Keypad assembly

• US 20070036349A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chen, Chia-Hua, Yang, Qing
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/433.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A keypad assembly (20) is described that includes a housing (100) and a keypad (200) connecting with the housing. The housing has a keyhole area (144) formed thereon, and the housing has at least one keyhole (146) defined therein and a groove (148) is placed along a periphery of the keyhole area. The keypad has a key area (201) formed thereon, and the key area has at least one key (202) formed thereon and a projection (204) placed therearound to engage in the groove. A main advantage of the keypad assembly is that it can simplify the configuration of the seal while maintaining a good seal, and it also can reduce the production cost.

Claims

1. A keypad assembly, comprising:

a housing having a keyhole area formed thereon, the keyhole area having at least one keyhole defined therein, the housing having a groove defined along a periphery of the keyhole area; and

a keypad connecting with the housing and having a key area formed thereon, the key area having at least one key formed thereon, the keypad having a projection formed thereon and placed around the key area, the projection engaging in the groove of the housing.

2. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection engages interferingly in the groove.

3. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad is made of elastic material.

4. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a head portion and a connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting the head portion with the housing.

5. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the head portion has a generally rectangular shape in cross section.

6. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connecting portion comprises two slanted side arms, respectively connecting the head portion form opposite sides to the key area.

7. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection is a generally rectangular-shaped frame, the groove of the housing having a shape corresponding to that of the projection.

8. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection is a closed-curve shaped frame, the groove of the housing having a shape corresponding to that of the projection.

9. A keypad assembly, comprising:

a housing having a keyhole area, the keyhole area having at least one keyholes defined therein, the housing having a plurality of grooves, each groove surrounding at least one keyhole; and

a keypad having a key area, the key area having a plurality of keys formed thereon, the keys being respectively received in the keyholes, the keypad including a corresponding number of projections formed thereon, wherein each groove aligns with each corresponding projection.

10. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the projections are closed-curve shaped frames, the grooves of the housing having a shape corresponding to that of the projections.

11. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the keypad is made of elastic material.

12. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the projections engage interferingly in the grooves.

13. A keypad assembly comprising:

a housing having a keyhole area, the keyhole area having a plurality of keyholes defined therein, the housing having a groove defined therein, the groove surrounding at least one keyhole; and

a keypad having a key area, the key area having a plurality of keys formed thereon, the keys being respectively received in the keyholes, the keypad including a projection formed thereon, the projection surrounding at least one key, the projection being made of elastic material and interferingly engaging in the groove.

14. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the projection surrounds all of the keys.