Seal For Push Button Actuator Patents (Class 200/302.2)
  • Patent number: 11844407
    Abstract: A protective case for an electronic device that includes a case member, the case member including slots and ports formed therein for allowing interaction with a device positioned within the case member. The case member includes inner and outer surfaces. Separate button features are assembled to the case member sealing the case member and providing actuation of the device. The case member and lid are removably joined to define an air and water tight volume receiving the device. The button features are assembled from outside the case member and include a membrane attached to an inside of the case member. The plug core transmits force directly to the underlying device and displaces the flexible membrane so that it undergoes elastic deformation but is still secured to the case member to toggle the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CATALYST LIFESTYLE LIMITED
    Inventors: Joshua Wright, June Lai
  • Patent number: 11830695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device including a housing having a front housing and a rear housing. The rear housing includes a rear housing face, and a first sidewall, first end a second sidewall, and a second end wall projecting from the rear housing face to form at least one interior chamber. The sidewalls of the rear housing include a rear housing tab that projects away from the rear housing face. The switching device further includes a splitter plate support, comprising first and second support panels, located within the interior chamber. The first support panel further includes a support hook that extends from the outer panel face. The support hook has an aperture that engages the rear housing tab, in which the rear housing tab extends through the aperture of the support hook, forming a double-walled panel and reinforcing the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dariusz Poczontek, Hanspeter Hochuli, Sandro Liberto, Sadashiv Pimple
  • Patent number: 11798757
    Abstract: A safety button cover for use with a button station is provided. The safety button cover comprises a button cover sleeve with a first and second open end that define an interior space therebetween. A dividing wall is provided between the first and second open ends to separate the interior space into a first recess and second recess. The dividing wall further includes at least one opening to permit a corresponding button of the button station to extend from the first recess through the opening into the second recess. When the safety button cover is installed over the button station, a portion of the button cover sleeve surrounds a button panel and a portion of a button housing on which the button is installed to define an overlap region between the safety button cover and the button station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MZ Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Iftikar Malawiya, Brandon Zdrilic
  • Patent number: 11764005
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction and a second plate facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a key assembly disposed on at least part of the first plate and including a plurality of keys for inputting data by a pressing operation, wherein the key assembly includes a keycap, a printed circuit board, a support structure disposed on the printed circuit board to support the keycap and supporting a pressing operation of the keycap, a contact point portion disposed between the support structure and the printed circuit board, a movable portion coupled to the support structure in the second direction, and an actuator coupled to the movable portion and providing a force for moving the keycap in the first direction or the second direction depending on whether the actuator is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youjin Kang, Changwon Son
  • Patent number: 11728109
    Abstract: A key structure includes a casing, a covering member, a pressing element, a triggering post, a switch element. The casing has an opening. The opening is covered by the covering member. The pressing element is disposed within the opening and connected with the covering member. The pressing element includes a middle part and an extension part. The triggering post is installed on the middle part of the pressing element. The triggering post is extended in the direction toward the inner position of the casing. When an external force is applied to the middle part of the pressing element, the triggering post is moved toward the switch element to push the switch element. When the external force is applied to the extension part of the pressing element, the triggering post is correspondingly moved with the pressing element in an inclined manner to push the switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventors: Yung-Tai Pan, Chun-Che Wu, Ming-Hao Hsieh, Sheng-An Tsai
  • Patent number: 11727905
    Abstract: A button unit is suspended vertically and has a button body with an actuating surface and a shaft extending downwardly therefrom. An X-Y sensor unit is arranged below the button body for detecting X-Y positions on the actuating surface. The X-Y sensor unit has one opening such that the shaft can move therethrough. One transfer element is elastically suspended below the shaft and moved downwardly upon downward movement of the shaft. A Z sensor unit is arranged below the transfer element. The Z sensor unit has a detection element for detecting downward movement of the transfer element. The X-Y sensor unit may include a capacitive sensor. The Z sensor unit may include an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a magnetic sensor. The shaft and the extension may include a translucent material to form a light guide for illuminating the button body via a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Ableton AG
