member 47 is formed in each shaft hole 60. Each shaft 52 formed at 49 is rotatably fitted. As a result, the hinge members 47 and 48 are rotatable crossing each other via the shafts 52 and the shaft holes 60, and the shaft supporting portions A are formed by the shafts 52 and the shaft holes 60.
Is formed. The locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48 and the locking pins 63 and 64 are configured so that the distance from the shaft hole 60 is equal. Here, the central portion 8 of each plate-like body 57
2 is the hinge member 47 as shown in FIGS.
Has the same height as the height of the plate-like body 49,
From a diagonal position on both sides of the central portion 82 (the lower left end position and the upper right end position in FIGS. 7 and 8), a pair of extending portions having a height approximately half the height of the central portion 82. 8
3 are formed.

Further, between the central positions of the plate-like members 57, a rubber spring 71, which will be described later, is mounted on the upper surface, and each of the hinge members 4 is pressed when the key top 41 is pressed.
A push rod 58 is provided for pushing down the rubber spring 71 in accordance with the mutual rotation of 7 and 48. Thus, when the key top 41 is pressed, the pressing rod 58 presses the rubber spring 71 to perform a switching operation.

Next, a resin-made holder plate 65 is disposed below the guide support member 46. The holder plate 65 has a locking portion 6 corresponding to each switch device.
6 and 67 (two locking portions 66 and 67 are provided, respectively, but one locking portion 66 and 67 is shown in FIG. 1).

A sliding groove 68 having the right side as viewed in FIG. 1 as an open side is formed in the locking portion 66, and the sliding groove 68 of the locking portion 66 is provided with an engaging groove formed in the hinge member 47. Stop pin 5
5, 56 are inserted. The locking portion 67 has a locking portion 6.
6, a sliding groove 69 having the right side in FIG. 1 as an open side is formed, and a locking projection 69A having an inclined surface in the sliding groove 69 on the right side in FIG. Are formed. Both ends of the locking rod 61 formed on the hinge member 48 are inserted into the sliding groove 69 of the locking part 67. Further, on the holder plate 65, both the locking portions 6
6 and 67, each plate-like body 49 in the hinge member 47
A pair of guide walls 73 (see FIG. 4) are provided to guide the outer side surfaces of the pair.

Thus, the locking pins 55 and 56 of the hinge member 47 and the locking rod 61 of the hinge member 48 of the guide support member 46 are moved from the open side of the sliding groove 68 and the sliding groove 69 respectively. By sliding the outer surface of each plate-like body 49 on the holder plate 65 while guiding it to each guide wall 73, each of the locking pins 55 and 56 and the locking rod 6
1 is inserted into each of the sliding grooves 68 and 69. After the locking bar 61 has passed over the locking projection 69A in the sliding groove 69 at the time of the insertion, the locking bar 61 does not come off the sliding groove 69. The rod 61 and the locking pins 55 and 56 respectively have sliding grooves 69,
68 so as to be rotatable.

The holder plate 6 configured as described above
5, a flexible circuit board 70 on which switch electrodes 70A are formed corresponding to the respective key switches is arranged as shown in FIG. 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 so as to face the switch electrode 70A on the circuit board 70. On the upper surface of the rubber spring 71, a push rod 58 formed on the hinge 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 71
Is pressed by the push rod 58, and when a certain amount of pushing is exceeded, the rubber spring 71 buckles and the movable electrode 71A and the switch electrode 70A on the flexible circuit board 70 come into contact with each other to perform a switching operation. .

A switch support plate 72 is provided below the flexible circuit board 70. The switch support plate 72 is provided above each of the circuit boards 70,
This supports the holder plate 65.

In the above configuration, the locking portion 42 formed on the back surface of the key top 41 and the holding plate 45 formed on the back surface of the key top 41 existing on the left side in FIG. The locking bar 53
Is provided with a locking groove 44 for rotatably locking the locking rod 61 and a sliding groove 69 for rotatably locking the locking rod 61 in cooperation with the locking projection 69A. The locking pins 43, 64 formed on the back surface of the key top 41 and the locking portion 66 formed on the holder plate 65 on the right side of the perpendicular L in FIG. Locking pins 55, 5
6 is provided with a locking groove 45 and a sliding groove 68 for slidably locking the sheet 6 in a horizontal direction.

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 each shaft 52 of the hinge member 47 is connected to each shaft hole 6 of the hinge member 48.
0 and the guide support member 46 is assembled.

