CN115360037A - Cantilever type button and terminal equipment thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a cantilever type key, comprising: a plurality of button, the button includes: a pressing part, a connecting body part and a three-branch structure; the cantilever is an elastic sheet; the PCB is provided with contacts corresponding to the keys one by one; the installation piece of cantilever is cup jointed outside the three-fork structure of key, and the first step of connecting the somatic part supports and presses on the top of installation piece, and the bottom of installation piece supports and presses on the second step of two bifurcation bodies. Cantilever and button realize fixed connection through the mode of block, can guarantee the steadiness of connecting between the two, and the button is difficult for producing and drops. Simultaneously, cantilever installation piece and three trouble structures have formed stable triangle-shaped jointly, have reduced the focus, and both sides bifurcation body structure makes the area of contact increase of button and cantilever, and operator's finger presses the optional position of button, can both guarantee to possess sufficient area of contact between button and the cantilever, produces sufficient effort, shows that the button does not rock, hard, has feedback feel more for the button.

Description

Cantilever type button and terminal equipment thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of key structures, in particular to a cantilever type key and terminal equipment comprising the same.

Background

The key is one of the common and important structures in digital electronic products, and the common key materials are: plastic keys (Plastic Key), rubber keys (Rubber Key), plastic + Rubber keys (PB keys, i.e., plastic + Rubber Key). The method is divided according to the structural form and can be divided into the following steps: lap (skirt) keys, snap-fit keys, cantilever keys, etc.

Cantilever type button is often used in the product and requires that a plurality of buttons appear simultaneously, and product structure space is limited, and at this moment, it is reasonable design to adopt cantilever type button structure. Through the connecting point who has a plurality of buttons on a cantilever structure, can be as an organic whole with a plurality of button equipment, possess the good characteristics of wholeness, can one step put in place during the production equipment, need not assemble repeatedly. In addition, the resilience of cantilever button is better than scrap (bridge), buckled, especially when the components and parts switch is far away from the button, the effect that resets of above-mentioned two kinds of buttons is unsatisfactory, because these two kinds of structures mainly lean on electronic components to touch the elasticity of switch self and realize resetting, and the cantilever of cantilever button itself just possesses elasticity, so press and feel can be better.

In the existing cantilever type key, the key and the cantilever are integrally formed by injection molding, so that the assembly is convenient, and the connection stability is ensured; but the problem that the hand feeling is poor and the key is easy to break exists, the key is easy to shake and lose efficacy after the key is broken, and the key loses the limit after the key is broken, so that the key falls off. In addition, the cantilever and the product shell are mostly connected through a hot melting column, hot melting equipment is needed, the cantilever and the product shell cannot be disassembled after assembly, and the structural strength is greatly reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the defects of the prior art, the invention provides a cantilever type key, which can solve the problems of poor hand feeling, easy fracture and easy falling of the key existing in the prior cantilever type key; it is a further object to provide a terminal device comprising such a cantilever key.

The invention is realized by the following technical scheme:

a cantilevered key, comprising: a plurality of keys, the keys comprising: a pressing part, a connecting body part and a three-branch structure; the connecting body part is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the pressing part and is provided with a first step; the three-branch structure includes: the pressing column is vertically arranged, and the two forking bodies respectively extend along the oblique upper parts of the two sides of the pressing column; the pressing column is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the connecting body part, and the tops of the bifurcation bodies are provided with second steps; the cantilever, the cantilever is a flexure strip, includes: a plurality of mounting pieces for connecting with the keys; the mounting pieces are respectively provided with a through hole; the number of the installation sheets corresponds to the number of the keys; the PCB is provided with contacts which correspond to the keys one by one, and the contacts are arranged below the pressing columns; the installation piece of cantilever cup joints outside the three-fork structure of button, the first step of connecting the somatic part support press in the top of installation piece, the bottom of installation piece supports on two the second step of bifurcation body.

Furthermore, the bottom of the pressing part is also provided with two pressing bosses; the lower pressing bosses are respectively arranged on two sides of the connecting body part and abut against the top of the mounting piece; the two downward pressing bosses are respectively positioned on two outer side directions of the bifurcation body.

Further, the cantilever further comprises: a cantilever frame and a plurality of arc arms; each mounting piece all is connected with one the arc arm, all the arc arm all is connected to on the cantilever frame.

