Patent ID: 7151212
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: G10H

Abstract:
1. A keyboard apparatus, comprising: a switch that is formed from an elastic material in a single unit with a driven section and a skirt section, said driven section comprising a first section that has a moveable contact on the inside, said skirt section supporting the driven section; a key supported for pivotal motion that drives the driven section; and a base plate that has a fixed contact, which has been formed opposite the moveable contact; wherein in a state in which the key has started to drive the driven section, an open gap is disposed between an upper surface of the moveable contact and an area of the key that corresponds to the moveable contact, and after the moveable contact has come into contact with the fixed contact as a consequence of a pressing of the key, the area of the key that corresponds to the moveable contact applies a force on the upper surface of the moveable contact; wherein the skirt section of the switch has attachment protrusions on a bottom surface that are inserted into attachment holes in the base plate; and wherein the switch has an air hole through which air is exhausted from an interior of the skirt section and is taken in to the interior of the skirt section in conformance with changes in a volume of the interior of the skirt section due to the pressing of the key.