What is presented is a key module (110) for a keyboard. The key module (110) comprises a key tappet (220) comprising a coupling portion for coupling to a keycap for the key module (110). The key module (110) also comprises a module housing (230) formed to movably accommodate the key tappet (220), in order to enable a translational actuation movement of the key tappet (220) between a rest position and an actuated position relative to the module housing (230). The key module (110) further comprises a wire bracket (560) for providing tactile and/or acoustic feedback. The wire bracket (560) is elastically deflectable in the course of the actuation movement. The wire bracket (560) is bent with an overall bending angle of less than 360 degrees. The wire bracket (560) is fixed to the key tappet (220).

A keyboard including: a key top; a slide member that is attached to the key top, slides up and down, and presses a contact via an elastic member; a non-slide member that is attached to the key top, and never move up and down; supporters that support the slide member and the non-slide member, respectively; wherein the slide member is restrained by the key top in a first direction, and is movable in a second direction vertical to the first direction, and the non-slide member is arranged diagonally with the slide member, is movable in the first direction, and is restrained by the key top in the second direction.

A key structure and an assembly method thereof are provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a switch, two fixing bases, two movable members and a keycap. The base plate includes upper and bottom surfaces, and has a first accommodation hole and two second accommodation holes. The switch is disposed on the base plate through the first accommodation hole. The two fixing bases are disposed on the base plate respectively through the two second accommodation holes. Each fixing base has a guiding channel. The two movable members are disposed in the two guiding channels. The keycap is disposed on the switch and the two movable members. Each fixing base includes a first portion protruded from the upper surface and a second portion protruded from the bottom surface. The vertical projection area of the first portion is not greater than the vertical projection area of the second portion.

A movement mechanism includes: a case; a moving portion movable with respect to the case; and a support member that links the case and moving portion together and supports the moving portion so as to be movable with respect to the case. The support member has a plurality of pairs of first support portions and a plurality of pairs of second support portions, each of which is elastically deformable, has a plate-like shape, and extends between the case and the moving portion. The first support portions and second support portions are respectively placed on a first side and a second side in a moving direction of the moving portion so as to be symmetric with respect to the moving portion in plan view.

Buttons (41A, 41B) have a button moving part (42) disposed in front of a circuit board (51) and allowed to move in a front-back direction, and guided parts (42e) moving in conjunction with the button moving part (42). The buttons (41A, 41B) cause the button moving part (42) to operate a switch (52) of the circuit board (51). Guide parts (21E, 21F) are disposed along the guided parts (42e) and restrict the direction in which the button moving part (42) moves. The guide parts (21E, 21F) and the guided parts (42e) have portions located back of a front surface (51a) of the circuit board (51). This structure effectively prevents the buttons from tilting when they are operated.

What is presented is a key module (120) for a keyboard (100). The key module (120) comprises at least one guide unit (230) formed to guide movement of an actuation unit (125) of the key module (120) between a rest position actuated position upon actuation of the key module (120). The key module (120) also comprises at least one spring element (240) for biasing the actuation unit (125) of the key module (120) into the rest position. The key module (120) further comprises means (315) for dampening mechanical vibrations of the spring element (240) at least when the actuation unit (125) is in the rest position.

A control panel designed to be placed in a vertical plane, the control panel comprising the layered assembly of a flat base, of an elastomer sheet mounted against the base, the sheet being provided with openings and optionally with domes, and of a decorative fascia. The control panel is in addition provided with a means for protection against liquids made in one piece with the sheet, the protection means comprising elements projecting from the main surface of the sheet, the said elements being so arranged that when the control panel is in the substantially vertical plane and the liquid penetrates between the sheet and the decorative fascia, the liquid is guided along a determined course and re-emerges from the panel having avoided critical zones leading in particular to detectors.

An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a main body including a pair of body chassis, a pair of cover panels disposed to cover the front face and the back face of the main body, a switch unit disposed on the side part of the main body, an operation button which is held between the pair of cover panels and has a pusher projecting therefrom, a housing recess which is formed on at least one of the body chassis and recessed on a joint surface with the other body chassis to form a housing chamber for the switch unit, a through hole penetrating the one body chassis from the side face toward the housing recess, and a bag-like waterproof packing member which is attached to the through hole and recessed toward the switch unit to house the pusher of the operation button. The pusher of the operation button passes through the through hole toward the switch unit, and the end of the waterproof packing member is pressed against the switch unit to fixedly hold the switch unit inside the housing recess.

A key structure includes a base plate, a key pedestal, a switch element and a keycap. The key pedestal includes an opening and at least one elastic element. The keycap includes a triggering post and at least one contacting part. The key pedestal is installed on the base plate. The switch element is installed on the base plate and disposed within the opening of the key pedestal. The triggering post of the keycap is inserted into the opening of the key pedestal. The switch element can be triggered by the triggering post. The elastic element of the key pedestal is aligned with the corresponding contacting part. The contacting part of the keycap is continuously pushed against the corresponding elastic element of the key pedestal. Consequently, the keycap is maintained in a horizontal state and not tilted.

Provided is a button guide structure that makes it possible to achieve the reduction in cost and man-hour and the improvement in quality. In a button guide structure in which a push button 23 is provided on a front panel 11 through a guide unit in a slidable manner, the push button 23 operating a switch, the front panel 11 configuring a front surface of an electronic apparatus or the like, the front panel 11 includes a tubular portion 11b into which a part of the push button 23 is inserted, the push button 23 includes: a button main body portion 23a that is inserted into the tubular portion 11b; and an outer tubular portion 23b that is provided so as to surround the button main body portion 23a and that encloses the tubular portion 11b when the button main body portion 23a has been inserted into the tubular portion 11b, and the guide unit constituted by a rib 11k and a slit 23k is provided on an outer surface 11w of the tubular portion 11b and the outer tubular portion 23b.