Thereafter, the hinge members 47 and 48 are rotated to be folded. At this time, the height of the central portion 80 of the plate-like body 49 in the hinge member 47 and the height of the central portion 82 of the plate-like body 57 in the hinge member 48 are formed at the same height. A pair of extending portions 8 formed at diagonal positions from both sides of each plate-like body 49 of the member 47
1, and a pair of extending portions 83 formed at diagonal positions from both sides of each plate-like body 57 of the hinge member 48 are both formed to have a height approximately half of the height of each hinge member. ing. Accordingly, the height obtained by adding the height of the extension portion 81 and the height of the extension portion 83 is substantially the same as the height of the central portions 80 and 82, and the hinge members 47 and 48 are folded together. In FIG. 5, the respective extension portions 81 of the hinge member 47 and the respective extension portions 83 of the hinge member 48 are overlapped, and as a result, the guide support member 46 is in a substantially horizontal state as shown in FIG. . When the guide support member 46 is folded horizontally as described above, the axis (center of the axis) of the locking bar 53 in the hinge member 47 and the axis (center of the axis) of the locking bar 61 in the hinge member 48 are different from each other. , Located within the range of the height of the central portions 80, 82 of the hinge members 47, 48, and similarly, each of the locking pins 55, 5
6 (axial center) and each locking pin 6 of the hinge member 48
The axes (axial centers) of 3, 64 are the hinge members 47, 4
8 lies within the range of the height of the central portions 80 and 82.
In this state, the lower portions of the hinge members 47 and 48 are in contact with the upper surface of the holder plate 65. After folding the guide member 46 in the horizontal state as described above, the locking pins 55 and 56 of the hinge member 47 and the hinge member 4
8 with the sliding groove 6 in each of the locking portions 66 and 67.
8 and 69 are slid into the respective sliding grooves 68 and 69 on the holder plate 65 while being guided by the respective guide walls 73 from the open side of the guide plates 73. And if you slide further,
The locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48 passes over the locking projection 69A formed in the sliding groove 69 from the slope side. This state is shown in FIG. Thus, the connection between the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65 is completed.

As described above, when assembling the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65, the guide support member 46 is folded horizontally so that each hinge member 47, hinge member 4
8 can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the holder plate 65, whereby the assembly of the guide support member 46 to the holder plate 65 can be performed stably, simply and uniformly. The locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48
The connection between the sliding member 69 and the locking pins 55 and 56 of the hinge member 47 and the sliding groove 68
Since the guide support members 46 are slid only on the holder plate 65 from the open sides of the respective sliding grooves 68 and 69 after the horizontal folding of the guide support members 7 and 48, the guide support members 46 Of the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65
Can be connected very easily. At this time, the guide support member 46 is guided by the respective guide walls 73 at the time of sliding, so that the guide support member 46 does not come off from the respective slide grooves 68, 69. The work can be performed more easily.

Next, the locking rod 53 of the hinge member 47 and the locking groove 44 of the key top 41 held in the state shown in FIG. After facing the locking groove 45 of the top 41 (see FIG. 7), the key top 41 is lightly pressed down. As a result, the locking bar 53 of the hinge 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 hinge member 48 are locked by the locking guide portion 45A. Is snapped into the locking groove 45 while being guided. Such a state is shown in FIG. Thus, the connection between the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 ends.

As described above, the locking bar 53 of the hinge member 47
The connection between the key top 41 and the locking groove 44 of the key top 41 and the connection between the locking pins 63 and 64 of the hinge member 48 and the locking groove 45 of the key top 41 are changed from the state shown in FIG.
Since the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 can be connected with each other very easily because the guide support member 46 and the key top 41 are simply pressed down.

Although the assembly of the key switch device is completed by the above-mentioned operation, the connecting operation of each of the hinge members 47, 48 with the holder plate 65 and the key top 41 can be performed very easily. In addition to simplifying the assembling work, the assembling time can be shortened, and the key switch device can be reliably 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 the key top 41 moves downward, the locking bar 53 of the hinge member 47 rotates counterclockwise in the locking hole 44 of the locking portion 42 as the key top 41 moves downward, and The locking pins 63 and 64 are engaged with the locking grooves 45 of the locking portion 43.
In the horizontal direction (right direction in FIG. 1). At the same time, the locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48 is
In the sliding groove 69 of the locking portion 67 in the clockwise direction in cooperation with the locking protrusion 69A, and the locking pins 55 and 56 of the hinge member 47 are in the sliding groove 68 of the locking portion 66. Slides in the horizontal direction (right direction in FIG. 1).

