Key switch device

Claim 1

A key switch device comprising: a base formed of electrically insulating material; a pair of fixed electrodes disposed on the base; a housing mounted on the base and enclosing the fixed electrodes; a movable electric conductor member located within the housing and opposing the fixed electrodes, whereby an electric current may flow between the fixed electrodes when said conductor member contacts the fixed electrodes; a plunger supported by the housing for movement in a vertical direction, and having a horizontal plate section; a key top mounted on the plunger; and a rubber spring formed of an integral elastomeric molding and contained in the housing, said rubber spring including: (a) a first cup section in the form of an inverted cup having: a top portion, a ring-shaped support seat located at the top portion and in contact with a lower surface of the plate section of the plunger, a bottom portion which is larger in diameter than the top portion, and a first bent portion located between the top portion and the bottom portion, said first bent portion being pressed and bent by the plate section of the plunger until the movable electric conductor member contacts the fixed electrodes, and said first cup section having a load-stroke characteristic producing a resilient restoring force which increases until said first bent portion is bent to a predetermined degree, and which begins to decrease after the first bent portion is bent to the predetermined degree; (b) a second cup section located inside the first cup section so as to be continuous with the support seat and having a U-shaped longitudinal section, said second cup section including a second bent portion which is bent, after the movable electric conductor member contacts the fixed electrodes, by the support seat of the first cup section lowered by the plate section of the plunger, said second cup section having a load-stroke characteristic producing a resilient restoring force which increases until said second bent portion is bent to a predetermined degree, and which begins to decrease after the second bent portion is bent to the predetermined degree, whereby said resilient restoring force of the second cup section presses the movable electric conductor member against the fixed electrodes with a substantially constant force after the movable electric conductor member contacts the fixed electrodes; (c) a lower center projection protruding downward from the center of a lower surface of the second cup section, said movable electric conductor member being attached to a lower face of the projection such that the movable electric conductor member faces the fixed electrodes; (d) an upper center projection protruding upward from the center of an upper surface of the second cup section, said upper center projection having a length in the direction of movement greater than that of said lower center projection and comprising a top face which is located below the support seat, said top face being at the same level as the support seat and being in contact with the plate section of the plunger when said first and second cup sections are bent to a predetermined degree, the length of said upper center projection in the direction of movement of said plunger being determined such that said upper center projection can continue to press the movable electric conductor member against the fixed electrodes while the plunger is kept pressed downward after the plate section of the plunger contacts the upper surface of the upper center projection.