Elastic Keyboard Key Support for Damage-Free Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard devices face challenges in easily mounting keys on a keyboard chassis without damaging them, while ensuring stable pivotal motion, and reducing the number of component parts and assembly steps, as well as preventing noise and deformation during mounting and impact.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard device features a key support structure with a lower support portion and a pair of upper support portions that expand to allow the key to be inserted and then return to hold it in place, preventing damage and noise, and reducing the number of components and assembly steps by eliminating the need for separate pivot shaft bearing members and screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate pivot shaft bearing member is mounted on the keyboard chassis with screws, then stable pivotal motion of the keys is ensured, but the number of component parts and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pivot shaft bearing member with the keyboard chassis into a single integrated structure. The key support parts are formed directly as integral portions of the chassis, eliminating the need for separate bearing members and their mounting hardware. This reduces the number of component parts and assembly steps while maintaining the stable pivotal motion function through the integrated support structure.
2Strength
If the key is made of hard AS resin to prevent scratching, then key durability is improved, but the key may be damaged during mounting when side walls are forcibly pushed outward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic key support parts that can elastically deform during the mounting process. The support parts are designed to expand laterally when the key is inserted, allowing the hard key to pass through without being damaged, and then return to their original position to securely hold the key. This dynamic behavior accommodates the hardness of the key material while enabling safe mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The key support parts are designed with built-in elastic deformation capability that acts as a cushioning mechanism during mounting. The support parts temporarily expand to create clearance, preventing direct contact and potential damage between the hard key and the chassis, then return to their constrained state to secure the key after mounting.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the key support parts are rigid to ensure stable support, then key stability is improved, but the key cannot be easily inserted without damaging the support parts or key
Solution Approach 1:
The key support parts are designed with elastic deformation capability that allows them to temporarily change shape during key insertion. When the key is inserted, the support parts expand laterally to allow passage, then return to their original rigid state to provide stable support. This dynamic behavior enables easy mounting while maintaining stable key support during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables easy key mounting without damage, ensures stable pivotal motion, reduces noise from mounting errors, and prevents deformation during impacts, while minimizing the number of components and assembly steps.
Implementation Method 1
spacing between the pair of upper support portions is expanded by the rear end of the key, whereby the pair of upper support portions are elastically deformed to thereby allow the rear end of the key to pass therebetween, and after the rear end of the key has passed, the pair of upper support portions elastically return to an original state thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device for a keyboard instrument capable of having each key easily mounted on a keyboard chassis while ensuring stable pivotal motion of the key, without damaging the key. A keyboard chassis holds keys in arrangement in a left-right direction. A key support part has a lower support portion for supporting a pivot shaft of a key from below, and left and right upper support portions erected with a predetermined spacing in the direction, for supporting a key rear end portion located upward of the shaft from above. When mounting the key to the key support part, the upper support portions have its spacing expanded by the key rear end, thereby being elastically deformed to pass the key rear end, and thereafter, elastically return to their original state to hold the key rear end in a retained state by cooperating with the lower support portion.