PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8167126-B2
Application Number: US-56987409-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Button mechanisms for electronic device cases

Abstract:
A case for electronic devices having buttons may include button mechanisms that allow the case slide over an electronic device without impacting the buttons. Each button mechanism may include a sheet spring that biases the button mechanism away from the buttons. When a user presses the button mechanism, the button mechanism may transmit force from the user to one of the buttons and actuate that button. One type of button mechanism may transmit force that actuates a single push-button. A second type of button mechanism may transmit forces that actuate a rocker switch with two actuation modes such as a volume rocker with a volume up mode and a volume down mode. The button mechanisms may be configured to provide tactile feedback to the user that is similar to the tactile feedback of the electronic device&#39;s buttons when the electronic device is not mounted in the case.

Claims:
1. A removable case for an electronic device that has a button, comprising:
 a housing into which the electronic device is removably inserted, wherein the housing has portions defining a hole; 
 a button mechanism mounted in the hole, wherein the button mechanism has a given portion that bears against the button in the electronic device when the button mechanism is actuated by a user; and 
 a sheet spring that biases the button mechanism away from the button in the electronic device, wherein the housing has inner surface regions that surround the hole and wherein, when the button mechanism is not being actuated by the user, the given portion of the button mechanism is approximately flush with the inner surface regions of the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the button mechanism comprises a first member having a first press-fit engagement feature and a second member having a second press-fit engagement feature, wherein the first and second press-fit engagement features are coupled together. 
     
     
       3. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the button mechanism comprises a retaining member that has a female press-fit structure and an external member that has a male press-fit structure and wherein the female and male press-fit structures are connected together through the hole. 
     
     
       4. The removable case defined in  claim 3  wherein the retaining member comprises a substantially rectangular metal retaining member and wherein the female press-fit structure comprises a substantially rectangular protrusion from the metal retaining member that defines a cavity. 
     
     
       5. The removable case defined in  claim 4  wherein the external member comprises a substantially rectangular metal external member and wherein the male press-fit structure comprises a substantially rectangular protrusion from the metal external member that fits within the cavity. 
     
     
       6. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the housing has a lip that extends at least partly into the hole and wherein the lip bears against portions of the button mechanism to hold the button mechanism in the hole. 
     
     
       7. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the sheet spring has a U-shaped edge profile and wherein the sheet spring has center portions that bear against the housing. 
     
     
       8. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the sheet spring has a U-shaped edge profile and wherein the sheet spring has center portions that bear against the button mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the sheet spring has a W-shaped edge profile and wherein the sheet spring has end portions that bear against the housing. 
     
     
       10. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the sheet spring has a W-shaped edge profile and wherein the sheet spring has end portions that bear against the button mechanism. 
     
     
       11. The removable case defined in  claim 1  wherein the button mechanism comprises a plurality of planar stainless steel members. 
     
     
       12. A removable case for an electronic device that has a rocker button having a first portion and a second portion, comprising:
 a housing into which the electronic device is removably inserted, wherein the housing has portions defining a hole; 
 a pivoting button mechanism mounted in the hole, wherein the pivoting button mechanism bears against one of the first and second portions of the rocker button in the electronic device when the pivoting button mechanism is actuated by a user; and 
 a spring that biases the pivoting button mechanism away from the button in the electronic device such that the pivoting button mechanism is retracted into the housing and does not scrape against the electronic device as the electronic device is removably inserted into the housing. 
 
     
     
       13. The removable case defined in  claim 12  wherein the spring comprises a sheet spring member that has a W-shaped edge profile. 
     
     
       14. The removable case defined in  claim 12  wherein the housing comprises first and second stop members and a fulcrum member and wherein the first and second stop members and the fulcrum member extend into the hole. 
     
     
       15. The removable case defined in  claim 14  wherein the pivoting button mechanism comprises a member that, when the pivoting button mechanism is actuated by the user, bears against the fulcrum member so that the pivoting button mechanism pivots about the fulcrum member and bears against one of the first and second portions of the rocker button in the electronic device when the pivoting button mechanism is actuated by the user. 
     
     
       16. The removable case defined  claim 12  wherein the housing has an elongated rectangular shape with an opening at one end that is configured so that the electronic device is removably inserted into the housing by sliding the electronic device into the housing through the opening. 
     
     
       17. A removable case for an electronic device that has a button, comprising:
 a housing into which the electronic device is removably inserted, wherein the housing has portions defining a hole; and 
 a button mechanism mounted in the hole, wherein the button mechanism has given portions that bear against the button in the electronic device when the button mechanism is actuated by a user, wherein the button mechanism comprises first and second opposing metal plates connected together through the hole, wherein the housing has surface regions that lie in a first plane, that surround the hole, and that are adjacent to the electronic device when the electronic device is inserted into the housing, wherein, when the button mechanism is not being actuated by the user, the given portions of the button mechanism lie in a second plane, and wherein the first plane is between the second plane and the electronic device, when the electronic device is being removably inserted into the housing. 
 
