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US 11,635,634 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.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- forming a composite button insert that comprises:
- a button frame that defines an access opening extending therethrough, the button frame being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- and
- 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;
- and
- overmolding a housing for electronics components on to the composite 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, the button aperture being closed off by the composite button insert.
3 more elements
A housing assembly for incorporation in an electronic device, the housing assembly comprising:
- a composite button insert that comprises:
- a button frame that defines an access opening extending therethrough, the button frame being of a substantially rigid plastics material;
- and
- 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;
- and
- a molded housing that defines a hollow interior for holding electronics components, the housing having been molded on to the composite 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
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.