    Inventor: Oliver Harms
  • Patent number: 11721498
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction and a second plate facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a key assembly disposed on at least part of the first plate and including a plurality of keys for inputting data by a pressing operation, wherein the key assembly includes a keycap, a printed circuit board, a support structure disposed on the printed circuit board to support the keycap and supporting a pressing operation of the keycap, a contact point portion disposed between the support structure and the printed circuit board, a movable portion coupled to the support structure in the second direction, and an actuator coupled to the movable portion and providing a force for moving the keycap in the first direction or the second direction depending on whether the actuator is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youjin Kang, Changwon Son
  • Patent number: 11515104
    Abstract: A microswitch includes a contact chamber that accommodates a contact mechanism that opens and closes an electrical circuit; an enclosure that accommodates the contact chamber; and a pressing component that accepts a pressure external to the enclosure. The pressing component may include an insertion part that is inserted into an insertion hole in the contact chamber and acts on the contact mechanism, the insertion part receiving a pressure external thereto and moving from a first side that is outward of the enclosure to a second side that is inward of the enclosure. The pressing component may include a shielding part that shields the insertion hole from the contact chamber side, the shielding part being larger than the insertion hole in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction to block the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichiro Kobuchi, Yoshinori Ijiri
  • Patent number: 11456127
    Abstract: A switch device includes a substrate having one surface and another surface; a switch disposed on the one surface of the substrate and configured to be pressed; a first housing; a second housing; and a pin member. An internal space is formed by the first housing and the second housing, and the substrate is disposed in the internal space. The first housing has an opening through which at least a part of the pin member is inserted into the internal space. The second housing includes a support portion that supports the another surface of the substrate. When the pin member is inserted into the internal space through the opening, the pin member presses the support portion against the another surface of the substrate so as to cause the support portion to support the another surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Osako, Kazuma Takeo, Kenji Kawano
  • Patent number: 11430617
    Abstract: An example portable electronic device includes a front glass cover; a rear cover; a bezel surrounding a space defined by the front cover and the rear cover, the bezel including a portion including an opening; a display device built in the space; and a plate including a plane parallel to the front cover within the space. The example electronic device includes a key movably inserted in the opening; a support structure mounted on the plate or a portion of the bezel and including a hole through which the key passes; a dome button mounted on the support structure and arranged to face the first surface of the key and the hole so that the key can be pressed; and a waterproof structure including a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Min Choi, Hyuk-Jae Jang, Woong-Chan Kim, Jung-Tae Kim, Dae-Hyeong Park, Sang-Hyun Yi, Jae-Ryang Lee, Jeong-Goo Jeon, Sung-Gun Cho, Sung-Joo Cho, Young-Sik Choi, Soon-Woong Yang, Min-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 11336988
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a loudspeaker apparatus. The loudspeaker apparatus comprises a core housing for accommodating the earphone core; a circuit housing for accommodating a control circuit that drives the earphone core to vibrate to generate a sound, wherein the sound includes at least two resonance peaks; an ear hook for connecting the core housing and the circuit housing; a key arranged at a keyhole on the circuit housing, wherein the key moves relative to the keyhole to generate a control signal for the control circuit; and an elastic pad arranged between the key and the keyhole, wherein the elastic pad hinders a movement of the key towards the keyhole. In the present disclosure, by providing an elastic pad between the key and the keyhole, the waterproof effect of the loudspeaker apparatus may be improved, and the space occupied by the key may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chaowu Li, Zhuyang Jiang, Fen You
  • Patent number: 11257639
