Patent Publication Number: US-10763057-B2

Title: Waterproof keyboard structure and assembly method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Patent Application No. 62/701,964, filed on Jul. 23, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to keyboards and, more particularly, to a waterproof keyboard structure and an assembly method thereof. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     With the rapid developments of the technology industries such as computers, many electronic products are operated through an input device such as a keyboard. However, in outdoor, indoor or even harsh environments, foreign objects such as water or dust can enter an input device and easily cause damage. Furthermore, keys on a keyboard are provided with labels such as symbols and characters for an operator to easily identify and enter a correct instruction. However, these exposed keys are susceptible to issues such as identification difficulties due to the wear of the labels after the keyboard is used for an extended period of time. 
     Thus, a waterproof film is used to cover the keys in a conventional input device, and the waterproof film is formed in a recessed or protruding manner to adapt to positions and shapes of the keys. With the covering and configuration of the waterproof film, objects and effects of being waterproof and dustproof as well as protecting labels on key caps are achieved. However, since the waterproof film only covers surfaces of the keys and can be removed at all times, water seepage can still be incurred. Thus, the above conventional approach is not entirely ideal. However, if the waterproof film is adhered on the surfaces of the keys, after the surfaces of the key caps of the keys are adhered to an inner surface of the waterproof film, the waterproof film can be easily deformed when the keys are pressed and tapped. Furthermore, press strokes of the keys may be affected due to the material of the waterproof film; for example, a material having a smaller level of deformation or less satisfactory deformation ability can cause a press stroke to be shortened, resulting in a degraded hand feel for tapping or pressing of an operator and affecting the precision of input keys. 
     In view of the above, to improve and solve the above issues, the Applicant provides, on the basis of extensive search with the exercise of theories, the present invention having a reasonable design for effectively improving the above issues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a waterproof keyboard structure and an assembly method thereof, wherein the waterproof keyboard structure can be easily assembled to, for example, a laptop computer, and the waterproof keyboard structure and the assembly method have waterproof and dustproof effects while maintaining a good hand feel for tapping and pressing. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a waterproof keyboard structure including a keyboard module, and a keyboard frame framing on the keyboard module. An elastic waterproof layer is formed by means of double injection or insert molding on the keyboard frame. The elastic waterproof layer includes a clad layer covering a surface of the keyboard module, and a flange extending from a periphery of the clad layer. The flange thereon has a sealing ring protruding outwards and continually encircling the keyboard frame. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an assembly method of a waterproof keyboard structure. The assembly method includes steps of: a) preparing a seat and a keyboard module, wherein the seat has an accommodating space, and the keyboard module is defined with a key surface and an assembly surface arranged opposite to the key surface; b) cladding an elastic waterproof layer by means of double injection or insert molding on a keyboard frame; c) assembling the keyboard frame and the elastic waterproof layer to the keyboard module; d) assembling the keyboard module with the assembly surface facing the seat together with the keyboard frame in the accommodating space; and e) having the elastic waterproof layer closely fit with the seat to form a waterproof ring. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a waterproof keyboard structure. The waterproof keyboard structure includes a seat having an accommodating space, a keyboard module provided in the accommodating space, and a keyboard frame framing on the keyboard module. The keyboard frame is cladded with an elastic waterproof layer, and the elastic waterproof layer closely fits with the seat to form a waterproof ring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective schematic diagram of a waterproof keyboard and a seat of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective diagram of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional schematic diagram of an operation before placing a waterproof keyboard into a seat of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional schematic diagram of an operation after placing a waterproof keyboard into a seat of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional schematic diagram of an operation of a waterproof keyboard of the present invention in a pressed state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     To enable the Examiner to further understand features and technical contents of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail with the accompanying drawings below. However, the drawings are only for reference and illustration purposes, and are not to be construed as limitations to the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  respectively show an exploded perspective schematic diagram of a waterproof keyboard and a seat of the present invention and an exploded perspective diagram of the present invention. The present invention provides a waterproof keyboard structure which can be easily assembled to a laptop computer, as that installed on a seat  1  of the laptop computer in  FIG. 1 , providing waterproof and dustproof effects while maintaining a good hand feel for tapping and pressing. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the waterproof keyboard structure includes a keyboard module  2  and a keyboard frame  3 . 
     The keyboard module  2  is primarily formed by arranging a plurality of keys  20 , and each of the keys  20  corresponds to a circuit board  21 , wherein the circuit board  21  may be a thin-film circuit board. A conduction point (not shown) corresponding to the underneath of each key  20  is formed through the thin-film circuit, so as to transmit a corresponding instruction through the circuit board  21  by coming into contact with the conduction point when each key  20  is pressed, achieving the object of inputting an instruction. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , through the configuration of the keys  20  on the circuit board  21 , the keyboard module  2  is defined with a key surface F 1  formed by the keys  20 , and an assembly surface F 2  arranged opposite to the key surface F 1 . The assembly surface F 2  is a back surface of the circuit board  21 , and the back surface is not provided with any keys  20 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the keyboard frame  3  is for framing on the keyboard module  2 , and includes a frame body  30  stacked on the keyboard module  2  and a grating structure  31  integrally formed in the frame body  30 , wherein the grating structure  31  corresponds to the outside of the plurality of keys  20  of the keyboard module  2 . 
