Keyboard Hinge Design for Reduced Depth and Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboard apparatuses face challenges in reducing depth size and improving workability due to complex mounting processes and increased component parts, particularly with the use of screws that require additional steps and inversion of the keyboard.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard apparatus employs thin plate-like hinges that cross key depression surfaces and are parallel to the key arrangement direction, allowing for elastic deformation to fix the common base end to the key frame, simplifying the mounting process by using recessed grooves and ridge-like protrusions, which reduces the depth size and enhances workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hinges are extended horizontally rearward parallel to key depression surfaces, then the key unit can be mounted with screws from the rear side, but the keyboard apparatus becomes large in depth size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional hinge extension direction from horizontal (parallel to key depression surfaces) to vertical (perpendicular to key depression surfaces, extending downward). This inversion allows the common base end to be positioned lower, reducing the depth size of the keyboard apparatus while enabling front-side access for mounting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional orientation of the hinges from extending in the horizontal dimension (parallel to key surfaces) to extending in the vertical dimension (perpendicular to key surfaces). This dimensional change repositions the common base end to a lower location, reducing the overall depth of the keyboard while maintaining mounting accessibility.
2Reliability
If the common base end is fixed at a plurality of portions to the key frame using screws, then the mounting is secure, but many man-hours are required and the number of component parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple screw fixation points into a single common base end structure that can be secured at one location. The elastic deformation mechanism provides distributed fixation force across the single base end, eliminating the need for multiple separate screw connections and reducing assembly time while maintaining secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fixation method from mechanical screw connection to elastic deformation-based fixation. By utilizing the elastic properties of the common base end or base end support, the system achieves secure mounting through material property changes rather than multiple mechanical fasteners, reducing both component count and assembly time.
3Reliability
If screws are threaded from the rear side of the keyboard apparatus, then the common base end can be fixed securely, but an additional step of inverting the keyboard apparatus is required, reducing workability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the mounting access approach from rear-side access (requiring keyboard inversion) to front-side access. By positioning the common base end at the lower front portion and enabling elastic deformation fixation from the front, the system eliminates the need to invert the keyboard apparatus during assembly, significantly improving workability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformation mechanism allows the common base end to self-fixate to the key frame through its own elastic properties. The material deforms elastically during insertion from the front side and maintains secure fixation without requiring external screw fastening operations from the rear side, making the mounting process self-contained and front-accessible.
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 design effectively reduces the depth size of the keyboard and simplifies the mounting operation, improving workability by eliminating the need for screw clamping and inversion, while maintaining a stable fixing state.
Implementation Method 1
the common base end is fitted and fixed to the base end support using elastic deformation of at least one of the common base end of the key unit and the base end support of the key frame
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard apparatus constructed to be capable of reducing the depth size thereof and permitting a key unit to be mounted to a key frame with a simple operation. Hinges are extended downward from rear ends of black key main bodies of a black key unit in the vertical direction, and are connected at their lower ends to a common-to-black-keys base end. The black key main bodies are pivotable via the hinges relative to the common-to-black-keys base end in the key depression/release direction. Similarly, white key main bodies of first and second white key units are pivotable via hinges relative to a common base end in the vertical direction. The key frame is formed at its rear portion with a recessed groove over the entire width of all keys and formed with elastic members extending in the front-to-rear direction on the front and rear sides of the recessed groove. Using elastic deformations of the elastic members, a common-to-all-keys base end of the key unit is fitted and fixed to the recessed groove.