Stabilizer module for a keyboard key structure
AssigneeLogitech Europe S.A.
InventorsPo-Han Hsiao, Tian-Jun Luo, Kuan-Chieh Liang
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Abstract
An improved stabilizer module for a keyboard key has an elongated balance bar. First and second bases are mounted to engage first and second ends of the elongated balance bar, each with a curved, mostly vertical slot. First and second stems are mounted in first and second cavities in the first and second bases, respectively, for vertical movement within the first and second cavities. The stems each have a horizontally extending slot. Both the base and stem slots engage an end of the elongated balance bar.
Claims20
A stabilizer module for a keyboard key comprising:
- an elongated balance bar;
- first and second bases mounted to engage first and second ends of the elongated balance bar with first and second curved, mostly vertical slots for engaging the first and second ends of the elongated balance bar;
- and
- first and second stems mounted in first and second cavities in the first and second bases, respectively, for vertical movement within the first and second cavities, and having horizontally extending slots.
A stabilizer module for a keyboard key comprising:
- an elongated balance bar;
- first and second bases mounted to engage first and second ends of the elongated balance bar with first and second curved, mostly vertical slots for engaging the first and second ends of the elongated balance bar;
- and
- first and second stems mounted in first and second cavities in the first and second bases, respectively, for vertical movement within the first and second cavities, and having horizontally extending slots;
- top and bottom stops on the stems positioned to contact portions of the base during vertical movement so that stop positions keep the first and second ends of the elongated balance bar from hitting the ends of the horizontally extending slots in the stems and the ends of the first and second curved, mostly vertical slots in the bases,
- wherein the first and second ends of the elongated balance bar are insertion arms of U-shaped end-pieces at the end of the elongated balance bar,
- wherein the elongated balance bar is metal and the U-shaped end-pieces are plastic, and
- wherein the elongated balance bar is mounted in securing slots at a bottom of the first and second bases, such that the elongated balance bar rotates within the securing slots while the insertion arm moves vertically within the curved, mostly vertical slot as the stems are moved up and down.
A method for assembling a stabilizer module for a keyboard key comprising:
- attaching plastic end-pieces over ends of a metal balance bar, the ends including a first end and a second end;
- inserting the balance bar into retaining slots in a pair of base structures;
- inserting stems, having horizontally extending slots, into cavities of the base structures;
- and
- sliding the base structures, with the inserted stems, laterally to the ends of the metal balance bar until insertion arms of the plastic end-pieces of the balance bar are inserted into curved, mostly vertical slots of the base and the horizontally extending slots of the stems.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.