Key sheet and manufacturing method for key sheet

• US 20070045095A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sekisui Polymatech Co., Ltd. (Sekisui)
• Original Assignee: Polymatech Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Yutaka, Machida, Daisuke, Araki, Wataru
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 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 Class Codes: H01H 2229/00 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24339 Keyed

Abstract

As a key sheet for fixing a base sheet and key tops to be arranged on the base sheet using adhesive layers, a key sheet where the key tops and the base sheet are fixed, is obtained by forming printed adhesive layers of the key tops on facing surfaces of at least either of the key tops or the base sheet by means of printing, and then bringing the printed adhesive layer into contact with the other facing surfaces in a softened or molten state, and by curing the printed adhesive layer.

Claims

1. A key sheet, comprising:

a base sheet made of a resin film;

key tops to be arranged on the base sheet; and

printed adhesive layers for the key tops, made of cured bodies which are formed on either of the key tops or the base sheet as printed layers, and brought into contact with the key tops and the base sheet in a softened or molten state.

2. The key sheet according to the claim 1, further comprising a frame sheet to be arranged on the base sheet together with the key tops.

3. The key sheet according to the claim 2, further comprising an adhesive layer for fixing the frame sheet and the base sheet, wherein,

the printed adhesive layers for the key tops are formed on the entire bottom surfaces of the key tops;

and

the adhesive layer of the frame sheet is formed on a bottom surface of the frame sheet except for an outer edge sides neighboring the key tops.

4. The key sheet according to claim 2, wherein adhesive layers of a frame sheet are the printed adhesive layers made of cured bodies that are formed on either of the frame sheet or the base sheet as printed layers, and brought into contact with the frame sheet and the base sheet in a softened or molten state.

5. The key sheet according to claim 2, wherein a flush operational surface on which the key tops and a frame sheet substantially continue, is formed.

6. The key sheet according to claim 1, further comprising:

neighboring key tops to be arranged on the base sheet together with the key tops; and

adhesive layers for fixing the neighboring key tops and the base sheet;

wherein,

the printed adhesive layers for the key tops are formed on the entire bottom surfaces of the key tops; and

the adhesive layers for the neighboring key tops are formed on the bottom surfaces of the neighboring key tops except for outer edge sides neighboring the key tops.

7. The key sheet according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive layers of the neighboring key tops are printed adhesive layers made of cured bodies that are formed on either of the neighboring key tops or the base sheet as printed layers, and brought into contact with the neighboring key tops and the base sheet in a softened or molten state.

8. The key sheet according to claim 6, wherein a flush operational surface on which the key tops and the neighboring key tops substantially continue, is formed.

9. A key sheet, comprising:

a base sheet made of a resin film;

key tops to be arranged on the base sheet; and

printed adhesive layers for the key tops for fixing the base sheet and the key tops by forming sides substantially flush with the sides of the key tops, between the base sheet and the key tops.

10. The key sheet according to claim 9, comprising a frame sheet to be arranged on the base sheet together with the key tops.

11. The key sheet according to claim 10, further comprising an adhesive layer for fixing the frame sheet and the base sheet, wherein,

the printed adhesive layers for the key tops are formed on the entire bottom surfaces of the key tops;

and

the adhesive layer for the frame sheet is formed on a bottom surface of the frame sheet except for outer edge sides neighboring the key tops.

12. The key sheet according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive layers of the frame sheet are printed adhesive layers.

13. The key sheet according to claim 10, wherein a flush operational surface on which the key tops and the frame sheet substantially continue, is formed.

14. The key sheet according to claim 9, further comprising:

neighboring key tops to be arranged on the base sheet together with the key tops; and

adhesive layers for fixing the neighboring key tops to the base sheet;

wherein,

the printed adhesive layers for the key tops are formed on the entire bottom surfaces of the key tops; and

the adhesive layers for the neighboring key tops are formed on the bottom surfaces of the neighboring key tops except for the outer edge sides neighboring the key tops.

15. The key sheet according to claim 14, wherein the adhesive layers of the neighboring key tops are printed adhesive layers.

16. The key sheet according to claim 14, wherein a flush operational surface on which the key tops and the neighboring key tops substantially continue, is formed.

17. A manufacturing method for a key sheet where a base sheet and key tops to be arranged on the base sheet are fixed by adhesive layers, wherein,

the key tops are fixed to the base sheet by forming printed adhesive layers for the key tops, on facing surfaces of at least either of the key tops or the base sheet, then by bringing the printed adhesive layers into contact with the other facing surfaces in a softened or molten state, and by curing the printed adhesive layers.

18. The manufacturing method for a key sheet according to claim 17, wherein entire surfaces or parts of the printed adhesive layers of key tops are heated.

19. The manufacturing method for a key sheet according to claim 17, wherein, in the printing step of forming the printed adhesive layers, a solvent-diluted ink is used.

20. A manufacturing method for a key sheet including a base sheet, key tops to be arranged on the base sheet, and a frame sheet to be arranged on the base sheet together with the key tops, wherein

the key tops are fixed to the base sheet, by forming printed adhesive layers on entire facing surfaces of at least either of the key tops or the base sheet, by bringing the printed adhesive layers into contact with the other facing surfaces in a softened or molten state, and by curing the printed adhesive layers;

and

a bottom surface of the frame sheet, except for the outer edge sides neighboring the key tops, is fixed to the base sheet.

21. The manufacturing method for a key sheet according to claim 20, wherein entire surfaces or parts of the printed adhesive layers of the key tops, are heated.

22. The manufacturing method for a key sheet according to claim 20, wherein, in the printing step of the printed adhesive layers, a solvent-diluted ink is used.

23. A manufacturing method for a key sheet, including a base sheet, key tops to be arranged on the base sheet, and a neighboring key top to be arranged on the base sheet together with the key tops, wherein

the key tops are fixed to the base sheet, by forming printed adhesive layers on at least entire facing surfaces of at least either of the key tops or the base sheet, then by bringing the printed adhesive layers into contact with the other facing surfaces in a softened or molten state, by curing the printed adhesive layers;

and the bottom surfaces of the neighboring key tops, except for outer edge sides neighboring the key tops are fixed to the base sheet.

24. The manufacturing method for a key sheet according to claim 23, wherein entire surfaces or parts of the printed adhesive layers of the key tops, are heated.

25. The manufacturing method for a key sheet according to claim 23, wherein, in the printing step of the printed adhesive layers, a solvent-diluted ink is used.