Patent ID: 7499283
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: B60R,G07C

Abstract:
1. A key fob for keyless entry into an automobile, comprising: a substantially rigid open-topped housing including a base portion, a plurality of upstanding peripheral wall segments and a plurality of upstanding peripheral cantilevered retaining clips integrally formed with said base portion and alternatingly interspaced with said wall segments, said wall segments and retaining clips cooperating to define an outer peripheral surface having a radially outwardly directed, circumferentially extending ridge integrally formed thereon, and each said retaining clip having a radially inwardly directed catch feature integrally formed near a free end thereof; signal transmission circuitry disposed within said housing and operable to transmit a signal to the automobile, said circuitry including a generally planer circuit board retentively engaged by said clip catch features; and a flexible shell formed of resilient elastomeric material including: a button pad closing the open top of said housing and defining the uppermost outer surface of said key fob; a continuous peripheral sidewall integrally formed with said switch pad and dimensioned to elastically embrace the outer peripheral surface of said housing to continuously urge said retaining clips radially inwardly into engagement with said circuit board; a radially inwardly directed, circumferentially extending continuous rim integrally formed on an inner surface of said sidewall engaged with the ridge of said housing such that said shell is interlocked to said housing, establishing a seal therebetween.