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US 7,446,276 B2Granted
Button actuation assembly
AssigneeMetrologic Instruments, Inc.
InventorsGeorge A. Plesko, Yuan-Hua Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved button actuation assembly for activating a switch on hand held devices such as portable barcode readers has an improved structure that absorbs and dissipates the force exerted on the button. The improved structure thus protects the switch and the button actuation assembly itself from being damaged by excessive force such as from an impact shock caused by dropping or misuse.
Claims16
A hand held device comprising:
- a housing;
- a switch provided within the housing for activating a function of the device;
- a button having an interior side and an exterior side, the button comprising:
- a flexible cantilever provided on the interior side of the button for engaging the switch, wherein when the button is pressed by a force exerted on the exterior side of the button the flexible cantilever attenuates and transfers the force to the switch, activating the switch;
- a button retainer provided within the housing holding the button, at rest, in a fixed position with respect to the switch within the housing;
- and
- a compressible button buffer provided between the button and the button retainer, wherein the housing is provided with a window through which the button is pressed.
4 more elements
A hand held barcode reader comprising:
- a housing;
- a light source provided on a printed circuit board within the housing;
- a switch provided within the housing for activating the light source;
- a button having an interior side and an exterior side, the button comprising a flexible cantilever provided on the interior side of the button for engaging the switch, wherein when the button is pressed by a force exerted on the exterior side of the button the flexible cantilever attenuates and limits the force transferred to the switch, when activating the switch;
- a button retainer provided within the housing holding the button, at rest, in a fixed position with respect to the switch within the housing;
- and
- a compressible button buffer provided between the button and the button retainer, wherein the housing is provided with a window through which the button is pressed.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.