Keycap Pivot Retainer Coupling Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards suffer from weak coupling between the linking mechanism and keycap, leading to easy detachment when subjected to external forces, resulting in inconvenient use.
Innovation Solution
A thin keyboard structure featuring a keycap with pivot retainers that include a position-limiting portion, lateral portions, and a shaft-received recess, along with a linking mechanism with pivotal shafts, which are designed to securely engage and prevent easy separation, utilizing guiding inclined surfaces for assembly and elastic deformation to ensure the keycap remains attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional linking mechanism is used to connect the key cap to the base board, then the keyboard structure is simple, but the coupling strength between the linking mechanism and key cap is insufficient, leading to easy detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The key cap is segmented into multiple components: the cap body and the pivot retainer. The pivot retainer is further divided into a position-limiting portion and two lateral portions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the position-limiting portion provides vertical confinement while the lateral portions provide lateral confinement, collectively enhancing the coupling strength without requiring a completely complex new structure
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotal shaft is nested within the shaft-received recess formed by the position-limiting portion and lateral portions. The shaft-received recess is formed by the integration of these portions, creating a nested structure where the shaft is confined within the recess, providing secure coupling while maintaining structural efficiency
2Reliability
If the connection between the linking mechanism and key cap is weak, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the key cap will be detached easily when pulled or lifted by external force
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot retainer is pre-formed with guiding inclined surfaces on its lateral portions before assembly. These pre-formed inclined surfaces automatically guide the pivotal shaft into the shaft-received recess during the assembly process, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures and making the assembly process straightforward while ensuring reliable connection
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding inclined surfaces act as an intermediary mechanism between the pivotal shaft and the shaft-received recess. During assembly, these inclined surfaces facilitate the engagement process by guiding the shaft into the recess, and during operation, they allow for elastic deformation that accommodates assembly tolerances while maintaining secure connection
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pivotal shaft is not confined, then the structure is simple, but the key cap can be separated from the linking mechanism easily
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer structure applies local quality by concentrating the confinement function in specific areas: the position-limiting portion provides vertical confinement locally, while the lateral portions with guiding inclined surfaces provide lateral confinement and assembly guidance locally. This localized approach provides stable connection without requiring the entire structure to be complex
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 design enhances the coupling strength between the keycap and linking mechanism, reducing the likelihood of unexpected detachment, thereby improving usability and durability while maintaining cost-effectiveness by minimizing material usage.
Implementation Method 1
the pivotal shaft or the pivot retainer is elastically deformed by the pivotal shaft and the second guiding inclined surface that push each other so that the pivotal shaft can be guided into the shaft-received recess
Data Source
AI summary
A key cap includes a cap body having a bottom surface, and at least one pivot retainer protrusively disposed on the bottom surface of the cap body. The pivot retainer includes a position-limiting portion, two lateral portions and a shaft-received recess. The lateral portions are connected to the same side of the position-limiting portion, and the shaft-received recess is disposed in the position-limiting portion, and is located between the two lateral portions.