Patent Publication Number: US-8536478-B2

Title: Slidable button and electronic device using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a slidable button and an electronic device using the slidable button. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Usually, an electronic device such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player has a slidable button to control a working state thereof. That is, the slidable button turns on and turns off the electronic device. However, in manufacturing, it is difficult to assemble the slidable button onto the electronic device without tools. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an electronic device having a slidable button which can overcome the above-described problems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present slidable button and electronic device 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 present slidable button and electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, enlarged view of part of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing the parts from another aspect. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a slidable button of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 3 , but omitting a cover thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , taken along line VI-VI thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing a slidable button thereof slid to a different position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an electronic device  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The electronic device  100  comprises a casing  10 , a printed circuit board  20  received in the casing  10 , and a switch module  30  fixed to the casing  10 . 
     The casing  10  is a rectangular hollow body, which is made from aluminum, steel, or alloy, or composite material such as carbon fiber. The casing  10  comprises a rectangular base plate  12 , an annular frame  14  extending from a periphery of the base plate  12 , and a cover  16  located on the frame  14 . The printed circuit board  20  is fixed on the base plate  12  of the casing  10 . 
     An elongated slot  142  is defined in an outer face of the frame  14 , for receiving the switch module  30  therein. A through hole  144  is defined in the frame  14 , and is located corresponding to a center of the slot  142 . A dimension of the through hole  144  is smaller than that of the slot  142 . The through hole  144  has a rectangular profile. 
     The switch module  30  comprises a slidable button  31  movably seated in the slot  142 , and a switch member  32  engaging with the slidable button  31 . The switch member  32  comprises a main portion  322 , and a switch  324  extending outwardly from the main portion  322 . The switch member  32  is electrically fixed on the printed circuit board  20  and located adjacent to the through hole  144 . The switch  324  is the part of the switch member  32  nearest to the through hole  144 , and faces the through hole  144 . The switch  324  is able to be slid relative to the main portion  322 , for controlling a working state of the electronic device  100 . That is, the switch  324  turns on and turns off the electronic device  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  also, the slidable button  31  comprises an upright operating portion  33 , a holding portion  34  extending outwardly and horizontally from the operating portion  33 , and two elastic arms  36  respectively extending outwardly from two lateral sides of the holding portion  34 . The operating portion  33  has a profile like that of the slot  142 . The operating portion  33  is received in the slot  142 , and able to slide in the slot  142  from one end of the slot  142  to an opposite end of the slot  142 . 
     The holding portion  34  comprises two spaced holding arms  341  respectively protruding outwardly from the operating portion  33 , and a main body  342  interconnecting the two holding arms  341 . The two holding arms  341  are located respectively at two lateral sides of the main body  342 . The two holding arms  341  are symmetrical relative to the main body  342 . A distance between the two holding arms  341  is equal to or a little smaller than a width of the switch  324 . 
     Each of the elastic arms  36  comprises a connecting section  361  extending outwardly from an outer lateral face of a corresponding holding arm  341  of the holding portion  34 , and a locking section  362  protruding backward from the connecting section  361 , i.e. towards the operating portion  33 . The connecting section  361  extends from an end portion of the holding arm  341  remote from the operating portion  33 . A distal end of the connecting section  361  is flush with corresponding distal ends of the holding arms  341 . The connecting section  361  has an end face coplanar with an end face of the holding arm  341  at the distal ends of the connecting section  361  and the holding arm  341 . Each locking section  362  is spaced from the operating portion  33  and from the holding portion  34 . In other words, the locking sections  362  are separated from the operating portion  33  by two gaps, respectively. The locking section  362  is spaced from the holding portion by a through pore between the locking section  362  and the holding arm  341 . The two elastic arms  36  are symmetrical relative to the holding portion  34 . A distance between a top face of each locking section  362  and a bottom face of the holding portion  34  is a little larger than a height of the through hole  144 . A top end of each locking section  362  is chamfered for facilitating extension through the through hole  144 . A top face of the connecting section  361  of each elastic arm  36  is coplanar with a top face of the holding portion  34 . A top face of the locking section  362  of each elastic arm  36  is located higher that that of the holding portion  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7  also, assembly of the electronic device  100  is as follows. In a process of inserting the slidable button  31  into the through hole  144  of the casing  10 , the locking sections  362  are able to be pressed downwardly until they pass though the through hole  144 , due to the resilience of the locking sections  362 . After the locking sections  362  have passed through the through hole  144 , the locking sections  362  resile to abut against an inner face of the frame  14 , and a corresponding portion of the frame  14  is sandwiched between the locking sections  362  and the operating portion  33 . Meanwhile, the operating portion  33  is received in the slot  142  and abuts against the outer face of the casing  10  at an inmost extremity of the slot  142 , whereby the slidable button  31  is slidably engaged in the casing  10 . The operating portion  33  is slidably seated into the slot  142 . The switch  324  is sandwiched between the two holding arms  341  of the holding portion  34 , whereby when the operating portion  33  is slid along the slot  142 , the switch  324  follows the movement of the operating portion  33 . Thus the switch  324  is able to control the working state of the electronic device  100  via operation of the slidable button  31  by a user. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.