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Key underboard structure of computer keyboard

  • US 5,813,778 A
  • Filed: 03/28/1997
  • Issued: 09/29/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A key underboard structure adapted to be used in a computer key board assembly having a plurality of movable keys, the key underboard comprising:

  • a lower board adapted to support thereon an electric circuit board having a plurality of contacts corresponding to the keys, the lower board having a plurality of hooks provided thereon;

    a rubber pad having a plurality of raised caps integrally formed thereon, each cap being adapted to receive and hold therein a contact pad, and each cap having a resiliency so as to be depressible to elastically deform and to resume an original configuration after the depression is released, the rubber pad being placeable on an electric circuit board on the lower board, the rubber pad having a plurality of first openings therein corresponding in location to the hooks of the lower board and each first opening sized to allow the respective hook in each first opening to move relative to the rubber pad in a direction on parallel with the rubber pad;

    an upper board being placed above the rubber pad, the upper board having a plurality of second openings corresponding in location to the hooks of the lower board to receive the hooks to extend through the second openings, a respective support deck on the upper board provided in each second opening, the second openings being sized to allow the hooks to move relative to the upper board in a direction parallel with the upper board to be received over and supported on the respective support deck provided in each second opening for defining a bayonet engagement between the upper and lower boards for securely sandwiching the rubber pad and the electric circuit board between the upper board and the lower board, the upper board further comprising a plurality of through holes corresponding in location to and receiving the raised caps therein;

    driving means disposed between each of the raised caps and the respective key, the driving means comprising a first member and a second member, both having a substantially flat portion, the first member having a first end pivoted to the upper board and having a second end, the second member having a third opening therethrough, and also having a third end which is movably and rotatably mounted on the upper board, the first end of the first member and the third end of the second member being so placed and spaced apart on the upper board that the first and second members have a collapsed overlapped condition wherein the second member is then above the first member and the second end of the first member extends through the third opening in the second member, and the first member being pivotally connected to the second member in the third opening for allowing the first member and the second member to be rotatable with respect to each other, about the pivotal connection between the first and second members, between an expanded, cross configuration condition resting on and supported by the raised cap beneath the first member and a collapsed, overlapped configuration condition depressing the key so that when the key is depressed, the driving means changes from the expanded condition to the collapsed condition to deform the cap from the original configuration to a depressed configuration to bring the contact pad disposed therein into contact with the associated contact of the circuit board.

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