Patent ID: 8558095

Claim:
A keyboard apparatus comprising: a plurality of keys each pivotable about a key fulcrum; and a plurality of action units each associated with one of the keys, wherein each of the keys has a front portion located forward of the key fulcrum and a rear portion located rearward of the key fulcrum, wherein each of the action units has a whippen configured to be driven at a driven point thereof by the rear portion of an associated one of the keys so as to pivot about a whippen pivot fulcrum, wherein the rear portion of each of the keys has an upper surface that is at a height lower than that of the key fulcrum in a non-key-depression state, wherein an associated one of the action units is disposed above the upper surface, and wherein as viewed from front in a front-to-rear direction, the key fulcrum, the whippen pivot fulcrum, and the driven point are disposed in this order, wherein each whippen and the associated key pivot in the same direction as the associated key is depressed or released.