Keyboard

A keyboard having multiple key-switches each comprising a key having a finger-pressed top face, a movable electrode and at least two stationary electrodes, comprising:

• a key holder plate of generally planar flat shape supporting the multiple keys in plural rows movably in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the key holder plate, said key holder plate having holes through which said keys extend and guide portions integrally formed around each of said holes and extending in said direction, said key holder plate further having a deformation-facilitating portion located between at least one pair of adjacent rows of said plural rows of keys, said deformation-facilitating portion having a plural number of longitudinal recesses formed in one of upper and lower surfaces of said key holder plate in parallel to said rows of keys, said longitudinal recesses being spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to said rows of keys;
• and
• retaining means for holding said key holder plate downwardly convexed in cross section across said plural rows of keys, said retaining means defining a curvature and having means for holding said key holder plate elastically deformed following said curvature, whereby a surface generally defined by the top faces of said multiple keys is downwardly convexed in said cross section;
• and
• a housing containing said multiple key-switches, said key holder plate and said retaining means.

A keyboard having multiple key-switches each composing a key having a finger-pressed top face, a movable electrode and at least two stationary electrodes, comprising:

• a key holder plate of generally planar flat shape supporting the multiple keys in plural rows movably in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the key holder plate, said key holder plate having holes through which said keys extend and guide portions integrally formed around each of said holes and extending in said direction, said key holder plate further having a deformation-facilitating portion located between at least one pair of adjacent rows of said plural rows of keys, said deformation-facilitating portion having a first longitudinal recess in an upper surface of said key holder plate, and a second longitudinal recess in a lower surface of the key holder plate, said first and second longitudinal recesses being formed in parallel to said rows of keys;
• and
• retaining means for holding said key holder plate downwardly convexed in cross section across said plural rows of keys, said retaining means defining a curvature and having means for holding said key holder plate elastically deformed following said curvature, whereby a surface generally defined by the top faces of said multiple keys is downwardly convexed in said cross section;
• and
• a housing containing said multiple key-switches, said key holder plate and said retaining means.

A keyboard having multiple key-switches each comprising a key having a finger-pressed top face, a movable electrode and at least two stationary electrodes, comprising:

• a key holder plate of generally planar flat shape supporting the multiple keys in plural rows movably in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the key holder plate, said key holder plate having holes through which said keys extend and guide portions integrally formed around each of said holes and extending in said direction, said key holder plate further having a deformation-facilitating portion located between at least one pair of adjacent rows of said plural rows of keys, said deformation-facilitating portion having a plural number of longitudinal slots which are formed through the thickness of said key holder plate, said slots being arranged in space-apart relation with each other in a row in a direction parallel to said rows of keys;
• and
• retaining means for holding said key holder plate downwardly convexed in cross section across said plural rows of keys, said retaining means defining a curvature and having means for holding said key holder plate elastically deformed following said curvature, whereby a surface generally defined by the top faces of said multiple keys is downwardly convexed in said cross section;
• and
• a housing containing said multiple key-switches, said key holder plate and said retaining means.