Waterproof switch apparatus for electronic device

• US 5,258,592 A
• Filed: 04/27/1992
• Issued: 11/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Takahiro, Nishikawa, Kenichi, Kawabata, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/873,823
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 200/302.2
• US Class Current: 200/302.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/063 Casings hermetically closed by a diaphragm through which passes an actuating member vacuum switches H01H33/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch

Abstract

A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device comprises at least one push-button for switching, a sheet-like water sealing member groove-engaged with the shaft portion of the push-button, and a holding member for holding the water sealing member by pressing the outer peripheral portion of the water sealing member against the device body. An excellent waterproof feature and a thin shape of the waterproof switch apparatus can be obtained.

Claims

1. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device, comprising:

a body having at least one through-hole formed therein;

at least one push-button, disposed in said through-hole, having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion having a flange portion for preventing said push-button from coming out of said through-hole, said shaft portion having an annular groove, a tip of said shaft portion being adapted to open and close a switch contact when said push-button is actuated;

a water sealing member made of an elastic material, said water sealing member having an inner peripheral portion fitted in said annular groove of said shaft portion of said push-button in close contact therewith and an outer peripheral portion; and

a holding member, operatively associated with said body, for holding said outer peripheral portion of said water sealing member by pressing said outer portion against said body.

2. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 1, wherein said waterproof switch apparatus comprises a plurality of switches arranged in line and a plurality of push-buttons arranged in isolation, and said water sealing member and said holding member are adapted to seal said plurality of push-buttons and to hold said sealing member, respectively.

3. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer peripheral portion of said sealing member has a ring shape.

4. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer peripheral portion of said sealing member has a rectangular shape.

5. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch contact is opened and closed by the tip of said shaft portion of the push-button via a diaphragm.

6. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 5, wherein said switch contact is mounted on a printed circuit board of said electronic device.

7. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said water sealing member has a substantially flat shape.

8. A waterproof switch apparatus for an electronic device claimed in claim 1, wherein said water sealing member comprises means for applying an elastic restoring force to said shaft portion of said push-button to return said push-button to an original rest position after said push-button has been actuated.