Keyboard pad structure for electronic devices

• US 5,219,067 A
• Filed: 02/04/1992
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Lima, David J., Tang, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, GLENN
• Application Number:
  US07/830,734
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 200/302.1, 200/302.2, 200/329, 200/333, 200/341, 200/345, 200/517, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/81.5, 200/81.4, 200/83 B
• US Class Current: 200/302.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/06 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/034 Coordinate determination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/01 combined with other elements on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/034 Environmental protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

Abstract

An electronic housing structure including an enclosure for containing at least one electronic device having a plurality of user interface switches. The electronic housing structure further has a user interface pad attached to the enclosure near the user interface switches for operating said user interface switches. The user interface pad further seals the enclosure to completely seal and protect the electronic device. The enclosure and the user interface pad are composed of a waterproof, dust-proof and mud-proof material whereby said electronic device can be operated in an outdoor condition.

Claims

1. An electronic housing structure comprising:

an enclosure for containing at least one electronic device therein, said electronic device including a plurality of user interface switches;

a keyboard pad assembly including a plurality of key pads, each of said key pads corresponds to be adjacent to one of said corresponding user interface switches, said key pads are of different sizes and shapes whereby an electronic device user can conveniently differentiate each of said key pads without requiring a visual inspection;

the enclosure and the keyboards being comprised of a waterproof, dust-proof, and mud-proof material whereby said electronic device is more suitable for continuous outdoor operation;

each of said key pads includes an external surface, an internal surface opposite said external surface, an interface chamber and a convex press-down cap disposed on said external surface with a striking stump disposed on said internal surface opposite said press-down cap, said striking stump is adjacent to said corresponding user interface switch whereby a user can activate said corresponding user interface switch by applying pressure to said press-down cap urging said striking stump to contact said user interface switch;

said keyboard further includes an external surface, an internal surface opposite said external surface, and a plurality of air passages disposed on said internal surface of said keyboard, each of said air passages interconnecting with at least two of said interface chambers to maintain an air communication between said interface chambers of said key pads whereby said press-down keys may be easily pressed down without a need to overcome an air pressure resistance due to a volume of air in said interface chamber;

the enclosure further includes a plurality of user interface openings, each corresponding to one of said key pads, each of said key pads further has a sealing means whereby when said key pads are inserted in said corresponding user interface openings said key pads securely attach to the enclosure and tightly seals said user interface openings preventing moisture, dust, or mud from entering through said interface openings;

said sealing means of said key pad includes a sealing flange extending outwardly and downwardly from a lower edge of said press-down cap; and

said corresponding interface openings on the enclosure include a step-down lip extending inwardly toward a center of said interface opening for receiving said flange seal of said key pad.

2. An electronic housing structure comprising:

an enclosure for containing at least one electronic device therein, said electronic device including a plurality of user interface switches;

a user interface key pad assembly attached to the enclosure near said user interface switches for operating said user interface switches, the user interface key pad assembly being a pliable keyboard including a plurality of key pads each of said key pads forming an interface chamber corresponding and being disposed adjacent to one of said corresponding user interface switches such that said corresponding switch is operationally responsive to a pressure applying to said key pads;

said keyboard including an external surface, an internal surface opposite said external surface, and a plurality of air passages disposed on said internal surface of said keyboard, each of said air passages interconnecting with at least two of said interface chambers to maintain an air communication between said interface chambers of said key pads whereby said press-down keys may be easily pressed down without a need to overcome an air pressure resistance due to a volume of air in said interface chamber.

3. The electronic housing structure of claim 2 wherein:

the enclosure and the user interface key pad assembly are composed of a waterproof, dust-proof, and mud-proof material whereby said electronic device is more suitable for continuous outdoor operation.

4. The electronic housing structure of claim 2 wherein:

each of said key pads of the keyboard assembly includes an external surface, an internal surface opposite said external surface, an interface chamber and a convex press-down cap disposed on said external surface and a striking stump disposed on said internal surface opposite said press-down cap, said striking stump being positional adjacent to said corresponding user interface switch whereby said corresponding user interface switch whereby said corresponding user interface switch can be activated by applying pressure to said press-down cap and urging said striking stump to contact said user interface switch.

5. The electronic housing structure of claim 2 wherein:

said key pads are of different sizes and shapes whereby an electronic device user can conveniently differentiate each of said key pads without requiring a visual inspection.

6. The electronic housing structure of claim 2 wherein:

the enclosure further includes a plurality of user interface openings, each corresponding to one of said key pads, each of said key pads further has a sealing means whereby when said key pads are inserted in said corresponding user interface openings said key pads are securely attached to the enclosure and tightly seals said user interface openings to prevent moisture, dust or mud from entering through said interface openings.

7. The electronic housing structure of claim 6 wherein:

said sealing means of said key pad include a flange seal extending outwardly and downwardly from a lower edge of said pressdown cap; and

said corresponding interface openings on the enclosure include a step-down lip extending inwardly toward a center of said interface opening for receiving said flange seal of said key pad.