TWI863678B - Keyswitch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A keyswitch structure includes a base and a press assembly disposed on the base. The press assembly includes a bottom cover and a keycap. The keycap is connected to the bottom cover and is movable relative to the bottom cover. The press assembly is detachably fixed on the base through the bottom cover. When necessary, the press assembly can be removed from the base and replaced with another press assembly that is then detachably fixed on the base.

Description

Key structure

The present invention relates to a key structure, and more particularly to a key structure with a replaceable pressing structure.

Although the general mechanical key structure is a modular structure (assembled together through multiple components), it is designed to be non-disassembled in use. Even if some components can be disassembled when maintenance is required, this disassembly operation is not easy and it is easy to cause damage to the components (it may be the removed components or the remaining components). Therefore, a general keyboard (including multiple key structures) only provides a single structural characteristic (such as pressing feel, tactile sensation) and a single structural appearance (such as the structural appearance of the keycap). In actual use, if the user has different pressing feel, tactile sensation or visual appearance (such as the appearance of the keycap), the user should use a different keyboard in principle.

In view of the problems in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a key structure having a pressing assembly that can be removed without damage.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a key structure includes a base and a pressing assembly disposed on the base. The pressing assembly includes a bottom cover and a key cap, the key cap is connected to the bottom cover and can move up and down relative to the bottom cover, and the pressing assembly is removably fixed to the base through the bottom cover. In this way, when necessary, the bottom cover can be separated from the base without damage, so that the pressing assembly can be removed from the base. At this time, according to different needs (for example, to obtain a different pressing feel or tactile sensation, or key cap appearance, etc.), another alternative pressing assembly can be installed on the base (also removably fixed to the base through its bottom cover).

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the attached drawings.

1,3,4: Button structure

12,32: Base

122,322: Baseboard

1222,3222: slotting

1224: Card slot

1226: Opening

1228: Limit column

124: Switch circuit board

124a: Switch

14,34,44: Pressing assembly

142,342: Bottom cover

1422: Cover

1424: Chute

1426: shaft

1428: Hook

1430: Cantilever structure

1432: Limiting hole

144: Upper cover

1442: Cover

1444: Slide Hook

1446: Kong

146: First bracket

148: Second bracket

149: Rotation axis

150,150': Elastic parts

152,352:Keycaps

1522: Hook

Dv: vertical direction

Dh: horizontal direction

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a key structure according to a first embodiment.

Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the button structure in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the button structure in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the button structure in Figure 1 from another angle.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft of the pressing assembly being inserted into the slot of the base, and the cross-sectional position is shown by line X-X in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hook of the pressing assembly being inserted into the slot of the base, and its cross-sectional position is shown by line Y-Y in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the key structure along line Z-Z in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an exploded view of a key structure according to a second embodiment.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the key structure in Figure 8, and its cross-sectional position is equivalent to the line Y-Y in Figure 1.

FIG10 is another cross-sectional view of the key structure in FIG8 , and its cross-sectional position is equivalent to that shown by the line X-X in FIG1 .

FIG11 is a cross-sectional view of a key structure according to a third embodiment, and its cross-sectional position is equivalent to that shown by line Y-Y in FIG1 .

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. According to a first embodiment, the key structure 1 includes a base 12 and a pressing assembly 14 disposed on the base 12. The pressing assembly 14 and the base 12 are connected via a detachable connection structure, and the two can be separated without damage via the detachable connection structure. This structural feature is conducive to replacing different pressing assemblies 14, for example, to obtain different pressing feel or touch, or key cap appearance, or for maintenance needs (for example, the pressing assembly 14 is damaged and needs to be replaced).

