Double-color keycap structure
Through innovative design of the inner and outer shell structure and plastic welding process, the wear, high cost and complex mold problems of traditional two-color key caps are solved, and efficient and low-cost diversified key cap production is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421939697.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-08-11
AI Technical Summary
The traditional two-color keycap manufacturing method results in the surface of the keycap, the pattern is easy to wear, the mold process is complex and the cost is high, and the personalized needs cannot be met.
Different molds are used to produce the inner and outer shell structures separately, and through connecting bumps and grooves, combined with plastic welding technology, personalized patterns are laser engraved on the inner shell.
Simplify production processes, reduce scrapping rates, control costs, improve production efficiency and product quality, and achieve diversified pattern design.
Smart Images
Figure CN223092736U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of keycap production, in particular to a two-color keycap structure. Background Art
[0002] A keycap, as an important part of a keyboard, is a component that directly contacts the fingers. It not only affects the feel of typing on the keyboard but also shows personality and style through its unique design and patterns. High-quality keycaps can provide a comfortable touch, reduce finger fatigue, and at the same time, their exquisite patterns and color combinations can bring a pleasant visual experience to users. Nowadays, with the continuous progress of technology, keycaps are constantly innovating in terms of materials, processes, and shapes to meet the diverse needs of different users in various scenarios such as gaming and office work. For example, some keycaps use special materials to enhance wear resistance, and some keycaps show users' preferences and personalities through unique pattern designs.
[0003] In the current keycap manufacturing field, traditional two-color keycaps generally rely on secondary injection molding of ABS materials. However, over time, this manufacturing method gradually reveals a series of defects that cannot be ignored. After long-term use, it is easy for oil to accumulate on the surface of the keycap, which not only affects the comfort of touch but also makes the appearance of the keycap look greasy and unclean. At the same time, the patterns on the keycap often show a decline in quality, such as fading, wear, and blurring, which seriously affects the beauty and recognition of the keycap.
[0004] Moreover, the mold manufacturing process for secondary injection molding is complex and costly. This not only significantly increases the initial investment but also raises the cost per unit product in the subsequent production process. In addition, due to the limitations of mold design and manufacturing, the shape selection of keycaps is relatively single, unable to meet consumers' pursuit of personalization and diversification, and difficult to adapt to the rapid changes in market demands and trends.
[0005] Therefore, we propose a two-color keycap structure. Summary of the Utility Model
[0006] The purpose of the present utility model is to solve the deficiencies existing in the prior art. In the current keycap manufacturing field, traditional two-color keycaps generally rely on secondary injection molding of ABS material to achieve. However, over time, a series of deficiencies that cannot be ignored gradually emerge in this manufacturing method. After long-term use, the surface of the keycap is prone to accumulating grease, which not only affects the touch comfort but also makes the appearance of the keycap look greasy and unclean. At the same time, the patterns on the keycap often show a decline in quality under frequent finger friction, such as fading, wear, and blurring, seriously affecting the aesthetics and recognition of the keycap. Moreover, the mold manufacturing process for secondary injection molding is complex and costly, which not only significantly increases the initial investment but also raises the cost per unit product in the subsequent production process. In addition, due to the limitations of mold design and manufacturing, the shape selection of keycaps is relatively single, unable to meet consumers' pursuit of personalization and diversification, and difficult to adapt to the rapid changes in market demands and trends.
[0007] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present utility model adopts the following technical solutions:
[0008] A two-color keycap structure, including a housing structure, and an inner housing structure is provided inside the housing structure;
[0009] The housing structure includes a housing body, and connection grooves are respectively opened on both side walls inside the housing body;
[0010] The inner housing structure includes an inner housing body, connection blocks are fixedly connected to both side walls of the inner housing body, and connection bumps are fixedly connected to the tops of the two connection blocks;
[0011] The inner housing structure is snap-fitted and installed in the connection grooves of the housing structure through the connection bumps.
[0012] Preferably, a connection cavity is opened inside the housing body, and the inner housing body is installed inside the connection cavity.
[0013] Preferably, a cylindrical connecting piece is further provided at the center inside the inner housing body, and a cross connection cavity is opened inside the cylindrical connecting piece.
[0014] Preferably, the cylindrical connecting piece is fixedly connected to the inner housing body through a plurality of fixing plates.
[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are:
[0016] In the present utility model, the keycap innovatively uses different molds to separately produce the inner housing structure and the housing structure. On the inner housing body, connection bumps are designed, and arc-shaped profiles are also created on these connection bumps, which can achieve precise and perfect fitting and assembly with the corresponding connection grooves of the housing body.