    Abstract: A snap-action switch including: a housing in which a plurality of fixed contacts and a plurality of movable contacts are disposed therein, a plunger configured for depressible movement via an aperture in the housing from a first position in which the plunger is relatively extended outwardly of the housing via the aperture, into, a second position in which the plunger is relatively retracted inwardly of the housing via the aperture; and a snap-action assembly operably-connected with the plunger, the snap-action assembly being responsive to depressible movement of the plunger so as to effect snap-action type movement of the plurality of movable contacts between normally opened and normally closed positions with respect to the fixed contacts; a sealing element configured for arrangement around the plunger to occlude ingress of particulates, dust and water from entering the housing via the aperture, the sealing element including a flanged portion; and a securement element configured for arrangement around the sea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Defond Electech Co., Ltd, Defond Components Limited
    Inventor: Kin Yu Wong
  • Patent number: 11250999
    Abstract: A waterproof switch device and a waterproof switch module for a vehicle trunk door employing the same are disclosed. Without using a PCB, terminal leads and a pair of switch terminal parts providing switch terminals are integrated with the switch bracket by injection molding. A push button unit is capable of switching the exposed switch terminals and is also sealingly coupled to the top side of the switch bracket so that the space containing the switch terminals and the switch contacts is waterproof. The lead portions of the switch terminals and the switch cables are connected in the terminal receiving space of the switch bracket, and the waterproofing part fills the terminal receiving space so that they are completely embedded so as to be waterproof. The waterproof switch module for a vehicle trunk door adopts the waterproof switch device and is composed of a double waterproof structure by applying an additional waterproof structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Switch Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bong Sagong
  • Patent number: 11205548
    Abstract: A waterproof button assembly. The waterproof button assembly may include a housing including an opening and a button. The button may be positioned at least partially within the housing via the opening. The assembly may also include a plurality of engagement components positioned on opposite-distal ends of the button. The plurality of engagement components may be configured to retain the button within the housing. The engagement components may extend distally from the button, such that a portion of the engagement components may be positioned within apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing. The assembly may also include a plurality of supports, a tactile dome in contact with the button and at least one of the plurality of supports. A sensing component of the assembly may be positioned adjacent the housing and in alignment with the button and/or tactile dome for sensing actuation of the button within the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre M. Teplitxky, Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel B. Weiss
  • Patent number: 11189437
    Abstract: An operating device (1) for a power tool, including at least one first and second switching element (40, 50), the first switching element (40) being settable to a first and a second mode, and the second switching element (50) being settable to a first and a second mode, the first switching element (40) including at least one first signaling means (21) for the particular signaling of the first or second mode, and the second switching element (50) including at least one second signaling means (22) for the particular signaling of the first or second mode. The operating device is designed in such a way that the second switching element (50) is settable from the first mode to the second mode only when the first switching element (40) is set from the first mode to the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Blatz, Lionel Barbier
  • Patent number: 11168938
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance including both a user interface and door position sensor. The same devices and sensors are for both functions. The user interface is mounted on a door or mullion in such a way that all or nearly all of the input devices on the user interface are activated simultaneously or nearly simultaneously when a door is closed so that the user interface can distinguish this action from user inputs in which only one or two input devices are activated at a time. Likewise, when all input devices are inactivated nearly simultaneously, the user interface may know that a door has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Willis
  • Patent number: 11145475
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural key structures. Each key structure includes a plate assembly, a keycap, a connecting member and a buffering element. The plate assembly has a hollow region. The keycap is located over the plate assembly. The connecting member is connected between the keycap and the plate assembly. The keycap is connected with the connecting member through at least one hook of the keycap. The keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the plate assembly through the connecting member. The buffering element is installed on the plate assembly. The buffering element is extended in a direction toward the keycap and penetrated through the hollow region of the plate assembly. While the keycap is moved downwardly and the at least one hook of the keycap is contacted with the buffering element, there is the gap between the keycap and the plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Han Wu, Che-Wei Yang, Yi-Wei Chen, Chien-Hung Liu, Chen-Hsuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 11147176
