Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2001-07-10
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
C200S308000, C200S0050EA
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a key switch device, and more particularly, to a key switch device suitable for use on a keyboard to be used as various input devices of a personal computer, word processor, etc.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional key switch device (not shown) is provided with a vertically movable key top in the upper position and supported at the underside with a supporting member assembled in a criss-cross fashion.
Below the key top a metal plate is disposed; on the upper surface of the metal plate, a membrane sheet is placed. A rubber spring is interposed between the membrane sheet and the key top.
With the depressing and releasing operation of the key top, the key top is moved up and down between the upper and lower positions by the elastic force of the rubber spring. When the key top is in the lower position, the switching portion of the membrane switch is turned on by the rubber spring.
The conventional key switch device stated above is adopted in a portable equipment such as a notebook PC. With a recent rapid trend of downsizing portable equipment, there has been a keen demand for a low-profile key switch device.
To meet the demand for a low-profile conventional key switch device (not shown), therefore, the metal plate for attaching the membrane switch has been decreased in thickness and the key top has been reduced in thickness to a minimum.
In the conventional key switch device described above, since the key top is decreased in thickness to about 2 mm to meet the demand for reduction in thickness, there arises such a disadvantage that the key top has no three-dimensional appearance, being deteriorated in appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-described disadvantage inherent in the heretofore known key switch device, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device capable of giving the key top the three-dimensional appearance if the key top is thin, thereby improving the quality of the key top.
As the first means of solving the problem stated above, the key switch device of the present invention has a key top and a membrane sheet which makes a switching operation with the up-and-down movement of the key top. The outer peripheral surface of the key top is colored in different shades.
As the second means of solving the problem stated above, the key top is boat-shaped and has an approximately trapezoidal sectional form. The outer peripheral surface is composed of a top surface and four side surfaces, that is, right, left, front and rear side surfaces. The mutually adjacent right and left side surfaces and the mutually adjacent left and rear side surfaces, and the top surface, are colored in different shades.
Further as the third means of solving the problem stated above, the right and front side surfaces of the key top are colored in a dark shade; the top surface is colored in a light shade; and the left and rear side surfaces are colored in an intermediate shade between the color of the right and front side surfaces and the color of the top surface.
Further as the fourth means of solving the problem stated above, the key switch device has the key top and the membrane sheet for performing switching operation with the up-and-down movement of the key top. The key top is provided with different degrees of luster on the outer peripheral surface.
Further as the fifth means of solving the problem stated above, the key top is boat-shaped and has an approximately trapezoidal sectional form. The outer peripheral surface is composed of a top surface and four side surfaces, that is, right, left, front and rear side surfaces. The mutually adjacent right and left side surfaces and the mutually adjacent left and rear side surfaces, and the top surface, are colored in different degrees of luster.
Further as the sixth means of solving the problem stated above, the right and front side surfaces of the key top are satinized to lower the luster degree, while the top surface is finished smooth to provide a higher luster degree. The left and rear side surfaces are roughened to provide intermediate luster between the luster of the right and front side surfaces and the luster of the top surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4602878 (1986-07-01), Merner et al.
patent: 5779030 (1998-07-01), Ikegami et al.
patent: 5790103 (1998-08-01), Willner
patent: 5954437 (1999-09-01), Wen-Hung
patent: 5995024 (1999-11-01), Kambayashi et al.
patent: 6060676 (2000-05-01), Pan
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Friedhofer Michael
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