Key structure

Abstract

The utility model discloses a key structure. The key structure comprises a shell seat, a key cap, an elastic sheet and a balance rod, the shell base is provided with a middle opening and a first side opening. The key cap can be vertically and movably arranged above the shell seat. The elastic sheet comprises a sheet body, an elastic round protrusion and a stopping part. The elastic round protrusion and the stopping part protrude upwards from the sheet body. The sheet body is located below the shell base, the elastic round protrusion penetrates through the middle opening and abuts against the key cap, and the stop part penetrates through the first side opening. The balance rod is connected between the shell base and the key cap, the balance rod comprises a connecting arm, a first side arm and a second side arm, the first side arm and the second side arm are connected to the two opposite sides of the connecting arm, and the first side arm is located above the stop part. When the key cap moves downwards, the two side arms swing downwards, and the stopping part can limit the first side arm from swinging downwards. The key structure of the utility model can effectively restrain or eliminate sound possibly generated by collision of the side arm of the balance rod when the key cap is pressed, and can effectively control the manufacturing cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a key structure, in particular to a key structure using a balance bar. Background Art

[0002] Generally, a keyboard has various keys, such as square keys (e.g., characters, numbers, etc.), long keys (shift keys, backspace keys, space keys, etc.). When the aspect ratio of a long key is too large, it is difficult for its keycap to remain horizontal during up and down movement (e.g., when the keycap is pressed). Therefore, a balance bar is often used to link the keycap in the length direction of the keycap to increase the smoothness of the up and down movement of the keycap. However, for some keys using a balance bar, when the keycap is pressed, the balance bar will also rotate, causing the side arm of the balance bar to hit the bottom plate, resulting in noise. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a key structure to effectively suppress or eliminate the possible noise generated by the side arm of the balance bar hitting when the keycap is pressed, and effectively control the manufacturing cost.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides a key structure, including a housing base, a keycap, an elastic sheet material, and a balance bar. The housing base has a middle opening and a first side opening; the keycap is arranged above the housing base and can move vertically relative to the housing base; the elastic sheet material includes a sheet body, an elastic round protrusion, and a first stop portion. The elastic round protrusion and the first stop portion both protrude upward from the sheet body. The sheet body is located below the housing base. The elastic round protrusion passes through the middle opening and pushes against the keycap, and the first stop portion passes through the first side opening; the balance bar is connected between the housing base and the keycap. The balance bar includes a first side arm, a second side arm, and a connecting arm. The first side arm and the second side arm are located on opposite sides of the connecting arm and are respectively connected to the connecting arm. The first side arm is located above the first stop portion; wherein, when the keycap moves downward, the first side arm and the second side arm swing downward; when the keycap is pressed downward to a pressing position, the first stop portion stops the first side arm.

[0005] As an optional technical solution, the first stop portion includes a first base portion and a first side portion. The first side portion protrudes upward relative to the first base portion; when the keycap is in the pressing position, the first side arm presses downward against the first base portion, and the first side portion is adjacent to the first side arm to limit the horizontal movement of the first side arm.

[0006] As an optional technical solution, the elastic sheet material includes a second stop portion. The housing base has a second side opening. The second stop portion protrudes upward from the sheet body and passes through the second side opening. The second side arm is located above the second stop portion; when the keycap is in the pressing position, the second stop portion stops the second side arm.

[0007] As an alternative technical solution, the second stop portion includes a second base portion and a second side portion, and the second side portion protrudes upward relative to the second base portion; when the keycap is in the pressing position, the second side arm presses downward against the second base portion, and the second side portion is adjacent to the second side arm to restrict the horizontal movement of the second side arm.

[0008] As an alternative technical solution, the first stop portion includes a first base portion and a first side portion, the first side portion protrudes upward relative to the first base portion, and the first base portion and the second base portion are located between the first side portion and the second side portion; when the keycap is in the pressing position, the first side arm presses downward against the first base portion, and the first side portion is adjacent to the first side arm to restrict the horizontal movement of the first side arm.

