Key structure
By designing a key structure with an L-shaped hook-shaped inner bracket slide groove, the problem of the bracket easily deformed and damaged when pulling the key cap in the prior art is solved, and the effect of reducing pulling force and avoiding damage to the bracket is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421138239.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-05-23
AI Technical Summary
The existing key structures are prone to pulling the key caps when pulling the key caps, which may cause permanent deformation, damage or separation of the brackets, and the pivot structure may be permanently deformed.
Design a key structure, in which the key cap includes two outer bracket slide grooves and inner bracket slide grooves. The inner bracket slide groove is an L-shaped hook structure and has an opening. Through this structure, the key cap is easy to be pulled and The first bracket is separated to reduce deformation and damage on the bracket structure.
It effectively reduces the pulling force when pulling the key cap, avoids deformation and damage of the bracket, and improves the reliability and service life of the key structure.
Smart Images
Figure CN222514849U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to a key structure, in particular to a key structure which uses a detachable bracket to support a key cap. Background Art
[0002] In the keys of the prior art, a key structure with two brackets supporting the keycap is mostly used, and each bracket and the keycap are usually connected in a detachable structure. Among them, the keycap is pivoted to one of the brackets and slidably connected to the other bracket. When the keycap is pulled out (for example, when the keycap needs to be removed and replaced), the keycap and the bracket will pull against each other, and it will also cause pulling between the two brackets. Such pulling may cause permanent deformation and damage to the bracket, and may also cause the two brackets to separate (for example, the two brackets pivoted to each other separate), and even cause the pivot structure between the two brackets (for example, the pivot hole and the pivot) to be permanently deformed and damaged (for example, the pivot breaks). Utility Model Content
[0003] In view of the problems in the prior art, the utility model provides a key structure to solve the above problems.
[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a key structure, which comprises:
[0005] Base plate;
[0006] A key cap, which is movably disposed above the base plate in a vertical direction, and includes two outer bracket slide grooves and an inner bracket slide groove, wherein the inner bracket slide groove is located between the two outer bracket slide grooves, the inner bracket slide groove is an L-shaped hook structure and has an opening, and the opening of the inner bracket slide groove faces the inner side of the key cap;
[0007] A first bracket, the first bracket is connected to the bottom plate and the key cap, the first bracket has a key cap connecting portion, and the key cap connecting portion is rotatably and slidably connected to the inner bracket sliding groove; and
[0008] The second bracket is connected to the bottom plate and the key cap.
[0009] As an optional technical solution, the two outer bracket sliding grooves have openings, and the openings of the two outer bracket sliding grooves are opposite to or the same as the opening direction of the inner bracket sliding groove.
[0010] As an optional technical solution, the key cap has a body and a key skirt extending from the periphery of the body, and the L-shaped hook structure protrudes from the key skirt in the vertical direction.
[0011] As an optional technical solution, the L-shaped hook structure is arranged on the key skirt.
[0012] As an optional technical solution, the key cap connecting portion is located at the outer edge of the first bracket.
[0013] As an optional technical solution, the first bracket and the second bracket are pivotally connected to each other around a rotation axis.
[0014] As an optional technical solution, the first bracket has an outer frame, and the second bracket is pivotally connected to the inner side of the outer frame.
[0015] As an optional technical solution, the two outer bracket sliding grooves and the inner bracket sliding groove are arranged in a direction parallel to the rotation axis.
[0016] As an optional technical solution, the second bracket is pivotally connected to the key cap.
[0017] As an optional technical solution, the key cap is rectangular, and the two outer bracket slide grooves and the inner bracket slide groove are arranged parallel to the long side direction of the key cap.
[0018] Compared to the prior art, in the key structure of the utility model, by designing the structure of the inner bracket slide groove, the keycap is easily separated from the first bracket when being pulled, thereby reducing the degree of deformation that may be caused to the first bracket and the second bracket structure, and avoiding damage to the bracket structure. In addition, in this embodiment, the opening of the inner bracket slide groove and the opening of the outer bracket slide groove are in opposite directions, but this is not limited to the actual production. For example, the opening of the inner bracket slide groove and the opening of the outer bracket slide groove are both facing the inside of the keycap. In addition, in actual production, the key structure can be applied to a keyboard, for example, as a blank key in a keyboard. However, the key structure of the utility model is not limited to this.
[0019] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but is not intended to limit the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a key structure according to an embodiment.
[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Partially exploded diagram of the middle button structure.
[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Exploded diagram of the middle button structure.
[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of the middle button structure along line XX. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] In order to provide a further understanding of the purpose, structure, features and functions of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.
