Shock absorbent roller thumb wheel
First Claim
1. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
- an outer rim;
an inner hub having a center and an outer surface; and
a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke including a spoke/rim joint and a spoke/hub joint that are not radially aligned with one another, and with each spoke further including a continuously curved spoke body formed as an arc about the center of the inner hub.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shock absorbing roller thumb wheel is disclosed. The shock absorbing thumb wheel includes a central hub that can be secured to an electro-mechanical 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 electro-mechanical 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.
15 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim; an inner hub having a center and an outer surface; and a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke including a spoke/rim joint and a spoke/hub joint that are not radially aligned with one another, and with each spoke further including a continuously curved spoke body formed as an arc about the center of the inner hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim; an inner hub; and a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke including a spoke/rim joint and a spoke/hub joint that are not radially aligned with one another, wherein four pairs of spokes are provided, with each spoke within the pair being a mirror image of the other, and wherein each spoke shares a common spoke/rim and spoke/hub joint with another spoke.
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10. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim; an inner hub having a center and an outer surface shape; and a plurality of spokes, each having a spoke body with a continuous curved shape extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke having a length, width, depth, and shape for absorbing, along with the outer rim, a predetermined maximum impact force such that an applied force is not transmitted to the inner hub, and with each spoke further having a spoke body with a shape whose contour at least in part is arranged parallel to the outer surface of the inner hub. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim; an inner hub; and a plurality of spokes extending between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke having a length, width, depth, and shape for absorbing, along with the outer rim, a predetermined maximum impact force such that an applied force is not transmitted to the inner hub, wherein four pairs of spokes are provided, with each spoke within the pair being a minor image of the other, and wherein each spoke shares a common spoke/rim and spoke/hub joint with another spoke.
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20. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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a single outer rim; an inner hub having an outer surface; and a plurality of non-radially extending spokes coupled between the outer rim and the inner hub, with each spoke having a spoke/rim joint where the spoke mates with the rim and a spoke/hub joint where the spoke mates with the hub, wherein each spoke/rim joint does not overlap radially with each adjacent spoke'"'"'s spoke/hub joint. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A thumbwheel for use with a mobile device comprising:
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an outer rim; an inner hub; and a plurality of non-radially extending spokes coupled between the outer rim and the inner hub, wherein four pairs of spokes are provided, with each spoke within the pair being a mirror image of the other, and wherein each spoke shares a common spoke/rim and spoke/hub joint with another spoke.
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Specification