The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 08, 1997
Kazutoshi Watanabe, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Tsuyoshi Narusawa, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Alsp Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In conventional keyboard devices, since an elastic member is disposed between an insulating substrate and the central crossing part of levers, it is impossible to realize a thin keyswitch, and a high cost is required to modify the height of the keyswitch to a desired value required in a specific application. The invention provides a keyboard device having no such problems. In the keyboard device of the invention, a first and second levers are combined with each other via a shaft such that they cross each other; an elastic member is disposed in a hollow formed in the first or second lever; and the top portion of the elastic member is in contact with the pedestal formed on the back surface of the keytop. This structure allows a reduction in space between the keytop and the top portion of the elastic member. Thus, it is possible to realize a thin-type keyboard device, and it is also possible to accommodate the requirement of various heights of keyswitches simply by making a modification on the keytop. This allows a reduction in production cost.