Switch construction

Abstract

A switch assembly includes a switch and a connector. The switch and the connector are configured to interlock, wherein the switch includes a connection extending at least partially along a center axis of the switch, and the connection is configured to receive at least a part of the connector. The connection may include at least one slot and at least one wedge-shaped groove which is extending from the at least one slot and tapered in a direction of the center axis. The connector may include at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion. The at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion may include a resilient contact blade which can interlock with the at least one wedge-shaped groove.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a housing having an external surface and an internal surface, the external surface and the internal surface being connected by a through-going opening; and a button assembly, the button assembly comprising: a switch inserted into the through-going opening in a direction from the external surface; a connector interlocked with the switch such that the button assembly is secured to the housing; and a push button connected to the switch; wherein the switch comprises a connection extending along a center axis of the switch, the connection receiving at least a part of the connector; and the connection comprises at least one slot, at least one wedge-shaped groove extending from the at least one slot, the at least one wedge-shaped groove tapered in a direction of the center axis; the connector further comprises at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion; and the at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion comprises a resilient contact blade, and the resilient contact blade interlocks with the at least one wedge-shaped groove.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connection comprises at least one pin protruding in the direction of the center axis, the at least one pin comprising an end section having an increased cross-section, and the connector further comprises at least one partially open-ended slit; wherein the at least one partially open-ended slit interlocks releasably with the at least one pin end section in a direction which is perpendicular to the center axis, and the at least one partially open-ended slit interlocks unreleasably with the at least one pin in the direction of the center axis.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switch further comprises a sealing gasket at least partially covering a circumference of the switch.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a stopper that prevents the button assembly from exiting the through-going opening in a direction towards external surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector is arranged outside of the through-going opening, in abutment with the internal surface.

6. A button assembly for an electronic device, comprising: a switch configured to be inserted into a through-going opening of a housing of the electronic device; a connector configured to interlock with the switch such that the button assembly is secured to the housing; and a push button connected to the switch; wherein the switch comprises a connection extending along a center axis of the switch and the connection receives at least a part of the connector, the connection comprises at least one slot, at least one wedge-shaped groove extending from the at least one slot, the at least one wedge-shaped groove being tapered in a direction of the center axis, the connector further comprises at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion, and the at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion comprises a resilient contact blade, and the resilient contact blade interlocks with the at least one wedge-shaped groove.

7. The button assembly of claim 6, wherein the connector further comprises at least one partially open-ended slit; the connection further comprises at least one pin protruding in the direction of the center axis, the at least one pin comprising an end section having an increased cross-section, and the at least one partially open-ended slit is configured to interlock releasably with the at least one pin end section in a direction which is perpendicular to the center axis, and the at least one partially open-ended slit is configured to interlock unreleasably with the at least one pin in the direction of the center axis.

8. The button assembly of claim 6, wherein the connector further comprises a stopper preventing the button assembly from exiting the through-going opening.

9. The button assembly of claim 6, further comprising a compressive gasket configured to be arranged in the through-going opening.

10. A method of providing an electronic device with a button assembly, the electronic device comprising a housing having an external surface and an internal surface, the external surface and the internal surface connected by a through-going opening, the button assembly comprising a push-button, a switch and a connector, the switch comprising a connection extending along a center axis of the switch, the connection receiving at least a part of the connector; the method comprising: a) connecting the push-button to the switch, b) inserting the switch into the through-going opening, in a direction from the external surface, c) connecting the connector to the switch such that the switch cannot be removed from the through-going opening; wherein connecting the connector to the switch such that the switch cannot be removed from the through-going opening further comprises: inserting the connector into a slot extending within the switch, in a direction from the internal surface, and interlocking the connector with the slot, wherein the connector further comprises at least one partially open-ended slit, the connection further comprising at least one pin protruding in a direction of the center axis, the at least one pin comprising an end section having an increased cross-section; and wherein connecting the connector to the switch such that the switch cannot be removed from the through-going opening further comprises: interlocking the at least one partially open-ended slit and the at least one pin, in a direction which is perpendicular to said through-going opening; wherein the at least one partially open-ended slit is configured to interlock releasably with the at least one pin end section in a direction which is perpendicular to the center axis, and the at least one partially open-ended slit is configured to interlock unreleasably with the at least one pin in the direction of the center axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the aspects, embodiments and implementations will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a shows an exploded and elevated view of a button structure and a partial housing in accordance with one embodiment;

