Pushbutton in keyboard (2)

• US 6,166,342 A
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corp.
• Original Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corp.
• Inventors: Chou, Chin-Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nhung
• Application Number:
  US09/437,484
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 200/341-345, 200/292
• US Class Current: 200/344
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/01 with internal pressure of other switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/016 in adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/012 Positioning of individual dome
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

An improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) comprises a base, a printed circuit board (PCB) attached on the base having a plurality of pivot-jointing portions protrusively disposed on its surface for defining a plurality of enclosed assembly-jointing sections, a link (bridge) disposed at the assembly-jointing section having a movable shaft axially jointed with the pivot-jointing portion, an elastomer arranged on the link, and a key cap disposed on the elastomer being coupled with a positioning shaft at one end of the link. By assembling the abovesaid components, a waterproof and thinner keyboard at lower cost is realizable.

Claims

1. An improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2), comprising:

a base;

a printed circuit board (PCB) attached on said base having a plurality of pivot-jointing portions protrusively disposed on its surface for defining a plurality of enclosed assembly-jointing sections;

a link (bridge) combinably mounted on the assembly-jointing section of said PCB, wherein a positioning shaft and two movable shafts, which, the latter, are axially jointed with said pivot-jointing portion, are disposed at two ends of said link respectively;

an elastomer disposed on said link; and

a key cap combinably mounted on said elastomer and coupled with the positioning shaft of said link;

By virtue of abovesaid components, a waterproof and thinner keyboard made in a relatively lower cost being realizable.

2. The improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) according to claim 1, wherein said PCB is a membrane circuit board.

3. The improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) according to claim 1, wherein said PCB comprises a first and a second printed circuit layer and an insulating partition layer interposed therein.

4. The improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) according to claim 1, wherein each set of said pivot-jointing portion by cutting predetermined cutting lines in different lengths on said PCB to define a set of piece bodies in different lengths which is then extruded to form two pivot-jointing holes in different inner diameters, wherein said movable shaft at one end of said link is pivotally mounted in a pair of relatively smaller pivot-jointing holes while said movable shaft at the other is pivotally mounted in a pair of larger pivot-jointing holes;

and said movable shaft may have relative motion to said movable shaft.

5. The improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) according to claim 3, wherein said pivot-jointing portion is made by cutting predetermined cutting lines on said first printed circuit layer to define said piece body, then by an extrusion forming process.

6. The improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) according to claim 3, wherein said pivot-jointing portion is made by cutting predetermined cutting lines on a combined trinity of said first and said second printed circuit layer and said insulating partition layer to define said piece body, then by an extrusion forming process.

7. The improved positioning structure of pushbutton in keyboard (2) according to claim 4, wherein said pivot-jointing holes under said piece bodies can be formed by heat treatment, ultrasonic, hydraulic or equivalent extrusion forming methods.