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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact illuminated button key which is
conveniently used at night or a dark place, as a key for various moving
communications such as a portable telephone or an automotive telephone, or
other various terminal keys.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In prior art rubber key is composed of a flat pad portion (a non-operating
portion), a skirt portion inflated upwardly from said pad portion and a
key top portion (an operating portion) formed above said skirt portion,
and a further key top with a flange formed of a hard resin is placed on
the first key top portion, the flange portion of the key top being held so
as not to be slipped out by a frame. The key top portion is bored with an
illuminating hole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Since the key top portion and the key top with a flange formed of a hard
resin placed thereon of the aforesaid rubber key are merely in contact
with each other but not fixed, there is a difficulty such that said
contact portion is displaced when the key is struck, and in addition,
there is a disadvantage such that a frame is unavoidably required so that
the whole structure becomes bulky, failing to provide a compact design.
Furthermore, as an illuminated button key, the key top portion is
necessarily subjected to cumbersome boring for illumination, resulting in
a difficulty such that characters or symbols on the surface of the key top
are not uniformly illuminated.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-described
points. An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated
button key in which when a key is struck, a key top portion is positively
operated without being displaced, which can be assembled in compact
without requiring a frame, and which can uniformly illuminate characters
or symbols displayed on the key top without making an illuminating hole in
the key top portion so that the characters or the like can be clearly
discriminated even at a dark place or the like.
According to the present invention, there is provided an illuminated button
key wherein a key top formed of a light permeable hard resin is formed on
the back with a stripping character print layer such as numerals, symbols,
etc., said stripping character print layer being formed on the back with a
chromatic color light permeable print layer, said chromatic color light
permeable print layer having the back to which is adhered an upper surface
of an operating portion formed of a light permeable flexible rubber or a
flexible resin through a light permeable adhesive, said operating integral
with a non-operating portion, and non-light permeable coating layers are
formed on the remaining operating portion except the upper surface of the
operating portion and surfaces of the non-operating portion.
Further, a skirt portion constituting a part of the operating portion
adjacent to the non-operating portion and an annular holding portion
adjacent to the upper portion of said skirt portion are formed of a
non-light permeable flexible rubber or a flexible resin, said annular
holding portion being internally formed of a light permeable movable
block.
Moreover, a skirt portion constituting a part of the operating portion
adjacent to the non-operating portion and an annular holding portion
adjacent to the upper portion of said skirt portion are formed of a
non-light permeable flexible rubber or a flexible resin, said annular
holding portion being formed at the lower portion thereof with a light
permeable movable block, and a light difusion space portion being formed
to be encircled by the back of the key top, an inner peripheral suraface
of the annular holding portion and the upper surface of the movable block.
The light permeable adhesive used in the present invention means the case
where a primary treatment agent chemically activated with a flexible
rubber or a flexible resin is solely used, and includes the case where
both the primary treatment agent and the adhesive are used, and the case
where the adhesive is solely used.
The light radiated from a light source for illumination passes through the
operating portion formed of a light permeable material and the
non-operating portion but is cut off by the coating layer, a part of which
is reflected. The light reached the upper surface of the operating portion
among the light having passed through the operating portion passes through
the adhesive layer and is colored in desired chromatic color light as it
passes through a chromatic color light permeable print layer. The
chromatic color light passes through only a stripping character portion of
a stripping character print layer and passes through a key top formed of a
light permeable hard resin. The chromatic color character rise to the
eyes. The remaining operating portion except the upper surface of the
operating portion and the surfaces of the non-operating portion are coated
with the non-light permeable coating layer, and therefore, light does not
leak outside.
Further, since the upper surface of the operating portion formed of a light
permeable flexible rubber or a flexible resin and the key top formed of a
light permeable hard resin are adhered by the light permeable adhesive,
they are positively turned on and off without being displaced when the key
is struck, and no frame is required. A thin and compact design can be
made.
In the case where the skirt portion constituting a part of the operating
portion adjacent to the non-operating portion and the annular holding
portion adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion are formed of a
non-light permeale flexible rubber or flexible resin, the light radiated
from a light source for illumination passes through only the light
permeable movable block portion formed internally of the annular holding
portion, and the thus passed-through light passes through the adhesive
layer. When this light passes through the chromatic color light permeable
print layer, it is colored in desired chromatic color light, which passes
through only the stripping character portion of the character print layer.
