Touch pad device

• US 8,890,016 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stilotech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stilotech, Inc.
• Inventors: Silverman, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US13/331,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 345/184, 345/174, 345/173, 345/168, 345/169, 341/27, 341 21- 23, 715/864, 715/865, 200/341
• US Class Current: 200/341
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button

Abstract

A touch pad for an operating button of an electronics device provides a contact point for tactile input through the button. The button is adhesively mounted to the button, the surface of the electronics device surrounding the button, or both button and surrounding surface. The pad preferably fully overlies the button, and may have a lower surface that conforms to the shape of the top surface of the button.

Claims

1. A touch pad for an operating button of an electronics device, comprising:

a first layer with an upper surface providing a contact point for user tactile input;

an adhesive layer for affixing the touch pad to the operating button; and

an intermediate layer positioned between the first layer and the adhesive layer.

2. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the first layer is of silicone rubber.

3. The touch pad of claim 1 wherein the intermediate layer is of foam.

4. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a size in plan equal or greater than the size in plan of the operating button.

5. The touch pad of claim 4, wherein the first layer is circular in plan.

6. The touch pad of claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer is coextensive with the size of the first layer.

7. The touch pad of claim 4, wherein the size of the first layer is greater than the size of the operating button to further overlie a portion of a surrounding surface of the electronics device, the adhesive layer being located to align with only one of the operating button or surrounding surface.