Further, the cantilever button further includes: a waterproof silicone plate; the waterproof silica gel plate is arranged between the key and the PCB and provided with a plurality of waterproof silica gel sleeves which are sleeved on the lower part of the compression leg and arranged above the contact of the PCB.

Further, the cantilever button further includes: the silica gel pressing plate is used for installing the waterproof silica gel plate; the silica gel pressing plate is arranged between the waterproof silica gel plate and the PCB; a plurality of pressing plate openings are formed in the silica gel pressing plate, and the waterproof silica gel sleeve is arranged in the pressing plate openings.

Furthermore, a plurality of hollow guide posts are also arranged on the silica gel pressing plate, and a plurality of guide holes are arranged on the waterproof silica gel plate; the guide post is inserted in the guide hole.

Further, the cantilever button further includes: a set screw; the bottom of the cantilever frame is also provided with a stud, and a screw hole is formed in the stud; the fixing screw penetrates through the guide column and is fixed in the stud in a threaded manner.

Furthermore, a plurality of snap dome sheets used as the contact are arranged on the PCB.

Further, the key includes: four mutually independent direction keys and a middle key; the direction key and the middle key are both connected to the mounting piece of the cantilever; the four direction keys are arranged in a circular ring shape, and the middle key is circular; the two side parts of the direction keys along the circumferential direction are simultaneously provided with a bulge and a groove, the bulge of the direction key is arranged in the groove of the adjacent direction key, and the groove is pressed above the bulge of the adjacent direction key so as to mutually limit the four direction keys; the inside portion of direction key edge centre of a circle direction is equipped with another recess, well key is equipped with four archs along the peripheral direction, the arch of well key is arranged in the recess of direction key, the recess of direction key support press in the protruding top of well key, so that the direction key with realize spacingly between the well key.

A terminal device comprises the cantilever type key.

Compared with the prior art, the invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

when a user presses a corresponding key according to the requirement, a downward acting force is applied to the installation sheet through the first step corresponding to the pressing column, the cantilever is pressed downwards and has elastic potential energy, and meanwhile, the second step can press the second step of the bifurcation body downwards; at the same time, the plunger moves downward, and the corresponding contact on the PCB is touched to realize a power-on loop. After the hands are loosened, the cantilever rebounds, upward acting force is applied to the first step through the mounting sheet, the key is reset, and the pressing column leaves the contact of the PCB.

In the invention, the cantilever and the key have certain elasticity, the cantilever and the key are fixedly connected in a clamping mode, the cantilever can be limited by the first step and the second step of the three-fork structure in the up and down directions respectively, the stability of connection can be ensured between the cantilever and the key, and the key is not easy to fall off. Simultaneously, cantilever installation piece and three trouble structures have formed stable triangle-shaped jointly, have reduced the focus, and both sides bifurcation body structure makes the area of contact increase of button and cantilever, and operator's finger presses the optional position of button, can both guarantee to possess sufficient area of contact between button and the cantilever, produces sufficient effort, shows that the button does not rock, hard, has feedback feel more for the button.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the key;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the key;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cantilever;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the connection between the key and the cantilever;

fig. 9 is a diagram showing the fitting relationship between the direction keys and the middle keys.

In the figure: 10. pressing a key; 11. a pressing part; 111. pressing the boss; 12. a connecting body portion; 121. a first step; 13. a three-branch structure; 131. pressing the column; 132. a bifurcation; 133. a second step; 14. a direction key; 15. a middle bond; 16. a groove; 17. a protrusion; 20. a cantilever; 21. mounting a sheet; 22. a cantilever frame; 23. an arc-shaped arm; 24. a stud; 30. a PCB board; 31. performing metal dome; 40. a waterproof silica gel plate; 41. a waterproof silica gel sleeve; 42. a guide hole; 50. pressing a silica gel plate; 51. punching a hole on the pressing plate; 52. a guide post; 60. and fixing the screw.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description, and it should be noted that any combination of the embodiments or technical features described below can be used to form a new embodiment without conflict.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like, indicate orientations and positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used only for convenience in describing the present invention and simplifying the description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like, indicate orientations and positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used only for convenience in describing the present invention and simplifying the description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

The invention discloses a cantilever type key, which is also a PB key and can be used for various electronic and electrical equipment, including but not limited to electronic dictionaries, learning machines, mobile phones, bank ciphers, tablet computers, electronic books and the like.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, the present invention provides a cantilever button including: a plurality of keys 10, a cantilever 20 and a PCB board 30.