(3) FIG. 1b shows an elevated view of a connector in accordance with one embodiment;

(4) FIG. 1c shows an exploded and elevated view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1b;

(5) FIG. 2a shows an elevated front view of a switch in accordance with another embodiment;

(6) FIG. 2b shows an elevated rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a;

(7) FIG. 3 shows an exploded and elevated view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a;

(8) FIG. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of the button structure and housing shown in FIG. 1a, with the button structure separated from the housing;

(9) FIG. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the button structure and housing shown in FIG. 4a, with the button structure inserted into an opening in the housing;

(10) FIG. 5a shows a further cross-sectional view of the button structure and housing shown in FIG. 1a, with the connector separated from the switch and housing;

(11) FIG. 5b shows a cross-sectional view of the button structure and housing shown in FIG. 5a, with the connector inserted into the switch;

(12) FIG. 6 shows an exploded and elevated view of a button structure and a partial housing in accordance with yet another embodiment;

(13) FIG. 7a shows an elevated front view of the switch of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

(14) FIG. 7b shows an exploded and elevated view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7a;

(15) FIG. 8 shows an elevated rear view of a connector in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

(16) FIG. 9 shows an elevated view of the button structure and a partial housing shown in FIG. 6, with the connector separated from the switch and housing, and seen from inside the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment including a section of the housing 7 of an electronic device, a switch assembly 1 including a switch 2 and a connector 3, and a push-button 10. The components are adapted for being mechanically connected, and the switch 2 is also adapted for being electrically connected to the connector 3. This will be described in more detail below.

(18) FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 show embodiments of a switch where the switch includes a switch body 2a, a switch contact 2b, and a switch contact cover 2c. The switch may also include sealing element 5.

(19) In one embodiment, the sealing element 5 is configured to at least partially cover the circumference of the switch 2. The sealing element 5 may include a gasket with a circumferentially extending ridge. The sealing element/gasket 5 may be a separate rubber component, or may be molded directly onto the switch body 2a, for example the second switch body section, by liquid injection molding.

(20) The switch body 2a includes aplastic material and is, for example, manufactured by insert molding. The switch body 2a includes of two sections, a first switch body section and a second switch body section, arranged along the center axis C of the switch body 2a.

(21) In one embodiment, the first switch body section has a cross-section which is larger than that of the second switch body section. That is, a side cross-sectional view of the switch reveals an essentially T-shaped switch body 2a, while a frontal or rear cross-sectional view reveals one or two essentially rectangular surface areas, depending on if the cut has been made through the first switch body section or the second switch body section.

(22) The switch contact 2b, in one embodiment including a dome, is configured to be arranged in a slot arranged at the free end of the first switch body section. A switch contact cover 2c is provided to cover the switch contact/dome 2b and the slot, for example by laser welding or adhering the switch contact cover 2c to the above mentioned free end.

(23) The switch assembly 1 includes a switch 2 and a connector 3 configured to interlock. The switch 2 includes connection 4 extending at least partially along a center axis C of the switch, and the connection 4 is configured to receive at least a part of the connector 3.

(24) The center axis C of the switch 2 extends between the switch contact cover 2c and the free end of the second switch body, i.e. in a direction which corresponds to the center axis of the through-going opening 9 in the housing 7. This corresponds, when the switch assembly is mounted into an electronic device, to the direction of the width of the electronic device. A first perpendicular axis extends in the direction of the height of the electronic device, and a second perpendicular axis extends in the direction of the thickness of the electronic device. FIGS. 1 and 6 show the thickness of the electronic device, while only sections of the height and width.

(25) In one embodiment, the switch 2 is provided with crush ribs protruding from the circumference of the switch 2.

