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US 11,086,139 B2Granted
Button assembly and method of manufacturing thereof
AssigneeSnap Inc.
InventorsMartin Mape, Douglas Wayne Moskowitz, Stephen Andrew Steger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a button-enabled housing assembly includes pre-forming a composite button component or insert having an elastically flexible button membrane that is mounted on a rigid frame, and thereafter molding a housing over the button insert. The composite button insert is formed in a co-molding operation and can include a rigid island in the flexible button membrane for supporting a cosmetic keycap.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- forming a button insert in a co-molding operation that comprises:
- molding a button frame that defines an access opening extending therethrough, the button frame being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- and
- overmolding a button membrane on to the button frame such that the button membrane covers at least part of the access opening through the button frame, the button membrane being of a resiliently flexible material,
- wherein the co-molding operation is performed such that the button insert further comprises a hard island bonded to the flexible button membrane to be displaceable relative to the button frame responsive to resilient deformation of the button membrane, the hard island being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- and
- overmolding a housing for electronics components on to the button insert such that the housing is bonded to the button frame, with the button membrane being located in a button aperture defined by the housing such that the hard island located in register with the button aperture, the button aperture being closed off by the button insert.
4 more elements
A housing assembly for incorporation in an electronic device, the housing assembly comprising:
- a button insert that comprises:
- a button frame that defines an access opening extending therethrough, the button frame being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- a button membrane attached to the button frame and covering at least part of the access opening through the button frame, the button membrane being of a resiliently flexible material;
- a hard island bonded to the flexible button membrane to be displaceable, responsive to resilient deformation of the button membrane,. at least partially through the access opening defined by the button frame the, hard island being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- and
- a molded housing that defines a hollow interior for holding electronics components, the housing having been molded on to the button insert such that a housing wall of the molded housing is bonded to the button frame, the button membrane being located in a button aperture defined by the housing.
3 more elements
An electronic device that comprises:
- a housing assembly comprising:
- a button insert that comprises:
- a button frame that defines an access opening extending therethrough, the button frame being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- a button membrane attached to the button frame and covering at least part of the access opening through the button frame, the button membrane being of a. resiliently flexible material;
- a hard island bonded to the flexible button membrane to be displaceable responsive to resilient deformation of the button membrane, at least partially through the access opening defined by the button frame the. hard island being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- and
- a molded housing that defines a hollow interior for holding electronics components, the housing having been molded on to the button insert such that a housing wall of the molded housing is bonded to the button frame, the button membrane being located in a button aperture defined by the housing;
- and
- electronics components located in the hollow interior of the housing, the electronics components being configured to be operable by resilient deformation of the button membrane responsive to manual actuation of a button mechanism of which the button insert forms part.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.