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US 5,268,545 AGranted
Low profile tactile keyswitch
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorDavid A. Bruner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low profile tactile keyswitch including a horizontally positioned elastic column spring which buckles under an axial load to provide a tactile feel for the keyswitch. The ends of the spring are maintained between two spring holders which are urged together as the keybutton is depressed. Stabilizing arms pivotally attached to the keybutton are used to stabilize the keybutton and also to carry extensions which engage the spring holders to move them together as the keybutton is depressed. The keyswitch is operable to be placed in an inactive configuration in which the keybutton is lowered without placing the spring under added compression.
Claims9
A key mechanism comprising:
- a key top;
- an elastic column element, generally beneath the key top, which buckles under an axial load;
- means, including a force-receiving surface, for holding the elastic column element under precompression in a first orientation and responsive to an applied force, on the force-receiving surface, to further compress the elastic column into a buckled condition;
- and stabilizing means for supporting the key top including two pivoted stabilizing arms pivotally attached to the key top and to one another, movement of the key top in a direction generally perpendicular to the orientation of the elastic column element resulting in movement of portions of the pivoted arms, the stabilizing means further including at least one element coupled to a moving portion of a stabilizing arm which engages the force-receiving surface of the means for holding the elastic column element to apply a force to the means for holding the elastic column element to further compress the elastic column element into a buckled condition.
1 more element
A key mechanism comprising:
- a key top;
- an elastic column element;
- means, including a force-receiving surface, for holding the elastic column element, generally beneath the key top, under precompression in a first orientation and responsive to an applied force on the force-receiving surface to further compress the elastic column element into a buckled condition;
- a base lying in a plane generally beneath the elastic column element;
- a first and a second stabilizing arm, the first stabilizing arm being pivotally attached at a first end to the key top near an edge thereof and the second arm being pivotally attached at a first end to the key top near another edge thereof, each arm being pivotally attached to the other at a second end;
- and means for pivotally supporting each of the arms intermediate their ends in positions above the base, at least one said arm including an element contacting the force-receiving surface of the means for holding the elastic column under precompression so that downward movement of the key top results in application of a force to the force-receiving surface of the means for holding the elastic column element under precompression to further compress the elastic column element into a buckled condition.
3 more elements
A key mechanism comprising:
- a key top;
- a buckling compression spring;
- means, including a force-receiving surface, for holding the spring under precompression generally horizontally in a first condition and responsive to an applied force on the force-receiving surface to further compress the spring into a buckled condition;
- and means coupled to the key top for converting movement of the key top, in a generally vertical direction into a force applied to the force-receiving surface of the means for holding the spring, whereby the spring is further compressed into a buckled condition.
1 more element
A key mechanism comprising:
- a key top;
- tactile feedback means, having a force-receiving surface, responsive to an applied force on the force-receiving surface for providing a variable resistance to said force;
- stabilizing means for supporting the key top and including means for applying a force to the force-receiving surface of the tactile feedback means when the key top is depressed;
- and means for changing the relative orientation between the stabilizing means and the tactile feedback means to an inactive relative orientation in which depression of the key top does not result in the application of said force to the force-receiving surface of the tactile feedback means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.