Cantilevered push button

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10134545-B2
Application number	US-201213615471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2012
Priority date	Jun 7, 2008
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A cantilevered push button adapted for accepting an input on an electrical or electronic device is disclosed. The button can include an elongated button top component disposed about an exterior surface of an electrical or electronic device such that it is accessible to a user, and having two opposing distal ends associated with separate user inputs. A first fulcrum is located between the first distal end and the midpoint of the elongated button top component, while a second fulcrum is located between the second distal end and the midpoint. A first electrical contact is associated with the first distal end, such that when a user presses on the first distal end, the elongated button top component pivots about the second fulcrum and the first electrical contact is actuated. A second electrical contact is similarly associated with the second distal end and first fulcrum.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A button system for an electronic device having a housing, the housing having an opening, the button system comprising:
an elongated button body formed from a first structure that is positioned within the opening, the elongated button body having i) a first distal region, ii) a second distal region that is laterally displaced from the first distal region, and iii) a central region between the first distal region and second distal region,
a base component in contact with the elongated button body in an unactuated state, the base component formed from a second structure different from the first structure, the base component comprising i) a first protrusion in a location corresponding to the first distal region and ii) a second protrusion in a location corresponding to the second distal region,
a first depressible electrical actuator that contacts and supports the base component at the first protrusion, and
a second depressible electrical actuator that contacts and supports the base component at the second protrusion,
wherein support of the elongated button body is limited to that provided by the first depressible electrical actuator and by the second depressible electrical actuator regardless of an actuation state of the first depressible electrical actuator and by the second depressible electrical actuator.

2. The button system as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the first distal region is depressed, the elongated button body pivots about the second depressible actuator.

3. The button system as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the second distal region is depressed, the elongated button body pivots about the first depressible actuator.

4. The button system as recited in claim 1 , when the first distal region and the second distal region are simultaneously depressed, the first depressible electrical actuator and the second depressible electrical actuator are simultaneously actuated, thereby defining a simultaneous input to the electronic device.

5. The button system as recited in claim 4 , wherein:
the first distal region is associated with a first user input;
the second distal region is associated with a second user input; and
the simultaneous input is associated with a third user input.

6. The button system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the central region comprises an extended central top surface recessed from a first top surface of the first distal region and from a second top surface of the second distal region, the extended central top surface is flat, and in an un-actuated state the elongated button body is aligned such that the extended central top surface is substantially flush with an external surface of the housing.

7. The button system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first top surface and the second top surface are flat and are substantially parallel to and proud of the external surface of the housing in the un-actuated state.

8. The button system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base component comprises a slot that receives the elongated button body.

9. The button system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the button system includes at least four actuation states, the four actuation states are (i) an actuation of the first distal region, (ii) an actuation of the second distal region, (iii) a simultaneous actuation of both the first and second distal regions, and (iv) an un-actuated state.

10. A button system, comprising a support layer;
an elongated cantilevered button body comprising a midpoint, the elongated cantilevered button body having i) a first distal region, ii) a second distal region opposite the first distal region, and iii) a central region centered about the midpoint, the central region separating the first distal region and second distal region;
a unitary base component coupled to the elongated button body, the unitary base component moving with the elongated cantilevered button body when elongated cantilevered button body is actuated, the unitary base component comprising i) a first protrusion in a location corresponding to the first distal region and ii) a second protrusion in a location corresponding to the second distal region;
a first spring loaded electrical actuator disposed on the support layer, wherein the first spring loaded electrical actuator is in contact with the unitary base component at the first protrusion; and
a second spring loaded electrical actuator disposed on the support layer, wherein the second spring loaded electrical actuator is in contact with the unitary base component at the second protrusion,
wherein, regardless of an actuation state of the elongated cantilevered button body, direct support of the elongated cantilevered button body and the unitary base component is limited maintained by the first spring loaded electrical actuator at the first protrusion and by the second spring loaded electrical actuator at the second protrusion, and wherein each of the first protrusion and of the second protrusion corresponds to a respective fulcrum about which the elongated cantilevered button body is capable of movement; and
wherein when the first distal region moves, the midpoint of the elongated cantilevered button body is free to move along a first arc centered around the second protrusion, and wherein when the second distal region moves, the midpoint of the elongated cantilevered button body is free to move along a second arc centered around the first protrusion, wherein the second arc and the first arc are opposite each other.

11. The button system as recited in claim 10 , wherein when the first distal region and the second distal region are simultaneously depressed, the first spring loaded electrical actuator and the second spring loaded electrical actuator are simultaneously actuated, thereby defining a simultaneous input.

12. The button system as recited in claim 11 , wherein:
the first distal region is associated with a first user input;
the second distal region is associated with a second user input; and
the simultaneous input is associated with a third user input.

13. The button system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the central region comprises an extended central top surface recessed from a first top surface of the first distal region and from a second top surface of the second distal region, the extended central top surface is flat, and in an un-actuated state the elongated cantilevered button body is aligned such that the extended central top surface is substantially flush with an external surface of a housing.

14. The button system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the unitary base component comprises a slot that receives the elongated button body.

15. The button system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the button system includes at least four actuation states, the four actuation states are (i) an actuation of the first distal region, (ii) an actuation of the second distal region, (iii) a simultaneous actuation of both the first and second distal regions, and (iv) an un-actuated state.

16. A two-fulcrum button system comprising:
an elongated cantilevered button body being characterized as having a first distal region and a second distal region and having a top portion with a top surface accessible to a user;
a base portion having a first surface that includes a slot that receives the elongated cantilevered button body, the base portion further comprising a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface having a first protrusion and a second protrusion;
a first electrical contact that contacts the second surface of the base portion at the first protrusion in accordance with a first axis,

Assignees

• Hamel Bradley J
• Tan Tang Yew
• Wang Erik
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hamel Bradley J
• Tan Tang Yew
• Wang Erik

Classifications

• H04M1/236

  including keys on side or rear faces · CPC title

• H01H23/145

  the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward · CPC title

• H01H23/30 Primary

  with stable centre positions and one or both end positions unstable · CPC title