key

Abstract

The present application provides a key. The key includes a switch circuit layer, a support platform and a key cap. The support platform has a protruding part and an opening. The key cap has a buffer hook and a clamping hook. The support platform is arranged on the switch circuit layer, the key cap is arranged in the opening of the support platform, and the buffer hook and the clamping hook of the key cap correspond to the protruding part of the support platform. When the key cap moves away from the switch circuit layer, the buffer hook contacts the protruding part of the support platform, and after the buffer hook contacts the protruding part of the support platform, the clamping hook contacts the protruding part of the support platform.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to a keypad. Background Technology

[0002] Many modern keyboards use mounting brackets to hold the keys to the base plate. These brackets are located on the switching circuit layer, and the keycaps are housed within the brackets. The brackets hold the keycaps above the switching circuit layer for user input. These brackets also contain limiting elements to prevent the keycaps from detaching from the brackets and to ensure that the keycaps remain at a normal height when pressed. After the keycap is pressed and released, it returns to its original height. When the keycap returns to its original height, the limiting elements engage and stop the keycap, preventing it from rising excessively or falling off.

[0003] However, when the keycap rises to its original height and contacts the limiting element, the keycap will usually hit the limiting element. During the impact, it will make a shaking and noise, which will affect the sensitivity and feel of the key and cause inconvenience in use. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of prior art, this invention proposes a button. The button of this invention has a buffer element. When the keycap rises to its original height, the buffer element first contacts a limiting element, slowing down the rising speed and impact force of the keycap, preventing wobbling and noise caused by the keycap's impact, and maintaining the button's sensitivity and tactile feel.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a button comprising: a switch circuit layer; an elastic element disposed on the switch circuit layer; a support disposed on the switch circuit layer and surrounding the elastic element, the support having a protrusion and an opening; and a keycap disposed in the opening of the support and corresponding to the elastic element, the keycap having a buffer hook and a latch, the buffer hook and the latch being disposed adjacent to each other and corresponding to the protrusion of the support; wherein, when the keycap moves away from the switch circuit layer, the buffer hook contacts the protrusion, and after the buffer hook contacts the protrusion, the latch then contacts the protrusion.

[0006] Preferably, when the buffer hook of the keycap contacts the protrusion, the buffer hook will undergo elastic deformation, and after the buffer hook has elastically deformed, the latch will then contact the protrusion.

[0007] Preferably, the support has an inner wall surrounding the opening, and the protrusion is disposed on the inner wall and extends toward the opening.

[0008] Preferably, the keycap's cushioning hook and latch are located in the opening and extend toward the inner wall of the tray.

[0009] Preferably, the keycap has a connecting post with a side wall, the connecting post passing through the opening of the support, and the buffer hook and the latch being adjacent to each other and arranged side by side on the side wall.

[0010] Preferably, the keycap has a buffer arm and a limiting arm, the buffer arm and the limiting arm are adjacent to each other and arranged side by side on the side wall of the connecting post, the buffer hook is disposed on the buffer arm, and the latch is disposed on the limiting arm.

[0011] Preferably, the buffer hook of the keycap is spaced apart from the protrusion of the support by a first distance, and the latch of the keycap is spaced apart from the protrusion of the support by a second distance, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

[0012] Preferably, the keycap's buffer hook has a first contact surface, and the keycap's latch has a second contact surface. When the buffer hook and the latch contact the protrusion, the buffer hook contacts the protrusion with the first contact surface, and the latch contacts the protrusion with the second contact surface.

[0013] Preferably, the area of ​​the first contact surface of the buffer hook is smaller than the area of ​​the second contact surface of the latch.

[0014] Preferably, the cushioning hook is made of a soft material.

[0015] This invention utilizes a buffer element inside the key to reduce the impact force and noise generated when the keycap strikes the base and limiting element during reset. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of the buttons in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the keycap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the usage state of the buttons according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the usage state of the buttons according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0021] 1: Buttons

[0022] 10: Switching Circuit Layer

[0023] 20: Elastic element

[0024] 30: Supporting platform

[0025] 31: Inner wall

[0026] 32: Protrusion

[0027] 33: Opening

[0028] 40: Keycaps

[0029] 41: Connecting Post

[0030] 411: Sidewall

[0031] 42: Buffer hook

[0032] 421: First contact surface

[0033] 43: Hook

[0034] 431: Second contact surface

[0035] 44: Buffer Arm

[0036] 45: Limiting arm Detailed Implementation

[0037] The following describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Please see Figure 1 Exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and Figure 2 A side view of a keycap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The keycap 1 of the present invention includes a switch circuit layer 10, an elastic element 20, a support 30, and a keycap 40. The support 30 has a protrusion 32 and an opening 33. The keycap 40 has a buffer hook 42 and a latching hook 43. The elastic element 20 is disposed on the switch circuit layer 10, and the support 30 is disposed on the switch circuit layer 10 and surrounds the elastic element 20. The keycap 40 is disposed in the opening 33 of the support 30, and the buffer hook 42 and latching hook 43 of the keycap 40 are disposed adjacent to each other and correspond to the protrusion 32 of the support 30. When the keycap 40 moves away from the switch circuit layer 10, the buffer hook 42 of the keycap 40 will first contact the protrusion 32 of the support 30, and only after the buffer hook 42 contacts the protrusion 32 will the latching hook 43 of the keycap 40 contact the protrusion 32 of the support 30.

