US 6,586,695 B2Granted

Electronic apparatus including keyboard with key switch device

AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsHirofumi Sato, Isao Mochizuki

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Abstract

In a key switch device, an outer wall of an engagement member of a key top is interposed between a pinch shaft and an upper shaft of a first link member, while an outer wall of an engagement member of the key top is interposed between a pinch shaft and an upper shaft of a second link member. When the key top is pulled up, the pinch shaft and the upper shaft of the first link member cooperate with each other to pinch the outer wall of the engagement member, and the pinch shaft and the upper shaft of the second link member cooperate with each other to pinch the outer wall of the engagement member. Thus, when the key top is pulled up, the key top is removed together with the first and second link members, thereby facilitating reassembly and maintenance of the key switch device.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A key switch device, comprising:

a key top;
a guide member disposed below the key top for supporting the key top to guide vertical movement of the key top, the guide member having a first link member provided with a first upper shaft and a first lower shaft, and a second link member provided with a second upper shaft and a second lower shaft;
a lower engagement member disposed below the key top and next to the guide member, the lower engagement member having a first lower engagement portion in which the first lower shaft is slidably engaged and a second lower engagement portion in which the second lower shaft is slidably engaged;
a first upper engagement member that links the first upper shaft to the key top such that the first upper shaft is pivotally engaged in the first upper engagement member;
a second upper engagement member that links the second upper shaft to the key top such that the second upper shaft is pivotally engaged in the second upper engagement member;
a switching portion that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top;
a first pinch portion provided in the first link member such that part of the first upper engagement member is interposed between the first pinch portion and the first upper shaft;
and
a second pinch portion provided in the second link member such that part of the second upper engagement member is interposed between the second pinch portion and the second upper shaft, wherein the parts of the first and second upper engagement members are pinched therebetween when the key top is pulled up.

6 more elements

A key switch device, comprising:

a key top;
a guide member disposed below the key top for supporting the key top to guide vertical movement of the key top, the guide member having a first link member provided with a first upper shaft and a first lower shaft, and a second link member provided with a second upper shaft and a second lower shaft, the first and second link members being engaged with each other at their upper ends;
a lower engagement member disposed below the key top and next to the guide member, the lower engagement member having a first lower engagement portion in which the first lower shaft is slidably engaged and a second lower engagement portion in which the second lower shaft is slidably engaged;
a first upper engagement member that links the first upper shaft to the key top such that the first upper shaft is pivotally engaged in the first upper engagement member;
a second upper engagement member that links the second upper shaft to the key top such that the second upper shaft is pivotally engaged in the second upper engagement member;
a switching portion that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top;
and
a first pinch portion provided in the first link member such that part of the first upper engagement member is interposed between the first pinch portion and the first upper shaft, wherein the part of the first upper engagement member is pinched therebetween when the key top is pulled up.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.