The material of the key 10 is preferably plastic. Referring to fig. 5-6, the structure of the key 10 further includes: a pressing part 11, a connecting body part 12 and a three-branch structure 13 which are integrally formed. Specifically, the pressing portion 11 is a flat plate-shaped structure for an operator to perform a pressing operation thereon; the connecting body 12 is connected with the pressing part 11 and the three-branch structure 13 at the same time, and the connecting body 12 is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the pressing part 11; the forked structure 13 specifically includes: the pressing device comprises a pressing column 131 and two forking bodies 132, wherein the pressing column 131 is vertically arranged, the forking bodies 132 extend along the two sides of the pressing column 131 obliquely upwards, the pressing column 131 is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the connecting body 12, the tops of the forking bodies 132 are separated from the connecting body 12, and a certain gap is formed between the forking bodies 132 and the pressing part 11. The bottom of the connecting body 12 is provided with a first step 121 structure, and the tops of the two branches 132 are provided with a second step 133 structure.

The cantilever 20 is embodied as a resilient plate, which, referring to fig. 7, comprises: a plurality of mounting pieces 21 for connecting the keys 10; each mounting piece 21 is correspondingly provided with a key 10. The mounting plate 21 is provided with a through hole for inserting the three-branch structure 13 therein.

The PCB 30 has contacts corresponding to the keys 10 one by one, and the contacts are disposed under the pressing posts 131 of the keys 10, respectively. When the pressing column 131 of one of the keys 10 touches the corresponding contact downwards, the contact can realize a power-on loop, thereby outputting a corresponding signal.

The connection relationship between the key 10 and the cantilever 20 is: referring to fig. 2, 3 and 8, the mounting plate 21 is sleeved outside the three-branch structure 13 of the key 10, the first step 121 of the connecting body 12 is pressed against the top of the mounting plate 21, and simultaneously, the bottom of the mounting plate 21 is pressed against the second steps 133 of the two branches 132.

When a user presses the corresponding key 10 as required, a downward acting force is applied to the mounting sheet 21 through the first step 121 of the corresponding pressing column 131, the cantilever 20 is pressed down and has elastic potential energy, and meanwhile, the mounting sheet 21 presses down the second step 133 of the bifurcation 132; at the same time, the pressing post 131 moves downward, and it implements a power-on circuit by touching a corresponding contact on the PCB 30. When the user releases his hand, the cantilever 20 rebounds, and the mounting piece 21 exerts an upward force on the first step 121, so that the key 10 is reset and the pressing column 131 is separated from the contact of the PCB 30.

Cantilever 20 (shell fragment) and button 10 (plastics) all have certain elasticity, realize fixed connection through the mode of block between the two, cantilever 20 can receive the limiting displacement of first step 121 and second step 133 of three fork structure 13 respectively in upper and lower direction, can guarantee the steadiness of connecting between the two, and button 10 is difficult for producing and drops. Meanwhile, the installation sheet 21 of the cantilever 20 and the three-branch structure 13 jointly form a stable triangle, the gravity center is lowered, the contact area between the key 10 and the cantilever 20 is obviously increased due to the structures of the branches 132 at the two sides, and the sufficient contact area between the key 10 and the cantilever 20 can be ensured to generate sufficient acting force and trigger signals when an operator presses any position of the key 10 with a finger; from the use experience, the key 10 has the advantages of no shaking, no effort and more feedback hand feeling.

Besides the first step 121, two pressing bosses 111 are further provided at the bottom of the pressing portion 11 of the key 10, which are used for pressing down the cantilever 20, and further increase the contact area between the key 10 and the cantilever 20. The pressing bosses 111 are respectively disposed at two sides of the connecting body 12, and the pressing bosses 111 are pressed against the top of the mounting plate 21. The two pressing bosses 111 are respectively located in both lateral directions of the branch body 132. The contact sites between the keys 10 and the cantilever 20 include, from outside to inside: the pressing boss 111, the second step 133, and the first step 121; the operator can press any position of the key 10 to generate enough force between the key 10 and the cantilever 20.

Referring to fig. 7, the cantilever 20 further includes: a cantilever frame 22 and a plurality of arc arms 23; each mounting tab 21 is connected to a respective one of the arcuate arms 23, and all of the arcuate arms 23 are connected to the boom frame 22. The arc-shaped arm 23 can provide a space for deformation caused by the pressing stroke of the key 10, and if the arm is a straight arm, the arm length may not be stretched and cannot be pressed.

