Patent Publication Number: US-2022234342-A1

Title: Method of attaching elastic protective film on object

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an attaching method, and more particularly to a method of attaching an elastic protective film on an object. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, the keyboard user may additionally place a layer of elastic protective film on a top surface of a keyboard device. Due to the elastic protective film, the keyboard device has the waterproof and dustproof functions. However, since the elastic protective film is not fixed on the keyboard device, the elastic protective film is readily shifted or slid when the keyboard device is operated by the user. 
     Moreover, when the elastic protective film is attached and fixed on the keyboard device, some drawbacks occur. For example, since bubbles are readily retained in the elastic protective film, the overall appearance of the keyboard device and the flatness of the elastic protective film are adversely affected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method of attaching an elastic protective film on an object. Especially, the present invention provides a method of attaching and fixing an elastic protective film on a keyboard device and a keyboard device using the attaching method. According to the attaching method of the present invention, the bubbles can be removed during the process of attaching the elastic protective film on the object (e.g., the keyboard device). 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of attaching an elastic protective film on an object is provided. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, the object is provided. The object has a first surface. Then, an adhesive layer is installed on the first surface. Then, the elastic protective film is provided. The elastic protective film has a second surface and a third surface. The second surface and the third surface are opposed to each other. The second surface faces the adhesive layer. Then, a buffering element is provided. The buffering element has a fourth surface and a fifth surface. The fourth surface and the fifth surface are opposed to each other. The fourth surface faces the third surface. Then, a piercing element is provided. A side of the piercing element facing the fifth surface includes plural needle-like structures. Then, the piercing element and the buffering element are pressed on the elastic protective film, the adhesive layer and the object along a first direction. Consequently, the buffering element and the elastic protective film are pierced by the plural needle-like structures. Then, the piercing element and the buffering element are removed along a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction. 
     In an embodiment, when the elastic protective film is pierced by the plural needle-like structures, plural perforations running through the second surface and the third surface are formed in the elastic protective film. Moreover, after the piercing element is removed, the perforations are automatically shrunken as pores. 
     In an embodiment, in the step of pressing the piercing element and the buffering element on the elastic protective film, the adhesive layer and the object, bubbles that are present in a region between the elastic protective film and the adhesive layer are exited from the perforations. 
     In an embodiment, the elastic protective film is made of silicone. 
     In an embodiment, the buffering element is a foam structure. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of attaching an elastic protective film on a keyboard device is provided. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, the keyboard device is provided. The keyboard device includes a frame member and plural keys. The frame member includes an outer frame. The plural keys are disposed within the outer frame. The outer frame has a first surface. Then, an adhesive layer is installed on the first surface. Then, the elastic protective film is provided. The elastic protective film has a second surface and a third surface. The second surface and the third surface are opposed to each other. The second surface faces the adhesive layer. Then, a buffering element is provided. The buffering element has a fourth surface and a fifth surface. The fourth surface and the fifth surface are opposed to each other. The fourth surface faces the third surface. Then, a piercing element is provided. A side of the piercing element facing the fifth surface comprises plural needle-like structures. Then, the piercing element and the buffering element are pressed on the elastic protective film, the adhesive layer and the outer frame along a first direction. Consequently, the buffering element and the elastic protective film are pierced by the plural needle-like structures. Then, the piercing element and the buffering element are removed along a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction. 
     In an embodiment, when the elastic protective film is pierced by the plural needle-like structures, plural perforations running through the second surface and the third surface are formed in the elastic protective film. Moreover, after the piercing element is removed, the perforations are automatically shrunken as pores. 
     In an embodiment, in the step of pressing the piercing element and the buffering element on the elastic protective film, the adhesive layer and the outer frame, bubbles that are present in a region between the elastic protective film and the adhesive layer are exited from the perforations. 
     In an embodiment, the elastic protective film is made of silicone. 
     In an embodiment, the buffering element is a foam structure. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a keyboard device is provided. The keyboard device includes plural keys, a frame member, an adhesive layer and an elastic protective film. The frame member includes an outer frame. The plural keys are disposed within the outer frame. The outer frame has a first surface. The adhesive layer is installed on the first surface. The elastic protective film is attached on the adhesive layer. The elastic protective film has a second surface and a third surface. The second surface and the third surface are opposed to each other. The adhesive layer and plural keys are covered by the second surface. In addition, plural pores run through the second surface and the third surface. 