     
     
       18. The removable case defined in  claim 17  wherein the first and second metal plates each comprise a press-fit engagement member. 
     
     
       19. The removable case defined in  claim 17  wherein the button in the electronic device is a rocker button having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the button mechanism comprises a pivoting button mechanism that bears against one of the first and second portions of the rocker button in the electronic device when the pivoting button mechanism is actuated by the user, and wherein the first metal plate comprises an external surface and wherein the second metal plate comprises a surface that bears against the rocker button in the electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The removable case defined in  claim 17  further comprising a spring having a W-shaped edge profile that biases the button mechanism away from the button in the electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to removable cases for portable electronic devices and, more particularly, to button mechanisms for removable cases. 
     Portable electronic devices and removable cases for the portable electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of portable electronic devices include handheld computers, cellular telephone, media players, and hybrid devices that include the functionality of multiple devices of this type. Removable cases for portable electronic devices have been used for multiple purposes such as protecting the devices from dirt and physical damage and enhancing the physical appearance of the device. 
     Conventional cases for portable electronic devices have used various structures for providing users with access to buttons on the devices. As one example, holes in the cases have been used to provide users with direct access to buttons on the devices. These holes have occasionally been covered with soft membranes. 
     In some cases, such as water-resistant cases, sealed structures with a coil-spring-loaded piston in a sealed cylinder have provided users with indirect access to buttons on the devices. With a conventional case of this type, the structures that provide indirect access to buttons on a device are large and are incapable of mimicking the feedback that the buttons of the device would provide if the device were not mounted in the case. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved button mechanisms for cases for portable electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Removable cases for electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices may have button mechanisms. A case for an electronic device may be configured to hold the electronic device. As one example, the case may be configured such that the electronic device is mounted within the case by sliding the electronic device into the case. The case may protect the electronic device from dirt and damage and may serve to enhance and/or mimic the aesthetics of the electronic device. The electronic device may have buttons and the case may have button mechanisms that interface with the electronic device&#39;s buttons. If desired, the button mechanisms may be configured to match or enhance the feedback provided by the electronic device&#39;s buttons. 
     The case may be relatively form-fitting to the electronic device and the button mechanisms may have a relatively low-profile. Low profile button mechanisms may facilitate mounting the electronic device within a form-fitting case without the button mechanisms in the case and the buttons on the electronic device impacting each other and potentially causing damage. Alternatively or in addition, the button mechanisms may be spring-loaded such that the button mechanisms are generally out of the way of the electronic device&#39;s buttons when the electronic device is being mounted within the case. The button mechanism may be spring-loaded using one or more sheet springs (as an example). 
     Each button mechanism may include a retaining plate and an external plate. The plates may include matching press-fit members that are pressed together during assembly. If desired, the plates may be held together using adhesive and/or fasteners (as examples). 
     One type of button mechanism may be configured to transmit force from a user to actuate a push-button with a single actuation mode. Another type of button mechanism may be configured to transmit forces from a user for actuation of a rocker-type switch with two actuation modes. One example of a rocker-type switch is a volume switch with a first portion that is depressed to increase a volume and a second portion that is depressed to decrease the volume. If desired, rocker-type switches may be formed from two push-button-type switches. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative removable case for an electronic device showing how the electronic device may slide into the case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional top view of an illustrative case that may hold an electronic device and that may have a button mechanism that is biased away from the electronic device as the electronic device slides into the case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative portion of a case that may hold an electronic device and a button mechanism that may be part of the case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative button mechanism in a case that may hold an electronic device that shows how the button mechanism may transmit force between an external plate and a button in the electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative button mechanism in a case that may hold an electronic device that shows how the button mechanism may include a retaining plate with a female-press-fit engaging member and an external plate with a male-press-fit engaging member that couples to the retaining plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative retaining plate that may be a part of a button mechanism in a case and that may have a female press-fit member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an illustrative external plate that may be a part of a button mechanism in a case and that may have a male press-fit member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative button mechanism in a case that may hold an electronic device that shows how the button mechanism may include a retaining plate with a male-press-fit member and an external plate with a female-press-fit member that couples to the retaining plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative button mechanism in a case that may hold an