Two-shot injection molded housing with seats for keycaps in user-interface

• US 9,263,210 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Home Control Singapore Pte Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Home Control Singapore Pte Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ng, Kian Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): HA, NGUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US14/406,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20150129407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 400472-496, 341/22, 341/176, 345/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/058 to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/044 Protecting cover
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/034 Positioning of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/046 Multi-colour or double shot injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

A device has a housing with a top part that accommodates one or more pressable keys forming the user-interface of the device. Each specific key has a specific keycap. The top part is formed from a harder plastic element and a softer rubber layer in a two-shot injection molding process. The harder plastic element has one or more openings occupied by the softer rubber layer. The harder plastic element has a specific pin positioned in a specific hole of the softer rubber layer. The specific keycap has a bottom face with a specific protruding sleeve configured for engaging with the specific pin. The bottom face of the specific key and an area at a top face of the softer rubber layer have complimentarily shaped profiles configured for accurately orienting the keycap relative to the top part.

Claims

1. A device comprising a user-interface configured for manual interaction of a user with the device, wherein:

the device has a housing accommodating the user-interface;

the user-interface comprises one or more keys;

each specific one of the keys has a specific keycap;

the housing comprises a top part said top part comprising a harder plastic element and a softer rubber layer;

the harder plastic element has one or more openings occupied by the softer rubber layer;

the top part is made in a two-shot injection molding process;

the softer rubber layer has a specific hole;

the harder plastic element has a specific pin positioned in the specific hole;

the specific keycap has a bottom face with a specific protruding sleeve configured for engaging with the specific pin; and

the bottom face of the specific key and an area at a top face of the softer rubber layer have complimentarily shaped profiles configured for accurately orienting the keycap relative to the top part.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the harder plastic element has multiple openings;

a pair of adjacent ones of the openings are separated by a rib that forms a physically integrated part of the harder plastic element; and

the rib is covered by the softer rubber layer.