Keyboard device and key structure thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021181861-A1
Application number	US-202016799712-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Dec 13, 2019
Publication date	Jun 17, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a membrane circuit board and a key structure over the membrane circuit board. The key structure includes a keycap, a plunger structure, a key pedestal and an elastic element. The plunger structure is arranged between the keycap and the elastic element. At least a portion of the keycap is disposed within a pedestal dust-storage chamber of the key pedestal. At least a portion of the plunger structure is disposed within a guiding chamber of the key pedestal. Due to the relative location between the keycap, the plunger structure and the key pedestal, the path of the dust to enter the guiding chamber is extended or blocked. Consequently, the dust-proof efficacy is enhanced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A key structure, comprising:
a keycap; a plunger structure comprising a post part and a plunger dust-storage chamber, wherein the plunger dust-storage chamber opens to an upward side, and the post part is connected between the keycap and the plunger dust-storage chamber; a key pedestal comprising an outer wall, a vertical partition wall and a horizontal partition wall, wherein a pedestal dust-storage chamber and a guiding chamber are defined by the outer wall, the vertical partition wall and the horizontal partition wall collaboratively, wherein a first end of the vertical partition wall is connected with the horizontal partition wall, and a second end of the vertical partition wall is bent toward the plunger dust-storage chamber; and an elastic element located under the plunger structure, and comprising a contacting part, wherein while the keycap is depressed, the keycap is moved downwardly within the pedestal dust-storage chamber, the plunger structure is moved downwardly within the guiding chamber, and the elastic element is compressed, so that a membrane switch of a keyboard device is triggered by the contacting part.

2 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the keycap comprises a keycap skirt part, wherein the keycap skirt part is protruded downwardly from a lateral edge of the keycap, and at least a portion of the keycap skirt part is disposed within the pedestal dust-storage chamber.

3 . The key structure according to claim 2 , wherein a bottom surface of the keycap skirt part is located at a level lower than a top surface of the vertical partition wall.

4 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the post part has an opening, and the keycap comprises a keycap coupling part, wherein the keycap coupling part is protruded downwardly from a bottom surface of the keycap, and the keycap coupling part is inserted into the post part through the opening, so that the keycap and the plunger structure are combined together.

5 . The key structure according to claim 4 , wherein one of the post part and the keycap coupling part comprises a hook, and the other of the post part and the keycap coupling part comprises a perforation corresponding to the hook, wherein the hook is engaged with the perforation, so that the keycap and the plunger structure are combined together.

6 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger structure further comprises a lateral wing part, and the lateral wing part is protruded from the plunger structure along a lateral direction and located under the horizontal partition wall, wherein at least a portion of the plunger structure is limited within the guiding chamber according to an interference between the lateral wing part and the horizontal partition wall.

7 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger structure is enclosed by the vertical partition wall, and the post part is inserted upwardly into the pedestal dust-storage chamber through the guiding chamber.

8 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second end of the vertical partition wall is further inserted into the plunger dust-storage chamber.

9 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger structure is made of thermoplastic material.

10 . A keyboard device, comprising:
a membrane circuit board comprising a membrane switch; and a key structure corresponding to the membrane switch, wherein the key structure comprises: a keycap; a plunger structure comprising a post part and a plunger dust-storage chamber, wherein the plunger dust-storage chamber opens to an upward side, and the post part is connected between the keycap and the plunger dust-storage chamber; a key pedestal comprising an outer wall, a vertical partition wall and a horizontal partition wall, wherein a pedestal dust-storage chamber and a guiding chamber are defined by the outer wall, the vertical partition wall and the horizontal partition wall collaboratively, wherein a first end of the vertical partition wall is connected with the horizontal partition wall, and a second end of the vertical partition wall is bent toward the plunger dust-storage chamber; and an elastic element located under the plunger structure, and comprising a contacting part, wherein while the keycap is depressed, the keycap is moved downwardly within the pedestal dust-storage chamber, the plunger structure is moved downwardly within the guiding chamber, and the elastic element is compressed, so that the membrane switch is triggered by the contacting part.

11 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the keycap comprises a keycap skirt part, wherein the keycap skirt part is protruded downwardly from a lateral edge of the keycap, and at least a portion of the keycap skirt part is disposed within the pedestal dust-storage chamber.

12 . The keyboard device according to claim 11 , wherein a bottom surface of the keycap skirt part is located at a level lower than a top surface of the vertical partition wall.

13 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the post part has an opening, and the keycap comprises a keycap coupling part, wherein the keycap coupling part is protruded downwardly from a bottom surface of the keycap, and the keycap coupling part is inserted into the post part through the opening, so that the keycap and the plunger structure are combined together.

14 . The keyboard device according to claim 13 , wherein one of the post part and the keycap coupling part comprises a hook, and the other of the post part and the keycap coupling part comprises a perforation corresponding to the hook, wherein the hook is engaged with the perforation, so that the keycap and the plunger structure are combined together.

15 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the plunger structure further comprises a lateral wing part, and the lateral wing part is protruded from the plunger structure along a lateral direction and located under the horizontal partition wall, wherein at least a portion of the plunger structure is limited within the guiding chamber according to an interference between the lateral wing part and the horizontal partition wall.

16 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the plunger structure is enclosed by the vertical partition wall, and the post part is inserted upwardly into the pedestal dust-storage chamber through the guiding chamber.

17 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the second end of the vertical partition wall is further inserted into the plunger dust-storage chamber.

18 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the plunger structure is made of thermoplastic material.

19 . The keyboard device according to claim 10 , further comprising a base plate, wherein the membrane circuit board and the key structure are supported by the base plate.

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Cai Liu-Bing
• Chen Li-Qiang

Classifications

• H01H13/705 Primary

  characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys · CPC title

• H01H2223/002

  sealed · CPC title

• H01H13/88

  Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards · CPC title

• H01H2233/03

  mounted on support plate or frame · CPC title

• H01H2221/026

  Guiding or lubricating nylon · CPC title