Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a waterproof button for an electronic device includes a button portion and a waterproof portion. The button portion includes an operating portion, a connecting portion, and a pressing portion. The waterproof portion includes a positioning portion, a sleeve, and a receiving portion. The positioning portion defines a through hole to allow the connecting portion to pass through. The sleeve is connected to the positioning portion to receive the connecting portion, the receiving portion is connected to the sleeve to receive the pressing portion. A surface of the positioning portion forms a fixing surface. When the waterproof button is mounted to the electronic device, the fixing surface is fixed to the electronic device. An electronic device using the waterproof button is also described.

In an electronic device, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer, a button is usually located on the edge of a housing of the electronic device, and the button usually has a waterproof structure. When the user presses the button, the button will touch a switching element inside the electronic device to perform a specific function, such as adjusting the volume or turning on or off the screen. However, in the related art, the waterproof structure can easily fall off from the button as a result of repeated pressing, thus causing the button to have a poor waterproof performance.

In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacy, the present invention provides a button structure and electronic device according to independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>. The dependent claims show further embodiments of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a button structure applied to an electronic device including a housing, an antenna element, and a switching element. The housing includes a supporting wall, the supporting wall has a position limiting hole, and the switching element (S) being arranged away from the antenna element. The button structure includes a button body and an elastic body. The button body includes a keycap and a pillar portion, and the keycap is connected to one end of the pillar portion. A length of the pillar portion is greater than a length of the antenna element. The elastic body is sleeved on the pillar portion, and one end of the elastic body includes a first engaging portion. The first engaging portion is capable of being engaged with a part of the housing. The elastic body further includes a first through hole and a second through hole. The pillar portion passes through the first through hole, the second through hole, and the position limiting hole, and abuts against the switching element.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an electronic device, which includes a housing, an antenna element, a switching element, and a button structure. The housing has an opening, an outer wall, a supporting wall, and an accommodating groove. The opening communicates with the accommodating groove, and the outer wall is located between the opening and the accommodating groove. The supporting wall has a position limiting hole. The antenna element and the switching element are disposed in the housing. The switching element is arranged away from the antenna element. The button structure is disposed at the housing. The button structure includes a button body and an elastic body. The button body includes a keycap and a pillar portion, and the keycap is connected to one end of the pillar portion. The keycap is disposed within the opening. The pillar portion is accommodated in the accommodating groove. A length of the pillar portion is greater than a length of the antenna element. The elastic body is sleeved on the pillar portion. One end of the elastic body includes a first engaging portion, and the first engaging portion is engaged with the outer wall. The elastic body further includes a first through hole and a second through hole. The pillar portion passes through the first through hole, the second through hole, and the position limiting hole, and abuts against the switching element.

Therefore, in the button structure and the electronic device provided by the present invention, by virtue of one end of the elastic body including the first engaging portion, the first engaging portion of the elastic body can be fixed to the housing when the elastic body is sleeved on the pillar portion, and the stability of the elastic body sleeved on the button structure can be improved so as to enhance the interference connection between the elastic body and the housing. In this way, moisture existing in an external environment cannot pass through the gap between the elastic body and the housing, thereby improving the waterproof performance of the button structure.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings and their captions.

The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of "a," "an" and "the" includes plural reference, and the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on. " Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present invention.

The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present invention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present invention is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as "first," "second" or "third" can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic view of a button structure applied to an electronic device according to the present invention. The present invention provides an electronic device D, such as a tablet computer or a smart phone, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The electronic device D includes a housing H and a button structure M adapted to be disposed at the housing H.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic enlarged view of the button structure being disposed at a housing of the electronic device according to the present invention, <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the button structure according to the present invention, and <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of <FIG>. It should be noted that, in order to keep the drawings concise, lines that are not directly relevant to the present invention are partly omitted in <FIG>. In <FIG>, the housing H has an opening H0, an accommodating groove H1, and an outer wall H2. The opening H0 communicates with the accommodating groove H1, and the outer wall H2 is located between the opening H0 and the accommodating groove H1. The button structure M includes a button body <NUM> and an elastic body <NUM>. The button body <NUM> includes a keycap <NUM> and a pillar portion <NUM>. The pillar portion <NUM> has a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>, and the keycap <NUM> is connected to the first end <NUM> of the pillar portion <NUM>. The keycap <NUM> is disposed within the opening H0, and the pillar portion <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating groove H1.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the elastic body <NUM> is sleeved on the pillar portion <NUM>. One end of the elastic body <NUM> includes a first engaging portion <NUM>, and the first engaging portion <NUM> is fittingly engaged with a part of the housing H. The elastic body <NUM> further includes a second engaging portion <NUM>. The second engaging portion <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the first engaging portion <NUM> and fittingly engaged with another part of the housing H. Specifically, the housing H further includes an inner wall H3, and the inner wall H3 is located adjacent to the accommodating groove H1. In the embodiment, the first engaging portion <NUM> is fittingly engaged with the outer wall H2, and the second engaging portion <NUM> is fittingly engaged with the inner wall H3. For example, the first engaging portion <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM> can be convex structures, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first engaging portion <NUM> has a round corner. In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the first engaging portion <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM> are annular in shape and protrude in a direction away from the pillar portion <NUM>. The outer wall H2 includes an inclined surface H21 corresponding to the round corner of the first engaging portion <NUM>. The first engaging portion <NUM> being the convex structure may be elastically deformed while abutting against the inclined surface H21 as shown in <FIG>. Thus, the interference connection between the outer wall H2 and the first engaging portion <NUM> is formed to improving the waterproof performance of the button structure.

