TWM453187U - Button apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Button device

The present invention relates to a button device, and more particularly to a button device having a function of locking a key cap.

The common button device is to use the button to input the signal, but in special cases, it is like the owner of the computer temporarily leaves the computer, and does not want others to type any information through the button device or prevent accidental touch by animals or others. When the button device is installed on the computer, such as a cat kept at home or a young child at home, curious to touch the button device, so a special mechanism is required to lock the button device.

In addition, the design trend of the button device must also meet the needs of the notebook computer towards slimming, and the overall height of the button device must be reduced. If the button device is not used, the overall height of the button device can be reduced, which is more conducive to the notebook computer. Thin. Therefore, how to lock the button device and reduce the overall height of the button device when not in use is a goal of continuous improvement by those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key device that has a locking function and that can reduce the overall height when not in use.

Therefore, the new button device comprises a key cap, a bottom plate unit, a frame, and an elastic member.

The keycap includes a hollow cap and a tab projecting outwardly from an outer edge of the hollow cap. The bottom plate unit is disposed under the keycap, and Forming a first perforation extending parallel to a sliding direction, the first perforation having an opposite first end and a second end. The frame is disposed above the bottom plate unit and includes a frame body, an opening extending through the frame body and provided for the hollow cap of the key cap, a tab formed on the lower surface of the frame body and for the key cap a accommodating groove, and a first protrusion protruding downward from the lower surface of the frame and parallel to the sliding direction, the first protrusion is slidably disposed on the first hole, the accommodating groove has a main groove portion, and a limiting portion extending from the side of the main groove portion and extending parallel to the sliding direction, the frame is movable relative to the bottom plate unit between a normal position and a locking position, in the normal position, The frame is spaced apart from the bottom plate unit, and the tab of the key cap is movable up and down in the main groove portion of the receiving groove. In the locking position, the first protrusion of the frame abuts against the first through hole. a second end, and the tab of the keycap is limited to the limiting portion of the receiving slot. In the normal position, the frame can be moved down to the upper surface of the bottom plate unit to Sliding the first through hole, so that the first protrusion of the frame is from the first end of the first through hole to the first End direction to the locking position, and the keycap moves with the frame. The elastic element is disposed between the keycap and the bottom plate unit and abuts against the hollow cap of the keycap, and provides a resilient bias of the keycap to return to the normal position. In the locked position, the keycap is The lower displacement compresses the elastic member, and the elastic member is not electrically connected to the base unit.

Preferably, the bottom plate unit further defines a second through hole extending parallel to the sliding direction, and has opposite first ends and a second end; the frame further includes a lower side parallel to the lower surface of the frame Sliding direction The second bump has a position corresponding to the second through hole. In the locked position, the second protrusion of the frame abuts against the second end of the first through hole.

Preferably, the first protrusion has a head, and a shaft portion connected to the head and having a diameter smaller than the head portion, the first through hole of the bottom plate unit has a circular hole portion, and a circular hole a long hole portion connected to the portion and having a diameter smaller than the circular hole portion, the first end is located at the circular hole portion, the second end is located at the long hole portion, and the head of the first convex block is movably disposed at the circular hole And, in the locking position, the head of the first bump abuts the second end.

Preferably, the second through hole of the bottom plate unit is spaced apart from the first through hole in the sliding direction.

Preferably, the bottom plate unit comprises a substrate, a thin film circuit board disposed above the substrate, an insulating film disposed above the thin film circuit board and below the frame, the first through hole and the second through hole respectively penetrating The substrate, the thin film circuit board, and the insulating film.

Preferably, the utility model further comprises a scissor bracket which is arranged under the hollow cap of the keycap and is fixed above the bottom plate unit. In the locked position, the keycap is displaced downward to compress the scissor bracket.

The function of the present invention is that when the frame is in the locked position, the tabs of the key caps are respectively restrained in the limiting portions of the receiving slots, and the key caps are locked and cannot be vertically moved. In turn, the signal cannot be input; further, when the frame is in the locked position, the height of the keycap is lower than the height of the keycap of the frame in the normal position, so the button device is applied to a notebook to make the note The computer is thinner when it is folded Chemical.

The foregoing and other technical aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bottom plate unit 1, two keycaps 2, two scissors brackets, two elastic members 4 and a frame 5. The general button device is a plurality of key caps 2, a plurality of scissor brackets 3, and a plurality of elastic members 4, here for convenience of explanation, only two key caps 2, two scissor brackets 3, and two The elastic member 4 is described as an example, but not limited thereto, the button device may only include a keycap 2, a scissor bracket 3, and an elastic member 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the bottom plate unit 1 forms a first through hole 11 and a second through hole 12 extending in a sliding direction D. The first through hole 11 has a gourd shape and the second through hole 12 has an oblong shape. And the two are spaced apart from each other in the sliding direction D. The first through hole 11 and the second through hole 12 respectively have opposite first ends 111, 121 and a second end 112, 122. The base unit 1 includes a substrate 13 made of metal, a thin film circuit board 14 disposed above the substrate 13, and an insulating film 15 disposed above the thin film circuit board 14 and below the frame 5. The first through hole 11 and the second through hole 12 penetrate the substrate 13, the thin film circuit board 14, and the insulating film 15, respectively. In the present embodiment, the insulating film 15 is a polyester film (mylar).