    Abstract: A protective cover assembly and a protected electronic device are provided. The protective cover assembly for example includes: a silicone base, having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface; a patterned double-sided adhesive layer, attached onto the inner surface of the silicone base; and a releasable protective paper, attached onto a side of the patterned double-sided adhesive layer facing away from the inner surface of the silicone base and thereby the patterned double-sided adhesive layer is sandwiched between the silicone base and the releasable protective paper. The protective cover assembly can be applied for protecting a keypad and/or display part of an electronic device to thereby make the protected electronic device gain a liquid sealing and corrosion-resistant performance and the service life is prolonged consequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Meiling Hung
  • Patent number: 11081299
    Abstract: The snap action switch of the present disclosure may include a housing with a plurality of protruding blocks extending inwardly, a plunger disposed on the housing, a first elastic component coupled to the plunger for providing a force against the plunger, a cam located within the housing and being movable by the plunger, a rotor located within the housing and associated with the cam, and a second elastic component coupled to the rotor for providing a force against the rotor. When the cam moves to a first position, the rotor may rotate such that a lower surface of the cam engages with an upper surface of the rotor, and when the cam moves to a second position, the rotor may continue to rotate such that the upper surface of the rotor engages with a lower surface of at least one of the plurality of protruding blocks of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Hopkin Wu
  • Patent number: 11079812
    Abstract: A modular button assembly includes a button housing that may be disposed in an opening of an enclosure of an electronic device. The modular button assembly may include an input member that forms an exterior surface of the button housing and is configured to receive inputs, for example from a user of the electronic device. The modular button assembly may further include a sensor for detecting the received inputs and transmitting a signal to a processor of the electronic device. The modular button assembly may be configured such that disposing the button housing in the opening of the enclosure forms a seal that prevents contaminants from entering the button housing and the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Trevor J. Ness, James G. Horiuchi, Steven P. Cardinali
  • Patent number: 11064617
    Abstract: A switch device for a vehicle includes: a case member having on one end side thereof an electrical connection part; and an operating member provided on an opposite end side of the case member to face a vehicle compartment. The case member includes, on an upper wall disposed on an upper side in up-down direction when mounting the case member on a vehicle body interior material: a dividing wall extending in width direction of the case member, orthogonal to the up-down direction, along the material; a first rib extending from the dividing wall toward the one end side and dividing the upper wall into a first region going into the connection part and a second region not going thereinto, and a second rib extending in the first region from an intermediate part of the first rib toward the one end side to partition the dividing wall from the connection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daiki Takahara, Kenichiro Miyadera, Masataka Ikeda, Yuichiro Kozuka, Masahiko Shimada, Yohei Ohuchi, Yuichi Nobusawa
  • Patent number: 11043340
    Abstract: An inspection station is capable of being used under harsh conditions. The inspection station includes switch elements to which the inspection station is responsive for generating a predetermined control signal in response to actuation of a switch element. A fluid tight sealing element isolates an interior of the inspection station from an outside of the inspection station, the sealing element including one or more flexible button areas at the locations of the switch elements to provide access from the outside of the inspection station to actuate the switch elements located in the interior of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juha-Matti Aitamurto, Mikko Vaskela, Jukka Korpela
  • Patent number: 10969582
    Abstract: A heads-up display (HUD) system is disclosed in various embodiments. The HUD system includes a window plate defining an opening to enable light emitting from HUD components to pass therethrough. The window plate includes an inner trough wall and an outer trough wall that cooperate to define a trough therebetween that at least partially surrounds the opening. A transparent cover is attached to the window plate and covers the opening. The cover has a perimeter and an overhang portion located along at least a portion of the perimeter. The opening has a center and the overhang portion extends further from the center than the inner trough wall to facilitate liquid traveling across the cover to enter the trough and inhibit the liquid from entering an interface between the cover and the window plate. The outer trough wall can have a raised profile relative to the cover to protect the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Dominic Degiulio, Roger Yang, Yusuke Matsui
  • Patent number: 10915181
