Slide input component assemblies of an electronic device and methods for making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9741509-B2
Application number	US-201213656368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2012
Priority date	Oct 19, 2012
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

Slide input component assemblies of an electronic device and methods for making the same are provided. In some embodiments, a slide input component assembly may include a slide button subassembly that may have a knob, a base, a retention mechanism that may couple the knob to the base, and a shell part that may be provided about at least a portion of the base. The slide input component assembly may also include a slide switch subassembly that may have a switch that may be configured to move along a switch path when the slide button subassembly moves along a button path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input component assembly comprising:
a slide button subassembly comprising:
a knob configured to protrude along an axial direction;
a shell part;
a base between the knob and the shell part; and
a retention mechanism that couples the knob to the base; wherein
the shell part comprises a portion extending above a surface of the base and configured to slidably engage an interior surface of a housing of an electronic device; and

a slide switch subassembly comprising a switch that is configured to be moved along a switch path when the slide button subassembly slides, relative to the housing of the electronic device, along a button path perpendicular to the axial direction.

2. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the retention mechanism engages the knob; and
the retention mechanism retains a portion of the base between the knob and the retention mechanism.

3. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a screw.

4. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises glue.

5. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shell part receives at least a portion of the retention mechanism.

6. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the retention mechanism comprises a screw; and
the shell part is provided within a drive design feature of the screw.

7. The input component assembly of claim 6 , wherein the shell part provided within the drive design feature of the screw prevents the screw from disengaging from the knob.

8. The input component assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism that biases the slide button subassembly away from the slide switch subassembly in at least one direction.

9. The input component assembly of claim 8 , wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the shell part.

10. The input component assembly of claim 8 , wherein the shell part comprises a recess that receives a free end of the biasing mechanism.

11. The input component assembly of claim 8 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the base is metal; and
the shell part is plastic.

13. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the knob extends at least partially through an aperture of the housing of the electronic device.

14. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the knob, the base, the retention mechanism, and the shell part are fixed relative to one another at least in a direction parallel to the button path.

15. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the shell part extending above the surface of the base protrudes above the surface of the base along the axial direction.

16. The input component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the shell part extending above the surface of the base prevents the base from contacting the interior surface of the housing of the electronic device.

17. An electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising an opening therethrough;
a recess formed into an internal portion of the housing;
an input component assembly comprising:
a slide button subassembly comprising:
a base comprising a tab;
a knob coupled to the base; and
a shell part provided about at least a portion of the base; and

a slide switch subassembly comprising a switch that is configured to move along a switch path when the knob moves along the opening, wherein:
the tab moves along the recess when the knob moves along the opening; and
the tab interacts with the recess to limit the movement of the knob along the opening.

18. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing comprising a first opening therethrough;
a knob having a main body portion that includes a first surface that extends through the first opening and an opposing second surface that includes a retention feature;
a base having a second opening therethrough;
a retention mechanism that couples the knob to the base, wherein the retention mechanism includes a main body portion that partially extends through the second opening in the base and couples to the retention feature on the second surface of the knob; and
a shell part comprising:
a first overhang and a second overhang that extend from a first surface of the shell part, wherein the first and second overhangs are configured to retain the base between the first and second overhangs; and
a first switch grip and a second switch grip that extend from a second surface of the shell part, wherein the first and second switch grips are configured to slide a switch along a switch path when the knob slides along the first opening in the housing.

19. The electronic device as in claim 18 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a head body portion having a first surface that is coupled to the main body portion and a second opposing surface that includes a drive design feature, wherein the first surface of the head body portion is adjacent a bottom surface of the base when the retention mechanism couples the knob to the base.

20. The electronic device as in claim 19 , wherein the shell part comprises at least one feature on the first surface of the shell part that is configured to engage with the drive design feature in the second surface of the head body portion of the retention mechanism.

21. The electronic device as in claim 18 , further comprising a biasing mechanism coupled to the second surface of the shell part, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to bias the shell part towards the housing and the first opening.

22. The electronic device as in claim 18 , wherein
the base comprises an indicator opening therethrough; and
the shell part comprises an indicator portion that extends from the first surface of the shell part and is configured to extend through the indicator opening to be exposed through the first opening when the knob slides along the first opening from a first functional position to a second functional position.

23. An input component assembly, comprising:
a knob having a main body portion that includes a first surface that is configured to extend through an opening of a housing of an electronic device; and
a shell part mechanically engaged with the knob, the shell part comprising:
a first overhang and a second overhang that extend from a first surface of the shell part, wherein the first and second overhangs are configured to retain the knob between the first and second overhangs, and to slideably engage with an interior surface of the housing of the electronic device; and
a first switch grip and a second switch grip that extend from a second surface of the shell part, wherein the first and second switch grips are configured to slide a switch along a switch path when the knob slides along the first opening in the housing.

24. The input component assembly of claim 23 , wherein the shell part provided within the drive design feature of the screw inhibits the screw from rotating with respect to the shell part.

25. The input component assembly of claim 24 , wherein the shell part provided within the drive design feature of the screw inhibits the screw from unthreading from the knob.

26. The input component assembly of claim 24 , wherein the base includes a feature that inhibits rotation of the knob with respect to the base.

27. The input component assembly of claim 24 , wherein the k

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Kibiti Elvis M
• Lin Luen-Chiou
• Corbin Sean S
• Kao Shih-Ning
• Mcclure Stephen R

Classifications

• H01H11/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches (processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88) · CPC title

• H01H15/04 Primary

  Stationary parts; Contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• Y10T29/49105

  Switch making · CPC title

• H01H9/16

  Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" · CPC title

• H01H15/24

  having a single operating part only protruding from one side of the switch casing for alternate pushing and pulling · CPC title