     In continuation of the above, in the present invention, an elastic waterproof layer  4  is formed by means of double injection or inserting molding on the keyboard frame  3 . The elastic waterproof layer  4  is adhered and fixed on the frame body  30  of the keyboard frame  3 , and includes a clad layer  40  covering the surface (i.e., the key surface F 1 ) of the keyboard module  2  and a flange  41  extending from the periphery of the clad layer  40 . The flange  41  includes a sealing ring  410  that protrudes outwards and continually encircles the keyboard frame  3 , and the keyboard frame  3  and the elastic waterproof layer  4  are assembled on the keyboard module  2 . More specifically, the clad layer  40  has rib portions  400  corresponding to and adhered to the grating structure  31  of the keyboard frame  3 , and a plurality of protective films  401  integrally formed among the rib portions  400 . The protective films  401  respectively correspond to and cover the keys  20 , and are spaced from the surfaces of the corresponding keys  20  by a distance d. In other words, inner surfaces of the protective films  401  are not adhered to the surfaces of the keys  20 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , an accommodating space  10  is provided on the seat  1  of the laptop computer, the seat  1  having a support surface F 3 , and the keyboard module  2  having the assembly surface F 2  facing the seat  1  is together with the keyboard frame  3  assembled in the accommodating space  10  such that the assembly surface F 2  abuts or directly contacts the support surface F 3 . Accordingly, the flange  41  of the elastic waterproof layer  4  closely fits with the seat  1 , such that a waterproof ring is jointly formed between the elastic sealing ring  410  and an inner wall  100  of the accommodating space  10  when the sealing ring  410  is pressed and deformed by an inner surface  102  of the inner wall  100  of the accommodating space  10 . Furthermore, the elastic waterproof layer  4  is made of liquid silicone rubber, and forms a covalent bond at the interface between the elastic waterproof layer  4  and the keyboard frame  3 . 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the keyboard frame  3  further includes an embedding portion  32  extending downwards from the periphery of the frame body  30 . The embedding portion  32  is clamped between the keyboard module  2  and the inner wall  100  of the accommodating space  10 , a fastening groove  101  surrounding the inner wall  100  and recessed downwards is formed in the accommodating space  10 , and the embedding portion  32  is further fastened in the fastening groove  101 . With the above assembly and matching structure, the joining stability between the keyboard module  2  and the seat  1  is further reinforced, thereby enhancing the close-fit effect of the elastic waterproof layer  4 . In other words, since the flange  41  is closely fitted between the embedding portion  32  and the inner wall  100  of the accommodating space  10 , the tighter the close-fit effect applied to the elastic waterproof layer  4  is, the better waterproof effect is achieved. In addition, the embedding portion  32  can further increase the contact area between the elastic waterproof layer  4  and the inner wall  100  of the accommodating space  10 , thus similarly further enhancing the waterproofness. More accurately, the sealing ring  410  on the flange  41  protrudes towards the inner wall  100  of the accommodating space  10  and is limited in the fastening groove  101 , and so the tighter the close-fit effect applied to the sealing ring  410  is, the better waterproofness is achieved. 
     Thus, with the above structure and composition, the waterproof keyboard structure of the present invention is obtained. 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in the present invention, the protective films  401  of the elastic waterproof layer  4  respectively correspond to and cover the keys  20 , and are spaced from the surfaces of the corresponding keys  20  by the distance d, that is, the protective films  401  are not adhered and fixed to the surfaces of the keys  20 . Hence, when the keys  20  are tapped or pressed, the protective films  401  are provided with a sufficient amount of deformation and do not become deformed by the press strokes of the keys  20 . Furthermore, the keys  20  are not affected by adhered and fixed protective films  401  during the press strokes thereof. That is to say, the keys  20  respectively receive a force and become deformed or receive a force and become pressed downwards without interfering one another. As such, under the premise that waterproof and dustproof effects are achieved and the labels on the surfaces of the keys  20  are protected, the press strokes of the keys  20  are further maintained to prevent from affecting the hand feel for tapping the keys  20 . 
     In conclusion, the present invention achieves the expected application result, solves the issues of the prior art, and involves novelty and an inventive step, which meet the requirements of a patent application. Therefore, a patent application is filed accordingly, and granting the application with patent rights is respectfully requested to ensure rights of the Inventor. 
     While the invention has been described by way of the preferred embodiments above, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Equivalent techniques and means made on the basis of the description and drawings of the disclosure of the present invention are thus encompassed within the scope of the present invention.