Metal dual-color extruded plastic key

The subject invention relates to a type of metal dual-color extruded plastic key; said key comprising an electroplatable plastic material and a non-electroplatable plastic material; said two parts being subjected to plastic dual-color extrusion forming process; said non-electroplatable plastic material serving to produce a letter or figure; the area surrounding said non-electroplatable plastic material being the electroplatable plastic material; the surface of said electroplatable material being a layer of light-proof electroplated coating, to form the required metal surface; whereby the non-electroplatable plastic material being used to form the area where the letter or figure is to appear, so the lighting could permeate from the letter or figure; the above structure is so designed to provide a high added value to the key product with an exterior of excellent light permeability and comfortable touch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The subject invention relates to a type of a type of metal dual-color 
extruded plastic key, particularly to one with the combination of two 
processing skills of plastic extrusion and electroplating, to produce a 
high added value key product with even gloss, excellent back lighting and 
smooth metal touch, that can be applied to such equipment as audio, hi-fi 
stereo set, air conditioners on automobiles, electronic products or switch 
button on automobiles, or graduated scales, etc. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
Conventionally, a prior art of key product with light-permeable and back 
lighting effects is normally made by a laser engraving process. In such 
conventional laser processing technology, however, the light permeable key 
surface could not achieve such effects as metal-like even gloss and smooth 
touch. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary purpose of the subject invention is to provide a type of metal 
dual-color extruded plastic key; based on plastic dual-color extrusion 
principle, whereby a type of electroplatable plastic material and another 
type of non-electroplatable plastic material are extruded to form one 
finished product; the non-electroplatable plastic material is used on the 
area to produce a letter or figure, followed by the plating process; the 
area outside the letter or figure is electroplated to form the required 
metal surface, to produce desired letter and pattern; to enable the light 
to permeate from the letter or figure, to achieve such effects as back 
lighting, high added value, excellent light permeability and comfortable 
touch on its exterior. 
To enable better understanding of the characteristics and technical 
contents of the subject invention, please refer to the following detailed 
description with drawings; however, the attached drawings are only for the 
purposes of reference and description, which shall not be based to 
restrict or limit the subject invention:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS 
1 electroplatable plastic material 
2 non-electroplatable plastic material 
3 light-proof plated coating 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Please refer to FIG. 1 which is a production flow chart of the subject 
invention. The subject invention relates to the providing of a metal 
dual-color extruded plastic key; said key comprising an electroplatable 
plastic material 1 and a non-electroplatable plastic material 2; whereby, 
based on the plastic dual-color extrusion principle, a type of 
electroplatable plastic material 1, such as ABS resin, and another type of 
non-electroplatable plastic material 2, such as PC, are extruded to form a 
key product (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3); said non-electroplatable plastic 
material 2 can be coated in colors as required (such as: yellow, red, 
blue, green, etc.) for the letter or figure on the mold, to be projected 
on the area where the letter or figure is to be produced; the 
electroplatable plastic material 1 (natural color or dyed color) is 
projected on the surrounding area of the letter or figure; then, on the 
surface plating is applied with a layer of light-proof electroplated 
coating 3; so the electroplatable plastic material 1 is plated to have the 
required metal surface; thus to obtain a metal dual-color extruded plastic 
key product with a light-insulating function and a back-lighting function. 
To achieve an excellent back lighting effect, the subject invention will 
provide the following processing alternatives: 
1. Said electroplatable plastic material 1 is subjected to electroplating 
process without the process of being colored; so the lighting at the 
bottom is insulated, instead of penetrated. 
2. Said electroplatable plastic material 1 is subjected to coloring process 
before it is plated; so the lighting at the bottom is insulated, instead 
of penetrated. 
3. Alternatively, the non-electroplatable plastic material 2 can be dyed to 
a required color, to achieve the required lightproof effect. 
Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 which are the top view and sectional view of 
the subject invention of metal dual-color extruded plastic key. The 
non-electroplatable plastic material 2 is coated in required color, and 
projected to the letter or figure area on the mold; then, the 
electroplatable plastic material 1 is projected to the surrounding area of 
the letter or figure; then, the surface is applied with a layer of 
light-proof electroplated coating 3, to produce a hard head of a key with 
a good metal-quality feeling, with a surface that gives the feeling of 
even and smooth metal-like gloss; with the coordination of bottom lighting 
source (not shown in diagram) that sends out light rays from the bottom, 
thus achieving the so-called back lighting effect; so that the user can 
clearly see the letter or figure on each key during nighttime operation; 
so as to provide a high added-value exterior with excellent light 
permeability and comfortable touch. 
Summing up, the subject invention, with improvement on such weaknesses as 
failure of metal-like even gloss and smooth touch in conventional 
light-permeable and back-lighting keys, is indeed an unprecedented 
creation with its inventive step and originality that will fully satisfy 
the qualifications for a patent right; hence this application is filed in 
accordance with the Patent Law to protect the subject inventor's rights 
and interests. Your favorable consideration should be appreciated. 
It is hereby declared that the above description, covering the preferred 
embodiment, should not be based to limit or restrict the subject claim, 
and that all equivalent structural and/or configurational variations 
and/or modifications deriving from the subject description with drawings 
and contents therein, should reasonably be included in the intent of the 
subject invention and the subject claim.