Scissor foot and keycap supporting structure

Abstract

A scissor foot and a keycap supporting structure, the scissor foot comprises an outer scissor and an inner scissor, the outer walls of the two short edges of the inner scissor are respectively provided with a rotating shaft, the inner walls of the two short edges of the outer scissor are respectively provided with a shaft hole, the top surface of the outer scissor corresponding to the shaft hole is provided with a first opening, the first opening is communicated with the shaft hole, and the width of the first opening is smaller than the aperture of the shaft hole. A second opening is formed in the bottom face, corresponding to the shaft hole, of the outer shear and communicates with the shaft hole, the width of the second opening is smaller than the aperture of the shaft hole, two pairs of receding grooves are further formed in the top face of the outer shear, each pair of receding grooves are located in the two sides of the corresponding first opening respectively, and a spacing distance is formed between the receding grooves and the corresponding first opening. The rotating shafts on the two sides of the inner scissors are matched with the corresponding shaft holes through the first openings, so that the limiting blocks are located in the first openings, the driving blocks are located in the second openings, and scissor feet are formed. The utility model has the advantages of simple structure, convenient assembly, and guaranteed assembly quality and qualified rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of keyboards, and in particular to a scissor-switch key and keycap support structure. Background Technology

[0002] The scissor-switch mechanism is located below the keyboard keycaps and is used to connect the keycaps and the keyboard support plate. A rubber cap is located below the scissor-switch mechanism. When a keycap is pressed down, the scissor-switch mechanism presses down on the rubber cap and contacts the spring switch on the circuit board, thus serving as an input signal. After the external force is removed, the rubber cap resets and disengages from the spring switch, and the scissor-switch mechanism and keycap also reset.

[0003] See Figure 1 This is a conventional scissor-leg structure, including an outer scissor and an inner scissor, both formed by injection molding. The inner frame of the outer scissor has shaft holes on both sides, while the inner scissor has pivots on both sides. During assembly, this type of scissor leg requires manual insertion of the pivot on one side of the inner scissor into the corresponding shaft hole, followed by expansion of the inner frame of the outer scissor to insert the pivot on the other side into the corresponding shaft hole, resulting in low assembly efficiency.

[0004] Some designs, such as CN 102479621 B, feature grooves on the outer scissor that connect to the shaft holes. This type of scissor-tip structure allows the rotating shafts on both sides of the inner scissor to be pressed into the corresponding shaft holes via grooves, significantly improving assembly efficiency. However, during assembly, the rotating shafts on both sides of the inner scissor expand after being squeezed into the grooves, potentially causing deformation or even breakage of the inner scissor's rotating shafts, leading to quality issues. Furthermore, the assembled scissor-tip structure requires a separate process to assemble it onto the keyboard support plate before installing the keycaps, resulting in lower assembly efficiency for laptop keycaps.

[0005] Therefore, how to design a scissor-switch and keycap support structure that is easy to assemble is a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One of the purposes of this utility model is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a scissor-type mechanism that is simple in structure, easy to assemble, and ensures assembly quality and pass rate.

[0007] The second objective of this invention is to provide a keycap support structure obtained by assembling the scissor-switch mechanism described above. This keycap support structure can achieve the assembly of the scissor-switch mechanism and the support structure in the same process, which greatly improves the assembly efficiency of the laptop keyboard.

[0008] One of the technical solutions to achieve the purpose of this utility model is: a scissor foot, including an outer shear and an inner shear. A rotating shaft is respectively provided on the outer walls of the two short sides of the inner shear, and a shaft hole is respectively provided on the inner walls of the two short sides of the outer shear. A first opening is provided on the top surface of the outer shear corresponding to the shaft hole, communicating with the shaft hole, and the width of the first opening is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole. A second opening is provided on the bottom surface of the outer shear corresponding to the shaft hole, communicating with the shaft hole, and the width of the second opening is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole. Two pairs of clearance grooves are also provided on the top surface of the outer shear, each pair of clearance grooves being located on both sides of the corresponding first opening and having a spacing distance. A limit block and a driving block are provided on the circumferential sidewall of each rotating shaft. The rotating shafts on both sides of the inner shear cooperate with the corresponding shaft hole through the first opening, so that the limit block is located in the first opening and the driving block is located in the second opening, thus forming a scissor foot.

[0009] The top surface of the inner shear corresponding to the rotating shaft is provided with a press-fit boss, which is flush with the extension end of the limiting block.

