Abstract: A novel stroke converting mechanism for a push-button switch is disclosed. The stroke converting mechanism is for providing a push-button switch or a keyboard comprising the push-button switches with features such as low cost, low profile, and light and comfortable key touch. The stroke converting mechanism is made from a plate of metal such as 18-8 stainless steel, and fabricated by a single shot of press or by an etching of the plate in a batch process. The delineated plate is then shaped into a specified form by die press. In spite of the simple structure, the stroke converting mechanism can provide a sufficient stroke conversion ratio, e.g., about 4 mm of the key top to a displacement of about 1 mm necessary for actuating a couple of make-break contacts. And also, it reduces the necessary depression force on the key top to a half of the force required for actuating a make-break contacts, and provides a reduction in the height of a push-button switch or a keyboard as much as 3 mm or more.

Abstract: A push-button switch has a housing in which is positioned a switch contact spring driven by the vertical movement of a drive rod comprised of a synthetic resin. The push-button switch further comprises a contact-driving plate spring portion constructed by a bent portion of a plate spring element. The drive rod is formed by mold processing using a support-portion of the plate spring element as a core, and the contact-driving plate spring portion is extended from the drive rod. The drive rod drives the switch contact spring through the contact-driving plate spring portion.