[0009] As an alternative technical solution, the connecting arm is pivotally connected to the housing base, the first side arm has a first free end and is connected to the keycap at the first free end, and the second side arm has a second free end and is connected to the keycap at the second free end.

[0010] As an alternative technical solution, the first side arm is slidably connected to the keycap at the first free end, and the second side arm is slidably connected to the keycap at the second free end.

[0011] As an alternative technical solution, the housing base has a first pivot portion and a second pivot portion, the connecting arm is pivotally connected to the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion, the balance bar is integrally in a U-shaped structure, and the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are correspondingly adjacent to the two corners of the U-shaped structure.

[0012] As an alternative technical solution, the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion do not contact the first side arm and the second side arm.

[0013] As an alternative technical solution, the housing base includes a sleeve, the keycap includes a sliding post, and the sliding post is slidably inserted into the sleeve; alternatively, the housing base includes a sleeve, the keycap includes a sliding post and two limiting hooks, the two limiting hooks are located on both sides of the sliding post, the housing base includes a sleeve and two limiting grooves corresponding to the two limiting hooks, each limiting hook hooks the corresponding limiting groove, and the sliding post is slidably inserted into the sleeve.

[0014] For the key structure of the present utility model, when the keycap moves downward, the first side arm and the second side arm of the balance bar swing downward, and when the keycap is pressed downward to the pressing position, the stop portion of the elastic sheet material stops the first side arm. Thus, the elastic stop portion is used to provide buffering when the first side arm is impacted downward, and at the same time, the sound that may be generated due to the impact is effectively suppressed or eliminated. In addition, directly forming the stop portion with the elastic sheet material can effectively control the manufacturing cost.

[0015] The present utility model will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but it is not intended to limit the present utility model. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 is Figure 1 Partial exploded view of the key structure of the space key on the keyboard.

[0018] Figure 3 is Figure 1 Exploded view of the key structure of the space key on the keyboard.

[0019] Figure 4 is Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the keyboard along X-X.

[0020] Figure 5 is Figure 2 Enlarged view of the elastic sheet at the first stop portion in.

[0021] Figure 6 is Figure 2 Enlarged view of the elastic sheet at the second stop portion in.

[0022] Figure 7 is Figure 2 Partial exploded view of the key structure in when the keycap is pressed to the pressed position. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0023] In order to further understand the purpose, structure, features and functions of the present utility model, the following will be described in detail in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present utility model. As Figure 1 shown, the keyboard 1 includes a keyboard housing 10 (formed by combining an upper cover 102 and a bottom cover 104, for example), a plurality of keycaps 12 exposed on the keyboard housing 10, and other components accommodated in the keyboard housing 10 (such as elastic switch trigger members, switch circuit boards, controllers, etc., not shown). Each keycap 12 is vertically movably disposed on the keyboard housing 10 via a corresponding lifting mechanism. Each keycap 12 can be pressed to trigger a corresponding switch on the switch circuit board via the elastic switch trigger member. On the other hand, the keyboard 1 includes a plurality of key structures 2, and each key structure can share the same elastic switch trigger member (for example, the elastic round protrusions corresponding to the key structures are composed of a single elastic sheet) and the same switch circuit board (for example, switches corresponding to the keycaps of each key structure are provided thereon); in this embodiment, the plurality of key structures also share the same keyboard housing 10.

[0025] Please refer to Figures 2 to 4 , Figure 2 which is Figure 1 a partial exploded view of the key structure of the space bar on a keyboard; Figure 3 and Figure 1 an exploded view of the key structure of the space bar on a keyboard; Figure 4 and Figure 1 a sectional view of the keyboard along X-X. As Figures 1 to 4 shown, the key structure 2 includes a housing base 20, a keycap 22, an elastic sheet 24, a balance bar 26, and a switch circuit board 28. The housing base 20 is a part of the upper cover 102 of the keyboard housing 10; the housing base 20 is correspondingly arranged with a bottom plate 30, and the bottom plate 30 is a part of the bottom cover 104 of the keyboard housing 10. The keycap 22 is arranged above the housing base 20 and can move vertically relative to the housing base 20, that is, the keycap 22 can move up and down along the vertical direction Dv (represented by a double-headed arrow in the figure). The keycap 22 extends in the longitudinal direction De (represented by a double-headed arrow in the figure and perpendicular to the vertical direction Dv) and is in a strip shape. The housing base 20 has a middle opening 20a, a first side opening 20b, and a second side opening 20c, and the middle opening 20a is located between the first side opening 20b and the second side opening 20c in the longitudinal direction De.

