Long-stroke keyboard, particularly the panel keyboard type or the like

Abstract

 The upgraded long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the panel keyboard type or the like, comprises a surface plate having at least one opening in which is fitted at least one key sliding between an idle configuration, in which the key is substantially raised, and a keying configuration, in which the key is pressed to operate a corresponding underlying actuator, and elastic means operating in contrast to the sliding of the key from the idle configuration to the keying configuration, comprising at least one lamina spring which has at least one first end associated with the surface plate and a second end associated with the key and which yields by bending in the direction of sliding of the key from the idle configuration to the keying configuration.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the panel keyboard type or the like.

[0002] The installation of keyboards is known on numerous commonly-used appliances such as, for example, automatic teller machines, lifts, public telephones, industrial machines or equipment, automatic fuel, ticket, drink dispensers, etc.

[0003] The known keyboards generally comprise a surface plate, commonly known by the name of "mask", housed in a specific seat obtained in the control panel of an appliance, and having a plurality of openings suitable for accommodating respective keys sliding and to measure.

[0004] Each of the keys corresponds to a predetermined function and/or character that can be keyed by a user for interaction with the appliance, and is associated with a respective actuator of an internal integrated circuit arranged underneath the surface plate.

[0005] The known keyboards can be fitted with long or short stroke keys and, if arranged on outdoors appliances (such as automatic teller machines) are generally water and airtight, i.e., suitable for isolating the internal electronics of the appliances from the outside environment, preventing the transit of potentially harmful foreign elements such as, for example, dusts, liquids, etc.

[0006] In particular, each key is commonly composed of a surface portion suitable for keying by the user and having an ideogram identifying the corresponding function activated by pressing the key, and of an internal portion that activates the corresponding underlying actuator.

[0007] With particular reference to long-stroke keyboards, the use is known of a layer of elastic silicone material, placed in between the surface plate and the integrated circuit underneath, and suitably shaped to define areas arranged in contact with the lower portion of each key, suitable for operating the corresponding underlying actuator when the key is pressed and for bringing the key back to idle position once released.

[0008] These known keyboards are however susceptible to upgrading, in particular suitable for simplifying and making more precise the adjustment of the force acting in opposition to the pressing of the keys.

[0009] Such upgrading is also intended to extend the life span of the keyboards and to considerably cut their general cost of manufacture.

[0010] The main aim of the present invention is to provide a long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the panel keyboard type or the like, which allows to achieve the above mentioned upgrading.

[0011] Within the sphere of this technical aim, another object of this invention is to cater for the above aims with a simple structure, of relatively practical implementation, safe to use and with effective operation, as well as having a relatively low cost.

[0012] The above objects are all achieved by the present upgraded long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the panel keyboard type or the like, comprising a surface plate having at least one opening in which is fitted at least one key sliding between an idle configuration, in which said key is substantially raised, and a keying configuration, in which said key is pressed to operate a corresponding underlying actuator, and elastic means operating in contrast to the sliding of said key from said idle configuration to said keying configuration, characterized in that said elastic means comprise at least one lamina spring which has at least one first end associated with said surface plate and a second end associated with said key and which yields by bending in the direction of sliding of said key from said idle configuration to said keying configuration.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear even more evident from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an upgraded long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the panel keyboard type or the like, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting example, in the attached drawings wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic and section view of a key of the keyboard according to the invention, in idle configuration;

figure 2 is a schematic and section view of a key of the keyboard according to the invention, in keying configuration;

figure 3 is a side schematic and section view of a lamina spring of the keyboard according to the invention;

figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the lamina spring of the keyboard according to the invention.

[0014] With particular reference to such figures, by reference number 1 has been globally indicated an upgraded long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the hermetic-seal keyboard type generally used for control panels of commonly-used appliances, of the automatic teller machine, lift, public telephone, industrial machines or equipment, automatic fuel, ticket, drink dispenser type, etc.

[0015] The keyboard 1 comprises a surface plate 2 having a plurality of openings 3, in which are housed sliding respective keys 4 suitable for inserting characters and/or numbers, or, in general, activating specific appliance functions on the part of a user.

[0016] Advantageously, the surface plate 2 is made of metal material particularly resistant to knocks and to the continued action of weather, of the stainless-steel type or the like.

[0017] In particular, each key 4 is sliding between an idle configuration, shown in figure 1 and in which the key 4 is substantially raised, and a keying configuration, shown in figure 2 and in which the key 4 is pressed by the user to activate an underlying actuator, part of an integrated circuit. The actuator and the integrated circuit are not described or shown in detail in this description inasmuch as of the known type.

[0018] Usefully, the keyboard 1 comprises elastic means 5 that operate in contrast to the sliding of the keys 4 from the idle configuration to the keying configuration.

[0019] With particular, but not limited, reference to the embodiment described and shown in the above figures, each key 4 comprises a first portion 6, having a keying surface 7 facing from the opening 3 outwards, and a second inner portion 8, having an interaction surface 9 substantially facing towards the actuator.

[0020] In particular, with the key 4 in idle configuration first portion 6 protrudes at least in part from the opening 3. Different embodiments of the keyboard 1 are not however ruled out in which the keying Surface 7 is substantially on the same plane as the outer surface of the surface plate 2.

[0021] Advantageously, the first and the second portion 6 and 8 are integral and associated with each other by interposition of an elastically deformable membrane 10, made of silicone material or the like.

[0022] The membrane 10 substantially extends along the entire inner surface of the surface plate 2, ensuring the waterproofing of the keyboard 1 and, generally, the insulation of the internal electronics of the appliance from the outside environment, preventing the potentially harmful transit of foreign elements, such as, for example, dusts, liquids, etc.

