Sealed remote keyless entry device
View Patent ↗A keyless entry device includes a rear casing having a first surface extending along a periphery of the rear casing member, an electronic circuit located in the rear casing member and including comprising a substrate and switching elements supported on the substrate, a front casing including a second surface facing the first surface and extending along a periphery of the rear casing member having button apertures aligned with a switching element. A seal element of compressible elastic material includes a peripheral flange comprising multiple protrusions located between the first surface and the second surface, the protrusions producing elastic preloaded contact between the front and rear casing members when the device is assembled, and pedestals aligned with a button aperture and a switching element. Button caps are aligned with a button aperture and located above one of the pedestals.
1. A keyless entry device comprising:
a rear casing member including a first surface extending along a periphery of the rear casing member;
an electronic circuit located in the rear casing member, comprising a substrate and switching elements supported on the substrate;
a front casing member including a second surface facing the first surface and extending along a periphery of the rear casing member, and having button apertures, each aperture aligned with and located above a switching element;
a seal element of compressible elastic material, including a peripheral flange comprising a seal surface, multiple protrusions located between the first surface and the second surface and extending from the flange to an elevation of the seal surface, the protrusions producing elastic preloaded contact between the front and rear casing members when the device is assembled, and pedestals extending from the flange to an elevation greater than the elevation of the of the seal surface, each pedestal aligned with a button aperture and a switching element; and
button caps, each cap aligned with a button aperture and located above one of the pedestals, whereby a button cap can be depressed toward the substrate to actuate a respective one of the switching elements.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the seal element is formed of elastomer.
3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
pairs of latch elements spaced around a periphery of the front and rear casing members, a first member of each pair secured to the rear casing member and a second member of each pair secured to the rear casing member and engageable with the first member, for releasably securing the rear casing member and front casing member together and maintaining the protrusions in a compressed condition between the casing members when the device is assembled and latch elements are mutually engaged.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral flange of the seal element further comprises:
protrusions spaced laterally across a width of the flange and extending along a length of the flange around a periphery of the device, each protrusion laterally spaced from an adjacent protrusion by a recess that extends along a length of the flange.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral flange of the seal element further comprises:
protrusions spaced laterally across a width of the flange and extending along a length of the flange, each protrusion having a crest located at a greater distance above the first surface than a distance between the first surface and the second surface when the device is closed and rear casing is secured to the front casing.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the latch elements include:
multiple detents spaced mutually along a periphery of one of the rear casing member and the front casing member; and
multiple tabs spaced mutually along a periphery of the other of the rear casing member and the front casing member, each tab aligned with a detent and elastically displaceable into and out of engagement with the detent, for securing and releasing the front and rear casing members together.
7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit comprises a remote keyless entry transmitter.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the rear casing member and the front casing member is formed integrally with a key ring passage.
9. A keyless entry device comprising:
a rear casing member including a first surface extending along a periphery of the rear casing member;
an electronic circuit located in the rear casing member, comprising a substrate and switching elements supported on the substrate;
a front casing member including a second surface facing the first surface and extending along a periphery of the rear casing member, and having button apertures, each aperture aligned with and located above a switching element;
a seal element of compressible elastic material including a peripheral flange comprising a seal surface, multiple protrusions located between the first surface and the second surface and extending from the flange to an elevation of the seal surface, the protrusions being spaced laterally across a width of the flange and extending along a length of the flange, each protrusion having a crest located at a greater distance above the first surface than a distance between the first surface and the second surface when the rear casing is secured to the front casing, and pedestals extending from the flange to an elevation greater than the elevation of the of the seal surface, each pedestal aligned with a button aperture and a switching element; and
button caps, each cap aligned with a button aperture and located above one of the pedestals, whereby a button cap can be depressed toward the substrate to actuate a respective one of the switching elements and the protrusions are fitted with form are loaded seal.
10. The device of claim 9 further comprising:
pairs of latch elements spaced around a periphery of the front and rear casing members, a first member of each pair secured to the rear casing member and a second member of each pair secured to the rear casing member and engageable with the first member, for releasably securing the rear casing member and front casing member together and maintaining the protrusions in a compressed condition between the casing members when the device is assembled and latch elements are mutually engaged.
11. The device of claim 9 wherein the peripheral flange of the seal element further comprises:
protrusions spaced laterally across a width of the flange and extending along a length of the flange around a periphery of the device, each protrusion laterally spaced from an adjacent protrusion by a recess that extends along a length of the flange.
12. The device of claim 9 wherein the latch elements include:
multiple detents spaced mutually along a periphery of one of the rear casing member and the front casing member; and
multiple tabs spaced mutually along a periphery of the other of the rear casing member and the front casing member, each tab aligned with a detent and elastically displaceable into and out of engagement with the detent, for securing and releasing the front and rear casing members together.
13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said electronic circuit comprises a remote keyless entry transmitter.
14. The assembly of claim 9 wherein one of the rear casing member and the front casing member is formed integrally with a key ring passage.
15. A seal for a keyless entry device having a rear casing member including a first surface and a front casing member including a second surface facing the first surface, and having button apertures, each aperture aligned with and located above a switching element, and an electronic circuit located in the rear casing member and comprising a substrate and switching elements supported on the substrate, comprising:
a seal element formed of compressible elastic material, including a flange comprising a seal surface, multiple protrusions located between the first surface and the second surface and extending from the flange to an elevation of the seal surface, the protrusions producing elastic preloaded contact between the front and rear casing members when the device is assembled, and pedestals extending from the flange to an elevation greater than the elevation of the of the seal surface, each pedestal aligned with a button aperture and a switching element.
16. The seal of claim 15 wherein protrusions are spaced laterally across a width of the flange and extending along a periphery of the flange, each protrusion having a crest located at a greater distance above the first surface than a distance between the first surface and the second surface when the device is closed and the rear casing is secured to the front casing.