Key structure with two pairs of symmetric balance plates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9455097-B2
Application number	US-201514825254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A key structure comprises a bottom board, a key cap and two first balance plates. The two first balance plates are plate shaped, disposed between the bottom board and the key cap, and symmetric to each other. An upper end of each of the two first balance plates is connected to the key cap. A lower end of each of the two first balance plates is connected to the bottom board. Thereby, a key structure is formed which provides a normal tactile feel while saving space, thereby achieving a slim design.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates, comprising:
a bottom board;
a key cap, having two first sides along a first direction and two second sides along a second direction, the first side being longer than the second side;
a strengthening plate, fixed on an underside of the key cap, being rectangular and formed with at least one opening, having two first sides along the first direction and two second sides along the second direction;
at least one scissor switch, disposed between the bottom board and the key cap corresponding to the at least one opening of the strengthening plate, wherein the at least one scissor switch is a two-bar balance structure to guide the key cap in up and down motions and balancing a force applied to the key cap; and
two first balance plates, being plate shaped disposed between the bottom board and the key cap, are symmetric to each other, wherein each of the first balance plates is U-shaped and has a upper side and two free ends configured to symmetrically surround the strengthening plate, wherein the upper side of each of the first balance plates is connected to the key cap beside the first side of the strengthening plate, and the two free ends of each of the first balance plates are extending from two ends of the upper side beside the second side of the strengthening plate and connected to the bottom board.

2. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first balance plates is 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm.

3. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 1 , wherein the first balance plates each have a first top plate and two first side plates respectively connected to two ends of the first top plate, an end of each of the two first side plates distal from the first top plate is connected to the bottom board, and the first top plate is connected to the key cap.

4. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 3 , wherein the end of each of the two first side plates distal from the first top plate is formed with a first sliding connection portion, the bottom board has a plurality of second sliding connection portions configured to respectively engage the first sliding connection portions, and the first sliding connection portions are slidably disposed in the respective second sliding connection portions on the bottom board.

5. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 3 , wherein the first top plates are each formed with a plurality of first pivot connection portions, the key cap has a plurality of second pivot connection portions configured to engage the first pivot connection portions, and the first pivot connection portions are pivotally connected to the respective second pivot connection portions on the key cap.

6. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates according to claim 5 , wherein the first pivot connection portions are column-shaped pivot shafts.

7. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 3 , wherein each of the first top plates further has a first reinforcement portion disposed between the first top plate and each of the two first side plates, each of the first reinforcement portions forms a slanted edge spanning from one of two ends of the first top plate to one of the two first side plates, so as to increase a strength of the first balance plate.

8. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates according to claim 1 , further comprising two second balance plates disposed between the bottom board and the key cap, wherein the two second balance plates are symmetric to each other;
wherein each of the second balance plates is U-shaped and has a upper side and two free ends, the upper side of each of the second balance plates is connected to the key cap along the second direction, and two free ends of each of the second balance plates are connected to the bottom board;
wherein the two second balance plates are disposed at two opposite sides of the strengthening plate and arranged between the two first balance plates;
wherein an extending direction of the upper side of the first balance plate is perpendicular to an extending direction of the upper side of the second balance plate.

9. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the second balance plates is 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm.

10. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 9 , wherein the second balance plates each have a second top plate and two second side plates respectively connected to two ends of the second top plate, an end of each of the two second side plates distal from the second top plate is connected to the bottom board, and the second top plate is connected to the key cap;
wherein the second top plates of the two second balance plates are respectively disposed adjacent to the first side plates of the two first balance plates.

11. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 10 , wherein the end of each of the two second side plates distal from the second top plate is formed with a third sliding connection portion, the bottom board has a plurality of fourth sliding connection portions configured to respectively engage the third sliding connection portions, and the third sliding connection portions are slidably disposed in the respective fourth sliding connection portions on the bottom board.

12. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates according to claim 10 , wherein the second top plates are each formed with a plurality of third pivot connection portions, the key cap has a plurality of fourth pivot connection portions configured to engage the third pivot connection portions, and the third pivot connection portions are pivotally connected to the respective fourth pivot connection portions on the key cap.

13. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates according to claim 12 , wherein the third pivot portions are column-shaped pivot shafts.

14. The key structure with two pairs of Symmetric balance plates to claim 10 , wherein each of the second balance plates further has a second reinforcement portion disposed between the second top plate and each of the two second side plates, wherein each of the second reinforcement portions forms a slanted edge spanning from one of two ends of the second top plate to one of the two second side plates, so as to increase a strength of the first balance plate.

Assignees

• Lite On Technology Corp
• Lite On Electronics Guangzhou Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chun-Lin

Classifications

• H01H2221/058

  to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator · CPC title

• H01H3/122

  with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor · CPC title

• H01H3/125 Primary

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title

• H01H13/7065

  characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards · CPC title

• H01H2209/01

  Increasing rigidity; Anti-creep · CPC title