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:
Dec. 05, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1998
Takamichi Masubuchi, Hamamatsu, JP;
Kenichi Nishida, Hamamatsu, JP;
Yamaha Corporation, Hamamatsu, JP;
Abstract
A keyboard assembly is constructed by assembling keyboard units. Herein, a hook is formed at one end of the keyboard unit, while an engaging portion (e.g., recess) is formed at another end of the keyboard unit. So, the keyboard units are assembled together in such a way that a hook of a keyboard unit engages with a recess of an adjacent keyboard unit. The keyboard unit is constructed by piling up at least a white key unit having white keys and a black key unit having black keys. Each key unit is formed by the resin to integrally contain keys, connections and a key support. The keys are connected to the key support by the connections such that each of the keys is supported to have a capability of swinging up and down in key-depression-release directions. The connection is constructed by a thick-wall portion whose width is greater than a width of a back end of the key and a thin-wall portion which works as a hinge. In addition, a gate-corresponding portion corresponding to a gate of a metal mold for formation of the key unit is formed at an intermediate position, in a width direction of the key, of the thick-wall portion of the connection. So, the resin material is put into the gate-corresponding portion(s) to perform formation of the key unit. Incidentally, the keyboard assembly can be constructed by a key unit having keys and a lower case which is subjected to flattening and downsizing.