Button device in computer bezel

• US 20030127307A1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Yun Lung, Liu, Alvin, Liu, Yu Tai
• Granted Patent: US 6,667,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A button device includes a button (20), a spring (40) and a receiving portion (62) formed in a bezel (60). The button has a base (22), a plurality of locking hooks (24) and contacting blocks (26) extending rearwardly from a periphery of a back of the base, and a contacting pole (28) extending rearwardly from a middle of the back of the base. An annular guiding sleeve (30) is formed on the back of the base, and the spring is placed over the guiding sleeve. A plurality of apertures (64) is defined in a rearmost part of the receiving portion, for extension of the locking hooks. A plurality of holes (66, 68) is defined in the rearmost part of the receiving portion, for extension of the contacting blocks and contacting pole. An annular groove (70) is defined in the rearmost part of the receiving portion, for accommodating the guiding sleeve.

Claims

1. A button device adapted to be incorporated in a bezel to switch a controlling circuit, the button device comprising:

a button having a base, a plurality of contacting blocks extending rearwardly from a back of the base, and an annular guiding sleeve extending rearwardly from a middle portion of the back of the base;

a spring placed over the annular guiding sleeve; and

a receiving portion for accommodating the button, the receiving portion being adapted to be formed in the bezel, the receiving portion defining a plurality of holes for extension of the corresponding contacting blocks thereinto.

2. The button device as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of locking hooks extends rearwardly from a periphery of the back of the base.

3. The button device as described in claim 2, wherein a plurality of locking apertures is defined in the receiving portion, for extension of the locking hooks thereinto.

4. The button device as described in claim 1, wherein an annular groove is defined in a rearmost part of the receiving portion, for accommodating the guiding sleeve of the button.

5. The button device as described in claim 1, wherein the button further comprises a contacting pole extending rearwardly from a middle of the back of the base and into a corresponding hole defined in the receiving portion.

6. The button device as described in claim 1, wherein the button further defines a central hole, and has an annular sleeve extending rearwardly from a periphery of the central hole, and wherein a middle button is accommodated in the central hole.

7. The button device as described in claim 6, wherein the middle button has a contacting pole extending rearwardly from a middle of the middle button and into a corresponding hole defined in the receiving portion.

8. A button controlling system, comprising:

a button comprising a base, a plurality of functional symbols formed on a face of the base, a plurality of contacting blocks corresponding to the symbols and extending rearwardly from a back of the base, and an annular guiding sleeve extending rearwardly from the back of the base;

a spring placed over the guiding sleeve;

a bezel having an indented receiving portion formed therein for accommodating the button and the spring, a plurality of holes being defined in a rearmost part of the receiving portion for extension of the corresponding contacting blocks therethrough; and

a controlling circuit placed behind the bezel, the circuit having a plurality of controlling points corresponding to the holes of the bezel, wherein when one of the symbols is pressed, a corresponding contacting block pushes a corresponding controlling point.

9. The button controlling system as described in claim 8, wherein a plurality of hooks extends rearwardly from a periphery of the back of the base of the button and engagingly extends through a plurality of apertures defined in the rearmost part of the receiving portion.

10. The button controlling system as described in claim 8, wherein the symbols on the face of the button further comprise a central symbol which corresponds to a contacting pole extending rearwardly from the back of the base, and wherein a hole is defined in a middle of the rearmost part of the receiving portion for extension of the contacting pole thereinto.

11. The button controlling system as described in claim 10, wherein the contacting pole is longer than the contacting blocks.

12. The button controlling system as described in claim 8, wherein an annular groove is defined in the rearmost part of the receiving portion, for accommodating the guiding sleeve of the button.

13. The button controlling system as described in claim 8, wherein the button further defines a central hole for accommodating a middle button therein, the middle button has a contacting pole extending rearwardly from a middle of the middle button, and a small spring is placed over the contacting pole.

14. A bezel and button device assembly, comprises:

a bezel having an indented receiving portion formed therein, the receiving portion having a rear part defining a middle through hole, a groove around the through hole and a plurality of holes around the groove; and

a push button received in the receiving portion, comprising a base adapted to receive a push force, a plurality of contacting blocks extending rearwardly from a periphery of the base through the holes of the rear part of the receiving portion, a sleeve extending rearwardly from a middle of the base and received in the groove, and a contact pole extending rearwardly from the base and received in the middle through hole; and

a spring placed over the sleeve to provide a spring force to the push button.

15. The assembly as described in claim 14, wherein the push button further comprises at least a hook engaging with the receiving portion of the bezel.