Key button mechanism and electronic device using the same

• US 8,330,064 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ouyang, Zhi-Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caroc, Lheiren Mae
• Application Number:
  US12/791,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20110226598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 200/341, 200329-332, 200342-345, 200/339, 200/553
• US Class Current: 200/341
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/22 Operating parts, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces

Abstract

A key button mechanism mounted to a housing of an electronic device, comprises a key body and an actuator. The key body is mounted to the housing, the key body has a contacting portion protruding therefrom. The actuator has a resisting portion and a driving portion protruding from an end of the resisting portion. The actuator is rotatably mounted to the housing and the resisting portion is aligned with the contacting portion such that when the key body is operated, the contacting portion pushes the resisting portion to make the driving portion touch the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A key button mechanism for use in an electronic device, the electronic device including a housing and a printed circuit board, the key button mechanism comprising:

a key body adapted for being mounted to the housing, the key body having a contacting portion protruding therefrom; and

an actuator having a resisting portion and a driving portion protruding from an end of the resisting portion, the actuator rotatably mounted to the housing and the resisting portion aligned with the contacting portion;

wherein when the key body is pressed, the contacting portion pushes the resisting portion to make the driving portion touch the printed circuit board; and

wherein the actuator further includes a retaining portion protruding from another end of the resisting portion, and the retaining portion is rotatably mounted to the housing.

2. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key button mechanism further includes a shaft, the shaft rotatably passing through the retaining portion and the housing to mount the actuator to the housing.

3. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resisting portion resists against the housing to prevent the actuator and the housing from separation.

4. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board having a switch mounted thereon; and

a key button mechanism comprising;

a key body mounted to the housing, the key body having a contacting portion protruding therefrom; and

an actuator having a resisting portion and a driving portion protruding from one end of the resisting portion, the actuator being rotatably mounted to the housing and the resisting portion being aligned with the contacting portion;

wherein when the key body is pressed, the contacting portion pushes the resisting portion to make the driving portion touch the switch; and

wherein the actuator further includes a retaining portion protruding from another end of the resisting portion, and the retaining portion is rotatably mounted to the housing.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, the key button mechanism further includes a shaft;

the shaft passing through the retaining portion and the housing to rotatably mount the actuator to the housing.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing includes a mounting groove defined therein;

the shaft is mounted in the mounting groove.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuator has a hole defined through the retaining portions, and the shaft is rotatably inserted into the hole.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing further includes an opening defined therethrough and communicating with the mounting groove;

the resisting portion of the actuator is accommodated in the opening.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the key body is mounted to an outer surface of the housing, the actuator is rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the housing.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board having at least one switch mounted thereon; and

a key button mechanism comprising;

a key body mounted to the housing, the key body having at least one contacting portion protruding therefrom, and

at least one actuator mounted to the housing between the key body and at least one switch, each actuator having a resisting portion, a driving portion protruding from one end of the resisting portion, and a retaining portion protruding from another end of the resisting portion;

wherein each resisting portion is respectively aligned with a contacting portion, each retaining portion rotatably mounted to the housing, one side of each driving portion resists against the housing to prevent each actuator and the housing from separation, another side of each driving portion faces the switch on the printed circuit board.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the key button mechanism further includes a shaft;

the shaft rotatably passing through the retaining portion to mount the at least one actuator to the housing.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the housing includes a mounting groove defined therein;

the shaft is mounted in the mounting groove.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each actuator has a hole defined through the retaining portions, and the shaft is rotatably inserted into the hole.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the housing further includes at least one opening defined therethrough and communicating with the at least one mounting groove;

the resisting portion of each actuator is respectively accommodated in an opening.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the key body is mounted to an outer surface of the housing, each actuator is rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the housing.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the key body includes at least two key portions located side by side, and the two key portions have a slot defined therebetween;

the slot allowing the at least two key portions to more easily deform when an exterior force is exerted on the key body.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the key body is made of soft resin.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the soft resin is polyethylene terephthalate.