Environmentally sealed button
View Patent ↗The disclosure relates to a button assembly for a device, such as an electronic device. The button assembly may include a button and a seal. The button may fit within a space defined by the seal. A portion of each of three sealing surfaces may each seal and press against respective surfaces of the button.
1. A device, comprising:
a housing;
a button disposed at least partially within the housing, the button comprising:
a button surface;
a lateral button surface having a width;
a flange comprising an upper flange surface and a lateral flange surface, the lateral flange surface having a width greater than the width of the lateral button surface; and
a tab, the tab being an extension of the flange and continuously extending outward from the upper flange surface; and
a seal disposed at least partially within the housing, the seal comprising:
a plurality of protrusions which define a recess adapted to receive the tab;
a first sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the lateral button surface;
a second sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the upper flange surface; and
a third sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the lateral flange surface, at least a portion of the third sealing surface defining a surface of the protrusions,
wherein the tab contacts the portion of the third sealing surface.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the upper flange surface and the lateral flange surface join by a chamfered edge.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface join by a chamfered edge.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second sealing surface is substantially coplanar with a portion of the upper flange surface.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the seal further comprises an upper sealing surface that contacts a portion of the housing.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the upper sealing surface includes a first upper sealing surface and a second upper sealing surface, the second upper sealing surface being arranged at a different height with respect to the first upper sealing surface.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the button surface extends beyond the housing.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the lateral button surface is substantially cylindrical and the width of the lateral button surface is a radius, and wherein the lateral flange surface forms a portion of an arc of a circle and the width of the lateral flange surface is a radius.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the seal further comprises an outermost perimeter and an opening to the recess in an outermost perimeter.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the button further comprises a lower flange surface opposed to the upper flange surface, the lateral flange surface extending therebetween, and wherein a surface of the tab is substantially coplanar with the upper flange surface.
11. A button assembly, comprising:
a button comprising:
a button surface;
a lateral button surface having a radius;
a flange comprising an upper flange surface and a lateral flange surface, the lateral flange surface having a width greater than the width of the lateral button surface; and
a tab, the tab being an extension of the flange and continuously extending outward from the upper flange surface; and
a seal comprising:
a plurality of protrusions which define a recess adapted to receive the tab;
a first sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the lateral button surface;
a second sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the upper flange surface; and
a third sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the lateral flange surface, at least a portion of the third sealing surface defining a surface of the protrusions,
wherein the tab contacts the portion of the third sealing surface.
12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the upper flange surface and the lateral flange surface join by a chamfered edge.
13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface join by a chamfered edge.
14. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the second sealing surface is substantially coplanar with a portion of the upper flange surface.
15. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the seal further comprises an upper sealing surface which contacts a portion of the housing, the upper sealing surface further including a first upper sealing surface and a second upper sealing surface, the second upper sealing surface being arranged at a different height with respect to the first upper sealing surface.
16. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the lateral button surface is substantially cylindrical and the width of the lateral button surface is a radius, and wherein the lateral flange surface forms a portion of an arc of a circle and the width of the lateral flange surface is a radius.
17. The button assembly of claim 11 , wherein the seal further comprises an outermost perimeter and an opening to the recess in an outermost perimeter.
18. The button assembly of claim 11 , wherein the button further comprises a lower flange surface opposed to the upper flange surface, the lateral flange surface extending therebetween, and wherein a surface of the tab is substantially coplanar with the upper flange surface.
19. A device, comprising:
a housing comprising an outer housing surface and an inner housing surface;
a button disposed at least partially within the housing, the button comprising:
a button surface;
a lateral button surface having a radius;
a flange comprising an upper flange surface and a lateral flange surface, the lateral flange surface having a width greater than the width of the lateral button surface; and
a tab, the tab being an extension of the flange and continuously extending outward from the upper flange surface; and
a seal disposed at least partially within the housing, the seal comprising:
a plurality of protrusions which define a recess adapted to receive the tab;
a first sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the lateral button surface;
a second sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the upper flange surface;
a third sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the lateral flange surface, at least a portion of the third sealing surface defining a portion of the protrusions; and
an upper sealing surface, a portion of which contacts the inner housing surface,
wherein the tab contacts the portion of the third sealing surface.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the upper sealing surface includes a first upper sealing surface and a second upper sealing surface, the second upper sealing surface being arranged at a different height with respect to the first upper sealing surface.