[0025] See also Figures 1 to 4 . Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a key structure 1 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Partial exploded diagram of the middle button structure 1. Figure 3 for Figure 1 Exploded diagram of the middle button structure 1. Figure 4 for Figure 1 The key structure 1 is a cross-sectional view along line XX. The key structure 1 according to the embodiment includes a base plate 10, a keycap 12, a first bracket 14, a second bracket 16, a switch circuit board 18 and an elastic member 20. The keycap 12 is movably disposed above the base plate 10 in a vertical direction D1 (indicated by a double-headed arrow in the figure). The first bracket 14 is connected to the base plate 10 and the keycap 12, and the second bracket 16 is connected to the base plate 10 and the keycap 12. The first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are pivotally connected to each other around a rotation axis A1 (indicated by a chain line in the figure). Thereby, the keycap 12 moves up and down relative to the base plate 10 through the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16.
[0026] The switch circuit board 18 is disposed on the base plate 10. The switch circuit board 18 has a switch 182 (indicated by a slashed circle in the figure). The elastic member 20 is disposed on the switch circuit board 18 corresponding to the switch 182. When the keycap 12 moves downward toward the base plate 10 (for example, pressed by a user), the elastic member 20 is squeezed by the keycap 12 and elastically deformed, thereby triggering the switch 182. The elastically deformed elastic member 20 can rebound and push the keycap 12 upward after the keycap 12 is no longer pressed, so that the keycap 12 returns to its original position. In actual production, the switch circuit board 18 can be, but is not limited to, a thin film circuit board (for example, made of a layered plate structure, wherein the upper substrate and the lower substrate form the relevant switch circuit, and an insulating layer is sandwiched between the upper substrate and the lower substrate); it is represented by a single plate-like member in the figure to simplify the schematic diagram. The elastic member 20 can be, but is not limited to, a rubber protrusion.
[0027] Further, in this embodiment, the keycap 12 has a plurality of connection parts, and the keycap 12 is connected to the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 via these connection parts. These connection parts include two outer bracket slots 122, an inner bracket slot 124 and four shaft claws 126. In the utility model, the keycap 12 includes at least one inner bracket slot 124. In this embodiment, the keycap 12 includes two inner bracket slots 124, but is not limited thereto. The two outer bracket slots 122 and the two inner bracket slots 124 are arranged in a direction parallel to the rotation axis A1, and the two inner bracket slots 124 are located between the two outer bracket slots 122. The keycap 12 is connected to the first bracket 14 via the two outer bracket slots 122 and the two inner bracket slots 124. The four shaft claws 126 are arranged in a direction parallel to the rotation axis A1. The keycap 12 is connected to the second bracket 16 via the four shaft claws 126. Each inner bracket slot 124 is an L-shaped hook structure and has an opening 124a in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis A1, and the opening 124a faces the inner side of the keycap 12. The outer bracket slot 122 also has an opening 122a in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis A1, and the opening 122a faces the outer side of the keycap 12. Therefore, the opening 122a of the outer bracket slot 122 is opposite to the opening 124a of the inner bracket slot 124. The shaft claw 126 is made of a pair of hook structures arranged opposite to each other.
[0028] The first bracket 14 has two keycap connecting parts 142, each of which is rotatably and slidably connected to the corresponding inner bracket slot 124. The first bracket 14 also has two other keycap connecting parts 144, which are rotatably and slidably connected to the corresponding outer bracket slot 122. The two keycap connecting parts 142 are located between the two keycap connecting parts 144. The first bracket 14 is connected to the keycap 12 via the keycap connecting parts 142 and 144. During the assembly process of the key structure 1, the keycap connecting part 142 enters the corresponding inner bracket slot 124 via the opening 124a, and the keycap connecting part 144 enters the corresponding outer bracket slot 122 via the opening 122a. The second bracket 16 has four keycap connecting parts 162, which are pivotally connected to the corresponding four shaft claws 126. Thereby, the second bracket 16 is connected to the keycap 12.
[0029] In this embodiment, the first bracket 14 has an outer frame, and the second bracket 16 is pivotally connected to the inner side of the outer frame of the first bracket 14. Specifically, the first bracket 14 is a square frame structure as a whole, and two pivot holes 146 are provided on the inner side thereof. The second bracket 16 is a plate-shaped structure as a whole, and two pivot shafts 164 are provided on the outer side thereof. The pivot shafts 164 are rotatably inserted into the corresponding pivot holes 146 to realize the pivot connection between the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16. In actual production, the two pivot holes can also be changed to be set in the second bracket 16, and the two pivot shafts can be correspondingly changed to be set in the first bracket 14. In addition, in this embodiment, the second bracket 16 has a through hole 166 for the elastic member 20 to pass through.
[0030] In addition, in this embodiment, the keycap 12 has a body 128 and a key skirt 130 extending from the body 128. The inner bracket slot 124 (i.e., an L-shaped hook structure) is disposed on the key skirt 130 and protrudes from (the lower edge of) the key skirt 130 in the vertical direction D1. The keycap connecting portion 142 is located at the outer edge of the first bracket 14; that is, the portion where the outer edge of the first bracket 14 contacts the inner bracket slot 124 serves as the keycap connecting portion 142. However, the actual manufacturing is not limited to this structural configuration. For example, the inner bracket slot 124 is located inside the keycap 12 (or key skirt 130) and does not contact the key skirt 130.