    Abstract: A switch has a base, an operation unit disposed on the base and moving in a contacting-separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, and a link member configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting-separating direction and support the operation unit on the base. The base includes a base-side latching portion. The operation unit includes an operation-unit-side latching portion configured to be latched to base-side latching portion at an end of an allowable movement range for the operation unit in a separating direction in which the operation unit is separated from the base. The base-side latching portion and the operation-unit-side latching portion are latched to each other to inhibit the operation unit from moving in the separating direction beyond the separating-direction end of the allowable movement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 10910170
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to an electronic device including a key module are disclosed, and according to one embodiment, a portable electronic device comprises: a front glass cover defining the front surface of the electronic device; a rear cover defining the rear surface of the electronic device; a bezel surrounding a space defined by the front cover and the rear cover, the bezel being integrally formed with or separately formed from the rear cover, the bezel including a portion including an opening; a display device built in the space and including a screen area exposed through the front cover; and a plate including a plane parallel to the front cover within the space, wherein the opening penetrates from the outside of the bezel toward the space in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Min Choi, Hyuk-Jae Jang, Woong-Chan Kim, Jung-Tae Kim, Dae-Hyeong Park, Sang-Hyun Yi, Jae-Ryang Lee, Jeong-Goo Jeon, Sung-Gun Cho, Sung-Joo Cho, Young-Sik Choi, Soon-Woong Yang, Min-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 10905023
    Abstract: Harsh environment key panel and bezel structures for a user interface device are disclosed. In embodiments, a user interface device includes a printed board, a switch mounted to the printed board, and a key panel disposed upon the printed board. The key panel includes a plurality of printed device layers forming a bezel, a button configured to actuate the switch, and a deformable interface between the bezel and the button. The plurality of printed device layers can include at least one continuous printed device layer that forms portions of the bezel, the button, and the deformable interface. The continuous printed device layer may include at least one rigid device material that forms a portion of the bezel and a portion of the button and a deformable device material that forms a portion of the deformable interface between the bezel and the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Clint L. Gosch, Matthew W. Ahrens, Brandon J. Cormier
  • Patent number: 10877572
    Abstract: Mechanical micro-switches, such as the power button, and the volume up and down buttons, in the sidewalls of a smart device's frame remain the weak points in terms of reliability. To overcome this shortcoming a transducer, such as a piezoelectric transducer is placed against the sidewall, and at least one micro-slit is configured in the sidewall forming a flap deflectable into the frame. The micro-slits and the flap enable a displacement in a portion of the sidewall in an otherwise very stiff frame that is large enough to be detected by the transducer when a force is applied by the user and a displacement large enough to be sensed by the user, but not too large so as to risk damage of the transducer or other electronic components inside the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Boréas Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-François Laplante
  • Patent number: 10859053
    Abstract: A switch device includes an operation button to be push-operated, and a sealing portion for sealing a gap between the operation button and an opening through which the operation button is inserted. The sealing portion may include a ring-shaped first seal that is in contact with the operation button and exhibits sealing properties, and a second seal that is harder than the first seal and is located on the outer side of the first seal. The first seal and the second seal may be integrated so as to form a frame of the sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Toshiaki Imai, Ryoji Takahashi, Shuichi Iwata
  • Patent number: 10796863
    Abstract: An input device, such as a keyboard, includes one or more keys that each includes a keycap operable to move within an aperture of a frame to activate a switch and fabric disposed over the frame and keycap. A first region of the fabric is bonded to the keycap and a second region of the fabric is bonded to the frame. The first region may be an embossed region and the second region may be an unembossed region. The fabric may dampen sound from within the keyboard, such as noise related to movement of the keycap, activation of the switch, and so on. The fabric may also form a barrier that restricts passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or other portions of the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Benjamin A. Cousins, Melody Kuna, Sean S. Corbin, John M. Brock, Robert S. Murphy, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10777371
