Shock absorbent roller thumb wheel

• US 20050082148A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Holmes, John A., Tempelman, Herrebertus, Ma, Dave M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/11.TW
• 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 electromechanical 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 electromechanical 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. A shock absorbing roller thumb wheel for actuating an electromechanical switch, comprising:

a hub 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. An electromechanical switch for use with the shock absorbing roller thumb wheel of claim 1.