JPH0650034Y2 - Key top mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a key top provided in a coordinate input device or the like, and particularly to mounting of a key top swingably supported by a cantilever on a lower surface of a casing. Regarding the structure.

[Prior Art] Known examples of coordinate input devices, such as a "track ball" and a "mouse", are keypads for inputting coordinate positions and selecting menus in a casing forming the outer shell of the device. Is attached.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mounting structure of a key top according to a conventional example. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a casing made of synthetic resin forming an outer shell of a “mouse” which is an example of a coordinate input device.
Are integrally formed. A key top 3 made of synthetic resin has a thick pressing portion 4 and a thin arm 5, and an actuator 6 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the lower surface of the pressing portion 4 so as to project therefrom. The lower end of the actuator 6 faces a push switch (not shown). Further, the arm 5 has the engaging projection 2
Corresponding to the above, an engaging hole 7 is provided, and after the engaging hole 7 is inserted into the engaging protrusion 2, the tip of the engaging protrusion 2 is heat-treated (welded), whereby the key top 3 is swingably supported and fixed to the lower surface of the casing 1.

In use, when the pressing portion 4 of the key top 3 attached to the casing 1 is pressed with a finger, the arm 5 is bent around the welded portion (the engaging portion between the engaging protrusion 2 and the engaging hole 7) as a fulcrum, A push switch (not shown) facing the actuator 6 is pressed to turn it on. Then, based on this signal, an operation such as inputting to the coordinate position of the cursor displayed on the display or selecting the screen displayed on the display to the desired menu is performed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional attachment structure of the key top as described above, after the engagement hole of the key top is inserted into the engagement protrusion protruding from the lower surface of the casing, the engagement protrusion is melted. Since it is necessary to fix the key top to the casing, the assembly process for mounting the key top is complicated and the cost is high. In particular, since the shape and the position of the key top are various in the appearance of the device such as the casing, which is determined by the design, when the key top is attached to such a casing by welding,
Since jigs such as a casing receiver and a welding punch corresponding to each casing are required, and the manufacturing equipment cost of these is added to the assembly cost, the manufacturing cost is inevitably soared.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a key top that does not require a step of welding the key top to the casing and has a low manufacturing cost.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a key top mounting structure for swingably supporting and fixing a key top on a lower surface of a casing, wherein a hook and a stopper are provided on the lower surface of the casing at predetermined intervals. A hook engaging hole capable of inserting the hook into the key top and a stopper engaging hole engageable with the stopper, respectively.
After inserting the hook engaging hole into the hook, at a position where the key top is slid with respect to the casing,
It is characterized in that the stopper engagement hole is engaged with the stopper.

[Operation] That is, according to the present invention, as described above, after the hook engaging hole provided in the key top is inserted into the hook protruding from the lower surface of the casing, the key top is slid in the stopper direction protruding from the lower surface of the casing, and the moving position is changed. Since the stopper engagement hole provided in the key top is locked to the stopper, the key top can be swingably supported and fixed to the casing without requiring a welding step, and the key top can be attached to the casing. It is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost required for.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 (a), (b), and (c) are longitudinal sectional views for explaining a procedure for attaching a key top to a casing. Two
The drawing is a plan view of the key top, and the portions corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a casing made of synthetic resin such as ABS resin forming the outer shell of the coordinate input device, and an L-shaped hook 8 and a rod-shaped stopper 9 are provided at predetermined intervals on the lower surface of the casing 1. Is formed integrally with the
The tip 9a of the stopper 9 has a convex shape. 3 is AB
This is a key top made of synthetic resin such as S resin or polyacetal resin. This key top 3 has two sets of pressing parts 4 and arms 5 via a slit 12, and an actuator 6 is provided on the lower surface of each pressing part 4. It is installed vertically. The actuator 6 is arranged so as to face a push switch (not shown) when the key-up 3 is attached to the casing 1 by a casing. The arm 5 is provided with one hook engaging hole 10 and one stopper engaging hole 11 for each pressing portion 4. The hook engaging hole 10 has a rectangular shape with a size that allows the hook 8 to be inserted therethrough, while the stopper engaging hole 11 is formed so that only the tip 9a of the stopper 9 can be inserted.

