# US 2021/0280378 A1 · Key structure

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- Number: US 2021/0280378 A1
- Document ID: US20210280378A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/327,797
- Filed: 2021-05-24
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17
- Assignees: Acer Incorporated
- Applicants: Acer Incorporated
- Inventors: Hung-Chi Chen; Cheng-Han Lin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210280378A1

## CPC

- H01H 13/7073: characterised by springs, e.g. Euler springs
- H01H 13/84: characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback (legends H01H13/83)
- H01H 2215/03: Sound
- H01H 2235/01: Spiral spring
- H01H 2235/018: Spring seat
- H01H 2235/03: Two serial springs
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

A key structure includes a base plate, a key cap, a positioning base, a positioning cover, and a spring. The key cap is disposed above the base plate and has a bottom surface. The positioning base is connected to the bottom surface of the key cap and has a positioning recess. The positioning cover is slidably connected to the positioning base, is inserted into the positioning recess, and includes a bottom portion and a side wall. The spring includes a first spring portion and a second spring portion. The first spring portion is located in the positioning recess and is in contact with the bottom surface of the key cap. The second spring portion is located in the positioning cover. An orthographic projection of the first spring portion on the bottom surface of the key cap is overlapped with an orthographic projection of the side wall of the positioning cover on the bottom surface of the key cap.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A key structure, comprising:
a base plate;
a key cap disposed above the base plate, wherein the key cap comprises a bottom surface facing the base plate;
a positioning base connected to the bottom surface of the key cap and comprising a positioning recess;
a positioning cover slidably connected to the positioning base, wherein the positioning cover is inserted into the positioning recess, and the positioning cover comprises a bottom portion and a side wall connected to the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is in contact with the base plate; and
a spring comprising a first spring portion and a second spring portion opposite to the first spring portion, wherein the first spring portion is located in the positioning recess and is in contact with the bottom surface of the key cap, the second spring portion is located in the positioning cover and is in contact with the bottom portion of the positioning cover, and an orthographic projection of the first spring portion on the bottom surface of the key cap is overlapped with an orthographic projection of the side wall of the positioning cover on the bottom surface of the key cap.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The key structure according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion is greater than an outer diameter of the second spring portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The key structure according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion is greater than an inner diameter of the positioning cover.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The key structure according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion gradually expands toward the bottom surface of the key cap.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the spring further comprises a third spring portion located between the first spring portion and the second spring portion, and the third spring portion extends from the positioning recess of the positioning base into the positioning cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The key structure according to claim 5, wherein an outer diameter of the first spring portion is greater than an outer diameter of the third spring portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The key structure according to claim 5, wherein a pitch of the third spring portion is greater than a pitch of the first spring portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The key structure according to claim 5, wherein an outer diameter of the second spring portion is equal to an outer diameter of the third spring portion, and the outer diameter of the second spring portion and the outer diameter of the third spring portion are less than an inner diameter of the positioning cover.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the positioning base comprises a first positioning convex portion away from the bottom surface of the key cap, and the positioning cover further comprises a second positioning convex portion protruding from the side wall and away from the bottom portion, wherein the second positioning convex portion is slidably disposed in the positioning recess, and the first positioning convex portion is located on a path on which the second positioning convex portion slides away from the bottom surface of the key cap.