Protective button assembly for exterior surfaces of vehicles

A button assembly for an exterior of a vehicle, where a lateral axis runs along a width of the vehicle from a first side portion of the vehicle to a second side portion of the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a button switch having:
• a substantially cylindrical knob portion having:
• a button switch forward surface facing distally outward and configured for contact with human fingers;
• and
• a radially outermost side surface extending proximally from the button switch forward surface;
• a button switch base forming a flange radially extending from the substantially cylindrical knob portion and disposed proximally inward relative to the substantially cylindrical knob portion, the button switch base having a first radially extending surface that is flat and extends in a direction perpendicular to the lateral axis and a second radially extending surface that is coplanar with the first radially extending surface;
• and
• a circumferential groove disposed between the first radially extending surface and the second radially extending surface;
• a bezel housing forming a ring surrounding the knob portion and overlying the second radially extending surface, the bezel housing including:
• a bezel housing forward surface facing distally outward and having a curved shape;
• a bezel housing rearward surface opposite the bezel housing forward surface, the bezel housing rearward surface having a flat portion overlying and abutting the second radially extending surface;
• and
• a radially innermost side surface that is spaced apart from and faces toward the radially outermost side surface of the knob portion, the radially innermost side surface being sloped at an angle relative to the lateral axis and merging with the curved surface of the bezel housing forward surface;
• and
• a channel formed between the radially innermost side surface and the radially outermost side surface, wherein the channel extends around the knob portion and the channel is defined between the radially innermost side surface, the radially outermost side surface, and the first radially extending surface of the button switch base, such that the first radially extending surface forms a channel base defined between radially outermost side surface and the radially innermost side surface, the channel base having a first width of at least approximately 0.5 mm.

A button assembly for an exterior of a vehicle, where a lateral axis runs along a width of the vehicle from a first side portion of the vehicle to a second side portion of the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a button switch having:
• a button switch base having a first radially extending surface and a second radially extending surface both extending in a direction perpendicular to the lateral axis and both flat along their entirety, the first radially extending surface and the second radially extending surface facing distally outward, the first radially extending surface coplanar with the second radially extending surface;
• a circumferential groove disposed between the first radially extending surface and the second radially extending surface;
• a substantially cylindrical knob portion that is disposed distally outward relative to the button switch base and having:
• a button switch forward surface facing distally outward and configured for contact with human fingers and having a curved shape;
• and
• a radially outermost side surface that is planar and extends in a direction aligned with the lateral axis, the radially outermost side surface merging with the curved shape of the button switch forward surface at a point opposite the button switch base, the radially outermost side surface having a radially outermost side surface height of approximately 3 mm extending between the first radially extending surface and a first region where the radially outermost side surface merges with the curved shape of the button switch forward surface;
• a first maximum height extending between the first radially extending surface and the button switch forward surface;
• a bezel housing forming a ring surrounding the knob portion and overlying the second radially extending surface, the bezel housing including:
• a bezel housing forward surface facing distally outward and having a curved shape;
• a bezel housing rearward surface opposite the bezel housing forward surface, the bezel housing rearward surface having a flat portion overlying and abutting the second radially extending surface;
• a radially innermost side surface that is spaced apart from and faces toward the radially outermost surface of the knob portion, the radially innermost side surface extending away from the knob portion at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the lateral axis and merging with the curved surface of the bezel housing forward surface having a radially innermost side surface height of approximately 3 mm extending between the first radially extending surface and a second region where the radially innermost side surface merges with the curved shape of the bezel housing forward surface;
• a second maximum height extending between the second radially extending surface and a bezel housing forward surface, the second maximum height being;
• and
• a channel extending between the radially innermost side surface and the radially outermost side surface, wherein the channel extends around the distal portion of the knob portion and the channel is defined between the radially innermost side surface, the radially outermost side surface, and the first radially extending surface of the button switch base, such that the first radially extending surface forms a channel base having a first width of at least approximately 0.5 mm and the height of the channel is defined by the height of the radially innermost side surface and the height of the radially outermost side surface.