[0026] The elastic sheet 24 includes a sheet body 242, an elastic round protrusion 244, a first stop portion 246, and a second stop portion 248. The elastic round protrusion 244, the first stop portion 246, and the second stop portion 248 all protrude upward from the sheet body 242. The sheet body 242 is located below the housing base 20, the elastic round protrusion 244 passes through the middle opening 20a of the housing base 20 and abuts against the keycap 22, the first stop portion 246 passes through the first side opening 20b of the housing base 20, and the second stop portion 248 passes through the second side opening 20c of the housing base 20. When the keycap 22 is pressed downward, the keycap 22 will elastically squeeze the elastic round protrusion 244; after the external force disappears (for example, when the user's finger moves away from the keycap 22), the resilience of the elastic round protrusion 244 can push the keycap 22 upward to return it to its original position.

[0027] The balance bar 26 is connected between the housing base 20 and the keycap 22. The balance bar 26 includes a first side arm 262, a second side arm 264, and a connecting arm 266. The connecting arm 266 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction De. The first side arm 262 and the second side arm 264 are located on opposite sides of the connecting arm 266 in the longitudinal direction De and are connected via the connecting arm 266. The first side arm 262 is located above the first stop portion 246, and the second side arm 264 is located above the second stop portion 248. When the keycap 22 is pressed, the balance bar 26 is driven by the keycap 22 to swing; wherein, the connecting arm 266 rotates, and the first side arm 262 and the second side arm 264 swing downward relative to the connecting arm 266 and are respectively stopped by the first stop portion 246 and the second stop portion 248. The balance bar 26 drives both sides of the keycap 22 via the first side arm 262 and the second side arm 264 to improve the smoothness of the up-and-down movement of the keycap 22.

[0028] The switch circuit board 28 is disposed below the elastic sheet 24. The switch circuit board 28, for example but not limited to, is a flexible circuit board (for example, it includes a layered structure, with switch circuits formed on the upper and lower layers, and an insulating layer formed in the middle layer with openings for temporary contact between the upper and lower layer circuits). The switch circuit board 28 is formed with a switch 282 corresponding to the elastic protrusion 244 (indicated by a slanted circle in Figure 3 and represented by a single square in Figure 4 ). The elastic protrusion 244 can be elastically squeezed by the keycap 22 to trigger the switch 282.

[0029] In addition, in this embodiment, the housing base 20 includes a sleeve 202. The keycap 22 includes a cap body 222 and a sliding post 224 extending downward from the cap body 222. The sliding post 224 is slidably inserted into the sleeve 202. The keycap 22 also presses the elastic protrusion 244 downward via the sliding post 224. The sliding fit between the sliding post 224 and the sleeve 202 enables the keycap 22 to move stably relative to the housing base 20. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 , the keycap 22 further includes two sliding posts 226 in addition to the sliding post 224, and the two sliding posts 226 are respectively located on both sides of the sliding post 224. Correspondingly, the housing base 20 further includes two sleeves 204 in addition to the sleeve 202. The two sliding posts 226 are respectively slidably inserted into the corresponding two sleeves 204. This structural configuration further helps the keycap 22 to move stably relative to the housing base 20. In addition, in this embodiment, the keycap 22 further includes two limiting hooks 228, which are respectively located on both sides of the sliding post 224. The housing base 20 correspondingly includes two limiting grooves 206. By hooking the corresponding limiting grooves 206 with the limiting hooks 228, the maximum height of the keycap 22 relative to the housing base 20 is limited.

