CN201167045Y - key structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a key structure, which comprises a key cap, a bottom plate and a support. The bottom plate comprises a surface and a connecting part on the surface, wherein the connecting part comprises a sliding groove and a through hole. The support is connected with the keycap and the bottom plate, so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the bottom plate. In addition, the support comprises a sliding part and a column connected with the sliding part, the sliding part is slidably connected in the sliding groove of the connecting part, the column penetrates through and is arranged in the through hole, and when the keycap moves, the column is always kept in the through hole.

Description

key structure

technical field

The utility model relates to a button structure, in particular to a button structure with connecting brackets for positioning.

Background technique

See Figure 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a key structure 1 of the background art. The key structure 1 includes a keycap 12 , a bottom plate 14 and a bracket 16 connecting the keycap 12 and the bottom plate 14 . The dashed line in FIG. 1 represents the situation where the keycap 12 is at the high position (that is, the keycap 12 is not pressed down). The bracket 16 includes two connecting rods 16a, 16b, which are interlaced in an X shape. One end of each connecting rod 16 a, 16 b is pivotally connected to the keycap 12 or the bottom plate 14 , and the other end is slidably connected to the keycap 12 or the bottom plate 14 . For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , one end of the connecting rod 16 b is pivotally connected to the keycap 12 , and the other end of the connecting rod 16 b is slidably engaged in the slot 142 of the bottom plate 14 . Thus, when the keycap 12 moves up and down, the other end of the connecting rod 16 b can slide in the slide groove 142 , so that the bracket 16 can open and cooperate in a scissors-like manner, thereby achieving the button function.

As shown in FIG. 1 , although the sliding groove 142 can provide the connecting rod 16 b with a restriction and a partial positioning function in the horizontal direction of the drawing, it is not easy to provide a positioning function in the direction vertical to the drawing. Especially when the bottom plate 14 is a metal plate, and the chute 142 is formed by bending part of the bottom plate 14, the size of the bend is not easy to control (that is, the left side of the ㄈ-shaped chute 142 in the figure is covered by the connecting rod 16b The bending place), whether it is due to the limitation of the manufacturing process or the material of the plate itself, it is difficult to effectively control the assembly and match the size.

This kind of situation will cause the button structure 1 to be unstable in assembly, and cause the button structure 1 to easily loosen after assembly or during use, thereby reducing the service life of the button structure 1 and the user's operating feel, and even causing the button structure 1 to become loose during use. decrease in product satisfaction.

Therefore, there is a need to propose a new button structure to overcome the instability of the bracket connection, so as to solve the above-mentioned problems.

Utility model content

The purpose of the utility model is to provide a button structure with connecting bracket positioning, which can solve the above problems.

The purpose of the utility model is achieved by providing a key structure, which includes a key cap, a bottom plate and a bracket connecting the key cap and the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a surface and a connecting portion on the surface, and the connecting portion includes a slide groove and a through hole. The support includes a sliding part and a column connected to the sliding part, the sliding part is slidably engaged in the slide groove of the connecting part, and the column passes through and is arranged in the through hole. Thus, the bracket connects the keycap and the bottom plate, so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the bottom plate, and when the keycap moves up and down, the column is always kept in the through hole.

In a specific embodiment, the connecting portion includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extends from the surface, the second portion extends from the first portion substantially parallel to the surface, and the slide groove is formed on the surface Between the second part and the surface, the through hole is formed in the first part. Since the first portion has a non-bending portion, the geometric dimension of the through hole formed thereon can be controlled within a small tolerance, which is beneficial for positioning.

In addition, a first direction is defined in the chute, that is, the sliding direction of the sliding part. The sliding part slides in the slide groove along the first direction. A second direction parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the first direction is also defined on the through hole of the connecting portion, and the pillar is approximately tightly fitted to the through hole along the second direction. The so-called tight fit here does not mean to achieve a complete tight fit, but only needs that when the pillar can slide in the through hole, the pillar will not be excessively loose along the second direction. That is to say, the pillar can slide stably and not loosely in the through hole.

