Swing Key Mechanism With Elastic Guiding Arm
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In swing-type keys, the first and second assembling members often interfere and compress during assembly or disassembly, leading to potential damage and requiring a complex structure with a scissor component for guiding movements, which increases cost and weight.
Innovation Solution
A key device with a substrate, keycap, and restoring member, featuring pivot coupling members and elastic arms that allow the keycap to swing relative to the substrate, omitting the need for a scissor component, thus preventing excessive force on the assembling members and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the keycap is assembled with the substrate by swinging the keycap to bring the first assembling member close to the second assembling member, then the keycap can be securely assembled, but the first and second assembling members may interfere or compress with each other causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guiding member as an intermediary component between the first assembling member (protruding member on keycap) and the second assembling member (recessed member on substrate). The guiding member includes a guiding surface that guides the protruding member during the swinging assembly process, ensuring smooth engagement without excessive compression or interference, thereby preventing damage to the assembling members while maintaining secure assembly.
2Ease of operation
If a scissor component is added to guide the keycap movement during assembly, then the keycap movement can be guided properly, but the structure becomes more complex and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guidance function from a complex scissor mechanism and implements it through a simplified guiding member. The guiding member is a simple component with a guiding surface that provides the necessary movement guidance for the keycap during assembly, eliminating the need for complex scissor components while maintaining proper guidance functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from using a mechanical linkage system (scissor component) to using a geometric guidance system (guiding surface). By changing the parameter of how guidance is achieved from mechanical linkage to geometric constraint, the structure is simplified while maintaining the guidance function.
3Ease of operation
If a scissor component is added to guide the keycap movement, then the keycap movement can be guided properly, but the weight and thickness of the key device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guidance function from a heavy scissor mechanism and implements it through a lightweight guiding member. The guiding member is a simple component with minimal material requirements, significantly reducing the weight of the key device while maintaining the necessary guidance functionality for keycap movement.
4Ease of operation
If a scissor component is added to guide the keycap movement, then the keycap movement can be guided properly, but the thickness of the key device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guidance function from a thick scissor mechanism and implements it through a thin guiding member. The guiding surface is designed to provide guidance within a minimal thickness profile, allowing the key device to remain thin while still providing proper keycap movement guidance during assembly.
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 prevents damage to the assembling members, reduces weight and thickness, and simplifies assembly and disassembly, resulting in a lightweight, thin, and cost-effective key device.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic arm can perform a suitable deflection or swing movement to drive the limiting member to move
Implementation Method 2
The restoring member is adapted to provide a restoring force for swinging the keycap relative to the substrate in a second pivot direction opposite to the first pivot direction
Data Source
AI summary
A key device includes a substrate having an assembling area, a keycap, and a restoring member. A pivot coupling member and an elastic arm are provided in the assembling area. The pivot coupling member has a pivot axis, and the elastic arm is extending in a direction parallel to the pivot axis. The elastic arm includes a limiting member protruding out of the substrate. The keycap is disposed above the assembling area. A connection arm is extending from the keycap and includes a pivot portion pivoted with the pivot coupling member, so that the keycap is swingable relative to the substrate. The keycap further includes a limiting groove for detachably fitted with the limiting member. The restoring member is disposed between the substrate and the keycap. The restoring member is adapted to provide a restoring force for swinging the keycap relative to the substrate.