Key top and method for manufacture thereof
AssigneeAtryz Yodogawa Co., Ltd.
InventorKoichi Hayashizaki
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Abstract
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a metallic switch with high productivity. A transparent printed layer (4) is patterned and formed on a metalizing layer (3) formed on the front surface of a transfer substrate, and the metalizing layer (3) is subjected to etching. The metalizing layer (3) and the transparent printed layer (4) are integrally transferred onto a key top body (6). As a result, the metalizing layer, which has a low strength and can be easily fractured, is protected and reinforced by the transparent printed layer (4), the metalizing layer can be transferred with high stability, and a metallic switch is manufactured in an easy manner and with good efficiency.
Claims12
A method of manufacturing a key top, said method comprising:
- forming a metalizing layer on a transfer substrate;
- forming a first transparent printed layer in a pattern on the metalizing layer, the first transparent printed layer being resistant to etching;
- etching the metalizing layer so as to remove a portion of the metalizing layer not masked by the first transparent printed layer, whereby a transfer layer including the etched metalizing layer and the first transparent printed layer is formed;
- and
- after said etching of the metalizing layer to form the transfer layer, placing the transfer substrate on a plastic key top body so as to transfer the transfer layer onto the key top body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.