HYBRID BUTTON
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid button according to the invention is provided. In one embodiment, the button can be implemented in an electronic device such as a media player. The button can include a metal or other non-plastic portion having a reverse flange and a plastic portion including anti-rotation legs. The legs can prevent rotation at least in part because they are retained by another structure. The plastic portion can be injection-molded onto the reverse flange of the metal or non-plastic portion. As such, the reverse flange fixes the position of the plastic portion with respect to the metal portion. Finally, the metal portion can include an actuator nub that actuates a switch when the button is depressed.
116 Citations
73 Claims
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1-36. -36. (canceled)
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37. A method of manufacturing a button, the method comprising:
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forming a metal portion of the button using a computer-numeric controlled lathe, the button comprising a reverse flange; and injection-molding a plastic portion of the button onto the metal portion, the injection-molding comprising injection-molding the plastic portion into the reverse flange, the injection-molding comprising further comprising fixing the position of at least a portion of the plastic portion with respect to the metal portion. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of manufacturing a button, the method comprising:
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lathing a metal central portion of the button, the button comprising a reverse flange; anodizing the metal central portion following the lathing of the metal portion; and following the anodizing, injection-molding a plastic annular portion of the button onto the metal central portion of the lathe, the injection-molding comprising fixing the position of the plastic annular portion with respect to the metal central portion by injection-molding at least a portion of the annular portion into the reverse flange. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of manufacturing an electronic device comprising:
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forming a base plate comprising a plurality of apertures; forming a flexible printed circuit board that is adapted to receive user stimulus and transmit user commands to a microprocessor in response to the stimulus; and forming a button comprising; a metal upper portion comprising a reverse flange; a lower plastic portion comprising anti-rotation legs that prevent rotation of the button, the anti-rotation legs that are retained by the apertures, the lower plastic portion being injection-molded onto the reverse flange wherein the reverse flange fixes the position of the plastic lower portion with respect to the upper metal portion; and forming an actuator nub that actuates a switch on the flexible printed circuit when the button is depressed. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54)
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52. A method of manufacturing an electronic device comprising:
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forming a base plate comprising a plurality of apertures; forming a flexible printed circuit board that is adapted to receive user stimulus and transmit user commands to a microprocessor in response to the stimulus; and forming a metal button comprising; a concave face; and an underside, the underside comprising a actuator nub that actuates a switch on the flexible printed circuit when the button is depressed and flexible printed circuit board relief that allows at least a portion of the flexible printed circuit board to traverse the boundary of the underside of the metal button. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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57. A button comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a plastic portion and the second portion comprising a metal portion, the metal portion of the button being matched to a metal material of a housing hosting the button.
- View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A button comprising:
- a metal upper portion comprising an annulus with a thickness along a longitudinal axis of between 0.3 millimeters and 0.4 millimeters, and a plastic lower portion, a portion of the plastic lower portion being injection-molded, wherein the position of the plastic lower portion is fixed with respect to the metal upper portion and the metal upper portion of the button is matched to a metal material of a housing hosting the button.
- View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67)
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68. An electronic device comprising:
- a base plate comprising multiple apertures, a flexible printed circuit board that is operative to receive user stimulus and transmit user commands to a microprocessor in response to the stimulus, and a button comprising a metal upper portion, the metal upper portion of the button being matched to a metal material of a housing hosting the button, a plastic lower portion, the plastic lower portion being injection-molded, and an actuator nub that actuates a switch on the flexible printed circuit when the button is depressed.
- View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
Specification