IP Library Granted Patent US 7,138,588
Granted Patent B2
US 7,138,588 · App. 11/354,837 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

Operating member

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,138,588
App. No.
11/354,837
Granted
Nov 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The operating member is constructed by supporting the button members with the thin sheet member without integrally constructing the button members, and therefore, the device can be downsized and slimmed. The key tops of the button members can be individually surface-treated before assembly, and therefore, a user can easily recognize the kinds of buttons at the time of operation, and an operation mistake can be prevented.

Claims (21)

1. An operating member comprising:

a button member having a key top and a key stem;

an apparatus casing having a button opening from which the key top is exposed;

a sheet member which is formed of a material having elasticity, has a key stem opening through which the key stem is penetrated, and holds the button member by pressing the button member to the button opening;

a base board on which a switch, which constructs a transmission path of a signal when the key top is pressed and the switch is pressed by the key stem, is placed; and

a sheet support member which presses the sheet member against the apparatus casing,

wherein the sheet support member is a bent part which is bent toward a side of the base board on which the switch is placed by cutting a part of the sheet member, and

wherein the bent part is biased toward the apparatus casing side by the base board.

2. The operating member according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet member is formed of any one of polyester, polycarbonate and vinyl chloride.

3. The operating member according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of coating, plating, polishing, vapor deposition, ion plating and embossing is applied to a surface of the key top of the button member.

4. The operating member according to claim 3 , wherein shapes of the key stem and the key stem opening are paired.

5. The operating member according to claim 4 , wherein the sheet member has electrical conductivity, and when the sheet member is charged with static electricity, the sheet member discharges the static electricity to an outside.

6. The operating member according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of coating, plating, polishing, vapor deposition, ion plating and embossing is applied to a surface of the key top of the button member.

7. The operating member according to claim 1 , wherein shapes of the key stem and the key stem opening are paired.

8. The operating member according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet member has electrical conductivity, and when the sheet member is charged with static electricity, the sheet member discharges the static electricity to an outside.

9. An operating member, comprising:

a button member having a key top and a key stem;

an apparatus casing having a button opening from which the key top is exposed;

a sheet member which is formed of a material having elasticity, has a key stem opening through which the key stem is penetrated, and holds the button member by pressing the button member to the button opening; and

a base board on which a switch which constructs a transmission path of a signal when the key top is pressed and the switch is pressed by the key stem is placed,

wherein shapes of the key stem and the key stem opening are paired.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2007
From: FUJIFILM HOLDINGS CORPORATION (FORMERLY FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.)
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018904/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2006
From: SOUMI, MITSUO
To: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017597/0072 →