Manufacturing method for sheet shaped key top

• US 6,660,200 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Polymatech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Polymatech Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakajo, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): ORTIZ, ANGELA Y
• Application Number:
  US10/372,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 264/138, 264/154, 264/163, 264/250, 264/251, 264/255, 264/263, 264/266, 264/267, 264/273, 264/274, 264/275, 264/294, 200/512, 200/311, 200/314, 200/341, 294/28, 294/64
• US Class Current: 264/154
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/006 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/047 Preformed layer in mould

Abstract

A sheet shaped key top wherein molded resin key tops are arranged on a sheet, wherein the resin key top is fixed so as to cover the core upper part passing through the sheet, allowing to vary easily the key top design, and permitting a high manufacturing yielding, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Claims

1. A manufacturing method of a sheet shaped key top composed by arranging a molded resin key top on a sheet, comprising steps of, pinching a sheet in a die, injecting thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer passing through the sheet from the surface side or back side of the sheet, forming a core integrated with the sheet, removing from the die, and fitting the resin key top so as to cover the upper portion of the core situated at the top of the sheet.

2. A manufacturing method of a sheet shaped key top composed by arranging a molded resin key top on a sheet, comprising steps of, bending the sheet to the same form as the top face of the key top element, pinching in a die so as to direct the bent portion to the top face side of the key top element, injection-molding the key top element with thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer, and at the same time, molding a core integrated with the sheet, by injecting thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer passing through the sheet from the back side of the sheet, removing from the die, and covering the upper portion of the core situated at the top of the sheet with resin key top.

3. A manufacturing method of a sheet shaped key top composed by arranging a molded resin key top on a sheet, comprising steps of, setting the resin key top in a cavity of the die of the sheet surface side, injection-molding a core with thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer from the back side of the sheet pinched by the sheet, and integrating the sheet, core and resin key top in the die.

4. A manufacturing method of a sheet shaped key top composed by arranging a molded resin key top on a sheet, comprising steps of, setting the resin key top in a cavity of the die of the sheet surface side, further, bending the sheet having a display section to the same form as the top face of the key top element, pinching in a die so as to direct the bent portion to the top face side of the key top element, integrating the sheet and the key top element by injection-molding the key top element with thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer, and at the same time, injection-molding the core passing through the sheet from the back side of the sheet, and integrating the sheet, core and resin key top in the die.