The light passes through the key top formed of a light permeable hard
resin and the colored character rises to the eyes. Since the non-operating
portion, the skirt portion constituting a part of the operating portion
adjacent thereto and the annular holding portion adjacent to the upper
portion of the skirt portion are formed of a light permeable flexible
rubbler of a flexible resin, light does not leak outside therefrom.
Further, in the case where the non-operating portion, the skirt portion
constituting a part of the operating portion adjacent thereto and the
annular holding portion adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion
are formed of a non-light permeable flexible rubber or a flexible resin,
the annular holding portion being formed at the lower part with a light
permeable movable block and the light diffusion space portion being formed
to be encircled by the back of the key top, the inner peripheral suraface
of the annular holding portion and the upper surface of the movable block,
the light radiated from a light source for illumination passes through
only the light permeable movable block portion formed at the lower part of
the annular holding portion. The thus passed through light is radiated
while being uniformly diffused in the light diffusion space portion and
passes through the adhesive layer. When the light passes through the
chromatic color light permeable print layer passes through, it is colored
in desired colored light, which passes through only the stripping
character portion of the stripping character print layer. The light passes
through the key top formed of a light permeable hard resin, and the
chromatic color character rise to the eyes. Since the non-operating
portion, the skirt portion constituting a part of the operating portion
adjacent thereto and the annular holding portion adjacent to the upper
portion of the skirt portion are formed of a non-light permeable flexible
rubber or a flexible resin, light does not leak outside therefrom.
As will be understood from the above described, according to the present
invention, a key top formed of a light permeable hard resin is formed on
the back with a stripping character print layer such as numerals, symbols,
etc., said stripping character print layer being formed on the back with a
chromatic color light permeable print layer, said chromatic color light
permeable print layer having the back to which is adhered an upper surface
of an operating portion formed of a light permeable flexible rubber or a
flexible resin through a light permeable adhesive, said operating portion
being formed of said light permeable material integral with a
non-operating portion, and non-light permeable coating layer are formed on
the remaining operating portion except the upper surface of the operating
portion and surfaces of the non-operating portion. Therefore, when a key
is struck, the key top portion is positively turned on and off without
being displaced from the upper surface of the operating portion, and a
compact assembly can be made without requiring a frame. In addition, only
the characters, symbols, etc. displayed on the key top are uniformly
illuminated without making a hole for illumination in the key top portion,
and efficient illumination can be accomplished without having light leaked
outside, and the characters or the like can be clearly discriminated at a
dark place.
Further, in the case where the skirt portion constituting a part of the
operating portion adjacent to the non-operating portion and the annular
holding portion adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion are
formed of a non-light permeable flexible rubber or a flexible resin, the
light radiated from the light source passes through only the light
permeable movable block portion formed internally of the annular holding
portion. The evenness of light is obtained and less attenuation of light
occurs so that light is bright. A construction having a high strength in
terms of construction is obtained. The light colored in desired colored
light passes through only the stripping character portion of the stripping
character print layer and passes through the key top formed of a light
permeable hard resin, and the chromatic color character rises to the eyes.
Furthermore, since the non-operating portion, the skirt portion
constituting a part of the operating portion adjacent thereto and the
annular holding portion adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion
are formed of a non-light permeable flexible rubber of a flexible resin,
light does not leak outside therefrom and can be shielded by a simple
construction.
Moreover, in the case where the non-operating portion, the skirt portion
constituting a part of the operating portion adjacent thereto and the
annular holding portion adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion
are formed of a non-light permeable flexible rubber or a flexible resin,
said annular holding portion being formed at the lower part with the
movable block and the light diffusion space portion being formed to be
encircled by the back of the key top, the inner peripheral surface of the
annular holding portion and the upper surface of the movable block body,
the light radiated from the light source passes through only the light
permeable movable block portion formed at the lower part of the annular
holding portion. The evenness of light is obtained and less attenuation of
light occurs so that the light is bright. The thus passed through light is
radited while being uniformed diffused in the light diffusion space
portion and passes through the adhesive agent. When the light passes
through the chromatic color light permeable print layer, it is cored in a
desired chromatic color light. The chromatic color light passes through
only the stripping character portion of the stripping character print
layer and passes through the key top formed of a light permeable hard
resin. The chromatic color character more clearly rises to the eyes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a button key according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a button key according to a further
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a button key according to still
another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with
reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a pad in which a non-operating
portion 1a and an operating portion 1b are integrally formed of a light
permeable material of a flexible rubber such as a transparent silicon
rubber or a flexible resin. While in the present illustration, the
operating portion 1b is formed from an inflated portion 1c whose upper
portion is inflated into a flat upper surface and a projecting portion 1d
whose lower portion is downwardly projected, it is to be noted that the
configuration is not always limited thereto but the operating portion 1b
may be formed from a thick skirt portion upwardly inflated from an upper
portion or a midportion or a lower portion of the side of the
non-operating portion 1a, and a key top portion adjacent to the upper
portion of the skirt portion. Non-light permeable coating layers 2 are
formed on the remaining operating portion 1b except a flat upper surface
1e of the inflated portion 1c of the operating portion 1b and surfaces of
the non-operating portion 1a. A leak of light outside can be prevented by
the formation of the coating layer 2.