Each of the keycaps 2 is disposed above the bottom plate unit 1 and includes a hollow cap 21, and two opposite side edges of the hollow cap 21 are outwardly outward Protruding and tabular tabs 22, the two tabs 22 are adjacent to opposite corners of the hollow cap 21, respectively.

Each of the scissor brackets 3 is disposed between each of the keycaps 2 and the bottom plate unit 1 corresponding to each of the elastic members 4, and each of the scissor brackets 3 is configured to support the respective keycaps 2, and is disposed under the keycap 2 and is fixedly mounted on the lifting and lowering Above the substrate 13. Each of the elastic members 4 abuts against the hollow cap 21 of each of the key caps 2, and is disposed above the insulating film 15, and includes a body 41 having a bell shape, and a convex portion of the top surface of the body 41 is convex toward the thin film circuit board 14. The pressing portion 42 is extended. In addition, the insulating film 15 further forms two through holes 151 corresponding to the pressing portions 42 of the elastic members 4, and the upper surface of the thin film circuit board 14 further forms two conductive portions 141 corresponding to the positions of the through holes 151. The conductive portion 141 can be a membrane switch or other trigger switch. The pressing portion 42 of each of the elastic members 4 can be electrically connected to the conductive portion 141 of the corresponding thin film circuit board 14.

The frame 5 is disposed above the insulating film 15 of the bottom plate unit 1, and includes a frame 51, two openings 52 respectively penetrating through the frame 51 and provided by the hollow caps 21 of the key caps 2, and four frames respectively formed in the frame a receiving groove 53 for the lower surface of the body 51 and for the tab 22 of the key cap 2, and a first protrusion 54 and a second for projecting downward from the lower surface of the frame 51 and parallel to the sliding direction D Bump 55. Each of the accommodating grooves 53 has a main groove portion 531 and a limiting portion 532 extending from the side of the autonomous groove portion 531 and parallel to the sliding direction D.

In more detail, the first bump 54 has a gourd shape and the second bump 55 has a long elliptical shape, and the two are spaced apart in the sliding direction D, and the first The bump 54 is slidably disposed at the first through hole 11 and the second protrusion 55 is slidably disposed at the second through hole 12. The first bump 54 has a head portion 541 and a shaft portion 542 that is connected to the head portion 541 and has a smaller diameter than the head portion 541. The first through hole 11 has a circular hole portion 113 and a long hole portion 114 which is connected to the circular hole portion 113 and has a smaller diameter than the circular hole portion 113.

When the user uses the button device, the frame 5 is movable relative to the bottom plate unit 1 between a normal position and a locked position.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , when the frame 5 is in the normal position, the frame 5 is spaced apart from the bottom plate unit 1 , and the two tabs 22 of each of the key caps 2 are respectively movable up and down in the two receiving slots 53 of the frame 5 . Main groove portion 531. At this time, each of the keycaps 2 is freely movable, and each of the elastic members 4 provides a corresponding elastic bias of the keycap 2 away from the insulating film 15. Referring to FIG. 7, if a keycap 2 is pressed by an external force as indicated by an arrow I, the keycap 2 will vertically move in the direction of the substrate 13 with the corresponding scissor bracket 3, and the keycap 2 will be fully compressed. The elastic member 4 causes the pressing portion 42 of the corresponding elastic member 4 to pass through the through hole 151 of the insulating film 15 to be in contact with the conductive portion 141 of the thin film circuit board 14 to generate a circuit signal corresponding to the pressing.