    Abstract: A key structure includes a keycap, a supporting plate, a connecting element, a circuit board and an elastic element. The circuit board is disposed on the supporting plate. The circuit board includes a switch element. A first switch unit of the switch element is formed on a top surface of a first film layer of the circuit board. A second switch unit of the switch element is formed on a top surface of a second film layer of the switch element. When the keycap is depressed in response to an external force, the elastic element is subjected to deformation. Consequently, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are selectively turned on to generate a first key signal and a second key signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Lei-Lung Tsai, Sheng-Fan Chang
  • Patent number: 10763057
    Abstract: A waterproof keyboard structure and an assembly method thereof are provided. The waterproof keyboard structure includes a keyboard module, and a keyboard frame framing on the keyboard module, wherein an elastic waterproof layer is formed by means of double injection or insert molding on the keyboard frame. The keyboard module is defined with a key surface, and an assembly surface arranged opposite to the key surface. The elastic waterproof layer is clad on the key surface, and the keyboard module with the assembly surface facing a seat is assembled together with the keyboard frame in an accommodating space, thereby having the elastic waterproof layer closely fit with the seat to form a waterproof ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: GETAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juei-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 10749290
    Abstract: A waterproof assembly includes a casing, a gasket, and a cap. The casing has an opening. The gasket includes a main body and a protruding portion. The main body has a first circular raised structure configured to abut against an inner surface of the casing. The protruding portion is connected to the main body and is configured to at least partially protrude out of the casing through the opening. The cap is configured to abut against a side of the main body away from the opening. The cap has a through hole configured to be aligned with the protruding portion. The casing further has a plurality of fixing members configured to abut against a side of the cap away from the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ACCTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Chang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10702334
    Abstract: An ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil/handpiece with or without smoke evacuation that is capable of cutting with a sharp non-conductive cutting end of an electrosurgery blade and cutting and coagulating with activation of active and return contacts both contained on each side of the electrosurgery blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: I.C. Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Ioan Cosmescu
  • Patent number: 10686920
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile terminal comprising: a case comprising a button hole; a main board mounted within the case; a button module which is exposed to the outside through the button hole; a sealing rubber comprising an opening into which the button module is inserted; a first waterproof tape in the form of a closed curve, which joins the sealing rubber and the button module; and a second waterproof tape in the form of a closed curve, which joins the sealing rubber and the case. The button module comprises: a fingerprint recognition module for recognizing a user's fingerprint when touched by a user's finger; a switch for generating a signal when pressed; and a flexible board comprising a mounting portion for mounting the fingerprint recognition module and the switch therein, a contact portion contacting the main board, and a connection portion for connecting the mounting portion and the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngdo Cha, Hyunsu Song, Bonghyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10675083
    Abstract: An electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation having features that support use at high frequencies without insulation breakdown and that provides increased efficiency of smoke evacuation during cutting and/or coagulation. The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil includes a handpiece, an electrode positioned within an end of the handpiece, and a nozzle member for retaining the electrode which fits within an interior of the end of the handpiece that contains the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: I.C. Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Ioan Cosmescu
  • Patent number: 10650989
    Abstract: A waterproof assembly is adapted for a keyboard switch. The water proof assembly includes a body element, a water proof cover, a sliding channel, and a pushing rod. The body element defines a plunger guiding groove and a conductive member accommodating groove. The waterproof cover covers the conductive member accommodating groove. The sliding channel is defined between the conductive member accommodating groove and the waterproof cover, and is communicated with the plunger guiding groove and the conductive member accommodating groove. The pushing rod is mounted inside the sliding channel to control a conductive member of the keyboard switch to be turned on or turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: FuXi Wu
  • Patent number: 10636590
