Notebook computer key

• US 6,318,695 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Silitek Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Hu, Gino
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeLuca, Jerome A.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 200/345, 248/371, 248/127, 248/372.1
• US Class Current: 248/371
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

A notebook computer key comprises a key hat, a seat, an elastic touch moving piece, a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame. The key hat is formed with an operating surface and an assembling surface at the top surface and the lower surface. The seat is installed with a plurality of through holes, each through hole is installed with a positioning piece. The elastic touch moving piece installed between the key hat and the seat. The first supporting frame and second supporting frame installed between the assembling surface of the key hat and the seat. The two supporting frames are pivotally connected. The upper ends of the two supporting frames are connected to the assembling surface of the key hat, and each lower end of two sides of the two supporting frames are installed with a pivotal shaft for being pivotally connected to the through hole of the seat. The pivotal shaft at lower end of each side of the two supporting frames are protruded from the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall of the supporting frame. The pivotal shaft at each lower end of two sides of the two supporting frames is inserted into the through hole pivoted. Therefore, the height of the key is reduced and the requirement of compact of modem products is met.

Claims

1. A notebook computer key comprising:

a key hat formed with an operating surface and an assembling surface respectively at a top surface and a lower surface thereof;

a seat defining an upper surface having a plurality of through holes formed therein, the seat having a plurality of positioning pieces formed thereon, each of said plurality of positioning pieces extending at least partially across a respective one of said through holes, said seat including a protrusive stopping edge portion;

an elastic touch moving piece installed between the key hat and the seat; and

a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame installed between the assembling surface of the key hat and the seat, the two supporting frames being pivotally connected together to form a crossed linkage, each of the first and second supporting frames having respective upper ends connected to the assembling surface of the key hat, each of the first and second supporting frames having a pair of lower ends on two respective sides thereof with a pivotal shaft coupled to each said lower end, each said lower end having first and second lower side surfaces transversely oriented one relative to the other, each said pivotal shaft extending laterally from said first lower side surface of said lower end and protruding from said second lower side surface of said lower end, each said pivotal shaft of both said first and second supporting frames extending at least partially below the plane of said seat upper surface into a respective one of said plurality of through holes beneath a corresponding one of said plurality of positioning pieces for respective pivotal coupling to the seat, while each said lower end of both said first and second supporting frames remains at or above the plane of said seat upper surface;

at least one of said first and second supporting frames includes an end portion disposed laterally between said lower ends thereof, said end portion having at least one convex body protruding therefrom for abuttingly engaging said stopping edge portion.

2. A notebook computer key comprising:

a key hat formed with an operating surface and an assembling surface respectively at a top surface and a lower surface thereof;

a seat having a plurality of through holes formed therein, the seat having a plurality of positioning pieces formed thereon, each of said plurality of positioning pieces extending at least partially across a respective one of said through holes, said seat including a protrusive stopping edge portion;

a circuit board layer juxtaposed on an upper surface of said seat;

an elastic touch moving piece installed between the key hat and said circuit board layer; and

a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame installed between the assembling surface of the key hat and the seat, the two supporting frames being pivotally connected together to form a crossed linkage, each of the first and second supporting frames having respective upper ends connected to the assembling surface of the key hat, each of the first and second supporting frames having a pair of lower ends on two respective sides thereof with a pivotal shaft coupled to each said lower end, each said lower end having first and second lower side surfaces transversely oriented one relative to the other, each said pivotal shaft extending laterally from said first lower side surface of said lower end and protruding from said second lower side surface of said lower end, each said pivotal shaft of both said first and second supporting frames extending at least partially below the plane of said seat upper surface into a respective one of said plurality of through holes beneath a corresponding one of said plurality of positioning pieces for respective pivotal coupling to the seat, while each said lower end of both said first and second supporting frames remains at or above the plane of said seat upper surface;

at least one of said first and second supporting frames includes an end portion disposed laterally between said lower ends thereof, said end portion having at least one convex body protruding therefrom for abuttingly engaging said stopping edge portion.