Abstract:
A waterproof structure for a button includes a casing, a button, and an elastic member. The elastic member is arranged on the casing and is contacted by the elastic member. The elastic member is integrated with the casing. The elastic member includes a tubular structure arranging an arc-shaped structure protruding towards interior of the tubular structure. The elastic wall allows a range of elastic travel to activate the switch under the button. The elastic member is a built-in component.

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to a waterproof structure for a button of an electronic product used outdoors, and a waterproof mobile phone using the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic products need to be able to withstand a variety of environments. Conventional waterproofing for a button arranged on a sidewall of an outdoor mobile phone is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; the waterproof structure includes a casing  100 , a button  200 , a silicone member  300 , and a button switch  400 . The casing is a double-color molded product. An outer surface of the casing is provided with a soft rubber layer  101 . The material of the button  200  is the same as the material of the soft rubber layer  101 . The button  200  and the soft rubber layer  101  are an integrated structure, and the button  200  and the casing  100  are integrated molded, thus the sealing and waterproofing of the button  200  can be assured. The button  200  protrudes out of a surface of the soft rubber layer  101 . The protrusion portion of the button  200  is of an arch structure  201 . A protruding height that the arch structure  201  protrudes from the soft rubber layer  101  provides a range of elastic travel for the button  200 . Considering that the button  200  is prominent on the mobile phone, the protruding height cannot be set to be too high, otherwise the whole appearance of the product will be influenced. The silicone member  300  is assembled to the casing  1 . A protrusion  301  is provided on a side of the silicone member  300  facing the button  200 . The protrusion  301  contacts the arch structure  201 . The silicone member  300  is provided with a convex housing  302  at another side of the silicone member  300  opposite to the protrusion  301 . The button switch  400  is assembled and fixed to the casing  1 . The button switch  400  faces the convex housing  302 , and the button switch  400  and the convex housing  302  press against each other. When the button  200  is pressed, because of the arch structure  201  being made of soft material and a certain elastic travel allowed by the arch shape of the arch structure  201 , a deformation is generated when being pressed. The deformation further acts on the silicone member  300 , causing the silicone member to generate a displacement at a direction of the pressing, thus the button switch is activated and a corresponding function is triggered. In the aforementioned waterproof structure for a button, because of a limit of the protrusion height that the arch structure  201  protrudes from the soft rubber layer  101 , only a small range of elastic travel is provided. Not only does this impart a bad feel when using the button  200 , but also the button  200  cannot be activated if the range of elastic travel is not enough. Moreover, because the button  200  and the soft rubber layer  101  are an integrated structure, and the button  200  and the casing  100  are integrally molded, the button  200  needs to be visibly suitable for the soft rubber layer  101  in the material and the color, therefore the color of the outer surface of the product is monotonous, lacking design flexibility. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a waterproof structure for a button. The structure can resolve the problem of related art that a bad feel of the button and the function of not being activated, brought about by the insufficiency of the range of elastic travel because of the limited integration between the button and the casing. 
     A waterproof structure for a button comprises a casing, a button, and an elastic member. The elastic member is arranged on the casing. The button is movably coupled to the casing and contacts the elastic member. The elastic member and the casing are integrated. The elastic member includes a tubular structure. An elastic wall is arranged on the tubular structure. The elastic wall is of an arch structure. The elastic wall protrudes towards an interior of the tubular structure. 
     A waterproof mobile phone using the waterproof structure for the button is also presented. 
     The present disclosure brings about the following beneficial effects: in the waterproof structure for the button of the present disclosure, the elastic member is arranged on the casing and is integrated with the casing. Reliable waterproofing of the button is ensured. Simultaneously, an elastic wall which is of an arch structure is arranged on the elastic member. The arch height of the arch structure provides a range of elastic travel which is sufficient for activating the switch. The elastic member of this disclosure is a built-in component of the product. Thus, the arch height of the arch structure can be flexibly varied and adjusted according to the actual needs, and accordingly provides a sufficient travel range for the activation of the button function. Problems of non-activation and a less than optimal user feel of the button in related art are both resolved. 