Referring to fig. 2, the present invention further includes a waterproof silicone plate 40, which has a characteristic of easy deformation. The waterproof silicone plate 40 is arranged between the key 10 and the PCB 30, the waterproof silicone plate 40 is provided with a plurality of waterproof silicone sleeves 41, the lower part of the pressing column 131 of each key 10 is sleeved in each waterproof silicone sleeve 41, and the pressing column 131 sleeved with each waterproof silicone sleeve 41 is still positioned above the contact of the PCB 30.

Referring to fig. 2, the present invention further includes a silicone pressure plate 50 for mounting the waterproof silicone plate 40. The silicone pressing plate 50 is disposed between the waterproof silicone plate 40 and the PCB 30. A plurality of pressing plate openings 51 are formed in the silica gel pressing plate 50, and the waterproof silica gel sleeve 41 is correspondingly arranged in the pressing plate openings 51.

Further, a plurality of hollow guide posts 52 are further arranged on the silica gel pressing plate 50, a plurality of adaptive guide holes 42 are correspondingly arranged on the waterproof silica gel plate 40, and the guide posts 52 are inserted into the guide holes 42 in a one-to-one correspondence manner. Still further, the present invention also includes a plurality of set screws 60; a stud 24 is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the cantilever frame 22, and a screw hole is formed in the stud 24 and is used for being connected with a fixing screw 60; the fixing screw 60 passes through the guide post 52 and is screwed into the stud 24, thereby integrally fixing the cantilever key.

Preferably, a plurality of metal dome 31 for contact are arranged on the PCB 30, and are located at conductive positions on the PCB 30, and when the metal dome is pressed, the central point of the metal dome 31 is concave, and contacts with a circuit on the PCB, so that a loop is formed, current passes through, and the product can work normally.

In one embodiment:

referring to fig. 2 to 3, the number of the keys 10 is five, and includes four independent direction keys 14 and a middle key 15. The four direction keys 14 are arranged in a circular ring shape, the middle key 15 is in a disc shape, and the five keys form a circular key 10 together.

The arm 20 is correspondingly provided with five mounting pieces 21, wherein four mounting pieces 21 are positioned in the peripheral direction, and the other mounting piece is positioned in the central direction. Referring to fig. 9, both sides of each direction key 14 along the circumferential direction are simultaneously provided with a protrusion 17 and a groove 16, the protrusion 17 of each direction key 14 is arranged in the groove 16 of the adjacent direction key 14, and the groove 16 of each direction key 14 is pressed against the upper side of the groove 16 of the adjacent direction key 14, so that the four direction keys 14 are mutually limited. And if the three-branch structure 13 of one key 10 is broken, the key 10 cannot fall off due to losing the limit, so that double protection is realized.

The inner side of the direction key 14 in the direction of the circle center is provided with another groove 16 for matching with the middle key 15. The middle key 15 is provided with four protrusions 17 along the peripheral direction thereof, the protrusions 17 of the middle key 15 are arranged in the grooves 16 of the direction keys 14, and the grooves 16 of the direction keys 14 are pressed below the protrusions 17 of the middle key 15, so that the four direction keys 14 and the middle key 15 are mutually limited. Similarly, a snap is formed between the middle key 15 and the direction key 14, and if the three-forked structure 13 of the middle key 15 is broken, the middle key 15 cannot fall off because of losing the limit.

Of course, this embodiment only provides one specific embodiment of the present invention, and the number of the keys 10 and the arrangement form of the keys 10 should not be specifically limited, and the specific setting should be determined according to the product requirements of the terminal device. Other numbers or arrangements of the keys 10 are within the scope of the present invention as long as the structure is the same or substantially the same as the present invention.

The overall working principle of the invention is as follows: when an operator presses one of the direction keys 14, because other keys 10 around are not pressed, the corresponding pressed key 10 moves downwards, a downward acting force is applied to the cantilever 20, the cantilever 20 generates elastic deformation, the cantilever 20 simultaneously applies a downward acting force to the three-branch structure 13, the three-branch structure 13 forces the waterproof silicone sleeve 41 to generate deformation, and the pressing column 131 touches the corresponding pot piece 31 of the PCB 30 to realize the key function. When the operator releases the key 10, the elastic sheet rebounds, the waterproof silica gel sleeve 41 recovers, the pressing column 131 of the key 10 leaves the PCB 30, and the direction key 14 is driven to reset. The middle key 15 is pressed similarly to the direction key 14.