[0017] After the preliminary assembly is completed, the plastic welding process is then used. Through the action of the amplitude, the inner and outer shells are combined together, and finally the inner and outer shells become an integral body. Personalized patterns can also be laser engraved on the inner shell body. Since the inner shell body is installed inside the outer shell body, during daily frequent use, the patterns on the inner shell body can be effectively prevented from being worn.
[0018] This unique design and manufacturing method forms a sharp contrast with the traditional mold production method. Traditional molds usually use two-color injection molding or insert molding to complete the second injection molding. However, there are many thorny problems with this traditional method. In the actual production process, due to the complexity of the process and the extremely high precision requirements for each link, a large number of unqualified products appear, resulting in a very high rejection rate. This not only causes a great waste of raw materials but also significantly increases the production cost.
[0019] For the multi-color keycaps in this application, only different molds are needed to directly produce the inner and outer shells, and the production of the entire product can be successfully completed. This innovative production method greatly simplifies the production process, significantly reduces the rejection rate, effectively controls the production cost, and at the same time greatly improves the production efficiency and product quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the main body of a two-color keycap structure provided by the present utility model;
[0021] Figure 2 It is an expanded schematic diagram of the main body of a two-color keycap structure provided by the present utility model;
[0022] Figure 3 It is a top view schematic diagram of the inner shell structure of a two-color keycap structure provided by the present utility model;
[0023] Figure 4 It is an expanded bottom view schematic diagram of the inner shell structure and the outer shell structure of a two-color keycap structure provided by the present utility model.
[0024] Legend: 1. Outer shell structure; 101. Outer shell body; 102. Connection cavity; 103. Connection groove; 2. Inner shell structure; 201. Inner shell body; 202. Connection block; 203. Connection bump; 204. Cylindrical connecting piece; 205. Cross connection cavity; 206. Fixing plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Next, in combination with the embodiments of the present utility model, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0026] To facilitate the understanding of the present utility model, the present utility model will be described more comprehensively below with reference to the relevant. Several embodiments of the present utility model are given. However, the present utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present utility model more thorough and comprehensive.
[0027] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there can also be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are only for the purpose of illustration.
[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present utility model belongs. The terms used in the description of the present utility model herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present utility model. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. Embodiment
[0029] As Figures 1-4 shown, the present utility model provides a technical solution: a two-color keycap structure, including a housing structure 1, and an inner housing structure 2 is provided inside the housing structure 1;
[0030] The housing structure 1 includes a housing body 101, and connection grooves 103 are respectively opened on both side walls inside the housing body 101;
[0031] The inner housing structure 2 includes an inner housing body 201, connection blocks 202 are fixedly connected to both side walls of the inner housing body 201, and connection bumps 203 are fixedly connected to the tops of the two connection blocks 202;
[0032] The inner housing structure 2 is snap-fitted and installed in the connection grooves 103 of the housing structure 1 through the connection bumps 203.
[0033] This keycap innovatively uses different molds to separately produce the inner shell structure 2 and the outer shell structure 1. On the inner shell body 201, connecting bumps 203 are designed, and arc-shaped patterns are also created on these connecting bumps 203, which can achieve precise and perfect mating assembly with the corresponding connecting grooves 103 on the outer shell body 101.
[0034] After the preliminary assembly is completed, the plastic welding process is then used. Through the action of the amplitude, the inner and outer shells are combined together, and finally the inner and outer shells become an integral body. Personalized patterns can also be laser engraved on the inner shell body 201. Since the inner shell body 201 is installed inside the outer shell body 101, during daily frequent use, the patterns on the inner shell body 201 can be effectively prevented from being worn.
[0035] This unique design and manufacturing method forms a sharp contrast with the traditional mold production method. Traditional molds usually use two-color injection molding or insert molding to complete the second injection molding. However, there are many thorny problems with this traditional method. In the actual production process, due to the complexity of the process and the extremely high precision requirements for each link, a large number of unqualified products appear, resulting in a very high scrap rate. This not only causes a great waste of raw materials but also significantly increases the production cost.