(26) In one embodiment, the switch 2 cannot be separated from the connector 3 by movement in the direction of the center axis C. That is, once the switch 2 and the connector 3 have been connected, the switch 2 cannot be detached from the connector 3 by pulling them in opposite directions. The connection 4 and/or connector 3 include at least one recess, and the connector 3 and/or connection 4 correspondingly includes at least one protrusion, the protrusion being configured to interlock with the recess.

(27) In one embodiment, the connection 4 extends along the center axis C of the switch 2, at least through the second section of the switch body 2a. The connection 4 is configured to extend all the way up until the switch contact/dome 2b, such that the switch contact can interact with the connector 3 by way the above mentioned electrical connection.

(28) In one embodiment, the connection 4 includes at least one slot 4a, seen in FIG. 2b. The connection 4 further includes at least one wedge-shaped groove 4b extending from the slot 4a. See FIGS. 5a and 5b. The groove 4b is tapered in the direction of the center axis C. More specifically, the depth of the groove, in a direction perpendicular to the center axis C, is at its largest at the section which is farthest from the switch contact 2b and eventually the push-button 10. That is, the wedge declines in the direction from the second switch body section towards the first switch body section.

(29) The connector 3 includes at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion 3a, soldered onto a flex 3c. A flex stiffener 3d is connected to the flex 3c in order to keep the connector 3 stiff or rigid when connected to the switch 2. In one embodiment, the protrusion 3a includes a resilient contact blade configured to interlock with the wedge-shaped groove 4b. This way, the connector/contact blade 3 can be easily inserted into the slot 4a and groove 4b, while being interlocked such that the connector/contact blade 3 cannot be easily removed from the slot 4a and groove 4b. The resilient contact blade may have a stamped metal blade. The switch body 2a may be insert molded onto the stamped metal blade(s).

(30) In a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the connection 4 includes at least one pin 4c protruding in the direction of the center axis C. That is, the center axis of the switch and the center axis of the pin extend in parallel. The pin extends at least through the second section of the switch body 2a, and partially into the first section of the switch body 2a. The pin 4c is configured to extend all the way up until the switch contact/dome 2b, such that the switch contact can interact with the connector 3 by the above mentioned electrical connection.

(31) In one embodiment, the pin 4c includes an end section 4d having an increased cross-section. The pin may include a further, oppositely arranged end section also having an increased cross-section, as seen in FIG. 7b. The pin 4c, can, for example, include an insert molded metal pin.

(32) As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, this embodiment includes a connector 3 having at least one partially open-ended slit 3b. The slit 3b is configured to interlock releasably with the pin end section 4d in a direction which is perpendicular to the center axis C, while at the same time interlocking unreleasably with the pin 4c in the direction of the center axis C. That is, the slit 3b has an opening at one end, while being closed at the other end, such that the slit essentially has an upside-down U-shape. The interior of the slit has larger dimensions such that it can receive the end section 4d of the pin. The external section of the slit, the section facing and abutting the switch when mounted, has smaller dimensions adapted for accommodating only the smaller middle section of the pin 4c. The dimensions of the external section of the slit are, in other words, smaller than the dimensions of the pin end section 4d.

(33) Hence, the slit 3b is adapted for being slid over the end section 4d of the pin 4c in a direction perpendicular to the center axes of the switch and the pin(s). The switch 2/pin 4c cannot be separated from the connector 3/slit 3b by movement in the direction of the center axis C. That is, once the switch 2 and the connector 3 have been connected, the switch 2/pin 4c cannot be detached from the connector 3/slit 3b by pulling them in opposite directions. However, the switch 2/pin 4c can be separated from the connector 3/slit 3b by sliding the connector 3/slit 3b in a direction perpendicular to the center axes of the switch 2 and the pin(s) 4c, but opposite to the direction used when connecting the slit 3b and pin 4c.

