Patent ID: 8637781

Claim:
A water sealing side key system of an electronic device, comprising: an electronic device comprising a switch; a moveable side key having a head providing a button, a plunger for engaging and activating said switch, and an intermediate portion extending between said button and plunger; a housing having ribs and substantially oval walls providing a racetrack; a composite seal assembly comprising a metal sidewall and elastomeric seal for compressively and circumferentially sealing said moveable side key so that said side key is substantially impermeable to water, said elastomeric seal including elastomeric over mold material, said metal sidewall having substantially flat planar portions providing flats and metal spring fingers; said seal having a compressive face and peripheral seal portion for hydrodynamically sealing and engaging said side key while said side key is traveling on the metal sidewall to accommodate non-binding sliding movement of said side key on said elastomeric over mold material; said seal assembly being pressed into said housing until said metal flats contacts said racetrack of said oval walls and compresses said elastomeric over mold material and said elastomeric seal material to a prescribed compression; said metal spring fingers locking said seal assembly against said housing and substantially prevent said seal assembly from backing out of said housing; a side key flex assembly with a stiffener positioned above said switch for pressing against said seal assembly, said side key flex assembly being retained by said ribs of said housing; and said seal assembly having a rear wall for providing and controlling tolerance spacing between said side key plunger and said switch for enhanced tactile feel.