Patent ID: 8158899

Claim:
A waterproof operating device comprising: a pressure resistant housing including a support surface having at least one opening formed therethrough; a cover plate positioned over the support surface and having at least one opening formed therethrough located over the at least one opening formed through the support surface; an elastic member located between the support surface and the cover plate, the elastic member having a first major surface in direct contact with the cover plate, a second major surface opposite the first major surface in direct contact with the support surface and at least one protrusion extending from the second major surface and through the at least one opening through the support surface, the protrusion comprises an open end at the first major surface aligned with the at least one opening through the cover plate, an opposing closed end and a tubular wall extending between the second major surface and the opposing closed end and passing through the at least one opening in the support surface; at least one button having a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein a majority of an entire length of the shaft portion is received within the protrusion of the elastic member in a close-fitting relationship, a distal tip of the shaft portion engaging the closed end of the protrusion, wherein the protrusion of the elastic member is stretched in a direction parallel to a tubular length of the protrusion with the button being depressed; and at least one switch element located proximate to the closed end of the protrusion of the elastic member, wherein the closed end of the protrusion actuates the switch element with the button sufficiently depressed; wherein the elastic member has a thickness from the protrusion radially outward all around the protrusion, such that the first major surface is maintained in continuous direct contact with the cover plate and the second major surface is maintained in continuous direct contact with the support surface from the at least one opening through the support surface receiving the protrusion and the button and the at least one opening through the cover plate outward to at least beyond an area covered by the head portion of the button.