As a result, the bracket is in close contact with the through hole through the column to achieve a positioning effect, so that when the sliding part of the bracket slides in the chute, that is, when the bracket is in motion, the utility model The unique key structure can maintain better stability, increase the user's operating feel and prolong the service life of the key structure. It is added that the cooperation between the column and the through hole can be the cooperation between a circular hole and a cylinder, or a cooperation between a rectangular hole and a rectangular column, or even other geometric structures that can be matched, but the cross-section of the joint It is not necessary to be identical.

The utility model has the advantage that the key structure is provided with a through hole and a column that can cooperate with the through hole at the sliding joint between the bracket and the bottom plate, so as to increase the positioning function. Moreover, because the matching geometric dimension of the through hole is not located at the bend of the bottom plate, the size is easier to control, and the matching accuracy of the column and the through hole can be greatly improved, avoiding the problem of using the bent plate in the background technology for positioning. In addition, due to the improved matching precision of the bracket and the bottom plate, not only the stability of the key structure is improved and the service life is increased, but the user's operating feel is also significantly improved, increasing the usability of the keyboard.

The advantages and spirit of the present utility model can be further understood through the following detailed description of the utility model and the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button structure in the background technology;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the button structure of a preferred embodiment of the utility model;

Fig. 3A is a schematic diagram of the connection between the second connecting rod and the bottom plate of the bracket of the button structure of the present invention;

Fig. 3B is a schematic diagram of the bottom plate of the button structure of the present invention;

Fig. 3C is a schematic diagram of the second connecting rod of the bracket of the button structure of the present invention;

Fig. 3D is a side view of the utility model bottom plate;

Fig. 3E is a side sectional view of the bottom plate of the present invention.

Description of main component symbols

1, 3: Button structure

12, 32: Keycap 14, 34: Bottom plate

16, 36: bracket 16a, 16b: connecting rod

142, 324, 3426: chute 322, 344: pivot joint

342: Articulation 346: Surface

362: The first connecting rod 364: The second connecting rod

3422: Part 1 3424: Part 2

3428: Through hole 3642: Short column

3644: Stud 3646: Sliding part

3648: Pillars

D1: First direction D2: Second direction

Detailed ways

See Figure 2. FIG. 2 is a side view of the key structure 3 according to a preferred embodiment, wherein the key cap 32 is partially cut away to clearly show the overall structure of the key structure 3 . The key structure 3 is often found in devices for input, such as the keyboard of a notebook computer. But the utility model is not limited thereto, for example, it is applicable as a button for single signal triggering.

The button structure 3 of the present invention includes a keycap 32 , a bottom plate 34 and a bracket 36 connecting the keycap 32 and the bottom plate 34 . The keycap 32 includes a pivot portion 322 and a sliding slot 324 , and the hidden line of the internal structure of the sliding slot 324 is represented by a dotted line in the figure. The bottom plate 34 includes a joint portion 342 and a pivot portion 344 . The bracket 36 includes a first link 362 and a second link 364 . The first connecting rod 362 and the second connecting rod 364 are intersected in a slightly X shape. One end of the first connecting rod 362 is slidably engaged in the sliding slot 324 of the keycap 32 ; the other end is pivotally connected to the pivoting portion 344 of the bottom plate 34 . One end of the second link 364 is pivotally connected to the pivot portion 322 of the keycap 32 ; the other end is slidably connected to the connecting portion 342 of the bottom plate 34 . Thus, the bracket 36 connects the keycap 32 and the bottom plate 34 , so that the keycap 32 can move up and down relative to the bottom plate 34 . Its actuation principle is the same as that shown in Fig. 1 and will not be repeated here.