[0039] In detail, the support 30 has an inner wall 31. The keycap 40 has a connecting post 41, a buffer arm 44, and a limiting arm 45. The connecting post 41 has a side wall 411. The buffer hook 42 of the keycap 40 has a first contact surface 421, and the latch has a second contact surface 431. The inner wall 31 of the support 30 surrounds the opening 33, and the protrusion 32 is disposed on the inner wall 31 and extends toward the opening 33. The buffer arm 44 and the limiting arm 45 of the keycap 40 are adjacent to each other and arranged side by side on the side wall 411 of the connecting post 41. The buffer hook 42 is disposed on the buffer arm 44, and the latch 43 is disposed on the limiting arm 45, so that the buffer hook 42 and the latch 43 are also adjacent to each other and arranged side by side. A keycap 40 is disposed in the opening 33 of the support 30. The connecting post 41 of the keycap 40 passes through the opening 33. The buffer hook 42 and the latch 43 are also located in the opening 33 and extend towards the inner wall 31 of the support 30. When the keycap 40 moves away from the switch circuit layer 10 and rises to a certain height, the first contact surface 421 of the buffer hook 42 contacts the protrusion 32 of the support 30, slowing down the movement speed of the keycap 40. The buffer hook 42 also undergoes elastic deformation, reducing the force of impact on the support 30. After the first contact surface 421 of the buffer hook 42 contacts the support 30, the second contact surface 431 of the latch 43 then contacts the protrusion 32. This structure prevents the latch 34 from directly impacting the support 30, thus achieving a buffering function.

[0040] For a description of the usage status of button 1 in this invention, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 , Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the usage state of the buttons according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. (See attached diagram.) Figure 3 When the user presses and releases the keycap 40, the elastic element 20 beneath the keycap 40 pushes the keycap 40 away from the switch circuit layer 10. When the keycap 40 reaches a certain height, the first contact surface 421 of the buffer hook 42 contacts the protrusion 32 of the support 30, slowing down the movement speed and impact force of the keycap 40. However, since the keycap 40 has not yet returned to its original height, the elastic element 20 continues to push the keycap 40. Due to the pushing of the elastic element 20, the buffer hook 42 undergoes elastic deformation under force, allowing the keycap 40 to rise slightly further. (Continued reading) Figure 4 When the keycap 40 moves back to its original height, the second contact surface 431 of the latch 43 will contact the protrusion 32 of the support 30. At this time, the elastic element 20 no longer pushes the keycap 40, and because the latch 43 abuts against the protrusion 32, the keycap 40 remains at its original height and does not detach from the support 30.

[0041] The keycap 40's cushioning hook 42 is made of a soft material, and the area of ​​the first contact surface 421 of the cushioning hook 42 is smaller than the area of ​​the second contact surface 431 of the latch 43. The small contact area and high flexibility of the cushioning hook 42 effectively cushion impact forces and reduce vibration noise when it contacts the protrusion 32 of the support base 30. The latch 43 is made of a hard material.

[0042] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Therefore, any equivalent changes or modifications made without departing from the spirit disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A button, the button comprising: A switching circuit layer; An elastic element is disposed on the switching circuit layer; A support platform is disposed on the switch circuit layer and surrounds the elastic element, the support platform having a protrusion and an opening; as well as A keycap is disposed in the opening of the tray and corresponds to the elastic element. The keycap has a buffer hook and a latch, which are disposed adjacent to each other and correspond to the protrusion of the tray. When the keycap moves away from the switch circuit layer, the buffer hook contacts the protrusion, and after the buffer hook contacts the protrusion, the latch then contacts the protrusion.

2. The button as described in claim 1, wherein, When the buffer hook of the keycap contacts the protrusion, the buffer hook will undergo elastic deformation. After the buffer hook has elastically deformed, the latch will then contact the protrusion.

3. The button as described in claim 1, wherein, The support has an inner wall surrounding the opening, and the protrusion is provided on the inner wall and extends toward the opening.

4. The button as described in claim 3, wherein, The keycap's buffer hook and latch are located in the opening and extend toward the inner wall of the tray.

5. The button as described in claim 1, wherein, The keycap has a connecting post with a side wall, the connecting post passing through the opening of the support, and the buffer hook and the latch hook being adjacent to each other and arranged side by side on the side wall.

6. The button as described in claim 5, wherein, The keycap has a buffer arm and a limiting arm, which are adjacent to each other and arranged side by side on the side wall of the connecting post. The buffer hook is disposed on the buffer arm and the locking hook is disposed on the limiting arm.

7. The button as described in claim 1, wherein, The keycap's buffer hook has a first contact surface, and the keycap's latch has a second contact surface. When the buffer hook and the latch contact the protrusion, the buffer hook contacts the protrusion with the first contact surface, and the latch contacts the protrusion with the second contact surface.

8. The button as described in claim 7, wherein, The area of ​​the first contact surface of the buffer hook is smaller than the area of ​​the second contact surface of the latch.

9. The button as described in claim 1, wherein, The cushioning hook is made of a soft material.

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