Key Stabilizer Balance Bar Hinge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechanical keyboards with balance mechanisms are expensive and have a complicated assembly process due to the need for specialized jigs, making the assembly of balance mechanisms costly and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A key stabilizer design featuring a keycap with protruding portions and a balance bar with hinge and side portions, where the side portions are inserted into engaging portions and guided by constraining members, eliminating the need for auxiliary jigs during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional balance mechanism with auxiliary shafts is used, then the keycap stability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex auxiliary shafts and balance lever from the conventional balance mechanism. Instead, it uses a simplified design where the keycap's protruding portions directly engage with slots in the base plate, removing unnecessary components while maintaining the balance function.
Solution Approach 2:
The keycap's own protruding portions serve as the balancing elements, eliminating the need for separate auxiliary shafts. The protruding portions directly engage with the base plate slots to provide balance, making the system self-sufficient and simpler.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional balance mechanism with auxiliary shafts is used, then the keycap stability is improved, but the assembly process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for specially made jigs by extracting the complex alignment requirements. The simplified slot-and-protruding portion design allows for natural alignment during assembly, eliminating the need for specialized assembly tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portions and slots are designed to self-align during assembly, with the protruding portions naturally fitting into the slots without requiring external jigs or complex positioning procedures.
3Reliability
If auxiliary shafts and balance lever are assembled together, then the balance mechanism function is achieved, but the assembly time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the balance lever component entirely, replacing it with a direct engagement system where protruding portions fit into slots. This eliminates the need to assemble multiple components (auxiliary shafts, balance lever, cases) and reduces assembly time significantly.
4Ease of operation
If conventional auxiliary shafts with cases are used, then the guiding function is achieved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the case structure from the auxiliary shaft design. Instead of enclosing the guiding shaft in a case, the guiding function is achieved directly through the slot structure in the base plate, significantly simplifying the overall structure.
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
The simplified structure of the key stabilizer reduces assembly costs and complexity by allowing for easier assembly without specialized jigs, while maintaining stability and preventing keycap tilting during use.
Implementation Method 1
the hinge portion is positioned on a rotation axis that is parallel to the horizontal direction, and the end of each of the two side portions away from the hinge portion is inserted into the engaging portion so that when the keycap moves back and forth along the vertical direction, the two protruding portions are actuated by each other through the balance bar, and the two bar portions are actuated by the two protruding portions to swing between an uppermost swing position and a lowermost swing position
Data Source
AI summary
A key stabilizer is provided, in which the key stabilizer includes a keycap and a balance bar. The keycap has a bottom surface and two protruding portions disposed thereon. The keycap moves back and forth along a vertical direction between a top position and a bottom position. Each of the two protruding portions has an engaging portion at the end thereof. The bottom surface faces the bottom position, and the two protruding portions are arranged along a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The balance bar has a hinge portion and two side portions respectively connected to both ends of the hinge portion. The hinge portion is positioned on a rotation axis parallel to the horizontal direction. The end of each of the two side portions that is away from the hinge portion is inserted into the engaging portion.