Please also refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The pressing assembly 14 includes a bottom cover 142, an upper cover 144, a first bracket 146, a second bracket 148, an elastic member 150 and a key cap 152. The upper cover 144 is disposed above the bottom cover 142. The first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 are pivotally connected to each other relative to a rotation axis 149 (indicated by a chain line in the figure). The first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 are both connected between the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144, and the upper cover 144 can move relative to the bottom cover 142 along a vertical direction Dv (indicated by a double-headed arrow in the figure, perpendicular to the rotation axis 149) through the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148. The connection structure between the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 and the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 can be implemented by the connection structure of the scissor foot bracket (configured in an X-shaped structure) of the keys in a general mechanical keyboard (i.e., the connection structure between the scissor foot bracket and the key cap and the bottom plate), and will not be described separately. The elastic member 150 is arranged between the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144, and can support the upper cover 144 upward. When the upper cover 144 moves toward the bottom cover 142 (i.e., moves downward), the upper cover 144 will squeeze the elastic member 150. The elastically deformed elastic member 150 can drive the upper cover 144 to move upward. The key cap 152 is disposed on the upper cover 144 so that it moves together with the upper cover 144 (moves up and down relative to the bottom cover 142). On the other hand, the upper cover 144 is located between the key cap 152 and the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148, and is also located between the key cap 152 and the elastic member 150, and the elastic member 150 is located on the bottom cover 142 below the key cap 152. The key cap 152 is connected to the bottom cover 142 via the upper cover 144, the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148. The key cap 152 can move up and down relative to the bottom cover 142 via the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148; similarly, when the key cap 152 (together with the upper cover 144) moves toward the bottom cover 142, the key cap 152 will (via the upper cover 144) squeeze the elastic member 150. The pressing assembly 14 is detachably fixed to the base 12 via the bottom cover 142. In addition, in practice, the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 can also be implemented by other supporting mechanisms, such as the butterfly bracket (V-shaped structure configuration) of the keys in a general mechanical keyboard.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 have the effect of limiting the maximum relative distance between the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 based on their own actuation characteristics. In practice, the relative movement range between the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 can also be limited by other structures. In the first embodiment, the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 can also be slidably connected to limit the maximum relative distance between the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144. The bottom cover 142 has a cover body 1422 and two slide grooves 1424 located on opposite sides of the cover body 1422. The cover body 1422 has a plate-shaped bottom and a surrounding wall (extending upward from the periphery of the plate-shaped bottom), and the slide groove 1424 is formed on the surrounding wall of the cover body 1422. The upper cover 144 has a cover body 1442 and two slide hooks 1444 located on opposite sides of the cover body 1442. The cover body 1442 has a plate-shaped top and a surrounding wall (extending downward from the periphery of the plate-shaped top), and the slide hook 1444 is formed on the surrounding wall of the cover body 1442 (for example, extending downward from the surrounding wall). The slide groove 1424 and the slide hook 1444 are correspondingly arranged, and the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 are slidably connected in the slide groove 1424 through the slide hook 1444. The slide groove 1424 has a closed end, and the closed end is hooked by the hook holding part of the slide hook 1444 (or the closed end blocks the hook holding part) to limit the maximum relative distance between the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144. In practice, the slide groove 1424 and the slide hook 1444 can also be arranged in reverse, for example, the bottom cover 142 is provided with two slide hooks, and the upper cover 144 is correspondingly provided with two slide grooves. In addition, the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 can also be provided with a slide hook and a slide groove. In addition, in practice, the number and position of the slide groove 1424 and the slide hook 1444 are not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the sliding connection between the slide groove 1424 and the slide hook 144 can also keep the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 moving relative to each other parallel to the vertical direction Dv to a certain extent. This sliding connection itself can also prevent the bottom cover 142 and the upper cover 144 from separating to a certain extent, which helps to maintain the integrity of the pressing assembly 14 structure and prevent the components from dispersing after the pressing assembly 14 is removed from the base 12.

In the first embodiment, the base 12 includes a bottom plate 122 and a switch circuit board 124 stacked on the bottom plate 122. The switch circuit board 124 may be, but is not limited to, a thin film circuit board (for example, including an upper carrier, an opposite lower carrier, and an insulating layer therebetween, with the switch circuit formed on the upper carrier and the lower carrier). The switch circuit board 124 has a switch 124a (indicated by a dotted circle with a slash in FIG. 3 ). The bottom cover 142 of the press assembly 14 is detachably connected to the bottom plate 122, and the switch circuit board 124 is located below the elastic member 150. The key cap 152 can be pressed to move downward (together with the upper cover 144) and squeeze the elastic member 150, thereby causing the elastic member 150 to trigger the switch 124a.