[0031] See also Figure 4 At this time, the keycap 12 is in the unpressed position (i.e., the keycap 12 is not pressed at this time). Although the interference between the keycap connecting portion 142 (of the first bracket 14) and the inner bracket sliding groove 124 in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the relative movement between the two in the vertical direction D1) is not large, when the keycap 12 is pressed (i.e., moves toward the bottom plate 10), the keycap connecting portion 142 will move toward the outside of the keycap 12 (i.e., move toward the bottom plate 10). Figure 4 From a perspective, the key cap connecting portion 142 moves to the right), that is, the key cap connecting portion 142 will enter further into the inner side of the inner bracket slot 124, so that the interference between the key cap connecting portion 142 and the inner bracket slot 124 increases, and the key cap connecting portion 142 is less likely to separate from the inner bracket slot 124.
[0032] When the keycap 12 is pulled out (i.e. the keycap 12 moves upward from the unpressed position, or moves away from the base plate 10 in the vertical direction D1), the keycap connecting portion 142 moves toward the inside of the keycap 12, so that the interference between the keycap connecting portion 142 and the inner bracket slide groove 124 is reduced, and the keycap connecting portion 142 is more easily separated from the inner bracket slide groove 124. This feature can reduce the pulling force between the keycap 12 and the first bracket 14 when the keycap 12 is pulled out, which helps to avoid or greatly suppress the deformation of the first bracket 14 that may be caused by pulling, and is also conducive to reducing the pulling force between the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 (via the pivot hole 146 and the pivot 164).
[0033] See also Figures 1 to 3 . In the present embodiment, the keycap 12 is rectangular and has a long side direction D2 and a short side direction D3 (both are indicated by double-sided arrows in the figure). The long side direction D2 is parallel to the rotation axis A1, and the short side direction D3 is perpendicular to the rotation axis A1. The two outer bracket slots 122 and the two inner bracket slots 124 are arranged parallel to the long side direction D2. The first bracket 14 is a rectangular frame as a whole. The two keycap connecting parts 142 and the two keycap connecting parts 144 are also arranged on the long side of the rectangular frame parallel to the long side direction D2. In the process of pulling out the keycap 12, this long side can be elastically bent and deformed (for example, it is bent in a parabolic shape with the opening facing upward), so that the two keycap connecting parts 144 can easily detach from the two outer bracket slots 122 in the long side direction D2. Therefore, when the keycap 12 is pulled out, the keycap 12 is also easily separated from the first bracket 14.
[0034] In summary, in the key structure of the utility model, by designing the structure of the inner bracket slide groove, the keycap is easily separated from the first bracket when being pulled, thereby reducing the degree of deformation that may be caused to the first bracket and the second bracket structure, and avoiding damage to the bracket structure. In addition, in this embodiment, the opening of the inner bracket slide groove and the opening of the outer bracket slide groove are in opposite directions, but this is not limited to the actual production. For example, the opening of the inner bracket slide groove and the opening of the outer bracket slide groove are both facing the inside of the keycap. In addition, in actual production, the key structure can be applied to a keyboard, for example, as a blank key in a keyboard. However, the key structure of the utility model is not limited to this.
[0035] Of course, the present invention may have many other embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, technicians familiar with the field may make various corresponding changes and deformations based on the present invention, but these corresponding changes and deformations should all fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.
Claims
1. A key structure, characterized in that: The key structure includes: Base plate; A key cap, which is movably disposed above the base plate in a vertical direction, and includes two outer bracket slide grooves and an inner bracket slide groove, wherein the inner bracket slide groove is located between the two outer bracket slide grooves, the inner bracket slide groove is an L-shaped hook structure and has an opening, and the opening of the inner bracket slide groove faces the inner side of the key cap; A first bracket, the first bracket is connected to the bottom plate and the key cap, the first bracket has a key cap connecting portion, and the key cap connecting portion is rotatably and slidably connected to the inner bracket sliding groove; as well as The second bracket is connected to the bottom plate and the key cap.
2. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two outer bracket sliding grooves have openings, and the openings of the two outer bracket sliding grooves are opposite to or the same as the opening direction of the inner bracket sliding groove.
3. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The key cap comprises a body and a key skirt extending from the periphery of the body, and the L-shaped hook structure protrudes from the key skirt in the vertical direction.
4. The key structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The L-shaped hook structure is arranged on the key skirt.
5. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The key cap connecting portion is located at the outer edge of the first bracket.
6. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first bracket and the second bracket are pivotally connected to each other around a rotation axis.
7. The key structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first bracket has an outer frame, and the second bracket is pivotally connected to the inner side of the outer frame.
8. The key structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The two outer bracket sliding grooves and the inner bracket sliding groove are arranged along a direction parallel to the rotation axis.
9. The key structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second bracket is pivotally connected to the key cap.
10. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The key cap is rectangular, and the two outer bracket sliding grooves and the inner bracket sliding groove are arranged parallel to the long side direction of the key cap.