Abstract:
A side button structure includes a housing with switches, and a button assembly moveably fixed on the housing; the button assembly includes a flexible pin and at least one pressing blocks, the flexible pin passing through the pressing blocks. Pressing the button assembly enables the flexible pin to deform, the button assembly to move to the housing, and the pressing blocks to attach to the switches.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a side button structure for an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) often include input devices such as keyboards, touch panels, and function buttons. 
     Button assembly usually includes a button and an elastic sheet mounted to the button. However, the elastic sheet may be hooked to the button by a hook, making the entire structure overly complex. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE 
       Many aspects of the side button structure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the side button structure. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an exemplary side button structure; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the button cap of the side button structure, but viewed from another angle; 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the side button structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the side button structure of  FIG. 3  along line IV-IV. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a side button structure  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. The side button structure  100  may be used in a mobile phone, a personal data assistant, or other portable electronic devices. The side button structure  100  includes a housing  10  and a button assembly  40  moveably mounted on the housing  10 . 
     The button assembly  40  includes a button cap  50  and a pin  60  mounted in the button cap  50  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ). The button cap  50  is substantially arched shaped, including an arcuate pressing surface  501  and an installing surface  502  opposite to the pressing surface  501 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the button cap  50  includes an installing plate  514 , a block  513 , two pressing block  52 , two first protrusions  53 , and two second protrusions  54  on the installing surface  502 . The installing plate  514  longitudinally positions at one side of the installing surface  502 . The block  513  extends from an opposite side of the installing surface  502 . The installing surface  502  defines a groove  515  longitudinally locating between the installing plate  514  and the block  513 . The two pressing blocks  52  are spaced from each other and placed above the groove  515 . Each pressing block  52  defines a round through hole  521  horizontally communicating with the groove  515 . The pin  60  is mounted on the button cap  50  and is further received in the groove  515  and the two through holes  521 . The pin  60  can exceed out of the groove  515 . The pin  60  may be made of stainless steel and is provided with flexibility. The two first protrusions  53  extend from opposite ends of the installing surface  502  and are adjacent to the groove  515 . The two second protrusions  54  extend from opposite ends of the installing plate  514 . The two first protrusions  53  and the two second protrusions  54  are made of flexible and elastic materials such as rubber. 
     The housing  10  includes a panel  11 , and two opposing sidewalls  12 . The two sidewalls  12  connect to opposite sides of the panel  11 . Each sidewall  12  defines a receiving space  20  configured to receive the button assembly  40 . Each side wall  12  has an arcuate exterior surface  121 . The pressing surface  501  mates with the exterior surface  121  when the button assembly  40  is received in the receiving space  20 . The receiving space  20  is enclosed by a bottom wall  21  and two end walls  22  extending in a substantially perpendicular manner from opposite ends of the bottom wall  21 . 
     Two circuit boards  30  are fixed on the bottom wall  21  and each circuit board  30  has a switch  35  positioned thereon. The two switches  35  are configured for electrically connecting to the circuit board  30 . The bottom wall  21  longitudinally defines a receiving groove  221  for receiving the block  513 . A supporting portion  222  is formed on the bottom wall  21 . Each end wall  22  defines a mounting hole  23  for receiving the pin  60  and the first protrusion  53 . Each end wall  22  defines a notch  24  locating at the conjunction of each end wall  22  and the supporting portion  222 . The two notches  24  are configured for receiving the two second protrusions  54 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , in assembly, the pin  60  is mounted into the button cap  50 . Then the assembled button assembly  40  is pressed towards the receiving space  20 , until two ends of the pin  60  and the two first protrusions  53  are received into the two mounting holes  23 . So the button assembly  40  is mounted into the receiving space  20 . The installing plate  514  faces the supporting portion  222 , and the block  513  is moveably received in the receiving groove  221 . The second protrusions  54  are received in the notch  24 , and each of the two pressing blocks  52  faces the corresponding one of the two switches  35 . 
     In use, when the button cap  50  is pressed, the pin  60  deforms towards the housing  10 , enabling the button cap  50  to move towards the housing  10 . In this process, the block  513  moves into the receiving groove  221 , and the installing plate  514  abuts against the supporting portion  222 . The two pressing blocks  52  contact and resist against the two switches  35 , urging the two switches  35  to electrically connect to the circuit board  30 . When the button cap  50  is released, the pin  60  restores and urges the button cap  50  back to the original position. 
     It is believed that the exemplary embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.