The installation process of the invention is as follows: firstly, assembling four direction keys 14 into a snap closed loop, and then installing a middle key 15 to form a circular key 10; then, the cantilever 20 is sleeved on the three-forked structure 13 from the bottom to the top, and since the cantilever 20 and the key 10 can be elastically deformed, the cantilever 20 can be engaged with the key 10 to realize interference fit. Then, the waterproof silicone plate 40 is sleeved on the pressing column 131 of the key 10, the silicone pressing plate 50 is pressed in again, then the fixing screw 60 penetrates through the silicone pressing plate 50 and the waterproof silicone plate 40, and is screwed into the stud 24 of the cantilever 20 to be matched and screwed, and the installation is completed.

The invention also discloses a terminal device which comprises any cantilever type key and can be any electronic and electric products needing the key. Any terminal device using the same or substantially the same key as the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited thereby, and any insubstantial changes and substitutions made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention are intended to be covered by the claims.

Claims (10)

1. A cantilever key, comprising:

a plurality of button, the button includes: the pressing part, the connecting body part and the three-fork structure; the connecting body part is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the pressing part and is provided with a first step; the three-branch structure comprises: the pressing column is vertically arranged, and the two forking bodies respectively extend along the oblique upper parts of the two sides of the pressing column; the pressing column is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the connecting body part, and the tops of the bifurcation bodies are provided with second steps;

the cantilever, the cantilever is a flexure strip, includes: a plurality of mounting pieces for connecting with the keys; the mounting pieces are respectively provided with a through hole; the number of the installation pieces corresponds to the number of the keys;

the PCB is provided with contacts which correspond to the keys one by one, and the contacts are arranged below the pressing columns;

the installation piece of cantilever cup joints outside the three-fork structure of button, the first step of connecting the somatic part support press in the top of installation piece, the bottom of installation piece supports on two the second step of bifurcation body.

2. The cantilever-type key according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the pressing portion is further provided with two pressing bosses; the lower pressing bosses are respectively arranged on two sides of the connecting body part and abut against the top of the mounting piece; the two downward pressing bosses are respectively positioned on two outer side directions of the bifurcation body.

3. The cantilevered key of claim 1, wherein the cantilever further comprises: a cantilever frame and a plurality of arc arms; each installation piece all is connected with one the arc arm, all the arc arm all is connected to on the cantilever frame.

4. The cantilevered key of claim 3, further comprising: a waterproof silicone plate; the waterproof silica gel plate is arranged between the key and the PCB and provided with a plurality of waterproof silica gel sleeves which are sleeved on the lower part of the compression leg and arranged above the contact of the PCB.

5. The cantilevered key of claim 4, wherein the cantilevered key further comprises: the silica gel pressing plate is used for installing the waterproof silica gel plate; the silica gel pressing plate is arranged between the waterproof silica gel plate and the PCB; a plurality of pressing plate openings are formed in the silica gel pressing plate, and the waterproof silica gel sleeve is arranged in the pressing plate openings.

6. The cantilever-type key of claim 5, wherein the silicone pressure plate is further provided with a plurality of hollow guide posts, and the waterproof silicone plate is provided with a plurality of guide holes; the guide post is inserted in the guide hole.

7. The cantilevered key of claim 6, wherein the cantilevered key further comprises: a set screw; the bottom of the cantilever frame is also provided with a stud, and a screw hole is formed in the stud; the fixing screw penetrates through the guide column and is fixed in the stud in a threaded manner.

8. The cantilever-type key of claim 1, wherein the PCB board is provided with a plurality of snap tabs for acting as the contacts.

9. The cantilever key of claim 1, wherein the key comprises: four mutually independent direction keys and a middle key;

the direction key and the middle key are both connected to the mounting piece of the cantilever; the four direction keys are arranged in a circular ring shape, and the middle key is circular; the two side parts of the direction keys along the circumferential direction are simultaneously provided with a bulge and a groove, the bulge of the direction key is arranged in the groove of the adjacent direction key, and the groove is pressed above the bulge of the adjacent direction key so as to mutually limit the four direction keys;

the inside portion of direction key edge centre of a circle direction is equipped with another recess, well key is equipped with four archs along the peripheral direction, the arch of well key is arranged in the recess of direction key, the recess of direction key support press in the protruding top of well key, so that the direction key with realize spacingly between the well key.

10. A terminal device, characterized in that it comprises a cantilever-type key according to any one of the claims 1-9.

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