Shock absorbent roller thumb wheel

• US 7,057,120 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Holmes, John A., Tempelman, Herrebertus, Ma, Dave M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHMAN, MARINA
• Application Number:
  US11/005,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 200/11.TW, 200/61.54, 200/64.55, 200/564, 745/52, 745/53, 345/156, 345/157, 345/184, 341/22, 341/35
• US Class Current: 200/11.0TW
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/001 Thumb wheel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/60 Mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock

Abstract

A shock absorbing roller thumb wheel is disclosed. The shock absorbing thumb wheel includes a central hub that can be secured to an electro-mechanical switch, a rim encircling the central hub, and force dispersion spokes extending from the central hub and connected to the rim. The configuration of the force dispersion spokes and the resilient material of the force dispersion spokes and the rim allow for radial and lateral deflection of the rim in response to an applied impact force. The impact force is thereby at least partially absorbed by the radial and lateral deflection of the rim and spokes, such that less impact force is transferred to connections between the electro-mechanical switch and any assembly to which the switch is attached. Hence, the probability of connection failures is reduced, and the lifetime of a device that uses the thumb wheel can be extended.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical switch assembly, comprising;

an electro-mechanical switch; and

a shock absorbing roller thumb wheel for actuating the electro-mechanical switch, wherein the roller thumb wheel further comprises;

a hub coupled to the wheel for attachment to the switch;

a resilient outer rim encircling the hub; and

force dispersion spokes connecting the resilient outer rim to the hub, each force dispersion spoke having a predetermined length and cross-sectional shape for radially and laterally deforming in response to an impact force applied to the resilient outer rim.

2. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub is attached to the switch via at least one ultrasonic weld.

3. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub is attached to the switch via at least one heat stake.

4. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions extend from the electro-mechanical switch to anchor the shock absorbing roller thumb wheel and transfer rotational energy from the wheel to the switch.

5. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, wherein each force dispersion spoke is substantially S-shaped.

6. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, wherein four force dispersion spokes are connected between the resilient outer rim and the hub.

7. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, wherein each force dispersion spoke includes a main body, a spoke-rim joint for connecting the main body to the resilient outer rim, and a spoke-hub joint for connecting the main body to the hub.

8. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board attached to the electromagnetic switch.

9. The electro-mechanical switch assembly of claim 8, further comprising a mobile device having a casing, wherein the printed circuit board couples to the casing.

10. A method of attaching an electro-mechanical switch according to claim 4 to a shock absorbing roller thumb wheel, comprising:

disposing the wheel upon the switch by positioning the wheel upon the plurality of protrusions extending from the switch; and

fixably attaching the hub to the switch.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the hub is fixably attached to the switch with a plurality of ultrasonic welds.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the hub is fixably attached to the switch with a plurality of heat stakes.