    Abstract: A waterproof switch device includes: a switch member including a body portion and a movable portion; an operated portion that is a shaft member having a distal end exposed from an opening provided in an exterior member of an electronic apparatus and a proximal end connected to the movable portion, the operated portion including a flange portion extending in a radial direction; a waterproof cover made of elastomer material; and a retaining member including an opening portion through which a part of the operated portion closer to the distal end than the flange portion can pass but the flange portion cannot pass, the retaining member being disposed farther inward from the exterior member than the waterproof cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Iyadomi
  • Patent number: 10631923
    Abstract: An electrosurgical tool or pencil for use in performing surgery includes an elongate, non-conductive housing having an elongate passage extending from a front end. An elongate electrode is mounted in the passage and slidable therein and has an operating forward section, an insulated central section, and an non-insulated rear section. The electrode can be adjusted in its longitudinal direction by a user. A conducting member is mounted on the rear section of the electrode and an elongate conducting strip is fixedly mounted in the elongate passage adjacent one side of the electrode and parallel thereto. The strip is supported by the housing so as to be in electrical contact with the conducting member which is slidable relative to the conducting strip. A circuit board for controlling the tool's operation is mounted in the housing and connected to the conducting strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Leonard Ineson
  • Patent number: 10559436
    Abstract: System and methods for providing a keyframe module for a input device are disclosed. In an embodiment, the input device includes a keyframe having a key opening, and a key disposed within the key opening. The key includes a keycap having a bottom surface, a plurality of tabs that extend laterally from the bottom surface of the keycap, and a protrusion extending from the bottom surface of the keycap. A compressible dome structure is disposed underneath the protrusion, and a plate is coupled to the keyframe and disposed underneath the compressible dome structure. A plurality of openings is disposed within the plate, where a location of the plurality of openings corresponds to a location of the plurality of tabs such that one or more of the plurality of tabs pass through one or more of the plurality of openings in response to the depression of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Linus Chien, Chia Feng Lee
  • Patent number: 10475602
    Abstract: An electronic device and a key coupling unit therefor are disclosed. The key coupling unit includes a key configured in a specific shape, a key guide frame configured to guide pressing of the key, and a key circuit board configured to input a signal corresponding to the pressing of the key. The key coupling unit is fixed in a settling area of a bracket. A bumper is formed to protrude from the lower part of the key circuit board. A pressing part is formed in the bracket to face the bumper of the key circuit board. A command signal of a corresponding key is transmitted to the key circuit board by converting to an electric signal if the bumper presses the pressing part. The bumper and the pressing part are located by moving in a lateral direction from the center of the settling area of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyungpil Kim
  • Patent number: 10446337
    Abstract: A modularized structure of switch wire connection device includes an assembling support and a wire connection module. The assembling support has a first side and a second side. The first and/or the second sides are formed with assembling sections for assembling with the wire connection module. The wire connection module includes a first wire connection module and/or a second wire connection module each having a case. The case defines a chamber for receiving and enclosing electrical contact components. The case is formed with a mounting section for connecting with the assembling section of the assembling support. The wire connection module is detachably mounted on the assembling support as an integrated form. The modularized structure enables an operator to easily assemble/disassemble the components and change the switch specification between normally open mode and normally closed mode and enhance insulation effect to avoid electric arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: Switchlab Inc., Switchlab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Wu, Chih-Kun Hsiao, Wen-Bing Hsu
  • Patent number: 10437289
    Abstract: A button installed on a housing of an electronic device includes a keycap, a button frame, a waterproofing ring, and at least one installation post. The button frame is latched with the keycap and defines at least one through hole. The waterproofing ring is disposed within the at least one through hole. At least one installation post is received through the waterproofing ring and resists against the keycap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Chang, Shih-Kuo Tsai
  • Patent number: 10431964
    Abstract: A removable electric current switching element includes first and second housing parts fitted to the other and that can be moved between an assembled configuration and a partially disassembled configuration. The first housing part includes side walls provided with through inspection windows, the second housing part includes insulating walls which each delimit a volume in the second housing part around a corresponding mobile conductor. The first and second housing parts are arranged relative to one another in such a way that, in the assembled configuration the insulating walls mask the inspection windows and that, in the intermediate configuration the insulating walls are away from the inspection windows to free access to the inspection windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Patrick Larcher, Patrick Comtois