[0030] In this embodiment, the balance bar 26 is generally in a U-shaped structure. The housing base 20 has a first pivoting portion 208 and a second pivoting portion 210. The balance bar 26 is pivotally connected to the housing base 20 through the connecting arm 266 to the first pivoting portion 208 and the second pivoting portion 210. The first side arm 262 has a first free end 2622 and is connected to the keycap 22 at the first free end 2622. The second side arm 264 has a second free end 2642 and is connected to the keycap 22 at the second free end 2642. Among them, the keycap 22 includes a first sliding groove 230 and a second sliding groove 232. The first side arm 262 is slidably connected to the first sliding groove 230 at the first free end 2622, and the second side arm 264 is slidably connected to the second sliding groove 232 at the second free end 2642. In addition, the first pivoting portion 208 and the second pivoting portion 210 are correspondingly adjacent to the two corners of the U-shaped structure, that is, they are respectively adjacent to the first side arm 262 and the second side arm 264, but the first pivoting portion 208 and the second pivoting portion 210 do not contact the first side arm 262 and the second side arm 264. In addition, the connecting portion 266 of the balance bar 26 is pivotally connected to the relatively fixed housing base 20 (with respect to the movably arranged keycap 20), which helps to improve the stability of the actuation of the balance bar 26. In addition, in actual operation, the balance bar 26 is not limited to the U-shaped structure.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 2 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 5 is Figure 2 the enlarged view of the elastic sheet at the first stop portion in Figure 2 、 Figure 4 and Figure 6 . Figure 6 is Figure 2 the enlarged view of the elastic sheet at the second stop portion in . The second stop portion 248 includes a second base portion 2482 and a second side portion 2484. The second side portion 2484 protrudes upward relative to the second base portion 2482. The second base portion 2482 protrudes from the second side opening 20c, and the second side arm 264 is located directly above the second base portion 2482. Similarly, when the second side arm 264 swings downward, the second base portion 2482 can stop the second side arm 264, avoiding the second side arm 264 hitting the housing base 20. In addition, in this embodiment, the first stop portion 246 is generally in an L-shaped structure, but it is not limited to this in actual operation and will not be elaborated further; the structure of the second stop portion 248 can refer to the first stop portion and will not be elaborated further.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 7 , Figure 7 which is Figure 2 a partial exploded view of the key structure in Figure 7 when the keycap is pressed to the pressed position. The first base 2462 and the second base 2482 are located between the first side portion 2464 and the second side portion 2484. When the keycap 22 is pressed downward to the pressed position, the first side arm 262 presses downward against the first base 2462 (as shown in Figure 5 ; in Figure 7 , the first side arm 262 at this time is shown in dashed lines), and the second side arm 264 presses downward against the second base 2482 (as shown in Figure 6 ; in Figure 4 , the second side arm 264 at this time is shown in dashed lines); in other words, the first base 2462 stops the first side arm 262, and the second base 2482 stops the second side arm 264. Among them, during the downward swing of the first side arm 262 and the second side arm 264, the first side portion 2464 is adjacent to the first side arm 262 to limit the horizontal movement of the first side arm 262 (i.e., move parallel to the longitudinal direction De). For example, in the perspective of Figure 4 , the first side portion 2464 can limit the leftward horizontal movement of the balance bar 26. The second side portion 2484 is adjacent to the second side arm 264 to limit the horizontal movement of the second side arm 264 (i.e., move parallel to the longitudinal direction De). For example, in the perspective of

[0033] As described above, in this embodiment, the elastic sheet 24 is integrally formed. Therefore, adding the first stop portion 246 and the second stop portion 248 generally does not increase the production cost of the elastic sheet 24 itself. Also, the first stop portion 246 and the second stop portion 248 are part of the structure of the elastic sheet 24, so they also have elastic and buffering functions. In addition, the above uses the key structure of the space key (i.e., the aforementioned key structure 2) as an example to illustrate. In actual operation, the structural configuration of the aforementioned key structure 2 can also be fully or partially applicable to other key structures with balance bars in the keyboard 1, such as the shift key, the input key, etc., and will not be elaborated here.

