Key structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11056293-B1
Application number	US-202016934026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2020
Priority date	Jan 17, 2020
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A key structure includes a base plate, a key cap, a positioning base, a positioning cover, and a spring. The key cap is disposed above the base plate and has a bottom surface. The positioning base is connected to the bottom surface of the key cap and has a positioning recess. The positioning cover is slidably connected to the positioning base, is inserted into the positioning recess, and includes a bottom portion and a side wall. The spring includes a first spring portion and a second spring portion. The first spring portion is located in the positioning recess and is in contact with the bottom surface of the key cap. The second spring portion is located in the positioning cover. The first spring portion is located on a path on which the side wall of the positioning cover slides toward the bottom surface of the key cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key structure, comprising: a base plate; a key cap disposed above the base plate, wherein the key cap comprises a bottom surface facing the base plate; a positioning base connected to the bottom surface of the key cap and comprising a positioning recess; a positioning cover slidably connected to the positioning base, wherein the positioning cover is inserted into the positioning recess, and the positioning cover comprises a bottom portion and a side wall connected to the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is in contact with the base plate; and a spring comprising a first spring portion and a second spring portion opposite to the first spring portion, wherein the first spring portion is boated in the positioning recess and is in contact with the bottom surface of the key cap, the second spring portion is located in the positioning cover and is in contact with the bottom portion of the positioning cover, and the first spring portion is located on a path on which the side wall of the positioning cover slides toward the bottom surface of the key cap; wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion is greater than an inner diameter of the positioning cover.

2. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion is greater than an outer diameter of the second spring portion.

3. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion gradually expands toward the bottom surface of the key cap.

4. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the spring further comprises a third spring portion located between the first spring portion and the second spring portion, and the third spring portion extends from the positioning recess of the positioning base into the positioning cover.

5. The key structure according to claim 4 , wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion is greater than an outer diameter of the third spring portion.

6. The key structure according to claim 4 , wherein a pitch of the third spring portion is greater than a pitch of the first spring portion.

7. The key structure according to claim 4 , wherein an outer diameter of the second spring portion is equal to an outer diameter of the third spring portion, and the outer diameter of the second spring portion and the outer diameter of the third spring portion are less than an inner diameter of the positioning cover.

8. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning base comprises a first positioning convex portion away from the bottom surface of the key cap, and the positioning cover further comprises a second positioning convex portion protruding from the side wall and away from the bottom portion, wherein the second positioning convex portion is slidably disposed in the positioning recess, and the first positioning convex portion is located on a path on which the second positioning convex portion slides away from the bottom surface of the key cap.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Chen Hung-Chi
• Lin Cheng-Han

Classifications

• H01H2235/03

  Two serial springs · CPC title

• H01H2235/018

  Spring seat · CPC title

• H01H2235/01

  Spiral spring · CPC title

• H01H2215/03

  Sound · CPC title

• H01H13/84

  characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback (legends H01H13/83) · CPC title