Numeral 3 denotes a key top formed of a light permeable hard resin such as
a transparent material, which is a portion directly struck by a finger.
The key top 3 is formed on the back thereof with a stripping character
print layer 4 such as numerals, symbols and so on. Accordingly, light
passes through only a stripping character portion 4a of the stripping
character print layer 4, and light does not pass through other print
portions but is shielded.
Numeral 5 denotes a chromatic color light permeable print layer formed on
the back of the stripping character print layer 4 so that the stripping
character portion 4a comes out in a desired color.
Numeral 6 denotes a light permeable adhesive for adhering the back of the
chromatic color light permeable print layer 5 to the flat upper surface 1e
of the inflated portion 1c of the operating portion 1b of flexible rubber
or flexible resin formed of a transparent material. The key top 3 formed
of the light permeable hard resin is adhered to the upper surface 1e of
the operating portion formed of a light permeable material of flexible
rubber or flexible resin different from that of the upper surface 1e
whereby when the key top 3 is struck, the positive on and off operation
can be accomplished without displacement between the back of the key top 3
and the flat upper surface 1e of the inflated portion 1c of the operating
portion 1b. Further, no frame for holding the key top 3 is not required
and a compact design can be made. Since a light permeable adhesive is
used, light from an illuminating light source is not shielded by the
presence of the adhesive, and light such as chromatic color character is
sent to the key top.
The light permeable adhesive used in the present embodiment means the case
where a primary treatment agent chemically activated with a flexible
rubber or a flexible resin is solely used, and includes the case where
both primary treatment agent and the adhesive are used, or the case where
the adhesive is solely used.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a key showing a further embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is the same in basic construction as that of FIG. 1 except main
differences as follows. That is, a key pad 1 integrally formed with a
non-operating portion 1a and an operating portion 1b is formed of a
flexible rubber or a flexible resin of non-light permeable silicon rubber,
and the operating portion 1b is formed from a thin skirt portion 1f
inflated upwardly from an upper portion, a midportion or a lower portion
of the side of the non-operating portion 1a, an annular holding portion 1g
adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion 1f, and a light
permeable movable block 1h formed internally of the annular holding
portion 1g. The key pad 1 is formed of a non-light permeable flexible
rubber or flexible resin as described above, whereby a leak of light from
an illuminating light source outside the key can be simply shielded.
Further, the light permeable movable block 1h not only can make uniform
light to be illuminated against the stripping character portion 4a of the
stripping character print layer 4 but also can lessen attenuation of light
to make light bright.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a key showing a still another
embodiment of the present invention.
The present embodiment also has a construction similar to that of FIG. 1
except main differences as follows. That is, the construction of FIG. 3 is
similar to that of FIG. 2 in that a key pad 1 integrally formed from a
non-operating portion 1a and an operating portion 1b is formed of a
non-light permeable flexible rubber or flexible resin, and that the
operating portion 1b is formed from a thin skirt portion 1f inflated
upwardly from an upper portion, a midportion or a lower portion of the
side of the non-operating portion 1a, and an annular holding portion 1g
adjacent to the upper portion of the skirt portion 1f, but is different
from that of FIG. 2 in that the annular holding portion 1g is formed at
the lower part with a light permeable movable block 1h, and that a light
diffusion space portion 1i is formed to be encircled by the back of the
key top 3, the inner peripheral surface of the annular holding portion 1
and the upper surface of the movable block body 1h. The luminous flux
condensed by the light permeable movable block 1h can be uniformly
diffused in the light diffusion space portion 1i to more clearly
illuminate the stripping character portion 4a of the stripping character
print layer 4. In FIG. 3, numeral 7 denotes a movable contact, 8 denotes a
fixed contact, and 9 denotes a spacer.
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