Reference is further made to <FIG>, and the second engaging portion <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> connected to each other. The second surface <NUM> is parallel to and against the inner wall H3 of the housing H. An included angle θ is formed between the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>, and the included angle θ is less than <NUM> degrees. When the keycap <NUM> is pressed to push the pillar portion <NUM> to move into the housing H by a user, the elastic body <NUM> can be slightly stretched and deformed. When the keycap <NUM> is released by the user, the elastic body <NUM> recovers to its original length immediately. Therefore, during the process of pressing and releasing the keycap <NUM>, the pillar portion <NUM> moves back and forth, and the elastic body <NUM> also stretches repeatedly. Accordingly, the elastic body <NUM> can be fixed on the housing H by the first engaging portion <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM>. In addition, the structural strength of the second engaging portion <NUM> can be improved through the design that the included angle θ is less than <NUM> degrees, and the stability of the elastic body <NUM> can be improved by the way of the first engaging portion <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM> fixing the elastic body <NUM>.

Reference is made to <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of <FIG>. The elastic body <NUM> further includes at least one connection portion <NUM> and a flat portion <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> disposed at the flat portion <NUM> and protrudes toward keycap <NUM> to be a convex structure. The keycap <NUM> may have at least one concave portion corresponding to the connection portion <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> is connected to the concave portion of the keycap <NUM> by the adhesive. The flat portion <NUM> is disposed at the outer wall H2 and connected to the first engaging portion <NUM>. The gap G is formed between the bottom surface of the keycap <NUM> and the flat portion <NUM>. In this embodiment, the number of the connection portion is two, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Reference is further made to <FIG> and <FIG>, and the elastic body <NUM> includes a first through hole <NUM> and a second through hole <NUM>. The pillar portion <NUM> is used for passing through the first through hole <NUM> and the second through hole <NUM>, such that the elastic body <NUM> is sleeved on the pillar portion <NUM>. For example, the elastic body <NUM> can be a hollow sleeve made of rubber, but the appearance and material of the elastic body <NUM> are not limited in the present invention.

The electronic device D further includes a switching element S disposed in the housing H, and the housing H further includes a supporting wall W. The supporting wall W has a position limiting hole WO. The switching element S can control specific functions of the electronic device D, such as turning on or off the screen and the power, or adjusting the volume of the electronic device D. The button structure M can be a screen button, a power button, or a volume button, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Reference is further made to <FIG>. The pillar portion <NUM> passes through the first through hole <NUM>, the second through hole <NUM>, and the position limiting hole WO and abuts against the switching element S. The keycap <NUM> is disposed at the opening H0 and is exposed from the housing H. The gap G is formed between the keycap <NUM> and the elastic body <NUM>. The gap G is a maximum moving distance generated when the keycap <NUM> is pressed, and the maximum moving distance is a stroke of the pillar portion <NUM>. Therefore, the keycap <NUM> is pressed to push the pillar portion <NUM>, such that the pillar portion <NUM> is moved into the housing H and trigger the switching element S to switch the electronic device D on or off, or adjust the volume of the electronic device D.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, another end of the elastic body <NUM> further includes a third engaging portion <NUM>. The third engaging portion <NUM> protrudes toward and abuts against the pillar portion <NUM>. The third engaging portion <NUM> is disposed around a hole wall of the second through hole <NUM>. When the elastic body <NUM> is sleeved on the pillar portion <NUM>, the inner wall of the elastic body <NUM> can be in tight contact with a surface of the pillar portion <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, there may be a gap V between the inner wall of the elastic body <NUM> and the surface of the pillar portion <NUM>.

