JP2900328B2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device having a plurality of key tops protruding from a main body and for inputting alphabets, numerals, processing instructions, and the like to a word processor, a computer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a keyboard device, a large number of character keys on which characters such as alphabets, numerals, and symbols are displayed on a top surface are arranged in a central portion, and other function keys are arranged around the keys. Some of the character keys and function keys have a general standard width dimension, and are provided with key tops sequentially arranged at a standard pitch in the left-right direction of the main body. It should be noted that a device related to this type of device is, for example, a device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-32040.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a conventional keyboard device, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of a keytop provided in the keyboard device of FIG.

The conventional keyboard device shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a large number of key tops 2 protruding from a main body 1, and each of the key tops 2 has both left and right side surfaces 2a and 2b which are inclined. 19.05m in the left-right direction of
They are sequentially arranged at a standard pitch of m. Although not shown, other key tops longer than the key tops 2 are also provided on the main body 1, and these key tops are arranged at a pitch different from the standard pitch.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing another example of the conventional keyboard device. The conventional keyboard device shown in FIG. 5 has a large number of key tops 4 arranged sequentially in the middle part of the main body 3 in the left-right direction. And other key tops 5 smaller than the key tops 4 and arranged at both ends in the left-right direction of the main body 3. In each of the key tops 4, both left and right side surfaces 4a and 4b are inclined, the top surface 4c is set to a predetermined width, and arranged at a standard pitch of 19.05 mm. On the other hand, the left and right side surfaces 5a and 5b of the key top 5 are respectively inclined, and the width of the top surface 5c is smaller than the width of the key top 4. The pitch between the key tops 4 and 5 is set to a predetermined dimension smaller than the standard pitch, for example, 18.05 mm.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional keyboard device, all the key tops 2 are one.
In the case of the former arranged at a standard pitch of 9.05 mm, there was a problem that the overall width of the main body 1 was increased. In the latter case, in which the pitch between the key tops 4 and 5 arranged at the left and right ends is set to 18.05 mm,
Although the overall width of the main body 3 can be made smaller than the former one, the pitch between the key tops 4 and 5 is different from the standard one, so that it is difficult to operate the key tops 5 on the end side, and
Since the display area of the top surface 5c of the small key top 5 is small, there is also a problem that the displayed characters are difficult to see. In particular, an operator who is accustomed to a general standard pitch key arrangement may feel a little uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation in the prior art, and an object thereof is to set the arrangement pitch of the end key tops and the display area of the top surface in the same manner as the intermediate key tops. Another object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device capable of reducing the overall width of the main body.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is arranged at a central portion of a main body in the left-right direction,
A number of intermediate key tops, both left and right sides of which are inclined, and are disposed at the left and right ends of the main body, one side adjacent to the intermediate key top is inclined, and the other side is upright. It has a configuration with an end key top.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, the end key top arranged at the end in the left-right direction of the main body has one side adjacent to the intermediate key top inclined, and the other side standing upright. Therefore, one side surface and the top surface of the end key top are formed in the same manner as the side surface and the top surface of the intermediate key top, and the width dimension is reduced at the other side portion of the end key top. Have been. Thus, the arrangement pitch of the end key tops and the display area on the top surface can be set in the same manner as the intermediate key tops, and the overall width of the main body can be reduced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a keyboard device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the keyboard device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an end key top provided in the keyboard device of FIG.

The keyboard device of this embodiment shown in FIG.
The main body 6 includes a large number of intermediate key tops 7 arranged sequentially in the middle part in the left-right direction, and end key tops 8 and 9 arranged at ends of the main body 6 in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the intermediate key top 7 has left and right side surfaces 7a and 7b respectively inclined and a top surface 7c set to a predetermined width.
And arranged at a standard pitch of 19.05 mm. In the end key top 8, one side surface 8a adjacent to the intermediate key top 7 is inclined, the other side surface 8b is upright, and the top surface 8c is set to the predetermined width. The arrangement pitch of the key tops 8, that is, the pitch between the key tops 7 and 8 is also set to a standard pitch.
Similarly, the other end key top 9 has one inclined side surface 9a and the other upright side surface 9b, and is arranged at a standard pitch.

In this embodiment, the end key top 8
Are formed in the same manner as the side surfaces 7a and 7b and the top surface 7c of the intermediate key top 7, respectively, and the other side surface 8b of the end key top 8 stands upright. The width dimension has been reduced by that much. Another one
The same applies to the two end key tops 9.

In the embodiment configured as described above, the arrangement pitch of the end key tops 8 and 9 and the display area of the top surface can be set in the same manner as the intermediate key top 7, and the overall width of the main body 6 is reduced. be able to. In the above embodiment,
The end key tops 8 and 9 are provided at both ends of the main body 6, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be formed in the same manner as the intermediate key top 7, for example.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the arrangement pitch of the end key tops and the display area of the top surface can be set in the same manner as the intermediate key tops, and the overall width of the main body can be reduced. Therefore, the size of the main body can be reduced without impairing the operability of the end key top.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of a keyboard device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an end key top provided in the keyboard device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a conventional keyboard device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a keytop provided in the keyboard device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing another example of the conventional keyboard device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Body 7 Intermediate key top 7a, 7b Side 8, 9 End key top 8a, 9a One side 8b, 9b The other side

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of intermediate key tops which are sequentially arranged at an intermediate portion in the left-right direction of a main body, and both left and right side surfaces are respectively inclined, and which are arranged at an end portion in a left-right direction of the main body, and wherein the intermediate key tops are provided. And an end key top in which one side surface adjacent to the end key top is inclined and the other side surface stands upright.