[0010] The width of each relief groove gradually increases from the bottom to the opening.

[0011] The groove walls of each of the relief grooves, which are away from the first opening, are perpendicular to the outer shear top surface, and the groove walls of each relief groove near the opening extend inclinedly toward the first opening.

[0012] The drive block is an inverted right trapezoid, and the inclined surface of the drive block is tangent to the rotating shaft.

[0013] The second technical solution to achieve the purpose of this utility model is: a keycap support structure, including any of the above-mentioned scissor-switch legs, a keyboard support plate, and a rubber cap. Connecting posts are respectively provided at both ends of the outer long side of the scissor-switch legs. At least two hinge posts are provided on the other long side of the outer scissor-switch legs and both long sides of the inner scissor-switch legs. The keyboard support plate is provided with claws corresponding to the hinge posts of the other long side of the outer scissor-switch legs and the hinge posts of the first long side of the inner scissor-switch legs. The hinge posts on the other long side of the outer scissor-switch legs and the hinge posts on the first long side of the inner scissor-switch legs are respectively hinged to the corresponding claws on the keyboard support plate to form a detachable connection. The bottom surface of the keycap is hinged to the hinge post of the other long side of the inner scissor-switch legs and engaged with the connecting posts at both ends of the first long side of the outer scissor-switch legs. The rubber cap is disposed between the keyboard support plate and the keycap, thus forming a keycap support structure.

[0014] The outer shear has notches at both ends of one long side, and the connecting post is set in the corresponding notch and extends along the length of the outer shear. The top of the circumferential sidewall of the connecting post is flush with the top surface of the outer shear, the bottom of the circumferential sidewall of the connecting post is set as a notch plane, and the extended end of the connecting post is flush with the short side of the outer shear.

[0015] The outer shear has at least two opening slots on its other long side and the inner shear has at least two opening slots on its two long sides. Each hinge post is set in the corresponding opening slot. The claws have an inverted L-shaped structure and the claw heads of each claw face outward.

[0016] The scissor foot has one outer shear and two inner shears. The two inner shears are arranged at both ends of the outer shear and are spaced apart. The middle of the outer shear is provided with a clearance hole for the rubber cap to pass through. The bottom surface of the keycap is provided with a locking head corresponding to the hinge post of the other long side of the inner shear and a locking block corresponding to the connecting posts at both ends of one long side of the outer shear.

[0017] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. The scissor shear includes an outer shear and an inner shear, which are two detachable and combinable components. A pivot is provided on the outer wall of each of the two short sides of the inner shear, and a shaft hole is provided on the inner wall of each of the two short sides of the outer shear. The outer and inner shears cooperate through the pivots and shaft holes to form a rotating scissor structure. The top surface of the outer shear corresponding to the shaft hole has a first opening, communicating with the shaft hole, and the width of the first opening is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole; that is, the shaft hole communicates with the top surface of the outer shear through the first opening. The bottom surface of the outer shear corresponding to the shaft hole has a second opening, communicating with the shaft hole, and the width of the second opening is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole; that is, the shaft hole communicates with the bottom surface of the outer shear through the second opening. The top surface of the outer shear also has two pairs of relief grooves, each pair located on both sides of the corresponding first opening with a gap, making the sidewall thickness of the first opening thinner. When the first opening is subjected to compressive force, the deformation resistance of the sidewall of the first opening towards the corresponding relief groove is reduced. Each of the aforementioned rotating shafts has a limiting block and a driving block on its circumferential sidewall. The rotating shafts on both sides of the inner shear meet the corresponding shaft holes through the first opening, so that the limiting block is located in the first opening and the driving block is located in the second opening, forming a scissor foot. The assembly is simple, convenient, and efficient. Because the deformation resistance of the first opening is small, the resistance encountered by the rotating shaft of the inner shear when passing through the first opening is reduced, which can also effectively reduce the deformation of the inner shear rotating shaft and ensure the quality of the assembled scissor foot.

[0019] 2. A press-fit boss is provided on the top surface of the inner shear corresponding to the rotating shaft. The press-fit boss is flush with the extension end of the limiting block, which improves the structural strength of the rotating shaft. In addition, when assembling the scissor foot, the force is applied to the press-fit boss during the vertical pressing of the inner shear, which reduces the deformation of the rotating shaft.

