Low-Profile Ballbearing Baseframe for Smooth Keyboard Slides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baseframes with vertical ball retainers have a high overall height, interfering with desk usage when stored, while horizontal ball retainers result in a wider baseframe and less smooth operation due to the need for a slide plate extension, increasing height and reducing smoothness.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile baseframe design with integral ball races and U-shaped ball retainers oriented vertically, allowing a slide plate to move longitudinally without fastening means, reducing overall height and enhancing smooth operation by ensuring continuous ball-bearing contact with the race.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vertical ball retainers are used, then smooth operation is achieved, but overall height increases to approximately 1.5 inches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the ball retainers from a vertical arrangement (extending upward from the slide plate) to a horizontal arrangement (extending laterally from the slide plate). This dimensional change allows the ballbearings to remain in contact with the slide plate for smooth operation while reducing the vertical height of the baseframe to less than 0.5 inches, resolving the contradiction between operational smoothness and compact height.
2Length of stationary object
If horizontal ball retainers are used, then overall height is reduced, but the baseframe becomes wider and operation becomes less smooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs horizontal ball retainers that extend laterally from the slide plate rather than vertically, achieving a compact overall height of less than 0.5 inches. The slide plate is designed with a flat upper surface that maintains continuous contact with the ballbearings in the horizontal retainers, ensuring smooth operation despite the reduced vertical space and eliminating the need for complex Z-shaped brackets.
3Ease of manufacture
If ball races are affixed separately to the outer frame, then assembly is possible, but device complexity increases due to multiple components and fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the ball races directly into the outer frame as a single unified component rather than attaching separate ball race components with fasteners. This merging eliminates the need for additional parts and assembly steps, reducing device complexity while maintaining the functionality of supporting the horizontal ball retainers and enabling smooth longitudinal movement of the slide plate.
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 achieves a significantly lower overall height of less than 0.5 inches, ensuring minimal vertical space usage and smoother operation by maintaining ball-bearing contact, while eliminating the need for fasteners and reducing noise.
Implementation Method 1
Low profile baseframe with ballbearing slides
Data Source
AI summary
A low profile baseframe is used with a desk or other support to movable support a keyboard or other device. The baseframe has ball races integrally formed along each side. The ball races face one another and contain ball retainers that are sized and shaped to fit within the ball races so that rows of ballbearings in each slide are substantially vertical relative to one another. The ball retainers are made from molded plastic and are folded into a U-shape after being removed from the mold. The baseframe has a slide plate that extends between the two ball races with side edges inserted into the ball retainers. The baseframe is constructed without the use of fastening means. The ball retainers rest in the ball races and the slide plate rests in the ball retainers without welding, bolts or rivets.