Computer keyswitch

[0002] The present invention relates to a computer keyswitch, especially to a computer keyswitch suitable for notebook computer, which has lower height but with same level mechanism height and structural strength.

[0003] FIG. 1 shows a prior art computer keyswitch 10a, which comprises a keycap 11a, a resilient body 12a, a first lever 13a, a second lever 14a, a base 15aand a bottom plate 16a. The first lever 13aand the second lever 14aare in scissors arrangement and have pivotal shafts 17aand 18aon bottom ends thereof. The pivotal shafts 17aand 18aare pivotally retained below clamping plates 19aand 20aformed on topside of the base 15a. The top ends of the first lever 13aand the second lever 14aare connected to the bottom side of the keycap 11a. The first lever 13aand the second lever 14aform the level mechanism of the keyswitch and the resilient body 12ais placed within the movement stroke of the level mechanism. When the keycap 11ais guided by the level mechanism composed of the first lever 13aand the second lever 14ato move downward or upward, the resilient body 12abelow the keycap 11apresses on a membrane circuit 21aor leaves the membrane circuit 21ato perform on and off operation of the membrane circuit 21a.

[0004] However, in above-mentioned computer keyswitch 10a, the pi pivotal shafts 17aand 18aof the first lever 13aand the second lever 14ashould have sufficient thickness to ensure enough structural strength. The base 15ashould have considerable thickness and the thickness thereof is much larger than that of the bottom plate 16a. Therefore, the clamping plates 19aand 20aformed on topside of the base 15aextend to a considerable height. Therefore, the height of the above-mentioned computer keyswitch 10acan not be reduced satisfactorily.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a computer keyswitch, which has lower height but with same level mechanism height and structural strength.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the computer keyswitch according to the present invention comprises clamping plate extended upward from the bottom plate thereof. The clamping plate is used to retain the upward motion of the pivotal shafts on bottom end of the two levers of the computer keyswitch. The position, orientation and height of the clamping plate has not limit such that the clamping plate has reduced thickness and height. Therefore, the computer keyswitch has lower height but with same level mechanism height and structural strength.

[0007] The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a section view of prior art computer keyswitch;

[0009] FIG. 2 is the exploded view of the computer keyswitch of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is the perspective view of the computer keyswitch of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 is the sectional view of the computer keyswitch of the present invention; and

[0012] FIG. 5 is the sectional view of the computer keyswitch of the present invention in a pressed down state.

[0013] With reference now to FIGS. 2 to 4, the present invention provides a computer keyswitch, which comprises a keycap 10, a resilient body 20, a first lever 30, a second lever 40, a base 50 and a bottom plate 60 and a membrane circuit 70. The keycap 10 is of rectangular plate shape and has an operating surface 11 and a mounting surface 12. The mounting surface 12 has two pivotal holes 13 and two sliding grooves 14.

[0014] The resilient body 20 is placed below the keycap 10 and within the movement stroke of the keycap 10.

[0015] The first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are arranged between the mounting surface 12 and the base 50. The first lever 30 and the second lever 40 have corresponding pivotal shafts 31 and pivotal holes 41 on center part thereof, respectively, such that the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are arranged in scissors fashion. The first lever 30 has two pivotal shafts 32 on two top ends thereof and the second lever 40 has two sliding shafts 42 on two top ends thereof. The first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are assembled to the mounting surface 12 by pivotally assembling the two pivotal shafts 32 to the two pivotal holes 13 and slidably assembling the two sliding shafts 42 to the two sliding grooves 14. The first lever 30 has a pivotal shaft 33 on bottom side thereof and the second lever 40 has two pivotal shafts 43 on two bottom ends thereof such that the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are pivotally assembled to the bottom plate 60.

[0016] The base 50 is placed below the keycap 10, the first lever 30 and the second lever 40, and has a specific thickness. The base 50 has an accommodating space 51 thereon and the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are placed atop the accommodating space 51. Therefore, the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 can be accommodated by the accommodating space 51.

[0017] The bottom plate 60 is placed below the base 50 and is a plate with thinner thickness. Nevertheless, the thickness can be changed according to practical situation. The bottom plate 60 has a plurality of through holes 61 and 62 corresponding to the pivotal shafts 33 and 43 of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40. The pivotal shafts 33 and 43 of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are pivotally assembled into the through holes 61 and 62 of the bottom plate 60. The bottom plate 60 has a plurality of clamping plates 63 and 64 extended from topside of the through holes 61 and 62 of the bottom plate 60. The clamping plates 63 and 64 are used to confine upward motion of the pivotal shafts 33 and 43 of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40. The position, orientation and height of the clamping plates 63 and 64 have not limit as long as the clamping plates 63 and 64 can confine upward motion of the pivotal shafts 33 and 43 of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the clamping plates 63 and 64 has reversed-L shape. The number of the clamping plates 63 and 64 can also be changed according to practical usage. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of the clamping plate 63 is 1 and the number of the clamping plate 64 is 2. The two clamping plates 64 are located at front side and the clamping plate 63 is located at rear side and between the two clamping plates 64 such that the clamping plates 63 and 64 form a triangular pattern.

[0018] The membrane circuit 70 is placed atop the bottom plate 60 and below the resilient body 20. The membrane circuit 70 has a plurality of through holes 71 and 72 corresponding to the pivotal shafts 33 and 43 on bottom of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40. Therefore, the pivotal shafts 33 and 43 on bottom of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are pivotally assembled into the through holes 61 and 62 of the bottom plate 60.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, when the keycap 10 is guided by the level mechanism composed of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 to move downward or upward, the resilient body 20 below the keycap 10 presses on a membrane circuit 70 or leaves the membrane circuit 70 to perform on and off operation of the membrane circuit 21a. When the keycap 10 is guided by the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 to move downward, the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 sink into the accommodating space 51. Therefore, the overall height of the keyswitch is reduced while the movement stroke of the keyswitch is not changed. Moreover, the accommodating space 51 enable the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 to assemble from bottom of the base 50.

[0020] The present invention is characterized in that the clamping plates 63 and 64 are extended from the bottom plate 60. The thickness of the bottom plate 60 has not limit and can adopt thinner thickness. Therefore, the clamping plates 63 and 64 can also have thinner thickness. The pivotal shafts 33 and 43 on bottom of the first lever 30 and the second lever 40 are retained by the clamping plates 63 and 64. Therefore, the height of the pivotal shafts 33 and 43 can also be reduced. The keyswitch has lower height but with same level mechanism height and structural strength.

[0021] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.