JPH0244427Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a dummy cover for a keyboard for prohibiting the operation of a predetermined key switch of the keyboard.

(Prior Art) Keyboards used in cash registers and the like are equipped with a large number of key switches corresponding to the items to be sold. This key switch is provided in a larger quantity than is normally required for general purpose purposes. In this case, inconveniences may occur if a key switch that is not normally used turns on and off.

Conventionally, in such cases, in order to prevent erroneous operation due to an unnecessary key switch, the key switch that is not usually used is removed from the device, and a dummy cover is inserted into the empty hole in the front panel. It was common for there to be.

(Problem that the invention attempts to solve) However, with such a dummy cover,
Key switches that are not normally used must be removed one by one, which is difficult for the user to do, and also if circumstances change and the user no longer wants to use a key switch that is not in use. In some cases, a new key switch must be installed in that part, and this can only be changed by specialized maintenance personnel. The present invention has been made in consideration of such conventional problems, and provides a dummy cover for a keyboard that can be easily attached and detached without removing the key switch or requiring specialized maintenance personnel. With the goal.

(Means and effects for solving the problems) The present invention has been made by focusing on these points. and a spacing retaining piece that is erected and whose tip abuts against the key switch mounting plate to maintain a constant distance between the mounting plate and the top plate, thereby preventing the top plate from moving. A dummy cover for a keyboard for prohibiting key switch operation includes a locking piece that stands downward from the top plate and engages with an engaging stepped portion of a protrusion provided on the housing of the key switch; The present invention is characterized by comprising a notch for inserting a jig for disengaging the locking piece from the engagement step and formed at a position corresponding to the locking piece.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prohibit the desired operation of the key switch by simply removing the key top, engaging the locking piece with the engagement step, and attaching the dummy cover without removing the key switch.
The dummy cover can be easily removed by inserting a jig through the notch and operating the tip of the jig to disengage the locking piece from the engagement step.

(Example) Next, an example of implementation of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a half-sectional front view showing an embodiment of a dummy cover for a keyboard according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part thereof. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes an upper surface plate, and on its lower surface, five relatively shallow rectangular recesses 2 are provided at predetermined intervals. Locking pieces 3 are arranged in pairs and have a substantially inverted U shape and are elastic, and hooks 4 are provided at opposing ends of the locking pieces 3. Two pairs of the locking pieces 3 are provided in each of the recesses 2 at the center and on both sides of the upper surface plate 1, and are erected downward from the opposing side edges of each recess 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a pair of spacing pieces formed in a plate shape, one pair of which are provided for each of the recesses 2 on which the locking pieces 3 are erected. It is erected. The housing of the key switch is inserted into the rectangular space formed by the pair of spacing sides 5 and the two pairs of locking pieces 3. These top plate 1, locking piece 3 and spacing piece 5
are integrally formed, for example as a plastic molded part.

Further, the top plate 1 is provided with a side plate portion 1a bent downward from the edge, and this side plate portion 1a is provided with a notch 1b. This notch 1b is formed by cutting out a portion corresponding to the locking pieces 3, 3, and is used to separate the locking pieces 3, 3 from the engagement stepped portion 12 when removing the dummy cover. , into which a jig (not shown) is inserted.

Next, how to use it will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part for explaining its usage. This drawing shows three key switches, with dummy covers attached to the two on the front and the right. In the figure, 6 and 7 are a housing and a key stem constituting the key switch, and 8 is a mounting plate. Each key switch is inserted into a through hole formed in the mounting plate 8, and is fixed by a locking lance 9.
Further, 10 is a key top, and 11 is a front panel of the keyboard.

The aforementioned housing 6 is provided with a protrusion 13 having an engagement step 12 on the outer surface corresponding to the locking piece 3 . The dummy cover for a keyboard according to the present invention is attached and fixed by hooking the hook 4 of the locking piece 3 onto the engagement step 12 of the protrusion 13 of the key switch housing 6 from which the key top has been removed. Here, the length of the spacing piece 5 of this dummy cover is such that when the hook 4 of the locking piece 3 is engaged with the engagement step 12 of the protrusion 13, the tip of the spacing piece 5 is on the mounting plate 8. It is set so that it comes into contact with. The key switch shown at the right end in FIG. 3 is in a state where the upper surface of the key stem 7 is simply fitted into the recess 2.

As a result, the keyboard dummy cover according to the present invention is attached and fixed to a desired key switch, and the operation of the key switch is prohibited by the action of the spacing retaining piece 5, making it impossible to turn it on or off. To return the key switch, which has been prohibited from operation, to a state where it can be operated again, use the notch 1b.
Then, use the tip of the inserted jig (not shown) to push apart the locking pieces 3, 3 to separate them from the engagement step 12, remove the keyboard dummy cover, and remove the key stem. This can be easily achieved by simply fitting the key top 10 into the key top 7.

Although the illustrated embodiments have been described in detail above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, even if locking pieces and spacing pieces are arranged around all the recesses, if there is no problem in terms of strength, the locking pieces and spacing pieces around the central recess can be omitted. Similar effects can be expected. Furthermore, although the illustrated embodiment shows five sets of key switches, the top plate can be formed to cover only one key switch or to cover an appropriate number of key switches in series. In addition, there are various variations in the shape, number, and manufacturing method of the locking pieces and spacing pieces, and the height of the surface of the dummy cover is not limited to that shown in the illustration, but may also vary depending on the top surface of the key top or the height of the keyboard. It may be at the same height as the surface of the front panel.

(Effects of the invention) The present invention is constructed as described above, and the locking piece provided downward on the top plate is directly engaged with the engagement step of the protrusion provided on the housing of the key switch.
This provides the effect that the dummy cover can be securely locked to the housing without rattling. Further, according to the dummy cover according to the present invention, it can be installed by simply engaging the locking piece with the engagement step after removing the key top, and inserting a jig to detach the locking piece from the engagement step. Since it is equipped with a notch formed at a position corresponding to the locking piece, the locking piece can be detached from the engagement step by operating with the tip of the jig inserted through this notch. Therefore, it can be easily removed even by non-specialist maintenance personnel.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a half-sectional front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts thereof, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main parts for explaining the usage state. 1... Top plate, 1b... Notch, 2... Recess,
3... Locking piece, 4... Hook, 5... Spacing retaining piece, 6... Housing, 7... Key stem, 8...
...Mounting plate, 10...Key top, 12...Engagement step, 13...Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A top plate that covers the key stem of the key switch from which the key top has been removed, and a top plate that is erected downward from this top plate, the tip of which touches the key switch mounting plate to maintain a constant distance between the mounting plate and the top plate. A dummy cover for a keyboard for prohibiting operation of a predetermined key switch of the keyboard, comprising a spacer holding piece that prevents movement of the top plate by holding the cover, and a dummy cover for a keyboard for prohibiting operation of a predetermined key switch of the keyboard, the housing of the key switch being erected downward from the top plate; a locking piece that engages with the engagement step of the protrusion provided on the projection, and a jig for inserting a jig for separating the locking piece from the engagement step and formed at a position corresponding to the locking piece. A dummy cover for a keyboard characterized by having a cutout.