     Moreover, the button being an independent component, the material and the color of the button can be flexibly adjusted according to the customer requirements and the product requirements, the flexibility of the entire design of the product is thus improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an assembled view of a waterproof structure for a button of related art. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged and cross-section view of the button of related art taken along line C-C of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a waterproof mobile phone. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an enlarged view of a portion “R” of the mobile phone of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged and cross-section view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an assembled view of an embodiment of a waterproof mobile phone. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an enlarged view of a portion “T” of the assembled mobile phone of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an enlarged and cross-section view taken along line B-B of the assembled mobile phone of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure and mobile phone are to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , a waterproof structure for a button of an outdoor waterproof mobile phone is shown. The waterproof structure includes a casing  1 , a button  2 , an elastic member  3 , and a printed circuit board (PCB)  4 . The PCB  4  is coupled to a button switch  41 . The PCB  4  is assembled in the casing  1 . An outer surface of the casing  1  is provided with a soft rubber layer  11 . The soft rubber layer  11  and the casing  1  are integrally molded. Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , the material of the elastic member  3  is the same as the material of the soft rubber layer  11 , and the elastic member  3  and the soft rubber layer  11  are an integrated structure. The elastic member  3  is integrated with the casing  1 . The elastic member  3  includes a tubular structure  31 . An elastic wall  32  is arranged on the tubular structure  31 . The elastic wall  32  is of an arched structure. The elastic wall  32  protrudes towards an interior of the tubular structure  31 . The elastic wall  32  includes an inner bottom surface  33  and an outer bottom surface  34 . A center of the inner bottom surface  33  is further provided with a convex stage  35 . The outer bottom surface  34  is further provided with a protrusion  36  corresponding to the convex stage  35 . The protrusion  36  is opposite to the button switch  41 . The protrusion  36  and the button switch  41  can contact and press against each other. An outer sidewall of the tubular structure  31  is further provided with a sawtooth structure  39 . In at least one embodiment, there are five sawteeth in the sawtooth structure  39 . The casing  1  is provided with sawtooth grooves  12  corresponding to the sawtooth structure  39 . The elastic member  3  is tightly engaged with and integrated with the casing  1  via an engagement between the sawtooth structure  39  and the sawtooth grooves  12 . The button  2  includes a keycap  21  and a resisting block  22 . There is a flange  23  at the lower periphery of the keycap  21 . The casing  1  is provided with a button engaging groove  13  corresponding to the flange  23 . A width of the engaging groove  13  is greater than a thickness of the flange  23  at a thickness direction of the flange  23 , allowing some vertical movement by the keycap  21 . Thus, the flange  23  is movably assembled in the engaging groove  13  to achieve a required range of movement of the button  2 , and the engaging groove  13  presents a limit to the movement of the button  2 . Simultaneously, the resisting block  22  is opposite to the convex stage  35  and the resisting block  22  and the convex stage  35  are in contact with each other. When the button  2  is pressed, the resisting block  22  applies pressure on the convex stage  35 . At that moment, the elastic wall  32  is stretched and deformed, the pressure being transmitted to the button switch  41  via the protrusion  36 . Thereby the button switch  41  is activated and the function of the button  2  is accordingly achieved. 
     In the aforementioned waterproof structure, the elastic wall  32  and the casing  1  are integrally molded, thus waterproofing of the button  2  is ensured. Simultaneously, the height of the arch of the arch-shaped elastic wall  32  determines a stretch and deformation length of the elastic wall  32 , that is, the arch height determines range of elastic travel. The elastic wall  32  is an internal structure of the product. Thus the nature and shape of the casing in relation to the arch height design is almost irrelevant and the arch height design can be flexibly adjusted according to the desirable range of travel to activate the button switch  41 . Design of the range of elastic travel has no bearing on cosmetic appearance and the problem of low user satisfaction in using the button  2  (caused by a small elastic travel range) is resolved. The color and the material of the button  2  can be independently and flexibly designed according to the customer requirement and the product requirement. Moreover, the elastic member  3  and the soft rubber layer  11  of the casing  1  employ a tooth-engagement manner of assembly. Simultaneously, the elastic member  3  and the soft rubber layer  11  are coupled as an integrated structure, thus the engagement between the elastic member  3  and the casing  1  is tight, and disengagement between the elastic member  3  and the casing  1  because of repeated deformations of the elastic member  3  caused by repeated presses is avoided. Waterproofing of the button  2  and effective triggering of a desired function is more reliable. 
     The elastic member  3  can also be a sole structure and can be coupled with the casing  1  to be an integrated structure via mutual engagement between the sawtooth structure  39  on the elastic member  3  and the sawtooth grooves  12  on the casing  1 . Other manners of coupling can be employed and the shape of the sawteeth can be varied, provided only that the coupling between the elastic member  3  and the structure is close and tight. Simultaneously, the elastic member  3  can be adapted to the double-color molded casing  1 . The elastic member  3  and the soft rubber layer  11  can be made as an integrated structure, a button function and a reliable waterproofing can be better achieved. The arch structure can be designed as round, or as an arched surface with trapezoidal cross section, or as other shape. The elastic member  3  must provide a preset range of elastic travel, and the function of the switch acted on by the elastic member  3  must be achieved via the stretch and rebound of the arch surface, all such arrangments fall inside the range of protection of this disclosure. 
     The above is a detailed description with drawings of a waterproof structure for a button with an arched structure elastic wall. However, the ideas of the present disclosure can be developed to all kinds of waterproof structure for a button, and the application field can be developed to all outdoor electronic products. Any situation, such as, the product needs to apply the waterproof structure for the button, improve the feel of the button in addition to the waterproofing, or improve the reliability of the button function, can use the ideas of the present disclosure to change and develop.