COMPRESSIBLE SEAL FOR ROTATABLE AND TRANSLATABLE INPUT MECHANISMS
First Claim
1. An input mechanism assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
- a rotatable and translatable member comprising;
a shaft positioned at least partially within an aperture of a housing; and
a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft and separated from the housing by a gap; and
a compressible seal positioned in the gap that resists passage of contaminants into the aperture and is configured to collapse when the rotatable and translatable member translates;
whereinrotation of the rotatable and translatable member generates a first input to the electronic device;
translation of the rotatable and translatable member generates a second input to the electronic device;
the compressible seal comprises first and second arms positioned obliquely with respect to each other;
the first arm contacts the housing;
the second arm contacts the rotatable and translatable input member; and
the first and second arms are operable to move toward each other when the rotatable and translatable member translates.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device has a housing and a rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The housing has an aperture and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism has a shaft positioned at least partially within the aperture and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft. The manipulation structure may be manipulated to rotationally and translationally move the shaft to provide rotational and translational input to the electronic device. A compressible seal is positioned in a gap between the housing and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The compressible seal may resist and/or prevent passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or obscure one or more internal components. The compressible seal may be configured to collapse or bend when the rotatable and translatable member translates.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An input mechanism assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
-
a rotatable and translatable member comprising; a shaft positioned at least partially within an aperture of a housing; and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft and separated from the housing by a gap; and a compressible seal positioned in the gap that resists passage of contaminants into the aperture and is configured to collapse when the rotatable and translatable member translates;
whereinrotation of the rotatable and translatable member generates a first input to the electronic device; translation of the rotatable and translatable member generates a second input to the electronic device; the compressible seal comprises first and second arms positioned obliquely with respect to each other; the first arm contacts the housing; the second arm contacts the rotatable and translatable input member; and the first and second arms are operable to move toward each other when the rotatable and translatable member translates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
3. (canceled)
-
8. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
-
a body including an aperture; a crown comprising; a knob; a stem coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the aperture; a tactile structure connected to the crown that is actuatable by translation of the crown; and an elastomer Y-ring positioned between the crown and the body configured to bend when the crown translates to move the knob toward the body; wherein the elastomer Y-ring obscures at least one component with a different visual appearance than the knob; and the elastomer Y-ring is operable to move freely of the body or the crown. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
9. (canceled)
-
15-20. -20. (canceled)
-
21. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
-
a body including an aperture; a crown comprising; a knob; a stem coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the aperture; a tactile structure connected to the crown that is actuatable by translation of the crown; and an elastomer Y-ring positioned between the crown and the body configured to bend when the crown translates to move the knob toward the body; wherein the elastomer Y-ring obscures at least one component with a different visual appearance than the knob; and wherein rotation of the crown is transferred to the elastomer Y-ring.
-
-
22. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
-
a body including an aperture; a crown comprising; a knob; a stem coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the aperture; a tactile structure connected to the crown that is actuatable by translation of the crown; an elastomer Y-ring positioned between the crown and the body configured to bend when the crown translates to move the knob toward the body; and a gasket positioned between the crown and the body that is shaped to define an indent into which the gasket is configured to expand when compressed; wherein the elastomer Y-ring obscures at least one component with a different visual appearance than the knob.
-
-
23. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
-
a body including an aperture; a crown comprising; a knob; a stem coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the aperture; a tactile structure connected to the crown that is actuatable by translation of the crown; and an elastomer Y-ring positioned between the crown and the body configured to bend when the crown translates to move the knob toward the body; wherein the elastomer Y-ring obscures at least one component with a different visual appearance than the knob; and a shape of a force curve corresponding to actuation of the tactile structure by the translation of the crown is unchanged by the elastomer Y-ring.
-
Specification