     In an embodiment, each pore has a first opening in the second surface and a second opening in the third surface. A size of the second opening is larger than a size of the first opening. 
     In an embodiment, the elastic protective film is made of silicone. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A to 1F  are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of a method of attaching an elastic protective film on an object according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic enlarged view illustrating a portion of the structure as shown in  FIG. 1F ; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3C  schematically illustrate the steps of a method of attaching an elastic protective film on a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic enlarged view illustrating a portion of the keyboard device as shown in  FIG. 3C  and taken along the line  4 - 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. In the following embodiments and drawings, the elements irrelevant to the concepts of the present invention are omitted and not shown. 
     A method of attaching an elastic protective film on an object according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 1F .  FIGS. 1A to 1F  are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of a method of attaching an elastic protective film on an object according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A . Firstly, an object  11  and an adhesive layer  12  are provided. The object  11  has a surface  111 . The adhesive layer  12  is formed on the surface  111  of the object  11 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1B . Then, an elastic protective film  13  is provided. The elastic protective film  13  has a surface  131  and another surface  132 . The surface  131  and the surface  132  are opposed to each other. The surface  131  of the elastic protective film  13  faces the adhesive layer  12 . For example, the elastic protective film  13  is made of silicone. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C . Then, the elastic protective film  13  is attached on the adhesive layer  12  along a direction D 1 . Due to the elasticity of the elastic protective film  13 , bubbles  14  are unavoidably formed in the region between the elastic protective film  13  and the adhesive layer  12  during the attaching process. 
     In order to eliminate these bubbles  14  and maintain the attachment relationship between the elastic protective film  13  and the adhesive layer  12 , a buffering element  15  and a piercing element  16  are further provided. For example, the buffering element  15  is a foam structure. The buffering element  15  has a surface  151  and another surface  152 , which are opposed to each other. The surface  151  of the buffering element  15  faces the surface  132  of the elastic protective film  13 . The side of the piercing element  16  facing the buffering element  15  comprises plural needle-like structures  161 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1D  and  FIG. 1E . After the buffering element  15  and the piercing element  16  are placed over the elastic protective film  13 , a downward force is applied to press the piercing element  16  and the buffering element  15  on the elastic protective film  13 , the adhesive layer  12  and the object  11 . At the same time, the buffering element  15  and the elastic protective film  13  are pierced by the needle-like structures  161  of the piercing element  16 . After the elastic protective film  13  is pierced by the needle-like structures  161  of the piercing element  16 , plural perforations  133  are formed in the elastic protective film  13 . These perforations  133  run through the surface  131  and the surface  132 . While the downward force is applied to press the associated components, the buffering element  15  provides a uniform and flat pressure to the elastic protective film  13 . Consequently, the bubbles  14  that are originally present in the region between the elastic protective film  13  and the adhesive layer  12  will be exited to the regions between the buffering element  15  and the piercing element  16  along the perforations  133 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1F . Afterwards, the piercing element  16  and the buffering element  15  are removed along another direction D 2 . The direction D 2  is opposite to the direction D 1 . After the piercing element  16  is removed, the perforations  133  running through the surface  131  and the surface  132  of the elastic protective film  13  are automatically shrunken as pores  134  (see  FIG. 2 ) because of the material of the elastic protective film  13 . The pores  134  are too small to be visually observed. In other words, the flatness of the elastic protective film  13  is not largely affected. 
