Back to results
US 8,916,789 B2Granted
Access door with integrated switch actuator
AssigneeIntermec IP Corp.
InventorWilliam Woodburn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for creating an integrated access door and switch actuator. The integrated access door and switch actuator are created from a single composite material. The composite material is flexible to allow movement, but is also durable to provide a protective covering. The integrated access door and switch actuator include a living hinge, which allows the access door to move to an open and closed position while the switch actuator is stationary in a fixed position.
Claims18
An apparatus integrating an access door and switch actuator, comprising:
- a rectangular shaped material having a thin shape with substantially planar surfaces opposite each other, wherein the rectangular shaped material is raised when placed in a fixed position;
- the rectangular shaped material, in the fixed position, operable to flex and make contact at one surface with an underlying surface, button, or switch when pressed from an opposite surface of the rectangular shaped material;
- the rectangular shaped material integrally connected to a living hinge at a first edge, wherein the living hinge is made of a same material as the rectangular shaped material;
- the living hinge integrally connected to another rectangular shaped material at a second edge, wherein the another rectangular shaped material is made of the same material as the rectangular shaped material and the living hinge, and wherein the living hinge bends causing the another rectangular shaped material to move in an angular direction along the second edge;
- the another rectangular shaped material having an attached mechanism located on an opposite edge of the another rectangular shaped material from the second edge, the attached mechanism operable to lock and unlock the another rectangular shaped material into and from the fixed position respectively;
- wherein when the attached mechanism is manipulated to lock the another rectangular shaped material into the fixed position, the another rectangular shaped material is located in a same plane as the rectangular shaped material;
- and
- wherein when the attached mechanism is manipulated to unlock the another rectangular shaped material from the fixed position, the another rectangular shaped material swings in an angular direction pivoting along the second edge while the rectangular shaped material stays in the fixed position with the first edge.
5 more elements
A method for creating an integrated access door and switch actuator, comprising:
- forming a material into a substantial planar surface having at least three connected parts;
- shaping a first part into a rectangular flat surface that has a series of independent projections extending perpendicularly from one side so as to form a raised surface when the first part is fixed into a position;
- positioning the series of independent projections toward the edges of the first part on the one side such that when the first part is in the fixed position, a center portion of the first part flexes and makes contact with an underlying surface when pressed from an opposite side of the first part;
- forming a living hinge in a second part that is integrally connected to the first part along a first elongated edge of an arc formed by the living hinge and integrally connected to a third part along a second elongated edge of the arc formed by the living hinge such that the second part bends allowing the third part to move when the first part is in the fixed position;
- and
- forming the third part into a shape of a door that has an attached mechanism to lock and unlock the third part into and from the fixed position respectively, wherein the attached mechanism is located opposite to a location of the second part and the second elongated edge, such that when the attached mechanism is manipulated to unlock the third part from the fixed position, the third part swings along the second elongated edge of the second part while the first part stays in the fixed position with the first elongated edge of the second part.
3 more elements
A method for creating an integrated access door and switch actuator, comprising:
- forming a material into a substantial planar surface having at least three connected parts;
- shaping a first part into a rectangular flat surface that sits fixed into a position;
- forming a living hinge in a second part that is integrally connected to the first part along a first elongated edge of an arc formed by the living hinge and integrally connected to a third part along a second elongated edge of the arc formed by the living hinge such that the second part bends allowing the third part to move when the first part is in the fixed position;
- and
- forming the third part into a shape of a door that has an attached mechanism to lock and unlock the third part into and from the fixed position respectively, wherein the attached mechanism is located opposite to a location of the second part and the second elongated edge, such that when the attached mechanism is manipulated to unlock the third part from the fixed position, the third part swings along the second elongated edge of the second part while the first part stays in the fixed position with the first elongated edge of the second part.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.