Hybrid button
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. Weber, Pinida Jan Moolsintong, Stephen P. Zadesky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid button according to the invention is provided. In one embodiment, the button can be implemented in an electronic device such as a media player. The button can include a metal or other non-plastic portion having a reverse flange and a plastic portion including anti-rotation legs. The legs can prevent rotation at least in part because they are retained by another structure. The plastic portion can be injection-molded onto the reverse flange of the metal or non-plastic portion. As such, the reverse flange fixes the position of the plastic portion with respect to the metal portion. Finally, the metal portion can include an actuator nub that actuates a switch when the button is depressed.
Claims22
A button comprising:
- a non-plastic portion comprising a reverse flange;
- and
- a plastic portion comprising anti-rotation legs that prevent rotation of the button, the plastic portion being injection-molded onto the reverse flange wherein the reverse flange fixes the position of the plastic portion with respect to the non-plastic portion.
A button comprising:
- a metal upper portion comprising:
- a reverse flange;
- and
- an annulus with a thickness along a longitudinal axis of between 0.3 millimeters and 0.4 millimeters;
- and
- a plastic lower portion, a portion of the plastic lower portion being injection-molded onto the reverse flange, wherein the reverse flange fixes the position of the plastic lower portion with respect to the metal upper portion.
A button comprising:
- a portion made from a first material comprising a reverse flange;
- and
- a portion made from a second material, the second material being different from the first material, and comprising anti-rotation legs that prevent rotation of the button, wherein:
- the portion made from the second material is injection-molded onto the reverse flange;
- and
- the reverse flange fixes the position of the portion made from the first material with respect to the portion made from the second material.
An electronic device comprising:
- a base plate comprising a plurality of apertures;
- a flexible printed circuit board that is operative to receive user stimulus and transmit user commands to a microprocessor in response to the stimulus;
- and
- a button comprising:
- a metal upper portion comprising a reverse flange;
- a lower plastic portion comprising anti-rotation legs that are retained by the apertures and prevent rotation of the button, wherein the lower plastic portion is injection-molded onto the reverse flange and the reverse flange fixes the position of the lower plastic portion with respect to the metal upper portion;
- and
- an actuator nub that actuates a switch on the flexible printed circuit when the button is depressed.
An electronic device comprising:
- a base plate comprising a plurality of apertures;
- a flexible printed circuit board that is operative to receive user stimulus and transmit user commands to a microprocessor in response to the stimulus;
- and
- a metal button comprising:
- a concave face;
- and
- an underside, the underside comprising:
- an actuator nub that actuates a switch on the flexible printed circuit when the button is depressed;
- and
- flexible printed circuit board relief that allows at least a portion of the flexible printed circuit board to traverse the boundary of the underside of the metal button.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.