[0020] 3. The width of each relief groove gradually increases from the bottom to the opening. Specifically, the groove wall of each relief groove away from the first opening is perpendicular to the top surface of the outer shear, and the groove wall of each relief groove near the opening extends inclined towards the first opening. This structure of the opening groove facilitates the demolding of the outer shear in the injection molding machine. In addition, it can ensure that the expansion resistance of the first opening is small enough when the rotating shaft passes through the first opening from the top surface, and that the expansion resistance of the opening is large enough when the rotating shaft passes through the shaft hole out of the first opening. It can also effectively reduce the risk of the inner shear falling off the outer shear.

[0021] 4. The keycap support structure of this utility model, by setting a driving block on the inner scissor shaft, allows the inclined surface of the driving block on the inner scissor shaft to cooperate with the inner wall of the first opening of the outer scissor when the inner scissor is assembled on the outer scissor. This drives the outer scissor to move horizontally, causing the hinge pin on the outer scissor to engage with the corresponding claw on the keyboard support plate. As the inner scissor continues to move downward, the inner scissor shaft engages with the shaft hole of the outer scissor, forming a hinge between the inner and outer scissors. Furthermore, the driving block on the shaft is inserted into the second opening of the outer scissor, and the limiting block on the shaft is inserted into the first opening of the outer scissor. In other words, the assembly of the scissor pins and the keyboard support plate is completed simultaneously during the assembly of the scissor pins, eliminating the need for additional assembly of the scissor pins onto the keyboard support plate, which can greatly improve the assembly efficiency of the keyboard.

[0022] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, provides further details. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the scissor-leg structure in the background art;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of Example 1;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 1;

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view of AA;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 2 (keycaps removed);

[0028] Figure 6 This is a front view of the structure of Example 2;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the keycap structure in Example 2.

[0030] In the attached diagram, 1 is the outer shear, 2 is the inner shear, 3 is the pivot, 4 is the shaft hole, 5 is the first opening, 6 is the second opening, 7 is the clearance groove, 8 is the limiting block, 9 is the driving block, 10 is the press-fit boss, 11 is the keyboard support plate, 12 is the connecting post, 13 is the hinge post, 14 is the claw, 15 is the rubber cap, 16 is the opening groove, 17 is the clearance hole, 18 is the locking head, and 19 is the locking block. Detailed Implementation Example 1

[0031] See Figures 2 to 4The scissor-switch mechanism includes an outer shear 1 and an inner shear 2, both of which are injection molded. A pivot 3 is provided on each of the two short outer walls of the inner shear 2, and typically, the pivot is connected to the short outer wall of the inner shear via a curved surface transition. A shaft hole 4 is provided on each of the two short inner walls of the outer shear 1. In this embodiment, two inner shears are assembled within one outer shear, meaning two mounting frames are provided within one outer shear. These two mounting frames are spaced apart along the length of the outer shear and are symmetrically distributed along the center of the outer shear. A shaft hole is provided on the two short inner walls of each mounting frame, typically located in the middle of the short inner wall. This type of scissor-switch mechanism can be used for long keycaps in laptops, such as the spacebar. Alternatively, one inner shear can be assembled within one outer shear, corresponding to laptop numeric keycaps, laptop letter keycaps, etc. The outer shear 1 has a first opening 5 on the top surface corresponding to the shaft hole 4, which communicates with the shaft hole 4, and the width of the first opening 5 is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole 4. The outer shear 1 also has a second opening 6 on the bottom surface corresponding to the shaft hole 4, which communicates with the shaft hole 4, and the width of the second opening 6 is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole 4. The top surface of the outer shear 1 also has two pairs of clearance grooves 7, each pair of clearance grooves 7 being located on both sides of the corresponding first opening 5 and having a spacing distance. In this embodiment, the width of the bottom of each clearance groove 7 gradually increases towards the opening. Specifically, the groove wall of each clearance groove 7 away from the first opening 5 is perpendicular to the top surface of the outer shear 1, and the groove wall of each clearance groove 7 near the opening extends inclinedly towards the first opening 5. Each of the rotating shafts 3 has a limiting block 8 and a driving block 9 on its circumferential sidewall. The limiting block extends upward and the driving block extends downward. In this embodiment, the inner shear 2 has a press-fit boss 10 on the top surface corresponding to the rotating shaft 3. The press-fit boss 10 is flush with the extended end of the limiting block 8. The driving block 9 is an inverted right trapezoid, and the inclined surface of the driving block 9 is located on the right side of the limiting block and tangent to the rotating shaft 3. The rotating shafts 3 on both sides of the inner shear 2 cooperate with the corresponding shaft holes 4 through the first opening 5, so that the limiting block 8 is located in the first opening 5 and the driving block 9 is located in the second opening 6, forming a scissor foot. Example 2