Therefore, the elastic body <NUM> of the button structure M can be fittingly engaged with the outer wall H2 of the housing H through the first engaging portion <NUM>, and can be fittingly engaged with the inner wall H3 of the housing H through the second engaging portion <NUM>, such that the interference connection between the elastic body <NUM> and the housing H is formed. Moisture existing in the external environment cannot pass through the gap between the elastic body <NUM> and the housing H. In addition, the third engaging portion <NUM> of the elastic body <NUM> is a convex structure protruded toward the pillar portion <NUM>, and may be elastically deformed while abutting against the pillar portion <NUM>, such that the interference connection between the elastic body <NUM> and the pillar portion <NUM> is formed. Therefore, even though the electronic device D has the gap V, moisture from the external environment cannot infiltrate into the electronic device D through the gap V located between the elastic body <NUM> and the pillar portion <NUM>.

In conclusion, in the electronic device D and the button structure M thereof provided by the present invention, by the structural design of the button structure M including the keycap <NUM> and the pillar portion <NUM>, the pillar portion <NUM> can extend into the electronic device D. The electronic device D further includes an antenna element T and a clearance area R below the antenna element T. <FIG> shows relative positions of the antenna element T, the button structure M, and the switching element S. The switch element S is disposed opposite to the button body <NUM>, and the clearance area R is an area below the antenna element T. The clearance area R overlaps a part of the pillar portion <NUM> and the elastic body <NUM>, while the switching element S is kept away from the clearance area R. The switching element S is disposed at a position away from the clearance area R. A length L1 of the pillar portion <NUM> is greater than a length L2 of the overall structure of the antenna element T, that is to say, the size of the pillar portion <NUM> exceeds the range of the clearance area R. Therefore, the switching element S can be arranged in a deeper area of the electronic device D away from the antenna element T, and the pillar portion <NUM> can still abut against the switching element S to effectively improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the electronic device D. In addition, a length of the elastic body <NUM> may be about four-fifths of the length L1 of the pillar portion <NUM>. By the structural design of the elastic body <NUM> including the first engaging portion <NUM>, the pillar portion <NUM> can be clamped on the housing H without detachment.

In addition, in the elastic body <NUM> of the button structure M provided by the present invention, by the structural design of the second through hole <NUM>, the pillar portion <NUM> can pass through the second through hole <NUM> to directly contact the switching element S. The length of the pillar portion <NUM> is not limited by the elastic body <NUM>. At the same time, the elastic body <NUM> of the button structure M can also achieve the waterproof performance through the third engaging portion <NUM> being disposed around the hole wall of the second through hole <NUM>.

Furthermore, since the pillar portion <NUM> is lengthened, it is easy to cause the center of gravity of the button structure M to be unstable when the keycap <NUM> is pressed by the user, resulting in the eccentric phenomenon. In other words, the second end <NUM> of the pillar portion <NUM> used for contacting the switching element S is offset and not aligned with the switching element S. Therefore, by the structural design of the second through hole <NUM> and the third engaging portion <NUM> of the elastic body <NUM> and the position limiting hole WO of the housing H, the pillar portion <NUM> can pass through the second through hole <NUM> and be limited in position. Moreover, the second end <NUM> of the pillar portion <NUM> can be aligned with the switching element S through the third engaging portion <NUM> abutting against the pillar portion <NUM>, such that it can solve that the center of gravity of the button body <NUM> is unstable and eccentric due to the longer length L1 of the pillar portion <NUM>.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.

Claim 1:
A button structure (M) applied to an electronic device including a housing (H), an antenna element (T), and a switching element (S), the housing (H) including a supporting wall (W), the supporting wall (W) having a position limiting hole (W0), the switching element (S) being arranged away from the antenna element (T), comprising:
a button body (<NUM>) including a keycap (<NUM>) and a pillar portion (<NUM>), wherein the keycap (<NUM>) is connected to one end of the pillar portion (<NUM>), and a length of the pillar portion (<NUM>) is greater than a length of the antenna element (T); and
an elastic body (<NUM>) sleeved on the pillar portion (<NUM>), wherein one end of the elastic body (<NUM>) includes a first engaging portion (<NUM>), the first engaging portion (<NUM>) is capable of being engaged with a part of the housing (H), the elastic body (<NUM>) further includes a first through hole (<NUM>) and a second through hole (<NUM>), and the pillar portion (<NUM>) passes through the first through hole (<NUM>), the second through hole (<NUM>), and the position limiting hole (W0), and abuts against the switching element (S).