Double-axis key switch
US5448026A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2225/01
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A double-axis key switch has a key cap with a pair of key stems which slide into a housing to actuate a pair of switches. The key stems are slightly out of parallel so that the axes of the key stems meet in a direction of stroke relative to the key cap. However, the sleeves, into which the key stems insert, are parallel. When the key cap is pressed off-center, causing tilting of the key cap, one key stem advances ahead of the other. Because of the relative positions of the axes, binding forces increase in the leading key stem and decrease in the following stem. The asymmetry of the binding forces tends to correct the tilting of the key cap so that the key cap advances symmetrically and smoothly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.