Please refer to Figure 3A to Figure 3C. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the second link 364 of the bracket 36 and the bottom plate 34 . FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the bottom plate 34 . FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram illustrating the second link 364 . As shown in FIG. 3B , the bottom plate 34 includes two pivot joints 344 , which are slightly L-shaped, and are used to pivotally connect with a hook at one end of the first connecting rod 362 . The bottom plate 34 includes a surface 346 from which the first portion 3422 of the connecting portion 342 extends, and from the first portion 3422 extends the second portion 3424 of the connecting portion 342 substantially parallel to the surface 346 . Between the first portion 3422 , the second portion 3424 and the surface 346 is formed a slide groove 3426 of the engagement portion 342 (not shown in FIG. 3B , refer to FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E ).

See Figure 3D. FIG. 3D is a side view illustrating the bottom plate 34 along a direction parallel to the second direction D2 in FIG. 3A . The location of the chute 3426 is more easily identified from Figure 3D. At the same time, it is not necessary for the sliding groove 3426 to have physical limitations around it; in other words, it is not necessary for the area of the bottom plate 34 relative to the second portion 3424 to have physical limitations. As shown in FIG. 3B , the area of the bottom plate 34 opposite to the second portion 3424 is hollowed out. As long as the part where the second connecting rod 364 is connected with the joint part 342 can be limited by the second part 3424 and the surface 346 at the same time, the function of the chute of the joint part 342 can be achieved, so the chute function of the chute 3426 is mainly composed of the surface 346 and the surface 346. A second portion 3424 substantially parallel thereto is achieved (see also FIG. 3D ). In the actual product design, the second part 3424 and the first part 3422 are stamped and formed from the hollow area of the bottom plate 34 . Wherein, the first portion 3422 can be used as a main limiting structure of the slide groove 3426 along a direction parallel to the first direction D1 in FIG. 3A . That is to say, the first portion 3422 can limit the sliding range of the second connecting rod 364 in the sliding groove 3426 .

In addition, please also refer to FIG. 3B , FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E . FIG. 3E is a side cross-sectional view showing the bottom plate 34 along a direction parallel to the second direction D2 in FIG. 3A , where the first part 3422 and the second part 3424 are not marked in FIG. 3E to avoid labeling causing misunderstanding of the drawing. , and only the through hole 3428 is marked there. A through hole 3428 is formed on the first portion 3422 of the engaging portion 342 .

As shown in FIG. 3C , the second connecting rod 364 is roughly in the shape of a hollow rectangle, and two protrusions 3644 are formed in the middle of its frame for connecting with the first connecting rod 362 . According to this preferred embodiment, the first connecting rod 362 is also slightly hollow and rectangular, but its hollow part is slightly larger than the second connecting rod 364, so that the second connecting rod 364 can be placed in the middle and connected with two receiving holes. It engages with the protruding column 3644 , and then reaches the cross connection between the first connecting rod 362 and the second connecting rod 364 in a slightly X shape. Since the first connecting rod 362 is not the focus of the present utility model, it is not shown in the accompanying drawings.

The second connecting rod 364 includes two stubs 3642 at one end thereof, which are used for clamping and pivoting with the pivoting portion 322 of the keycap 32 (please also refer to FIG. 2 ). The other end of the second connecting rod 364 includes a sliding portion 3646 and a column 3648 extending from the sliding portion 3646 . And see Figure 3A. The sliding portion 3646 of the second connection 364 is slidably disposed in the sliding slot 3426 . The sliding portion 3646 is limited by the second portion 3424 and the surface 346 and slides therebetween. The pillar 3648 passes through the through hole 3428 . Since the column 3648 has a certain length, when the bracket 36 moves (that is, the keycap 32 moves up and down relative to the bottom plate 34 ), the column 3648 can always be located in the through hole 3428 , thereby providing a certain degree of positioning function.