In the first embodiment, the bottom plate 122 of the base 12 includes two slots 1222 and a slot 1224, and the bottom cover 142 includes two shafts 1426 and a hook 1428. The slots 1222 are arranged correspondingly to the shafts 1426, and the slots 1224 are arranged correspondingly to the hooks 1428. The bottom cover 142 is detachably fixed to the base 12 by hooking the slots 1224 and the shafts 1426 into the corresponding slots 1222 through the hooks 1428. When the pressing assembly 14 is actually assembled into the base 12, the user can first tilt the pressing assembly 14, and then make the shafts 1426 (of the pressing assembly 14) snap into the corresponding slots 1222, as shown in FIG. 5. Next, rotate and press the assembly 14 (in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5 ) so that the hook 1428 enters the slot 1224 and hooks the slot 1224, as shown in FIG. 6 .

Please refer to Figures 3, 4 and 6. In the first embodiment, the hook 1428 is formed on a cantilever structure 1430, and the cantilever structure 1430 can be logically regarded as a part of the surrounding wall of the cover 1422. Through the structural elasticity of the cantilever structure 1430, when the hook 1428 enters the slot 1224, the hook 1428 can be elastically deformed (for example, the inclined guide surface of the hook 1428 is pushed by the edge of the slot 1224) to smoothly enter the slot 1224.

When the pressing assembly 14 is to be separated from the base 12, the pressing assembly 14 can be removed by reversing the above-mentioned installation operation. For example (refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6), the user can use a tool (such as the tip of a screwdriver) to push against the cantilever structure 1430, so that the hook 1428 is elastically deformed to separate from the slot 1224 (i.e., no longer hooking the slot 1224). At this time, the user can rotate the pressing assembly 14 so that the hook 1428 is completely separated from the slot 1224; at this time, the pressing assembly 14 is in a tilted position. Then, the pressing assembly 14 is moved so that the shaft 1426 is separated from the corresponding slot 1222, and the pressing assembly 14 is separated from the base 12. In addition, please refer to Figures 1 to 3. In the first embodiment, the bottom plate 122 has an opening 1226 adjacent to the slot 1224. Specifically, (refer to Figure 2) the slot 1224 is essentially a boss protruding upward from a corner of the opening 1226, and its edge is hooked by the hook 1428. When the pressing assembly 14 is installed on the base 12, the cantilever structure 1430 partially extends into the opening 1226. In the process of separating the hook 1428 from the slot 1224, the tip of the screwdriver can extend into the opening 1226 to facilitate pushing the cantilever structure 1430.

As described above, the slot 1222 and the slot 1224 on the bottom plate 122 and the shaft 1426 and the hook 1428 on the bottom cover 142 form a separable connection structure (refer to Figures 2 and 3). The pressing assembly 14 and the base 12 can be connected and separated without damage through this separable connection structure. In practice, the slot 1222 and the shaft 1426 can also be arranged in reverse; similarly, the slot 1224 and the hook 1428 can also be arranged in reverse. For example, the bottom cover 142 is provided with a slot, and the base 12 is correspondingly provided with a hook; for another example, the bottom cover 142 is provided with a slot, and the base 12 is correspondingly provided with a shaft. In addition, in practice, the number and position of the slot 1222, the slot 1224, the shaft 1426 and the hook 1428 are not limited to this embodiment.

In addition, please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , in the first embodiment, the opening of the slot 1222 faces the hook 1428 and the slot 1224. When the pressing assembly 14 is mounted on the base 12, the shaft 1426 and the hook 1428 on the bottom cover 142 are located between the slot 1222 and the slot 1224 on the bottom plate 122 in the horizontal direction Dh (indicated by a double-headed arrow in the figure, perpendicular to the vertical direction Dv and the rotation axis 149), so the bottom plate 122 can structurally restrain (or hold) the bottom cover 142 in the horizontal direction Dh. In the first embodiment, the bottom cover 142 also includes two limiting holes 1432, and the bottom plate 122 correspondingly includes two limiting posts 1228. When the pressing assembly 14 is installed on the base 12, the limiting column 1228 is located in the corresponding limiting hole 1432, so that the mutual structural constraint between the limiting column 1228 and the limiting hole 1432 also limits the bottom cover 142 in the horizontal direction Dh (relative to the bottom plate 122). Similarly, the limiting column 1228 and the limiting hole 1432 can also be interchanged. For example, the bottom cover 142 is provided with a limiting column, and the bottom plate 122 is correspondingly provided with a limiting hole; for another example, the bottom cover 142 is provided with a limiting column and a limiting hole at the same time, and the bottom plate 122 is also provided with a corresponding limiting column and a limiting hole at the same time. In addition, in practice, the number and position of the limiting column 1228 and the limiting hole 1432 are not limited to this embodiment.