[0034] For the key structure of the present utility model, when the keycap moves downward, the first side arm and the second side arm of the balance bar swing downward. When the keycap is pressed downward to the pressing position, the stop portion of the elastic sheet stops the first side arm. Thus, the elastic stop portion is used to provide buffering when the first side arm is impacted downward, and at the same time, the sound that may be generated due to the impact is effectively suppressed or eliminated. In addition, by directly forming the stop portion with the elastic sheet, the manufacturing cost can be effectively controlled.

[0035] Certainly, the present utility model may also have many other embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present utility model, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and deformations according to the present utility model, but these corresponding changes and deformations should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A key structure, characterized in that Include: A housing seat, the housing seat having a middle opening and a first side opening; A key cap, which is arranged above the shell base and can move vertically relative to the shell base; An elastic sheet, the elastic sheet comprising a sheet body, an elastic protrusion and a first stopper, the elastic protrusion and the first stopper both protrude upward from the sheet body, the sheet body is located below the housing seat, the elastic protrusion passes through the middle opening and pushes against the keycap, and the first stopper passes through the first side opening; as well as A balance bar connected between the shell base and the key cap, the balance bar comprising a first side arm, a second side arm and a connecting arm, the first side arm and the second side arm are located at opposite sides of the connecting arm and are respectively connected to the connecting arm, and the first side arm is located above the first stop portion; When the key cap moves downward, the first side arm and the second side arm swing downward; when the key cap is pressed downward to a pressing position, the first stop portion stops the first side arm.

2. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first stop portion includes a first base and a first side portion, wherein the first side portion protrudes upward relative to the first base; when the key cap is located at the pressing position, the first side arm presses downward against the first base, and the first side portion is adjacent to the first side arm to limit the horizontal movement of the first side arm.

3. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic sheet includes a second stop portion, the shell base has a second side opening, the second stop portion protrudes upward from the sheet body and passes through the second side opening, and the second side arm is located above the second stop portion; when the keycap is located at the pressing position, the second stop portion stops the second side arm.

4. The key structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second stop portion includes a second base and a second side portion, wherein the second side portion protrudes upward relative to the second base; when the key cap is located at the pressing position, the second side arm presses downward against the second base, and the second side portion is adjacent to the second side arm to limit the horizontal movement of the second side arm.

5. The key structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first stop portion includes a first base and a first side portion, the first side portion protrudes upward relative to the first base, and the first base and the second base are located between the first side portion and the second side portion; when the keycap is located at the pressing position, the first side arm presses downward against the first base, and the first side portion is adjacent to the first side arm to limit the horizontal movement of the first side arm.

6. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting arm is pivotally connected to the shell base, the first side arm has a first free end and is connected to the key cap at the first free end, and the second side arm has a second free end and is connected to the key cap at the second free end.

7. The key structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first side arm is slidably connected to the key cap via the first free end, and the second side arm is slidably connected to the key cap via the second free end.

8. The key structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The shell base has a first pivoting portion and a second pivoting portion, the connecting arm is pivoted to the first pivoting portion and the second pivoting portion, the balance bar is an overall U-shaped structure, and the first pivoting portion and the second pivoting portion are correspondingly adjacent to two corners of the U-shaped structure.

9. The key structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first pivoting portion and the second pivoting portion do not contact the first side arm and the second side arm.

10. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell seat includes a sleeve, the keycap includes a sliding column, and the sliding column is slidably inserted into the sleeve; or, the shell seat includes a sleeve, the keycap includes a sliding column and two limit hooks, the two limit hooks are located on both sides of the sliding column, the shell seat includes a sleeve and two limit grooves corresponding to the two limit hooks, each limit hook hooks the corresponding limit groove, and the sliding column is slidably inserted into the sleeve.

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