     From the above descriptions, the piercing element  16  is used to form plural perforations  133  in the elastic protective film  13 , and the buffering element  15  provides the uniform pressure to the elastic protective film  13 . Consequently, the bubbles  14  that are originally present in the region between the elastic protective film  13  and the adhesive layer  12  can be smoothly removed. The resulting structure of the elastic protective film  13  can be shown in  FIG. 1F . Under this circumstance, the elastic protective film  13  is placed flat and attached on the object  11 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic enlarged view illustrating portions of the elastic protective film  13 , the adhesive layer  12  and the object  11  as shown in  FIG. 1F . As mentioned above, after the piercing element  16  is removed, the perforations  133  running through the surface  131  and the surface  132  are automatically shrunken as the pores  134  because of the material (e.g., silicone) of the elastic protective film  13 . As shown in the enlarged view of  FIG. 2 , the pore  134  has an opening  1341  in the surface  132  of the elastic protective film  13  and another opening  1342  in the surface  131  of the elastic protective film  13 . The size of the opening  1341  is larger than the size of the opening  1342 . That is, the pore  134  is tapered from the top side to the bottom side. Due to the structural design of the pore  134 , the small bubbles that are not completely removed can be gradually exited from the pore  134 . Afterwards, as shown in  FIG. 1F , the elastic protective film  13  is placed flat and tightly attached on the object  11 . Consequently, the attaching method is completed smoothly. 
     A method of attaching an elastic protective film on a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 3A to 3C .  FIGS. 3A to 3C  schematically illustrate the steps of a method of attaching an elastic protective film on a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. For succinctness, the steps of the attaching method of this embodiment similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. That is, only the applications of the attaching method on the keyboard device (i.e., an example of the object) will be described. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3A . Firstly, a keyboard device  21  is provided. The keyboard device is a wired keyboard device or a wireless keyboard device. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the keyboard device is used as the keyboard device of a notebook computer. It is noted that the applications of the keyboard device of the present invention are not restricted. The keyboard device  21  comprises a frame member  211  and plural keys  212 . The frame member  211  comprises an outer frame  2111 . The plural keys  212  are disposed within the outer frame  2111 . The outer frame  2111  has a frame surface  21111 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3B . Then, an adhesive layer  22  is installed on the frame surface  21111  of the outer frame  2111 . Then, an elastic protective film  23  is provided. The elastic protective film  23  has a surface  231  and another surface  232 . The surface  231  and the surface  232  are opposed to each other. The surface  231  of the elastic protective film  23  faces the adhesive layer  22 . For example, the elastic protective film  23  is made of silicone. 
     Then, a buffering element  25  and a piercing element  26  are provided. For example, the buffering element  25  is a foam structure. The buffering element  15  has a surface  251  and a surface  252 , which are opposed to each other. The surface  251  of the buffering element  25  faces the surface  232  of the elastic protective film  23 . The side of the piercing element  26  facing the buffering element  25  comprises plural needle-like structures  261 . 
     The following step is similar to that of the first embodiment. After the buffering element  25  and the piercing element  26  are placed over the elastic protective film  23 , a downward force is applied to press the piercing element  26  and the buffering element  25  on the elastic protective film  23 , the adhesive layer  22  and the outer frame  2111  of the keyboard device  21 . At the same time, the buffering element  25  and the elastic protective film  23  are pierced by the needle-like structures  261  of the piercing element  26 . After the elastic protective film  23  is pierced by the needle-like structures  261  of the piercing element  26 , plural perforations (not shown) are formed in the elastic protective film  23 . These perforations  233  run through the surface  231  and the surface  232 . While the downward force is applied to press the associated components, the buffering element  25  provides a uniform and flat pressure to the elastic protective film  23 . Consequently, the bubbles that are originally present in the region between the elastic protective film  23  and the adhesive layer  22  will be exited to the regions between the buffering element  25  and the piercing element  26  along the perforations. 
     Afterwards, the piercing element  26  and the buffering element  25  are removed along another direction D 2 . The direction D 2  is opposite to the direction D 1 . Then, the perforations running through the surface  231  and the surface  232  of the elastic protective film  23  are automatically shrunken as pores  234  (see  FIG. 3C ) because of the material (e.g., silicone) of the elastic protective film  23 . The pores  234  are too small to be visually observed. As shown in the enlarged view of  FIG. 4 , the pore  234  has an opening  2342  in the surface  231  of the elastic protective film  23  and another opening  2341  in the surface  232  of the elastic protective film  23 . The size of the opening  2341  is larger than the size of the opening  2342 . That is, the pore  234  is tapered from the top side to the bottom side. Due to the structural design of the pore  234 , the small bubbles that are not completely removed can be gradually exited from the pore  234 . As shown in  FIG. 3C , the elastic protective film  23  is placed flat and tightly attached on the keyboard device  21 . Consequently, the attaching method is completed smoothly. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and similar structures.