Please refer to Figures 2, 3 and 7. In the first embodiment, the key cap 152 and the upper cover 144 are also connected through a detachable connection structure (that is, the key cap 152 is detachably fixed to the upper cover 144), and the two can be separated without damage through this detachable connection structure. This structural feature is conducive to replacing different key caps 152 for the pressing assembly 14, for example, to obtain different pressing touches or key cap appearances, or for maintenance needs (for example, the key cap 152 needs to be replaced if it is damaged). Among them, the upper cover 144 has a plurality of holes 1446 (formed on its cover body), and the key cap 152 correspondingly has a plurality of hooks 1522 (protruding downward). The key cap 152 is removably fixed to the upper cover 144 by hooking the corresponding hole 1446 through the hook 1522. Therefore, the hook 1522 and the hole 1446 constitute a separable connection structure, and the key cap 152 and the upper cover 144 can be connected and separated without damage through this separable connection structure. In practice, the hook 1522 and the hole 1446 can also be reversed. For example, the key cap 152 is provided with a hole (such as a blind hole, which can maintain the integrity of the top surface of the key cap 152), and the upper cover 144 is correspondingly provided with a hook (protruding upward); for another example, the key cap 152 is provided with a hole and a hook at the same time, and the upper cover 144 is also provided with a corresponding hole and hook at the same time. In addition, in practice, the number and position of the hooks 1522 and holes 1446 are not limited to this embodiment.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the elastic member 150 is a rubber protrusion, but the implementation is not limited to this. For example, the elastic member 150 can be implemented by a coil spring, and the switch 124a can be triggered by the upper cover 144 (for example, a protruding column protruding downward is provided on the bottom surface of the upper cover 144, and when the key cap 152 is pressed, the protruding column triggers the switch 124a). In addition, if the elastic member 150 (such as a coil spring) itself is sufficient to stably support the upper cover 144, the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 can also be omitted.

In addition, in practice, the separable connection structure between the key cap 152 and the upper cover 144 is not limited to this embodiment; for example, the two can be combined by magnetic attraction, by using repetitive adhesive, or by using Velcro (hook-and-loop fasteners) or a structure similar to Velcro. In addition, in terms of structural logic, the separable connection structure between the key cap 152 and the upper cover 144 and the separable connection structure between the bottom cover 142 and the bottom plate 122 can also be applied to each other in principle through simple structural modification, which will not be elaborated separately.

Please refer to Figures 8 to 10, which show the exploded view and cross-sectional view of the key structure 3 according to a second embodiment. The key structure 3 is similar to the key structure 1, so the component symbols of the key structure 1 are used in principle. For other descriptions of the key structure 3, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the key structure 1 and its variations, which will not be repeated separately. One difference between the key structure 3 and the key structure 1 is that the pressing assembly 34 of the key structure 3 does not have the upper cover 144 (such as the key structure 1), and the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 are directly connected to the key cap 352, and the key cap 352 is not designed to be detachable in principle. The connection structure between the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 and the key cap 352 is similar to the connection structure between the first bracket 146 and the second bracket 148 and the upper cover 144 in the key structure 1 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 ), and will not be described separately. In addition, since the bottom cover 342 of the key structure 3 does not need to be connected to the upper cover, the bottom cover 342 does not have the slide groove 1424 (such as the bottom cover 142 of the key structure 1). In addition, when the key cap 352 is pressed, the key cap 352 will directly squeeze the elastic member 150, thereby triggering the switch 124a. The elastically deformed elastic member 150 can directly push the key cap 352 to move upward. Generally speaking, since there is no upper cover 144, the overall height of the key structure 3 will be smaller than that of the key structure 1.

In addition, in the second embodiment, another difference between the key structure 3 and the key structure 1 is that the opening of the slot 3222 of the bottom plate 322 of the base 32 of the key structure 3 faces away from the hook 1428 and the slot 1224. In this structural configuration, the bottom cover 142 can still be limited in the horizontal direction Dh (relative to the bottom plate 322) by the mutual structure between the limiting column 1228 and the limiting hole 1432.

