Elastomeric push button return element for providing enhanced tactile feedback
First Claim
1. A resilient element for return biasing of a push button adapted for movement along an axis transverse to a mounting surface, the resilient element being formed of elastomeric material in a configuration comprising:
- a tubular section extending along the axis, said tubular section having first and second ends and a predetermined wall thickness;
a flange having an outer portion with a lower surface to be held in contact with the mounting surface and an annular inner web portion extending radially with respect to the axis and joining the outer portion of said flange and the first end of said tubular section, the web portion having a lower surface which is continuous with the lower surface of the outer portion and having a thickness less than the wall thickness of said tubular section;
a hollow frustum section extending along the axis and having a large end joined to the second end of said tubular section and a small end more remote from the mounting surface than the large end; and
a crown configured to connect the small end of said hollow frustum section to the push button.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An elastomeric push button return element for providing enhanced tactile feedback, and a push button switch employing the return element. The return element is configured as a tubular section, a flange adapted to be restrained on a mounting surface, a radial web thinner than the wall of the tubular section joining the flange and a first end of the tubular section, a hollow frustum section joined at its large end to the second end of the tubular section, and a crown joined to the small end of the hollow frustum section and adapted to be connected to a push button.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A resilient element for return biasing of a push button adapted for movement along an axis transverse to a mounting surface, the resilient element being formed of elastomeric material in a configuration comprising:
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a tubular section extending along the axis, said tubular section having first and second ends and a predetermined wall thickness; a flange having an outer portion with a lower surface to be held in contact with the mounting surface and an annular inner web portion extending radially with respect to the axis and joining the outer portion of said flange and the first end of said tubular section, the web portion having a lower surface which is continuous with the lower surface of the outer portion and having a thickness less than the wall thickness of said tubular section; a hollow frustum section extending along the axis and having a large end joined to the second end of said tubular section and a small end more remote from the mounting surface than the large end; and a crown configured to connect the small end of said hollow frustum section to the push button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A return element for imparting a desired tactile characteristic to a push button adapted for movement along an axis relative to a mounting surface, said return element being formed of an elastomeric material in a configuration comprising:
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a hollow member extending along the axis, said hollow member including a first section having a predetermined diameter and a second section joined to the first section and having a diameter which decreases with distance along the axis; a flange joined to the first section of said hollow member remote from the second section thereof, said flange being formed with an annular groove opening toward the second section of said hollow member at the junction between said flange and said hollow member so as to form a radially extending web connected to said hollow member, the first section of said hollow member and the web being characterized so that the web is more flexible than the first section; and a crown configured to connect the push button to the small diameter end of the second section. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A push button assembly with enhanced tactile characteristics comprising:
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a base having a mounting surface thereon; a push button adapted for movement along an axis relative to said mounting surface; and an elastomeric return element extending along the axis between said mounting surface and said push button, said elastomeric return element being formed with an annular flange having lower surface in contact with said mounting surface, a hollow member including a first section having a predetermined diameter joined to said flange through a radially extending web characterized by greater flexibility than the first section, the web having a surface which is continuous with the lower surface of the flange, the hollow member further including a second section joined to the first section and having a diameter which decreases with distance along the axis away from said mounting surface, and a crown remote from said mounting surface connected to said push button. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification