BUTTON MODULE

A button module, including a bracket, at least one button, at least one first positioning member, and at least one elastic member, is provided. The bracket has a first surface and a second surface connected to the first surface. The button is disposed on the first surface. The first positioning member includes an elastic arm and a hook connected to the elastic arm. The elastic arm is connected to the second surface, and the hook is engaged with a casing. The elastic member protrudes from the first surface and abuts against the casing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 111133555, filed on Sep. 5, 2022. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Technology Field

The disclosure relates to a button module, and in particular to a button module applicable to an electronic device.

Description of Related Art

Common electronic devices such as smart phones or tablet computers are mostly provided with power buttons and volume buttons on the sides of the casings, so that users can switch the electronic devices on or off or adjust the volume. Specifically, the side of the casing has at least two openings for accommodating the power button and the volume button, and the power button and the volume button are installed on a bracket to be fixed to the casing through the bracket.

Generally speaking, the bracket is attached to the casing through screws, which not only takes time to disassemble, but also makes it difficult to save manufacturing costs. In addition, during the process of attaching the screws to the casing, it is easy to cause the screws to be stripped or chipped due to excessive force, and even cause the bracket or the casing to break, resulting in poor assembly yield. In addition, when the user presses the power button or the volume button, the force-bearing bracket may shake due to the tolerance between the screws and screw holes, thereby affecting the operating reliability and the operating texture.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a button module, which not only helps to reduce the assembly working hours, but also helps to improve the operating reliability.

The disclosure provides a button module, which includes a bracket, at least one button, at least one first positioning member, and at least one elastic member. The bracket has a first surface and a second surface connected to the first surface. The button is disposed on the first surface. The first positioning member includes an elastic arm and a hook connected to the elastic arm. The elastic arm is connected to the second surface, and the hook is engaged with a casing. The elastic member protrudes from the first surface and abuts against the casing.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a quantity of the first positioning members is two, and the elastic member is located between the two first positioning members.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a quantity of the elastic elements is two, and the elastic elements are arranged side by side between the two first positioning members.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second surface has at least one groove. The elastic arm extends outward from the groove and protrudes from the first surface.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the hook of the first positioning member protrudes from an end of the elastic arm and is located outside the groove.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the button module further includes at least one second positioning member. The bracket further has a third surface opposite the second surface, and the first surface is connected to the second surface and the third surface. The second positioning member includes an elastic arm and a hook connected to the elastic arm. The elastic arm is connected to the third surface, and the hook is engaged with the casing.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the third surface has at least one groove, the elastic arm of the second positioning member is located in the groove, and the hook of the second positioning member protrudes from the third surface.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the casing has a first positioning surface, a second positioning surface opposite the first positioning surface, at least one first slot located on the first positioning surface, and at least one second slot located on the second positioning surface. The second surface of the bracket faces the first positioning surface, and the third surface of the bracket faces the second positioning surface. The hook of the first positioning member is engaged with the first slot. The hook of the first positioning member has a stopping surface abutting against an inner wall surface of the first slot. The hook of the second positioning member is engaged with the second slot. The hook of the second positioning member has a stopping surface abutting against an inner wall surface of the second slot.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second positioning member further includes an operating portion connected to the elastic arm of the at least one second positioning member. The bracket further has a fourth surface opposite the first surface, and the operating portion protrudes from the fourth surface.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the elastic member includes a semicircular elastic arm, a semilunar elastic arm, or an arced elastic arm.

Based on the above, in the button module of the disclosure, the positioning member and the elastic member are integrated on the bracket, and the bracket may be fixed to the casing through the positioning member, which is not only convenient for assembly, but is also less prone to breakage of the bracket or casing due to assembly errors, so that assembly working hours can be reduced and assembly yield can be improved. On the other hand, the bracket may abut against the casing through the elastic member. When the user presses the button, the elastic member may feed back to the user a relatively solid operating texture. Moreover, based on the cooperation between the positioning member and the elastic member, the force-bearing bracket may not easily shake to reduce the idle stroke generated when pressing the button, thereby improving the operating reliability.

In order for the features and advantages of the disclosure to be more comprehensible, the following specific embodiments are described in detail in conjunction with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1andFIG.2are schematic views of a button module in two different viewing angles according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.3is a schematic view of a button module installed on a casing according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer toFIG.1toFIG.3. In this embodiment, a button module100is applicable to be installed on a casing10and is fixed by adopting a screwless manner, which helps to save manufacturing costs. Specifically, the button module100includes a bracket110, a first button120a, a second button120b, two first positioning members130, and two elastic members140, wherein the first button120aand the second button120bare arranged side by side and are installed on the bracket110. As shown inFIG.3, the side of the casing10has a first opening11and a second opening12arranged side by side, wherein the first opening11is configured to accommodate the first button120a, and the second opening12is configured to accommodate the second button120b. For example, the first button120amay be a power button, and the second button120bmay be a volume button.

FIG.4is a schematic cross-sectional view ofFIG.3along a section line A-A, and the section line A-A passes through one of the two first positioning members130.FIG.5is a schematic cross-sectional view ofFIG.3along a section line B-B, and the section line B-B passes through one of the two elastic members140. As shown inFIG.1,FIG.4, andFIG.5, the two first positioning members130and the two elastic members140are connected to the bracket110, and the bracket110, the two first positioning members130, and the two elastic members140are an integrally formed structure, which is, for example, manufactured by plastic injection molding technology. Specifically, the bracket110has a first surface111and a second surface112connected to the first surface111, wherein the first button120aand the second button120bare disposed on the first surface111, and the two first positioning members130are connected to the second surface112. In addition, the two elastic members140protrude from the first surface111and are arranged side by side between the two first positioning members130. As shown inFIG.3toFIG.5, when the button module100is installed on the casing10, the bracket110is engaged with and fixed to the casing10through the two first positioning members130, and abuts against the casing10through the two elastic members140.

As shown inFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.4, the button module100further includes two second positioning members150connected to the bracket110. The bracket110, the two first positioning members130, the two elastic members140, and the two second positioning members150are an integrally formed structure, which is, for example, manufactured by plastic injection molding technology. Furthermore, the bracket110further has a third surface113opposite the second surface112, and the first surface111is connected to the second surface112and the third surface113. The two second positioning members150are connected to the third surface113, and the bracket110is engaged with and fixed to the casing10through the two first positioning members130and the two second positioning members150. Since the bracket110and the casing10are fixed by adopting a screwless manner, manufacturing costs can be saved. In addition, it should be noted that the section line A-A passes through one of the two second positioning members150.

As shown inFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.4, the casing10has a first positioning surface13, a second positioning surface14opposite the first positioning surface13, two first slots15located on the first positioning surface13, and two second slots16located on the second positioning surface14. The second surface112of the bracket110faces the first positioning surface13of the casing10, and the third surface113faces the second positioning surface14. The two first positioning members130abut against the first positioning surface13and are engaged with the two first slots15. In contrast, the two second positioning members150abut against the second positioning surface14and are engaged with the two second slots16.

As shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, the bracket110is clamped and positioned between the first positioning surface13and the second positioning surface14of the casing10. When the user presses the first button120aor the second button120b, the force-bearing bracket110may not easily shake in a first direction D1, and therefore the idle stroke generated when the first button120aor the second button120bare pressed is mitigated, thereby improving the operating reliability. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first direction D1is perpendicular to the first positioning surface13, the second positioning surface14, the second surface112, or the third surface113.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.4, the bracket110is engaged with and fixed to the casing10through the two first positioning members130and the two second positioning members150, which is not only convenient for assembly, but also less prone to breakage of the bracket110or the casing10due to assembly mistakes, so that assembly time can be reduced and assembly yield can be improved. As shown inFIG.1,FIG.3, andFIG.5, the bracket110abuts against the casing10through the two elastic members140. When the user presses the first button120aor the second button120b, the two elastic members140may feed back to the user a relatively solid operating texture.

As shown inFIG.3toFIG.5, based on the cooperation between the first positioning member130and the elastic member140and the cooperation between the second positioning member150and the elastic member140, the force-bearing bracket110may not easily shake in a second direction D2perpendicular to the first direction D1(or parallel to the pressing direction of the button), so the idle stroke generated when the first button120aor the second button120bis pressed is mitigated, thereby improving the operating reliability.

As shown inFIG.1andFIG.4, in this embodiment, each first positioning member130includes an elastic arm131and a hook132. The elastic arm131is connected to the second surface112, and the hook132is connected to the elastic arm131. In detail, the second surface112has two grooves112aconfigured to accommodate the two elastic arms131of the two first positioning members130. The two elastic arms131extend outward from the two grooves112aand protrude from the first surface111. In addition, each hook132protrudes from an end of the corresponding elastic arm131and is located outside the corresponding groove112a. The hook132of each first positioning member130is engaged with the corresponding first slot15, and the elastic arm131abuts against the first positioning surface13of the casing10.

As shown inFIG.2andFIG.4, each second positioning member150includes an elastic arm151and a hook152. The elastic arm151is connected to the third surface113, and the hook152is connected to the elastic arm151. In detail, the third surface113has two grooves113aconfigured to accommodate the two elastic arms151of the two second positioning members150. In addition, the hook152of each second positioning member150protrudes outward from the corresponding elastic arm151and protrudes from the third surface113. The hook152of each second positioning member150is engaged with the corresponding second slot16, and the elastic arm151abuts against the second positioning surface14of the casing10.

As shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, due to the abutting relationship between the elastic arm131of each first positioning member130and the first positioning surface13of the casing10and the abutting relationship between the elastic arm151of each second positioning member150and the second positioning surface14of the casing10, the force-bearing bracket110may not easily shake in the first direction D1, so the idle stroke generated when the first button120aor the second button120bis pressed is mitigated.

As shown inFIG.4, the hook132of each first positioning member130has a stopping surface132aabutting against an inner wall surface15aof the corresponding first slot15. Similarly, the hook152of each second positioning member150has a stopping surface152aabutting against an inner wall surface16aof the corresponding second slot16. As shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, by the abutting relationship between the hook132of each first positioning member130and the corresponding first slot15and the abutting relationship between the hook152of each second positioning member150and the corresponding second slot16, the force-bearing bracket110may not easily shake in the second direction D2, and the idle stroke generated when the first button120aor the second button120bis pressed is mitigated.

As shown inFIG.3toFIG.5, the casing10also has an inner surface17located between the first positioning surface13and the second positioning surface14. Each elastic member140abuts against the inner surface17and may be in a compressed state to strengthen the engaging relationship between the first positioning member130and the casing10, and the engaging relationship between the second positioning member150and the casing10through the elastic restoring force of the elastic member140, so that the force-bearing bracket110may not easily shake in the second direction D2, so the idle stroke generated when the first button120aor the second button120bis pressed is mitigated. As shown inFIG.1, the elastic member140may be a semicircular elastic arm, a semilunar elastic arm, or an arced elastic arm.

As shown inFIG.2andFIG.4, in this embodiment, each second positioning member150further includes an operating portion153, which is connected to the elastic arm151, and the hook152is located approximately at a junction of the operating portion153and the elastic arm151. On the other hand, the bracket110also has a fourth surface114opposite the first surface111. The operating portion153is located outside the groove113aand protrudes from the fourth surface114.

For an operator, the operating portion153may be used as a force application point for disengaging the engaging relationship between the second positioning member150and the casing10, and the operator may first apply force to pull the operating portion153of the two second positioning members150, so that the two hooks152are moved out of the two second slots16of the casing10. Next, the two hooks132of the two first positioning members130are moved out of the two first slots15of the casing10. After completely disengaging the engaging relationship between the bracket110and the casing10, the operator may disassemble the button module100from the casing10, so the disassembly and assembly are very convenient.

In particular, although the quantities of the first positioning member130, the elastic member140, the second positioning member150, the first slot15, the second slot16, the groove112a, and the groove113ahave been illustrated as above, the quantities are not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the quantities of the first positioning member130, the elastic member140, the second positioning member150, the first slot15, and the second slot16may be increased or decreased according to design requirements.

In summary, in the button module of the disclosure, the positioning member and the elastic member are integrated on the bracket, and the bracket may be fixed to the casing through the positioning member, which is not only convenient for assembly, but also less prone to breakage of the bracket or casing due to assembly errors, so that assembly time can be reduced and assembly yield can be improved. On the other hand, the bracket may abut against the casing through the elastic member. When the user presses the button, the elastic member may feed back to the user a relatively solid operating texture. Moreover, based on the cooperation between the positioning member and the elastic member, the force-bearing bracket may not easily shake, and therefore the idle stroke generated when the button is pressed is mitigated, thereby improving the operating reliability. In addition, the bracket and the casing are fixed by adopting a screwless manner, which helps to save manufacturing costs.

Although the disclosure has been disclosed in the above embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. Persons skilled in the art may make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the disclosure shall be defined by the appended claims.