Key device with a scissors-like structure

Details Key device with a scissors-like structure Key device with a scissors-like structure

2002-05-30

2003-10-14

Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Electric switch details

Actuators

Reexamination Certificate

active

06633012

ABSTRACT:

This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application Ser. No. 90113946 filed on Jun. 8, 2001.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a key device for a keyboard and to an assembling method thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scissors-like structures are widely used in low-profile key devices such as keyboards. Referring to
FIG. 1
a
, a first frame
101
and a second frame
102
may be assembled to form a scissors-like structure. Two shafts
103
are respectively disposed on the outer surfaces of first frame
101
, and axes of two shafts
103
may be aligned in a line as shown. Two slots
104
are respectively provided on inner surfaces of the frame
102
, and axes of two slots
104
are aligned as shown. Two shafts
103
and two slots
104
are rotatably connected to each other to form a scissors-like structure. The scissors-like structure is connected to a keycap
107
and a base
108
, as shown in
FIG. 1
b.
Referring to
FIG. 1
b
, first frame
101
has two outer surfaces
105
,
105
′ and second frame
102
has two inner surfaces
106
,
106
′. The distance between outer surfaces
105
,
105
′ is typically about equal to the distance between inner surfaces
106
,
106
′. When shafts
103
are disposed into slots
104
, first frame
101
is suitably compressed to shorten the span of the first frame
101
along axial direction A-A′, or the second frame
102
has to be expended to lengthen the span of the second frame
102
along direction A-A′. In other words, one of two frames
101
or
102
appropriately deforms its shape during assembly. It is typically desired to minimize deformation of the frames during assembly to prevent breakage and to strengthen the key structure. One solution is to shorten the length of the shafts
103
, although this results in a less-stable key structure.
The reliability of scissors-like structure
100
typically depends on an effective length of the shaft
103
. The effective length of the shaft
103
is defined as the length carrying radial force after the shafts
103
and the slots
104
are assembled together. If the effective length of the shaft
103
is shortened, the reliability of scissors-like structure decreases. For example, when a user detaches the keycap
107
from the structure, a shorter shaft
103
may escape from slot
104
and frames
101
and
102
may become separated.
Ease of assembly and reliability of a key device do not coexist in the prior art. A demand for a key device with these characteristics therefore exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a key device which gives consideration to assembly convenience and reliability.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling the key device.
An exemplary key device of the present invention includes first and second arms.
The first arm has a shaft and the second arm has a slot with an open first end and a closed second end. The first and second portions are connected to each other, and the second portion define an axial direction. The first and second arms are rotatably assembled to form a scissors-like structure. When the shaft is in the first portion of the slot, the shaft can slide and rotate. When the shaft is the second portion of the slot, the shaft can rotate but not slide.
An assembling method for the key device is also provided in the present invention. The key device includes a first and second arms. The first arm has a shaft and the second arm has a slot with an open first end and a closed second end. The first and second portions are connected to each other, and the second portion define an axial direction. The method includes the steps of disposing the shaft into the first portion via the open first end. The shaft slides along the first portion. Finally, when the shaft and second portion are substantially in a line, the shaft is pushed into the second portion along the axial direction.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6087604 (2000-07-01), Suga et al.
patent: 6160233 (2000-12-01), Hu
patent: 6183150 (2001-02-01), Kao
patent: 6504121 (2003-01-01), Hasunuma

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