[0036] For the multicolor keycaps in this application, only different molds are needed to directly produce the inner and outer shells, and the production of the entire product can be successfully completed. This innovative production method greatly simplifies the production process, significantly reduces the scrap rate, effectively controls the production cost, and at the same time greatly improves the production efficiency and product quality. Embodiment
[0037] As Figures 1-4 shown, the present utility model provides a technical solution: a connecting cavity 102 is opened inside the outer shell body 101, and the inner shell body 201 is installed inside the connecting cavity 102.
[0038] A cylindrical connecting piece 204 is also provided at the center inside the inner shell body 201, and a cross connecting cavity 205 is opened inside the cylindrical connecting piece 204.
[0039] The cylindrical connecting piece 204 is connected and fixed to the inner shell body 201 through a plurality of fixing plates 206.
[0040] Various different patterns are laser engraved on the top of the inner shell body 201.
[0041] The reasons for the high scrap rate of the traditional keycap mold using two-color injection molding or insert molding for the second injection molding process are mainly as follows:
[0042] First, the two-color injection molding process has extremely high requirements for the fusion of the two materials. During the injection molding process, there are differences in the fluidity and shrinkage rate of the two different materials, which may lead to problems such as delamination, bubbles, or poor bonding at the fusion interface. Once these defects occur, the keycaps cannot meet the quality standards and can only be scrapped. For example, when one material has a faster cooling and shrinking speed while the other is slower, cracks are likely to occur at the joint, affecting the structural integrity of the keycaps.
[0043] Secondly, insert injection molding requires precise placement of the inserts in the mold and ensures a tight bond between the inserts and the injection molding material during the injection molding process. However, in actual operation, the positioning of the inserts may deviate, resulting in inaccurate dimensions of the keycaps after injection molding or local material shortage. If the surface treatment of the inserts is improper, it may also cause poor bonding with the injection molding material, thereby affecting product quality and causing scrapping. For example, slight shaking of the inserts in the mold may result in uneven wall thickness of the keycaps after injection molding, making them unable to be used normally.
[0044] Furthermore, these two processes have very strict requirements for the precision and stability of the mold. Any minor defects, wear, or uneven temperature of the mold may affect the injection molding effect, resulting in defects or deformation of the keycaps. Moreover, after long-term use, the precision of the mold will gradually decrease due to fatigue and wear, thus increasing the risk of producing unqualified products.
[0045] In addition, it is difficult to control the process parameters during production. Parameters such as injection pressure, speed, temperature, and time need to be precisely matched. Any deviation in the parameters may lead to product quality problems. For example, too high injection pressure may damage the mold, while too low pressure may cause insufficient filling; too high injection temperature will cause material decomposition, and too low temperature will result in poor material fluidity and inability to fill the mold cavity.
[0046] Finally, the complexity of these two processes increases the uncertainty during production. In case of equipment failures, fluctuations in raw material quality, or operator errors, it is easier to produce a large number of unqualified products, resulting in an increase in the scrap rate. For example, excessive impurity content in the raw materials may affect the fluidity and fusion effect during the injection molding process, leading to defects in the keycaps.
[0047] In summary, due to their complexity, high requirements for process parameters and mold precision, and uncertainty during production, the two-color injection molding or insert injection molding processes have a relatively high scrap rate. The two-color keycaps in this application can effectively avoid the problems caused by the two-color injection molding or insert injection molding processes, with lower costs and higher efficiency. Finally, the original two-color keycaps no longer have only monotonous two-color patterns, the manufacturing cost is better reduced, and the products are more diverse.
[0048] Although embodiments of the present utility model have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present utility model. The scope of the present utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A two-color keycap structure, comprising a housing structure (1), characterized in that: An inner housing structure (2) is provided inside the outer housing structure (1); The outer housing structure (1) includes an outer housing body (101), and connection grooves (103) are formed on both side walls inside the outer housing body (101); The inner housing structure (2) includes an inner housing body (201), connection blocks (202) are fixedly connected to both side walls of the inner housing body (201), and connection bumps (203) are fixedly connected to the tops of the two connection blocks (202); The inner housing structure (2) is snap-fitted and installed in the connection groove (103) of the outer housing structure (1) through the connection bump (203).
2. The two-color keycap structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connection cavity (102) is formed inside the outer housing body (101), and the inner housing body (201) is installed inside the connection cavity (102).
3. The two-color keycap structure according to claim 2, wherein: A cylindrical connector (204) is further provided at the center inside the inner housing body (201), and a cross connection cavity (205) is formed inside the cylindrical connector (204).
4. The two-color keycap structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cylindrical connector (204) is connected and fixed to the inner housing body (201) through a plurality of fixing plates (206).