If the user wants to lock the button device, the frame 5 must be pressed downward by the normal position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by an arrow II as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to make the lower surface of the frame 5. Abutting the upper surface of the insulating film 15 of the bottom plate unit 1, the first bump 54 and the second bump 55 pass through the first through hole 11 and the second through hole 12, respectively, so that the first bump 54 and the second convex portion of the frame 5 The block 55 is respectively the first through hole 11 and the second through hole 12 The ends 111, 121 are moved in the direction of the sliding direction D as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 toward the second ends 112, 122, that is, the head 541 of the first bump 54 first abuts the first through hole 11. The intersection of the circular hole portion 113 and the long hole portion 114 and the shaft portion 542 of the first projection 54 abut against the first end 111 of the first through hole 11, and then the head portion 541 of the first projection 54 is moved to the first end A second end 112 of the perforation 11. On the other hand, the frame 5 can interlock the tabs 22 of the key caps 2 through the accommodating slots 53 to displace the key caps 2 and the scissor brackets 3 downward, and the elastic members 4 Partially compressed.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, when the frame 5 is in the locked position, the first protrusion 54 and the second protrusion 55 of the frame 5 respectively abut the second ends 112, 122 of the first through hole 11 and the second through hole 12, respectively. That is, the head 541 of the first bump 54 abuts the second end 112 of the first through hole 11. On the other hand, the tabs 22 of the key caps 2 are respectively restrained in the limiting portions 532 of the accommodating slots 53. At this time, the key caps 2 are locked and cannot be vertically moved, so that they cannot be typed. Signals, and the heights of the keycaps 2 are equal to the height of the keycaps 2 when the frame 5 is in the depressed position.

Referring to Figures 9 and 11, it should be noted that when the frame 5 is in the locked position, since the elastic members 4 are not fully compressed, the pressing portion 42 of the elastic members 4 does not interact with the film circuit board 14. The conductive portions 141 are in contact and electrically connected to transmit a circuit signal. Furthermore, circuit signal transmission can also be disabled by circuit control. In addition, when the frame 5 is moved from the normal position of FIGS. 5 and 6 to the locked position of FIGS. 10 and 11, the first bump 54 and the second bump 55 of the frame 5 respectively pass through the first through. The hole 11 and the second through hole 12 serve as a guiding position, so that the frame 5 is locked in the locking position of FIGS. 10 and 11 , and the tabs 22 of the key cap 2 are more easily restrained in the receiving grooves 53 . The limiting portion 532 is not easy to slip and deflect, and the keycap 2 cannot be locked.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, in addition, when the owner of the computer wants to leave the computer, the frame 5 of the button device can be moved from the normal position shown in FIG. 5 to the lock as shown in FIG. The position is such that the keycap 2 is locked so that no one else or animal can input a signal by the button device. When the owner of the computer returns to the front of the computer, the locking position of the button device can be released, and the frame 5 is moved opposite to the sliding direction D to the state of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, and the tabs of the keycaps 2 are allowed. 22, respectively, from the limiting portion 532 of the accommodating groove 53 to the main groove portion 531, and by the elastic restoring force of the elastic members 4, the key caps 2 are automatically restored to FIG. 5 and The height of the key caps 2 in the normal position of 6 allows the keycap 2 to be freely movable to input a signal.

Referring to FIG. 6 , FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 , it is worth mentioning that, in the embodiment, when the frame 5 is in the locked position as shown in FIG. 11 , the frame 5 , the key caps 2 and the scissor brackets 3 are downwards. The displacement and the elastic members 4 are partially compressed, so that the height of the keycap 2 is lowered. Therefore, the key device of the embodiment is applied to a notebook computer (not shown) to make the notebook computer thinner when it is folded. That is to say, when the notebook is folded, the screen (not shown) is adjacent to the button device and the frame 5 is in the locked position, and when the notebook is unfolded, the screen is away from the button device, and the user can The frame 5 of the button device is moved from the locked position in the opposite direction to the sliding direction D to In the state of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, by the elastic bias of the elastic members 4, the key caps 2 are automatically returned to the normal position shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, and the signal can be input if the user wants to fold. In the notebook computer, the button device is first moved from the normal position to the locked position, and then the screen is adjacent to the button device, and the folding can be completed.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, each of the key caps 2 includes two tabs 22, and the frame body 51 of the frame 5 forms a receiving groove 53 corresponding to the four tabs 22 for accommodating the keycaps 2, but in design. Each of the key caps 2 may include only one of the tabs 22, and the frame body 51 respectively forms a receiving groove 53 corresponding to the tab 22 of each of the keycaps 2.

In the above, when the frame 5 is in the locked position, the tabs 22 of the key caps 2 are respectively restrained in the limiting portions 532 of the receiving slots 53. The keycap 2 is locked and cannot be vertically moved to input a signal; further, when the frame 5 is in the locked position, the height of the keycap 2 is lowered compared to the height of the keycap 2 of the frame 5 in the normal position, so the button device is applied to The notebook computer makes the notebook computer thinner when it is folded, so it can achieve the purpose of the new model.

However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention cannot be limited thereto, that is, the simple equivalent change and modification made by the novel patent application scope and the novel description content, All remain within the scope of this new patent.