[0023] A supplementary plate 11, made of metal material of the stainless steel type or the like, is associated with the inner surface of the surface plate 2 by interposition of the membrane 10, and permits greater resistance of the keyboard I to knocks.

[0024] Usefully, near the opening 3 the surface plate 2 has a protruding portion 2a which protrude with respect to the supplementary plate 11, the inner face of which, turned towards the actuator, defines a mechanical stop of the stroke of the key 4, in idle configuration.

[0025] In particular, the second portion 8 comprises a perimeter crown 8a suitable for being put into contact with the mechanical stop (with interposition of the membrane 10) defined on the protruding portion 2a, with the key 4 in idle configuration.

[0026] Advantageously, the elastic means 5 are composed of a lamina spring, made of metal material, of the deformable type in elastic field, and having a first end 5a associated with the supplementary plate 11 and a second end 5b associated with the key 4 at the interaction surface 9 of the second portion 8.

[0027] The lamina spring 5 yields by bending towards the direction of sliding of the key 4 along the opening 3 from the idle configuration to the keying configuration and is suitable for starting the underlying actuator.

[0028] In particular, the lamina spring 5, in idle configuration of the key 4, comprises a first section 12 substantially at right angles with respect to the direction of sliding of the key 4, which is fixed to the lower surface of the supplementary plate 11 at the first end 5a.

[0029] The first section 12 extends in a second section 13 with smaller cross section, which continues in a third section 14 substantially inclined towards the interaction surface 9.

[0030] Advantageously, the second section 13 is defined close to a substantially intermediate area of the lamina spring 5, and is composed of two portions with cross sections substantially convergent in an area with minimum section.

[0031] Advantageously, the second section 13 is that which undergoes the most bending during the sliding of the key 4 between the idle configuration and the keying configuration, and the different shaping and the variation of the dimensions of such second section 13 in the manufacturing phase of the lamina spring 5 permits obtaining different intensities of the force opposing the pressing of the key 4.

[0032] The lamina spring 5 also has an appendix 15 that protrudes from the second section 13, at the second end 5b, and which is placed in contact with the interaction surface 9.

[0033] Furthermore, the lamina spring 5 has a supporting frame 16, made in a single body piece with the lamina spring 5, and associated with the supplementary plate 11 near the perimeter of the opening 3.

[0034] Usefully, the lamina springs 5 arranged by each of the keys 4 can be made of a single metal plate, placed in between the membrane 10 and the electric circuit underneath and fixed by gluing and/or by means of threaded means of the screw type or the like.

[0035] It has in effect been seen how the described keyboard achieves the proposed upgrading, and in particular the fact is underlined that the presence of the lamina spring, and in particular the possibility of varying, in terms of shape and dimensions, the second section with smaller cross section during the manufacturing phase, permits a more precise and simple adjustment of the force operating in opposition to the pressing of the keys.

[0036] With respect to the keyboards of known type, the presence of the lamina spring also permits considerably reducing the general manufacturing costs of the keyboard and considerably extending its overall life span.

[0037] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0038] Furthermore all the details may be replaced by other elements which are technically equivalent.

[0039] In practice, the contingent shapes and dimensions may be any according to requirements without because of this moving outside the protection scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Upgraded long-stroke keyboard, particularly of the panel keyboard type or the like, comprising a surface plate having at least one opening in which is fitted at least one key sliding between an idle configuration, in which said key is substantially raised, and a keying configuration, in which said key is pressed to operate a corresponding underlying actuator, and elastic means operating in contrast to the sliding of said key from said idle configuration to said keying configuration, characterized in that said elastic means comprise at least one lamina spring which has at least one first end associated with said surface plate and a second end associated with said key and which yields by bending in the direction of sliding of said key from said idle configuration to said keying configuration.

2. Keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that said key comprises a keying surface facing from said opening outwards, and an interaction surface substantially facing towards said actuator, said lamina spring being placed in between said interaction surface and said actuator, and being suitable for starting said actuator with said key in keying configuration.

3. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lamina spring comprises at least one first section substantially at right angles with respect to the direction of sliding of said key.

4. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lamina spring comprises at least a second section with smaller cross section.

5. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second section is defined close to a substantially intermediate area of said lamina spring.

6. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lamina spring comprises at least a third section substantially inclined towards said interaction surface.

7. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second section is defined between said first section and said second section.

8. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lamina spring has at least one appendix that extends from said second end and which is placed in contact with said interaction surface.

9. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lamina spring comprises at least one supporting frame associated with said surface plate near the perimeter of said opening.

10. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lamina spring is made of metal material, of the deformable type in elastic field.

11. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said key comprises a first portion of said keying surface and a second inner portion of said interaction surface, said first and said second portion being integrally associated with each other by interposition of an elastically deformable membrane.

12. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said membrane extends, at least in part, along the inner surface of said surface plate.

13. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one supplementary plate associated with at least one portion of the inner surface of said surface plate by interposition of said membrane.

14. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supplementary plate supports said lamina spring, by said first section.

15. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said surface plate and said supplementary plate is made of metal material.

16. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said metal material is of the stainless-steel type or the like.

17. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said surface plate and said supplementary plate comprises an inner face, turned towards said actuator, wherein is defined a mechanical stop of the stroke of said key in idle configuration.

18. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion comprises at least one perimeter crown suitable for being put into contact with said mechanical stop, with said key in idle configuration.

19. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first portion protrudes at least in part from said opening, with said key in idle configuration.

20. Keyboard according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first portion is arranged with said keying surface substantially on the same plane as the outer surface of said surface plate, with said key in idle configuration.

Drawing