[0032] See Figures 5 to 7The keycap support structure includes the scissor-switch mechanism of Embodiment 1, the keyboard support plate 11, and the rubber cap 15. In this embodiment, the scissor-switch mechanism corresponds to one outer scissor and two inner scissors. The outer scissor 1 has a clearance hole 17 in the middle for the rubber cap 15 to pass through. The outer scissor 1 has connecting posts 12 at both ends of one long side. In this embodiment, the outer scissor 1 has notches at both ends of one long side. The connecting posts 12 are placed in the corresponding notches and extend along the length of the outer scissor 1. The top of the circumferential sidewall of the connecting post 12 is flush with the top surface of the outer scissor 1, the bottom of the circumferential sidewall of the connecting post 12 is a notched plane, and the extended end of the connecting post 12 is flush with the short side of the outer scissor 1. At least two hinge posts 13 are provided on the other long side of the outer scissor 1 and on both long sides of the inner scissor 2. Specifically, four hinge posts are provided on the other long side of the outer scissor and three hinge posts are provided on each of the two long sides of the inner scissor. In this embodiment, a corresponding number of opening slots 16 are provided on the other long side of the outer scissor 1 and on both long sides of the inner scissor 2, and each hinge post 13 is disposed in the corresponding opening slot 16. The keyboard support plate 11 is provided with claws 14 corresponding to the hinge posts on the other long side of the outer scissor and the hinge posts on the first long side of the inner scissor. Specifically, each claw 14 has an inverted L-shaped structure, and the claw head of each claw faces outward. The hinge posts on the other long side of the outer scissor 1 and the hinge posts on the first long side of the inner scissor are respectively hinged to the corresponding claws 14 on the keyboard support plate 11 to form a detachable connection. The bottom surface of the keycap is provided with a locking head 18 corresponding to the hinge post of the other long side of the inner cut and a locking block 19 corresponding to the connecting posts at both ends of the long side of the outer cut. The keycap is hinged to the hinge post of the other long side of the inner cut 2 through the locking head and locked to the connecting posts 12 at both ends of the long side of the outer cut 1 through the locking block. The rubber cap 15 is placed between the keyboard support plate 11 and the keycap, which together form a keycap support structure. Example 3

[0033] Example 2: Assembly method of keycap support structure, including the following steps:

[0034] 1) The inner and outer shears of the scissor feet are injection molded. After the keyboard support plate on the production line is in place, the robotic arm transfers the rubber cap to the corresponding position. The robotic arm cuts off the gates of the outer and inner shears and simultaneously grabs the outer shear and transfers it to the corresponding position on the keyboard support plate, so that the rubber cap passes through the clearance hole of the outer shear. In addition, the corresponding claw on the keyboard support plate passes through the opening slot of the other long side of the outer shear, so that the hinge post of the other long side of the outer shear is located at the corresponding claw's jaw.

[0035] 2) The robotic arm grasps the inner shear and moves vertically downward, causing the drive block of the inner shear to insert into the first opening of the outer shear. The inner shear continues to move downward, and the inclined surface of the drive block engages with the inner wall of the first opening, driving the outer shear to move horizontally. This causes the hinge pin on the other long side of the outer shear to engage in the corresponding claw. The inner shear continues to move downward until the drive block is inserted into the second opening of the outer shear, the rotating shaft passes through the first opening and engages in the shaft hole, and the limiting block is inserted into the first opening. The corresponding claw on the keyboard support plate passes through the opening slot of one long side of the inner shear, so that the hinge pin of one long side of the inner shear is located at the corresponding claw's slot. In this state, the angle between the inner and outer shears is 180°, that is, they are on the same plane.

[0036] 3) The robotic arm grabs the keycap and moves it downwards. The rubber cap is squeezed in the middle of the bottom surface of the keycap until the connecting pins at both ends of the outer long side are engaged in the locking block on the bottom surface of the keycap, and the locking head on the bottom surface of the keycap is engaged in the hinge pin on the inner long side.