1‧‧‧Bottom unit

11‧‧‧First perforation

111‧‧‧ first end

112‧‧‧ second end

113‧‧‧ round hole

114‧‧‧Long hole department

12‧‧‧Second perforation

121‧‧‧ first end

122‧‧‧ second end

13‧‧‧Substrate

14‧‧‧Film board

141‧‧‧Training Department

15‧‧‧Insulation film

151‧‧‧through holes

2‧‧‧Key Cap

21‧‧‧ hollow cap

22‧‧‧Trap

3‧‧‧Scissors

4‧‧‧Flexible components

41‧‧‧Ontology

42‧‧‧Resistance Department

5‧‧‧Frame

51‧‧‧ frame

52‧‧‧ openings

53‧‧‧ accommodating slots

531‧‧‧Main slot

532‧‧‧Limited

54‧‧‧First bump

541‧‧‧ head

542‧‧‧ shaft body

55‧‧‧second bump

D‧‧‧Swing direction

I‧‧‧ arrow

II‧‧‧ arrow

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a frame; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an insulating film; Figure 5 is a plan view of the frame in a normal position; Figure 6 is a line along Figure 5. 6-6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken at 6-6; FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the contact of a pressing portion of a resilient member with a conductive portion of a thin film circuit board when the frame is pressed in a normal position. Figure 8 is a plan view of the frame being subjected to a downward pressing force from a normal position; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a plan view of the frame in a locked position; 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG.

1‧‧‧Bottom unit

112‧‧‧ second end

122‧‧‧ second end

13‧‧‧Substrate

14‧‧‧Film board

141‧‧‧Training Department

15‧‧‧Insulation film

151‧‧‧through holes

2‧‧‧Key Cap

22‧‧‧Trap

3‧‧‧Scissors

4‧‧‧Flexible components

41‧‧‧Ontology

42‧‧‧Resistance Department

5‧‧‧Frame

53‧‧‧ accommodating slots

531‧‧‧Main slot

532‧‧‧Limited

54‧‧‧First bump

55‧‧‧second bump

D‧‧‧Swing direction

Claims (6)

A button device comprising: a key cap, comprising a hollow cap body; and a protrusion protruding outward from an outer edge of the hollow cap body; a bottom plate unit disposed under the key cap and forming a parallel sliding a first perforation extending in a direction, the first perforation having an opposite first end and a second end; a frame disposed above the bottom plate unit and including a frame, a frame extending through the frame and the key cap An opening through which the hollow cap body is inserted, a receiving groove formed on the lower surface of the frame body and inserted into the tab of the key cap, and a downwardly extending from the lower surface of the frame body and parallel to the sliding direction a first protrusion, the first protrusion is slidably disposed on the first through hole, the accommodating groove has a main groove portion, and a limit extending from a side of the main groove portion and extending parallel to the sliding direction The frame is movable relative to the bottom plate unit between a normal position and a locked position. In the normal position, the frame is spaced apart from the bottom plate unit, and the tab of the key cap can be moved up and down in the receiving position. The main groove of the groove, in the locked position, the first convex of the frame Abutting against the second end of the first through hole, and the tab of the key cap is constrained to the limiting portion of the receiving slot, and in the normal position, the frame can be moved downward to the bottom plate unit The upper surface is slid along the first perforation such that the first projection of the frame is moved from the first end of the first perforation to the second end to the locked position, and the key cap moves with the frame And a resilient member disposed between the keycap and the base unit and abutting against the hollow cap of the keycap, providing the resilient cap to return to the normal position The biasing force, in the locked position, the keycap is displaced downward to compress the elastic member, and the elastic member is not electrically connected to the base unit. The button device of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate unit further defines a second through hole extending parallel to the sliding direction, and has opposite first and second ends; the frame further includes a self a second protrusion protruding downward from the lower surface of the frame and parallel to the sliding direction, wherein the position of the second protrusion corresponds to the second through hole, and in the locking position, the second protrusion of the frame abuts the first a second end of the perforation. The button device of claim 1, wherein the first bump has a head, and a shaft portion connected to the head and having a diameter smaller than the head portion, the first through hole of the bottom plate unit having a circular hole portion, and a long hole portion connected to the circular hole portion and having a diameter smaller than the circular hole portion, the first end is located at the circular hole portion, and the second end is located at the long hole portion, the first convex portion The head is movably disposed at the circular hole portion, and in the locked position, the head of the first bump abuts the second end. The button device of claim 2, wherein the second through hole of the bottom plate unit is spaced apart from the first through hole in the sliding direction. According to the button device of claim 4, the bottom plate unit includes a substrate, a thin film circuit board disposed above the substrate, and an insulating film disposed above the thin film circuit board and below the frame. The first through hole and the second through hole respectively penetrate the substrate, the thin film circuit board, and the insulating film. The button device according to claim 1, wherein the button device further includes a liftable bottom portion disposed under the hollow cap of the keycap and fixed to the bottom plate unit The upper scissor bracket, in the locked position, the keycap is displaced downward to compress the scissor bracket.