Shock absorbent roller thumb wheel
First Claim
1. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
- an outer rim;
an inner hub; and
a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke including a spoke/rim joint and a spoke/hub joint that are not radially aligned with one another.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shock absorbing roller thumb wheel is disclosed. The shock absorbing thumb wheel includes a central hub that can be secured to an electro-mechanical switch, a rim encircling the central hub, and force dispersion spokes extending from the central hub and connected to the rim. The configuration of the force dispersion spokes and the resilient material of the force dispersion spokes and the rim allow for radial and lateral deflection of the rim in response to an applied impact force. The impact force is thereby at least partially absorbed by the radial and lateral deflection of the rim and spokes, such that less impact force is transferred to connections between the electro-mechanical switch and any assembly to which the switch is attached. Hence, the probability of connection failures is reduced, and the lifetime of a device that uses the thumb wheel can be extended.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim;
an inner hub; and
a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke including a spoke/rim joint and a spoke/hub joint that are not radially aligned with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim;
an inner hub; and
a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke having a length, width, depth, and shape for absorbing, along with the outer rim, a predetermined maximum impact force such that an applied force is not transmitted to the inner hub. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 30)
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20. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim;
an inner hub; and
a plurality of non-radially extending spokes coupled between the outer rim and the inner hub. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification