Keyswitch device, keyboard with the keyswitch device, and electronic apparatus with the keyboard

(19)

(11)

EP 1 361 589 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	18.02.2004 Bulletin 2004/08

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	12.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/46

(21)	Application number: 03018403.0

(22)	Date of filing: 07.03.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: H01H 3/12

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	02005144.7 / 1343182

(71)	Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
	Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 467-8561 (JP)

(72)	Inventors:
	Kako, Mitsumasa, c/o Brother Industries, Ltd. Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken (JP) Hayashi, Naoki, c/o Brother Industries, Ltd. Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken (JP)

(74)	Representative: Hofer, Dorothea, Dipl.-Phys. et al
	Prüfer & Partner GbR Patentanwälte Harthauser Strasse 25 d 81545 München 81545 München (DE)

(54)	Keyswitch device, keyboard with the keyswitch device, and electronic apparatus with the keyboard

(57) A key top is urged upward via a rubber elastic member stretched between a first link member and a second link member with ends of shaft members provided to both side portions of a shaft of the first link member and shaft members provided to both side portions of a shaft of the second link member supported in insertion holes in thick portions of each rubber elastic member in one embodiment. Alternative embodiments use a ring or retangular type rubber elastic member that encloses a base position of the first and second link members.

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