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

As a result, the shaft supporting portion A which supports the hinge members 47 and 48 with each other moves downward and gradually presses down the rubber spring 71, and when the amount of pressing down exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 71 is pressed. The spring 71 is buckled. Thereby, the movable electrode 7 in the rubber spring 71
1A is the switch electrode 70 on the flexible circuit board 70
A is short-circuited and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

When the depression of the key top 41 is released, the shaft supporting portions A of both the hinge members 47 and 48 become rubber springs 71.
It is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of. Accordingly, the locking rod 53, the locking pins 55, 5
6, the locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48, the locking pin 6
3 and 64 perform the reverse operation, and as a result, the key top 41 is returned to the original position.

Here, since the locking rods 53 and 61 are not moved in the horizontal direction but only rotate in the locking groove 44 and the sliding groove 69, respectively, the key top 41 is moved in the horizontal direction. The key top 1 is moved up and down without being moved.

As described above in detail, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, when assembling the key switch device,
After folding the hinge members 47 and 48 to each other to make them horizontal, the locking pins 55 and 56 of the hinge member 47 and the locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48 are moved to the respective locking portions 66 and 67.
Each of the sliding grooves 6 on the holder plate 65 is guided by the respective guiding wall 73 from the open side of the sliding grooves 68 and 69 in FIG.
8 and 69, and at the same time, slide until the locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48 gets over the locking projection 69A formed in the sliding groove 69, thereby allowing the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65 to slide. Of the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 6
5 can be extremely easily connected.

In particular, when the guide support member 46 slides,
Since the guide support member 46 is reliably guided toward the slide grooves 68 and 69 by the guide walls 73, the guide support member 46 does not come off from the slide grooves 68 and 69. The connection work by the guide wall 73
It can be done more easily.

The guide support member 46 and the key top 41
When the connection is made with the locking rod 53 of the hinge 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 hinge member 48 are opposed to the locking groove 45 of the key top 41, and then the key top 41 is lightly pressed down. By doing so, the locking rod 53 of the hinge member 47
Is snapped into the locking groove 44 while being guided by the locking guide portion 44A. At the same time, the locking pins 63 and 64 of the hinge member 48 are snapped into the locking groove 45 while being guided by the locking guide portion 45A. Guide support member 4
6 and the key top 41 can be connected very easily.

Further, in the key switch device assembled by the simple assembling operation as described above, the hinge member 47 is provided.
The locking bar 53 is rotatably held without moving in the locking groove 44 of the locking portion 42 and the hinge member 48
The locking bar 61 is rotatably held without moving in cooperation with the locking projection 69A in the sliding groove 69, 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 being moved in any of the front, rear, left, and right directions during the key operation. As a result, key operability can be significantly improved.

The height of the central portion 80 of the plate-like body 49 of the hinge member 47 constituting the guide support member 46 and the height of the central portion 82 of the plate-like body 57 of the hinge member 48 are the same. And a pair of extending portions 81 formed diagonally from both sides of each plate-like body 49 of the hinge member 47, and a pair of extensions 81 from both sides of each plate-like body 57 of the hinge member 48. A pair of extending portions 8 formed at corner positions
Reference numeral 3 denotes a hinge member which is formed to be approximately half the height of each hinge member. Therefore, the height of the extension 81 and the extension 83
The height of the hinge members 47 and 48 is substantially the same as the height of the central portions 80 and 82, and when the hinge members 47 and 48 are folded together, the extension portions 81 and Each extension 83 of the hinge member 48 is overlapped, and as a result, the guide support member 46 can be set to a substantially horizontal state. Further, as described above, when the guide support member 46 is folded in the horizontal state, the axis of the locking bar 53 of the hinge member 47 (center of the axis) and the axis of the locking bar 61 of the hinge member 48 (center of the axis). Is located within the range of the height of the central portions 80, 82 of the hinge members 47, 48, and similarly, the axes (axial centers) of the locking pins 55, 56 of the hinge members 47 and the hinge members 48. The axis (axial center) of each of the locking pins 63 and 64 is
7, 48 are located within the height of the central portion 80, 82. Thereby, when assembling the guide support member 46 and the holder plate 65, the guide support member 46 is folded horizontally so that the lower portions of the hinge members 47 and 48 contact the upper surface of the holder plate 65. This makes it possible to stably, easily and uniformly assemble the guide support member 46 to the holder plate 65. Further, the guide support member 46 at the time of assembling the key switch device can be easily handled, and the assembly of the holder plate 65 and the guide support member 46 can be performed more easily.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist 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, such a locking projection may be formed in the sliding groove 68 of the locking portion 66.

