Patent ID: 8299382

Claim:
A key switch comprising: a base section; a key top disposed above said base section; a pair of link members interlocked with each other to support and direct said key top in a vertical direction relative to said base section; and a switching mechanism capable of opening and closing a contact section of an electronic circuit in accordance with a vertical movement of said key top; wherein each of said pair of link members is provided, at a first end region thereof, with a toothed portion meshable with a toothed portion of another link member in a gearing manner and a pivot axle pivotably joined to said base section and, at a second end region of each link member, with a slide portion slidably engaged with said key top; wherein said switching mechanism includes a membrane switch sheet carrying said contact section at a position beneath said key top; wherein said base section comprises a support plate provided with an upper surface, said membrane switch sheet being placed on said upper surface, and a frame member formed separately from said support plate and fixedly placed on said upper surface of said support plate, said frame member being provided with a bearing portion pivotably receiving and supporting said pivot axle of each of said pair of link members; wherein said first end region of each of said pair of link members is disposed on an exterior lateral side of said frame member; and wherein said bearing portion of said frame member is formed as an open-ended cutout defined between said frame member and said upper surface of said support plate such that a portion of the frame member defining the open end of the cutout is in contact with the upper surface of the support plate.