According to this preferred embodiment, the through hole 3428 is formed on the first part 3422 , and a part thereof is located at the bend where the first part 3422 and the second part 3424 are connected. In general, the first part 3422 and the second part 3424 are usually formed by stamping, and buckled surfaces are likely to be produced at the bends, which makes it difficult to control the size of the through hole 3428 along the second direction D2 there. The size of the other parts of the through hole 3428 located in the first part 3422 can be easily controlled within a certain tolerance range, so that the pillar 3648 can roughly fit with the through hole 3428 along the second direction D2, providing a better positioning function.

In actual product design, since the pillar 3648 also moves together with the second link 364 when the bracket 36 moves, the interference between the pillar 3648 and the connecting portion 342 of the bottom plate 34 needs to be considered together. In the preferred embodiment, the through hole 3428 is formed in the first part 3422 and includes the bend where it connects to the second part 3424, and can even be formed extending to the second part 3424, expanding the through hole 3428 to allow the column 3648 actuates in through hole 3428 without interference. However, as explained in the preceding paragraph, the surface of the first part 3422 is also buckled at the bend, which easily affects the fit between the pillar 3648 and the through hole 3428 . Although the cooperation between the pillar 3648 and the through hole 3428 is mainly determined by the size of the through hole 3428 formed in the flat area of the first part 3422 and the size of the pillar 3648, when the bracket 36 is actuated, the pillar 3648 may still enter The part of the through hole 3428 formed at the bend of the first part 3422, therefore, the size of the part of the through hole 3428 formed at the bend of the first part 3422 should be larger than the size of the pillar 3648, so that the surface of the bend of the first part 3422 The resulting buckled surface does not interfere with the pillars 3648 .

It is supplemented that, according to this preferred embodiment, the pillar 3648 is a rectangular pillar, that is, a plate shape, which is just able to roughly fit the through hole 3428 along the second direction D2. In another specific embodiment, the through hole 3428 can be simply formed on the flat part of the first part 3424, so that the pillar 3648 can be approximately in close contact with the through hole 3428 in multiple directions, not only along the second direction D2. In order to improve the positioning effect, it is still necessary to consider the interference between the pillar 3648 and the first part 3422 and the second part 3424 during operation. In this case, the cooperation between the pillar 3648 and the through hole 3428 can be the cooperation between a circular hole and a cylinder, or a cooperation between a rectangular hole and a rectangular column, or even other geometric structures that can be matched, but the cross-section of the joint is different. It is necessary to be exactly the same.

To sum up, in the pushbutton structure of the present invention, a through hole and a column that can cooperate with the through hole are provided at the sliding joint between the bracket and the bottom plate, so as to increase the positioning function. Moreover, because the matching geometric dimension of the through hole is not located at the bend of the bottom plate, the size is easier to control, and the matching accuracy of the column and the through hole can be greatly improved, avoiding the problem of using the bent plate in the background technology for positioning. In addition, due to the improved matching precision of the bracket and the bottom plate, not only the stability of the key structure is improved and the service life is increased, but the user's operating feel is also significantly improved, increasing the usability of the keyboard.

Claims (5)

1. a press-key structure is characterized in that, comprises: keycap; Base plate and support, this base plate comprise one the surface and a convergence part on this surface, this convergence part comprises chute and through hole, this support is connected this keycap and this base plate, this keycap can be moved up and down with respect to this base plate, wherein this support comprises a sliding part and a column is connected in this sliding part, and this sliding part is connected slidably in this chute of this convergence part, and this column passes and is arranged in this through hole; Wherein this column remains in this through hole when this keycap moves.

2. press-key structure as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, in this chute, limit a first direction, this sliding part slides in this chute along this first direction, this through hole upper limit in this convergence part allocates this surface of row and a vertical second direction of this first direction, and this column is along this second direction and this through hole driving fit.

3. press-key structure as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, this through hole is circular hole or rectangular opening.

4. press-key structure as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, this column is cylinder or rectangular column.

5. press-key structure as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, this convergence part comprises first and second portion, this first extends from this surface, this second portion is roughly parallel to this surface from this first and extends, this chute is formed between this second portion and this surface, and this through hole is formed at this first.

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