[0054]

As described above, in the key switch device according to the first aspect, the first locking member and the third locking member of the first hinge member are connected by the first plate-like body, and the first plate is formed. The central portion of the body is formed at a predetermined height, and a first extending portion is formed from the central portion. Similarly, the second locking member and the fourth locking member of the second hinge member are connected by a second plate-like body, and a central portion of the second plate-like body is formed at the predetermined height, and A second extending portion is formed from the central portion. With such a configuration, in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded, the guide support member is folded substantially horizontally at the predetermined height. Further, in the key switch device of the second aspect, the first locking shaft member and the third locking shaft member of the first hinge member have a first height having a predetermined height.
The second plate-like body is formed at a predetermined diagonal position in the plate-like body, and the second locking shaft member and the fourth locking shaft member of the second hinge member have the same height as the predetermined height. It is formed at a diagonal position opposite to the predetermined diagonal position. Then, in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded, the axis of the first locking shaft member and the axis of the fourth locking shaft member,
Further, the axis of the second locking shaft member and the axis of the third locking shaft member are respectively arranged within a range of a predetermined height. Accordingly, the guide support member is folded substantially horizontally at the predetermined height in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are folded together, and in this state, the axis of the first locking shaft member, The axis of the fourth locking shaft member, the axis of the second locking shaft member, and the axis of the third locking shaft member are respectively arranged within a predetermined height range of the first and second plate members. It will be. Based on such a configuration, when assembling the guide support member and the holder member, the guide support member is folded in a horizontal state, and the lower side of each of the first hinge member and the second hinge member is brought into contact with the upper surface of the holder member. This makes it possible to stably, easily and uniformly assemble the guide support member to the holder member. In addition, the guide support member,
Since it can be folded in a substantially horizontal state, its handling is extremely easy, and the connecting work between the first and second hinge members and the holder member can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal 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 state before a guide support member is connected to a 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 diagram showing a state in which a key top is connected to a guide support member connected to a holder plate.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional key switch device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of one hinge member used in a conventional key switch device.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another hinge member used in the conventional key switch device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 41 key tops 2, 3, 26, 27 42, 43, 66, 67 locking portions 6, 46 guide support members 7, 8, 47, 48 hinge members 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24 55, 56, 63, 64 Locking pin 25, 65 Holder plate 31, 71 Rubber spring 44, 45 Locking groove 44A, 45A Locking guide 68, 69 Sliding groove 69A Locking projection 31, 71 Rubber spring 73 Guide wall

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key top having a first locking portion and a second locking portion suspended from a back surface, the key top being disposed below the key top, and the first
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 locked at the first locking portion. A first hinge member having a first locking member and a third locking member locked by the third locking portion; and a second locking member and a fourth locking portion locked by the second locking portion. A second hinge member having a fourth locking member to be locked is arranged in a mutually movable state, and a guide support member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top; A switching member for performing a switching operation by connecting the first locking member and the third locking member of the first hinge member with a first plate-shaped member, and a central portion of the first plate-shaped member having a predetermined height. And a first extending portion is formed from a central portion, and a second locking member and a fourth locking member of the second hinge member are connected to each other. The first hinge member and the second hinge member are connected to each other by a second plate-shaped member, and form a central portion of the second plate-shaped member at the predetermined height and form a second extending portion from the central portion. The key switch device is characterized in that the guide support member is folded substantially horizontally at the predetermined height in a state where the guide support members are folded together. 2. A key top having a first locking portion and a second locking portion suspended from a back surface, the key top being disposed below the key top,
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 locked at the first locking portion. A first hinge member having a first locking shaft member and a third locking shaft member locked by the third locking portion; a second locking shaft member locked by the second locking portion; A second hinge member having a fourth locking shaft member locked to a stop portion, the second hinge member being disposed in a mutually movable state, and a guide support member for guiding the key top up and down; A switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with up and down movement, wherein the first locking shaft member and the third locking shaft member of the first hinge member are connected by a first plate-shaped body having a predetermined height. A first locking shaft member and a third locking shaft member are formed at predetermined diagonal positions on the first plate-shaped member; The second locking shaft member and the fourth locking shaft member are connected by a second plate-shaped body having the same height as the predetermined height, and the second locking shaft member and the fourth locking shaft member are connected. Are formed in a diagonal position opposite to the predetermined diagonal position in the second plate-like body, and in a state where the first hinge member and the second hinge member are mutually folded, the first locking shaft member A key, wherein the axis and the axis of the fourth locking shaft member, and the axis of the second locking shaft member and the axis of the third locking shaft member are respectively arranged within the predetermined height range. Switch device.