In the aforementioned key structures 1 and 3, the elastic member 150 is one of the components of the pressing assembly 14 and 34, and will be separated from the base 32 along with the pressing assembly 14 and 34, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Please refer to FIG. 11, which shows a cross-sectional view of a key structure 4 according to a third embodiment. The key structure 4 is similar to the key structure 1, so the element symbols of the key structure 1 are used in principle. For other descriptions of the key structure 4, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the key structure 1 and its variations, which will not be elaborated on separately. One difference between the key structure 3 and the key structure 1 is that the elastic member 150' of the key structure 4 is disposed on the base 12 below the key cap 152. When the key cap 152 (together with the upper cover 144) moves toward the bottom cover 142, the key cap 152 will elastically squeeze the elastic member 150' (via the upper cover 144), thereby triggering the switch 124a. The elastically deformed elastic member 150 can drive the upper cover 144 to move upward. In the key structure 4, after the pressing assembly 44 is removed from the base 12, the elastic member 150' will still remain on the base 12. In this embodiment, since the elastic member 150' does not need to be supported by the bottom cover 142, the overall height of the key structure 4 can be reduced in principle. In addition, in practice, the key structure 4 can also be modified similarly to the key structure 3 to not have the top cover 144 to further reduce the overall height.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

12: Base

122: Base plate

1222: Slotting

1224: Card slot

1228: Limiting column

124: Switch circuit board

14: Press assembly

142: Bottom cover

1422: Cover

1426: shaft

1428: Hook

144: Upper cover

1442: Cover

146: First bracket

148: Second bracket

149: Rotation axis

150: Elastic parts

152:Keycaps

1522: Hook

Dv: vertical direction

Dh: horizontal direction

Claims (13)

A key structure includes: a base; and a pressing assembly disposed on the base, wherein the pressing assembly includes a bottom cover and a key cap, the key cap is connected to the bottom cover and can move up and down relative to the bottom cover, and the pressing assembly is detachably fixed to the base through the bottom cover; wherein, one of the base and the bottom cover includes a hook, and the other of the base and the bottom cover includes a slot, and one of the base and the bottom cover includes a shaft, and the other of the base and the bottom cover includes a slot, and the slot and the shaft are hooked by the hook to horizontally enter the slot from the opening of the slot to be inserted into the slot, and the bottom cover is detachably fixed to the base. A key structure as described in claim 1, wherein the hook is formed on a cantilever structure of the base or the bottom cover. A key structure as described in claim 2, wherein the cantilever structure is located on the bottom cover, the slot is formed on the base, the base has an opening adjacent to the slot, and the cantilever structure extends into the opening. A key structure as described in claim 1, wherein the opening of the slot faces the hook or the slot. The key structure as described in claim 1, wherein one of the base and the bottom cover comprises a limiting column, and the other of the base and the bottom cover comprises a limiting hole, and the limiting column is located in the limiting hole. The key structure as described in claim 1, wherein the pressing assembly includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the first bracket and the second bracket are pivotally connected to each other and are both connected to the bottom cover, the key cap is connected to the bottom cover via the first bracket and the second bracket, and the key cap can move up and down relative to the bottom cover via the first bracket and the second bracket. The key structure as described in claim 6, wherein the pressing assembly includes a cover located between the key cap and the first bracket and the second bracket, the first bracket and the second bracket are both connected to the cover, and the key cap is detachably fixed to the cover. The key structure as described in claim 7, wherein the upper cover has a plurality of holes, the key cap has a plurality of hooks, and the key cap is removably fixed to the upper cover by hooking the plurality of holes through the plurality of hooks. A key structure as described in claim 6, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are both connected to the key cap. The key structure as described in claim 1 further includes an elastic member disposed on the base below the key cap, and the key cap squeezes the elastic member when moving toward the bottom cover. The key structure as described in claim 1, wherein the pressing assembly includes an elastic member disposed on the bottom cover below the key cap, and the key cap squeezes the elastic member when moving toward the bottom cover. The key structure as described in claim 11, wherein the pressing assembly includes a top cover located between the key cap and the elastic member, the elastic member supports the top cover upward, and the key cap is disposed on the top cover. The key structure as described in claim 12, wherein one of the upper cover and the bottom cover comprises a slide groove, and the other of the upper cover and the bottom cover comprises a sliding hook, and the sliding hook slides in the slide groove.

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