[0037] 4) The rubber cap rebounds, driving the keycap to move upward, the crossing angle of the scissor legs becomes smaller, and the hinge pin of the other long side of the inner scissor is engaged in the corresponding claw, and the crossing angle of the scissor legs and the rebound height of the keycap are limited by the limiting block;

[0038] 5) Continue assembling the other rubber caps, scissor-switch feet, and keycaps to complete the assembly of the entire keyboard.

Claims

1. A scissor-type shear, comprising an outer shear (1) and an inner shear (2), wherein a pivot (3) is respectively provided on the outer wall of the two short sides of the inner shear (2), and a pivot hole (4) is respectively provided on the inner wall of the two short sides of the outer shear (1), characterized in that: The outer shear (1) has a first opening (5) on the top surface corresponding to the shaft hole (4), which communicates with the shaft hole (4), and the width of the first opening (5) is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole (4). The outer shear (1) has a second opening (6) on the bottom surface corresponding to the shaft hole (4), which communicates with the shaft hole (4), and the width of the second opening (6) is smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole (4). The top surface of the outer shear (1) also has two pairs of clearance grooves (7), each pair of clearance grooves (7) being located on both sides of the corresponding first opening (5) and having a spacing distance. Each of the aforementioned rotating shafts (3) has a limit block (8) and a drive block (9) provided on its circumferential sidewall. The rotating shafts (3) on both sides of the inner shear (2) cooperate with the corresponding shaft holes (4) through the first opening (5), so that the limiting block (8) is located in the first opening (5) and the driving block (9) is located in the second opening (6), which together form a scissor foot.

2. The scissor-type leg according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner shear (2) is provided with a press-fit boss (10) on the top surface of the rotating shaft (3), and the press-fit boss (10) is flush with the extension end of the limiting block (8).

3. The scissor-type leg according to claim 1, characterized in that: The width of each of the relief grooves (7) gradually increases from the bottom to the opening.

4. The scissor-type leg according to claim 3, characterized in that: The groove walls of each of the relief grooves (7) away from the first opening (5) are vertically distributed with respect to the top surface of the outer shear (1), and the groove walls of each relief groove (7) near the opening extend obliquely toward the first opening (5).

5. The scissor-type leg according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive block (9) is an inverted right trapezoid, and the inclined surface of the drive block (9) is tangent to the rotating shaft (3).

6. A keycap support structure, characterized in that: Includes any one of the scissor legs as claimed in claims 1-5, a keyboard support plate (11), and a rubber cap (15). Connecting posts (12) are respectively provided at both ends of one long side of the outer scissor (1) of the scissor leg, and at least two hinge posts (13) are provided on the other long side of the outer scissor (1) and both long sides of the inner scissor (2). The keyboard support plate (11) is provided with claws (14) that correspond to the outer long side hinge post and the inner long side hinge post. The hinge pin on the other long side of the outer scissor (1) and the hinge pin on the one long side of the inner scissor are respectively hinged to the corresponding claw (14) on the keyboard support plate (11) to form a detachable connection. The bottom surface of the keycap is hinged to the hinge pin on the other long side of the inner scissor (2) and the connecting pins (12) at both ends of the one long side of the outer scissor (1). The rubber cap (15) is set between the keyboard support plate (11) and the keycap, which together form a keycap support structure.

7. The keycap support structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outer shear (1) has notches at both ends of one long side, and the connecting post (12) is set in the corresponding notch and extends along the length direction of the outer shear (1). The top of the circumferential sidewall of the connecting post (12) is flush with the top surface of the outer shear (1), the bottom of the circumferential sidewall of the connecting post (12) is set as a notch plane, and the extended end of the connecting post (12) is flush with the short side of the outer shear (1).

8. The keycap support structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: At least two opening slots (16) are provided on the other long side of the outer shear (1) and the two long sides of the inner shear (2). Each hinge post (13) is set in the corresponding opening slot (16). The claw (14) has an inverted L-shaped structure, and the claw head of each claw faces outward.

9. The keycap support structure according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that: The scissor foot has one outer shear (1) and two inner shears (2). The two inner shears (2) are arranged at both ends of the outer shear (1) and are spaced apart. The middle of the outer shear (1) is provided with a clearance hole (17) for the rubber cap (15) to pass through. The bottom surface of the keycap is provided with a locking head (18) corresponding to the hinge post of the other long side of the inner shear and a locking block (19) corresponding to the connecting posts at both ends of one long side of the outer shear.

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