  • Patent number: 10424445
    Abstract: An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can comprise: a housing which has an opening part penetrating through the inside and the outside of the electronic device and forms the outside of the electronic device; a key button inserted into the opening part so as to be movable; a sealing member which is disposed such that the sealing member slidably contacts the outer surface of the key button, and prevents communication between the inside and the outside of the electronic device through the inner surface of the opening part and the outer surface of the key button; and a push switch accommodated in the housing and pressed by an inward movement of the key button. Various other embodiments are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon-Jae Kim, Ki-Hwan Kwak, Kyung-Chul Seo
  • Patent number: 10366850
    Abstract: An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can comprise: a housing which has an opening part penetrating through the inside and the outside of the electronic device and forms the outside of the electronic device; a key button inserted into the opening part so as to be movable; a sealing member which is disposed such that the sealing member slidably contacts the outer surface of the key button, and prevents communication between the inside and the outside of the electronic device through the inner surface of the opening part and the outer surface of the key button; and a push switch accommodated in the housing and pressed by an inward movement of the key button. Various other embodiments are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon-Jae Kim, Ki-Hwan Kwak, Kyung-Chul Seo
  • Patent number: 10354815
    Abstract: A push switch includes a base member including a depressed accommodating part, a fixed contact member provided and exposed in the accommodating part of the base member, a movable contact member installed in the accommodating part and including a dome part configured to be reversible to contact the fixed contact member, a sheet member installed to cover the accommodating part and hold the movable contact member, a pusher member installed between the top of the dome part and the sheet member, and a sheet-shaped reinforcing member formed of a material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the sheet member. The reinforcing member is installed over the sheet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10327616
    Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus for a floor surface includes a recovery tank and a supply tank separated by a partition, and further includes a carry handle defining a handle grip spaced above the supply and recovery tanks, wherein the handle grip does not intersect the supply tank or the recovery tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: George Moyher, Jr., Michael Graham
  • Patent number: 10312034
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural keys, a supporting plate and a membrane switch circuit member. The membrane switch circuit member includes a first board, a second board, a third board and a fourth board. The first board includes plural first contacts. The second board includes plural second contacts and plural first openings. The third board includes plural third contacts and plural second openings. The fourth board includes plural fourth contacts. The plural first contacts, the plural first openings and the plural third contacts are collaboratively defined as a first key matrix. The plural second contacts, the plural second openings and the plural fourth contacts are collaboratively defined as a second key matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventors: Bo-An Chen, Chin-Sung Pan
  • Patent number: 10297404
    Abstract: An illuminated pushbutton switch is provided. The pushbutton switch includes a case, a button assembly received in the case, and a switch contact assembly disposed in the case. The button assembly includes a button part, a first spring against a center of the button part, a waterproof jacket assembled in the button part, and a frame fixed on the button part. The switch contact assembly includes a switch frame, a plurality of second springs against a bottom side of the switch frame, a contact sheet against the plurality of second springs, a rivet penetrating the contact sheet and the switch frame, a plurality of contacts disposed at an interval from the contact sheet, a plurality of pins used for fixing the contacts, and a bottom case receiving the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Lyric Shin Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: An-Ching Ho
  • Patent number: 10275052
    Abstract: A jog dial according to the present invention can be used in an electronic device. The jog dial according to the present invention comprises: a dial knob rotatably provided on an upper surface of an operation panel of the electronic device; an object provided on the dial knob; and a detector provided below the operation panel, and detecting the object so as to output a signal, wherein the dial knob and the detector are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hee-jun Kang