(34) FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 9 show embodiments of a button structure 6 arranged in an electronic device such as a mobile phone. The electronic device includes a housing 7 having an external surface 8a and an internal surface 8b connected by a through-going opening 9. The button structure 6 includes a push-button 10 and an embodiment of the above-mentioned switch assembly 1. The switch 2 is configured to be inserted into the through-going opening 9 in a direction from said external surface 8a towards the internal surface 8b. The connector 3 is configured to be connected to the switch 2 such that the switch assembly 1 is secured to the housing 7.

(35) In one embodiment, the connector 3 is configured to be arranged at least partly inside the slot 4a extending at least partially along the center axis C of the switch 2. As mentioned above, the switch may further include at least one wedge-shaped groove 4b extending from the slot 4a, the groove 4b being tapered in the direction of the center axis C, and the connector 3 includes at least one corresponding wedge-shaped protrusion 3a.

(36) The connector 3 may include stopper 11 preventing the assembled button structure 6 from exiting the opening 9 in a direction towards the external surface 8a. That is, the stopper 11 has dimensions which are at least partially larger than the dimensions of the slot 4a.

(37) As mentioned above, the switch 2 may be provided with crush ribs protruding from the circumference of the switch 2. The crush ribs are configured to provide a tight fit between the exterior of the switch 2 and the interior of the opening 9.

(38) In a further embodiment, the connector 3 is configured to be arranged outside of the opening 9, in abutment with the internal surface 8b. This embodiment includes a switch 2 provided with at least one pin 4c protruding in the direction of the center axis C. As mentioned above, the pin 4c includes an end section 4d having an increased cross-section, and the connector 3 includes at least one partially open-ended slit 3b. The slit 3b is configured to interlock releasably with the pin 4c in a direction which is perpendicular to the center axis C, and interlock unreleasably with the pin 4c in the direction of the center axis C.

(39) In one embodiment, the button structure 6 further includes a compressive element arranged between the internal surface and the connector, for example a gasket. The compressive element may be made of rubber or a foam material. The compressive element is compressed between internal surface 8b and connector 3, hence providing a constant force on the connector 3, and hence the switch 2, in a direction inward towards the interior of the electronic device.

(40) FIGS. 1 and 6 show embodiments of an electronic device configured to receive the above-mentioned button structure 6. The electronic device includes a housing 7 having an external surface 8a and an internal surface 8b, the surfaces 8a, 8b being connected by a through-going opening 9. The button structure 6 includes a switch 2 and a connector 3. The switch 2 is configured to be inserted into the through-going opening 9, and the connector 3 is configured to interlock with the switch 2 such that the switch 2 cannot be separated from the connector 3 by movement in a direction out of the through-going opening 9.

(41) In one embodiment, the switch 2 includes a slot 4a and at least one wedge-shaped groove 4b extending from the slot 4a, and the connector 3 includes at least one resilient contact blade 3a configured to interlock with the wedge-shaped groove 4b.

(42) In a further embodiment, the switch 2 includes at least one pin 4c provided with an end section 4d having an increased cross-section, and the connector 3 includes at least one partially open-ended slit 3b. The slit 3b is configured to interlock releasably with the pin end section 4d in a direction which is perpendicular to the through-going opening 9.

(43) In one embodiment, the electronic device is provided with a button structure 6 by the following steps. First, the push-button 10 is connected to the switch 2. In one embodiment, this is done in a direction which is perpendicular to the center axis C of the switch 2. Secondly, the switch 2 is inserted into the opening 9, in a direction from the external surface 8a. Thirdly, the connector 3 is connected to the switch 2 such that the switch 2 cannot be separated from the connector 3 by movement in the direction of the opening 9.

(44) In one embodiment, the third step includes inserting the connector 3 into the slot 4a extending within the switch 2, in a direction from the internal surface 8b, and the connector 3 interlocking with the slot 4a such that the switch 2 cannot be removed from the opening 9.

(45) In a further embodiment, the third step includes interlocking the at least one slit 3b and at least one pin 4c, in a direction which is perpendicular to the opening 9, such that the connector 3 abuts the internal surface 8b and the switch 2 cannot be removed from the opening 9 without removing the connector 3 from the housing 7.

(46) The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those of ordinary skill in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.