Waterproof button and electronic device using the same

• US 8,446,713 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Jin-Shi
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/959,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20120069501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.3, 361/679.56
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/003 Membrane embracing all keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/028 perpendicular to base of keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/042 Snap coupling; Snap mounting

Abstract

A button assembly applied on an electronic device is provided. An electronic device includes a housing and a button assembly. The housing defines two through holes and includes a first latching member. The button assembly includes a button body and a sealing frame. The button body includes two keycaps and a waterproof layer. Each of the keycaps extends through one of the through holes and is external to the housing. The waterproof layer is made of elastic waterproof material. The sealing frame includes a second latching member and is fixed to the housing. The waterproof layer corresponding to the first latching member and the second latching member is deformed, which creates waterproof seal.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing defining at least one through hole and comprising a first latching member; and

a button assembly comprising a button body and a sealing frame, the button body comprising at least one keycap and a waterproof layer, each of the at least one keycap extending through one of the at least one through hole and being exposed to the housing, the waterproof layer being made of elastic waterproof material, the sealing frame comprising a second latching member being fixed to the housing;

wherein, a part of the waterproof layer is deformed by the first latching member and the second latching member, which creates waterproof seal.

2. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the waterproof layer and the keycap are integrally formed.

3. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the waterproof layer and the keycap are separately elements that are connected together.

4. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises at least two resisting protrusions configured to limit the sealing frame to be fixed to the housing.

5. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the first latching member is a protruding rib, the second latching member is a recessed slot with a shape corresponding to the protruding rib.

6. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the first latching member is a recessed slot, the second latching member is a protruding rib with a shape corresponding to the recessed slot.

7. The electronic device as described in claim 4, wherein the housing further defines a recess, the resisting protrusions are arranged around the rim of the recess.

8. The electronic device as described in claim 7, wherein the first latching member is arranged on the bottom of the recess.

9. The electronic device as described in claim 1 further comprising at least one switch configured to generate a signal when the at least one switch is actuated by one keycap.