Selective call receiver including a right angle elastomeric control switch

• US 5,227,774 A
• Filed: 04/01/1991
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benoist, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/678,512
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 200/264, 200/511, 200/520, 200/526, 200/275, 200/292, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 340/825.47, 340/825.48, 455/348, 341/20, 341/21, 341/22
• US Class Current: 340/7.63
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1058 Pager holders or housings casings for electric apparatus H05K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/029 comprising conducting material dispersed in an elastic support or binding material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/12 Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon

Abstract

A switch includes a housing (36) which retains an elastomeric actuating member (38) having an actuating portion (46) and a contact portion (37). The contact portion (37) deforms in a first direction (52) in response to a force exerted on the actuating portion (46) in a second substantially different direction (e.g. orthogonal thereto)(48). The housing (36) comprises a rigid member in contact with a side of the elastomeric actuating member (38) opposite the actuating portion (46) on which the force is exerted.

Claims

1. A switch, comprising:

elastomeric actuating means having an actuating portion and a contact portion; and

first means for retaining said elastomeric actuating means, said contact portion deforming in a first direction in response to a force exerted on said actuating portion in a second, substantially different direction, wherein said first means comprises a rigid member in contact with a side of said elastomeric actuating means opposite said actuating portion on which said force is exerted.

2. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said first direction and said second, substantially different direction are substantially orthogonal.

3. A switch according to claim 1 further comprising a cavity within said elastomeric actuating means to enhance the deforming of said contact portion.

4. A switch according to claim 3 wherein said cavity is a tubular opening.

5. A switch according to claim 4 wherein said tubular opening is cylindrical.

6. A switch according to claim 4 wherein said tubular opening is rectangular.

7. A switch, comprising:

a deformable, elastomeric actuating member including a contact portion and a user accessible actuating portion; and

first means for retaining said actuating member, said contact portion deforming in a first direction in response to a force exerted on said actuating portion in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said first means comprises a rigid member in contact with a side of said deformable, elastomeric actuating member opposite said actuating portion on which said force is exerted.

8. A switch according to claim 7 further comprising a cavity within said deformable, elastomeric actuating member to enhance the deforming of said contact portion.

9. A switch according to claim 8 wherein said cavity is a tubular opening.

10. A switch according to claim 9 wherein said tubular opening is cylindrical.

11. A switch according to claim 9 wherein said tubular opening is rectangular.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having at least one aperture therein;

a printed circuit board having a major surface within said housing and having at least a first electrical contact thereon;

a deformable, elastomeric actuating member including a deformable portion positioned proximate said first electrical contact and including a user accessible actuating portion extending through said at least one aperture; and

a second electrical contact disposed on said deformable portion, said deformable portion deforming in a first direction toward said first electrical contact in response to a force exerted on said actuating portion in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first direction,

wherein said housing comprises a rigid member in contact with a side of said deformable, elastomeric actuating member opposite said actuating portion on which said force is exerted, and

wherein said major surface of said printed circuit board lies in a plane substantially parallel to said second direction.

13. A selective call receiver of the type which includes electronic circuitry for receiving messages and alerting a user that a message has been received, and which further includes at least one control element accessible by a user from the exterior of said housing, comprising:

a housing having at least one aperture therein;

a printed circuit board having a major surface and having said electronic circuitry disposed thereon and including at least a first electrical contact thereon;

a deformable, elastomeric actuating member including a deformable portion positioned proximate said first electrical contact and a user accessible actuating portion extending through said at least one aperture; and

a second electrical contact disposed on said deformable portion, said deformable portion deforming in a first direction toward said first electrical contact in response to a force exerted on said actuating portion in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first direction,

wherein said housing comprises a rigid member in contact with a side of said deformable, elastomeric actuating member opposite said actuating portion on which said force is exerted, and

wherein said major surface of said printed circuit board lies in a plane substantially parallel to said second direction.