Next, a procedure for attaching such a key top 3 to the casing 1 with the casing will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), (b) and (c).

First, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the arm 5 of the key-top 3 is inserted into the casing 1 to make the hook 8 and the hook engaging hole 10 face each other, and then, as shown in FIG. 1 (b). As described above, the arm 5 is moved upward and the hook engaging hole 10 is inserted into the hook 8. At this time, since the stopper engagement hole 11 is not yet in a position where it can be engaged with the tip 9a of the stopper 9, the tip 9a
Contacts the upper surface of the arm 5, and the elastic arm 5 is bent. Then, the stopper engagement hole 11 is attached to the stopper 9.
When the key-top 3 is slid in the direction that coincides with the direction of the arrow, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. A stopper engaging hole 11 is automatically inserted and locked at the tip 9a of the stopper 9, whereby the key top 3 is swingably supported and fixed to the lower surface of the casing 1.

After attaching the key top 3 to the casing 1 in this way, since the stopper engagement hole 11 is locked to the tip 9a of the stopper 9, the key top 3 cannot slide with respect to the casing 1 and the hook engagement hole 10 Also remains locked to the hook 8 and does not come off. Then, by pressing the pressing portion 4 of the key top 3 with a finger, the arm 5 bends around the locking portion of the hook engaging hole 10 as a fulcrum to push down the actuator 6, and the push switch (not shown) faces the actuator 6. Is turned on, and desired menu selection, coordinate input, and the like are performed.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the key top 3
After inserting the hook engaging hole 10 provided on the lower end of the casing 1 into the hook 8 protruding from the lower surface of the casing 1, the key top 3 is slid relative to the casing 1 and the stopper engaging hole 11 provided on the key top 3 is connected to the stopper 9 on the lower surface of the casing 1. Since the key-top 3 can be swingably supported and fixed to the casing 1 by a simple operation of locking the key-top 3 to the casing 1, a complicated welding process is unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost required to attach the key-top 3 to the casing 1 can be reduced. it can.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tip 9a of the stopper 9 is
Since a convex portion is formed on the stepper, the stopper engagement hole 11 is attached to the stepped portion (tip end) of the stopper 9 when the key top 3 is attached.
9a), and the stopper engagement hole 11 is prevented from being further inserted into the stopper 9.
Therefore, when the keytop 3 is attached, an upward force (pretension) is always exerted on the arm 5 and the casing 1 of the keytop 3 is pressed despite repeated pressing operations.
It is possible to surely prevent the falling off.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the key top having two pressing parts has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such a one, and even one pressing part has three or more pressing parts. But it's okay.

Further, the effects described above can be obtained even if the hook engaging holes and the stopper engaging holes are different in number and shape, and these numbers and shapes can be adapted to the size of the casing and the key top attached to the casing. desirable.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, after the hook engaging hole is inserted into the hook, the key top is slid to lock the stopper engaging hole in the stopper. Since the key top can be swingably supported and fixed to the casing, a complicated welding process is unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost required to attach the key top to the casing can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 (a), (b), and (c) are longitudinal sectional views for explaining a procedure for attaching a key top to a casing. Two
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the key top, and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a mounting structure of the key top according to a conventional example. 1 ... Casing, 3 ... Key top, 4 ... Pressing part,
5 ... arm, 6 ... actuator, 8 ... hook,
9 ... Stopper, 10 ... Hook engagement hole, 11 ... Stopper engagement hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. In a mounting structure of a key top for swingably supporting and fixing the key top to the lower surface of the casing, a hook and a stopper are formed on the lower surface of the casing so as to project at a predetermined interval, and the hook can be inserted into the key top. A hook engaging hole and a stopper engaging hole that can be engaged with the stopper are respectively provided, and after the hook engaging hole is inserted into the hook, the key top is slid with respect to the casing at a position where the stopper is moved. An attachment structure for a key top, wherein an engagement hole is configured to be locked to the stopper.