Keyboard Key Structure With Hidden Stopper Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mechanical keyboard keys have protruding stoppers with uneven outer peripheral walls, leading to unsightly appearances that deter consumer appeal.
Innovation Solution
A key structure featuring an annular stopper with a smooth outer peripheral wall, incorporating transparent grooves and elastic arms, and a clamping mechanism to ensure secure assembly without concave-convex structures, enhancing aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protrusions and grooves are formed on the outer peripheral wall of the stopper to match with the keyboard structure, then the lower shell can be firmly assembled on the keyboard, but the appearance of the keys becomes unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the concave-convex matching structures (protrusions and grooves) from the outer peripheral wall of the stopper and relocates them to the inner peripheral wall. This allows the stopper to maintain a smooth, aesthetically pleasing outer surface while still providing secure engagement with the keyboard through the matching structures on the inner wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional design by placing the engagement structures (protrusions and grooves) on the inner peripheral wall of the stopper instead of the outer peripheral wall. This inversion allows the outer surface to remain smooth and attractive while the inner surface provides the necessary mechanical interlocking with the keyboard.
2Manufacturing precision
If the stopper is exposed on the keyboard to position and latch with it, then the lower shell can be positioned correctly, but the uneven outer peripheral wall causes unsightly appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning and latching functions from the outer peripheral wall and implements them on the inner peripheral wall through protrusions and grooves. The stopper head that contacts the keyboard surface remains smooth and even, while the matching structures are hidden inside, maintaining both positioning accuracy and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural qualities to different parts of the stopper: the outer peripheral wall maintains a smooth, uniform surface for aesthetic purposes, while the inner peripheral wall incorporates localized protrusions and grooves for precise positioning and secure latching with the keyboard.
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 smooth outer design improves the appearance and assembly aesthetics of the keyboard keys, making them more appealing to consumers.
Implementation Method 1
the annular stopper is formed with two elastic arms on outer sides of the two transparent grooves, two clamping hooks engaged with the top plate extend downwardly from the bottom of the two elastic arms
Data Source
AI summary
A key structure may include a lower shell inserted into an insertion opening, where an annular stopper protrudes from the lower shell, which may include transparent grooves arranged on opposite inner sides of the annular stopper, the annular stopper may be formed with elastic arms on outer sides of the grooves, clamping hooks engaged with the top plate extend downwardly from the elastic arms, the annular stopper, and the annular stopper and a top plate stop and locate each other. The key structure may include an upper shell above the lower shell, that may include a through opening. The key structure may include a pressing shaft movably disposed between the lower shell and the upper shell, where a top end of the pressing shaft penetrates the through insertion opening. Moreover, the key structure may include a spring disposed and elastically supported between the lower shell and the pressing shaft.