electronic device that shows how the button mechanism may transmit forces between an external plate and a rocker switch with two actuation modes in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative portion of a case that may hold an electronic device and a button mechanism that may be part of the case and that may transmit forces between an external plate and a rocker switch with two actuation modes in the electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates generally to removable cases for electronic devices and, more particularly, to button mechanisms for removable cases for portable electronic devices. A case may be designed to fit closely around an electronic device (e.g., the case may be form-fitting). As one example, the electronic device may slide into the case with minimal clearance for buttons and other features that protrude from the device. In order to facilitate sliding the device into the case and also to avoid damaging protruding features such as buttons, the button mechanisms and other features in the case may have relatively low profiles and may be biased away from the electronic device using a spring such as a thin sheet spring (e.g., a planar spring member which may be stamped from a sheet of metal or otherwise formed from suitable spring material). When viewed from the front, the sheet spring may have a ring-like shape. When view edgewise, the sheet spring may have a “U” like shape, a “V” like shape, a “W” like shape, etc. 
     The case for an electronic device may be a sliding-type case that slides over the electronic device. As another example, the case may be a snap-on case with flexible portions that wrap around portions of the electronic device. Combinations of these and other designs are also possible. For example, the case may include a first portion that slides over a first portion of the electronic device and a second portion that then snaps over a second portion of the electronic device. With other suitable arrangements, the case may include structures such as a Velcro® and/or straps to hold the electronic device in the case. These are merely illustrative examples of how the case may be configured to hold an electronic device. 
     The electronic devices held by the case may be portable electronic devices such as laptop computers or small portable computers of the type that are sometimes referred to as ultraportables. Portable electronic devices may also be somewhat smaller devices. Examples of smaller portable electronic devices include wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, headphone and earpiece devices, and other wearable and miniature devices. With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, the portable electronic devices are handheld electronic devices. Handheld devices may be, for example, cellular telephones, media players with wireless communications capabilities, handheld computers (also sometimes called personal digital assistants), remote controllers, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and handheld gaming devices. The handheld devices may also be hybrid devices that combine the functionality of multiple conventional devices. Examples of hybrid handheld devices include a cellular telephone that includes media player functionality, a gaming device that includes a wireless communications capability, a cellular telephone that includes game and email functions, and a handheld device that receives email, supports mobile telephone calls, and supports web browsing. These are merely illustrative examples. 
     An illustrative case and an electronic device that mates with the case are shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown by lines  22  in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  20  may slide into case  10 . As examples, device  20  may include housing  24 , display  26 , buttons such as buttons  28  and  30 , and communications ports such as ports  34 ,  36 , and  38  and audio jack  32  (e.g., for audio and/or video). With one arrangement, ports  34  and  38  may form microphone and speaker ports and port  36  may contain a 30-pin data connector. 
     In general, device  20  can include any desired components and, if desired, case  10  may have features that facilitate the use of the components of device  20 . For example, case  10  may include back face  12  and an open front face such as front face  14  (e.g., defined by an opening in case  10  as shown in the  FIG. 1  example). Front face  14  may facilitate the use of display  26 , button  28 , and other components in device  20 , when device  20  is mated to case  10 . As another example, case  10  may have a hole such as hole  16  that provides direct access to a component in device  20  such as audio jack  32  (e.g., a hole that allows an audio plug from an external accessory to pass through case  10  and be inserted into jack  32 ). 
     Case  10  may be formed from any suitable materials. If desired, case  10  may be formed from a housing such as housing  18 . Housing  18  may be formed from a single unitary structure. If desired, housing  18  may be formed from multiple structures held together by fasteners. Housing  18  and case  10  may be formed from any suitable material. Examples of materials that housing  18  may be formed from include rigid plastics, semi-rigid plastics, flexible plastics, non-plastic materials, etc. If desired, housing  18  and case  10  may be formed from rigid materials such as metals, ceramics, composites, glass, etc. 
     Case  10  may have one or more button mechanisms such as button mechanism  40  that are associated with buttons on electronic device  20  such as button  30 . When device  20  is inside case  10 , button mechanism  40  may align with button  30  of device  20 . With this type of arrangement, a user may press button mechanism  40  and thereby depress button mechanism  40  to position  42 . When button mechanism  40  is moved into position  42  in this way, button mechanism  40  may bear against and depress button  30  of device  20  (e.g., button mechanism  40  may depress button  30  in a manner similar to how a user could press button  30  if device  20  were not mounted within case  10 ). 
     Optionally, button mechanism  40  may be configured to mimic the feedback provided to a user by button  30  of device  20 . For example, button mechanism  40  may be configured to provide a look and feel (such as a certain resistance, a click or detente during engagement of the button, and other feedback) that matches the look and feel of button  30  when device  20  is not mounted within case  10 . 
     Button mechanism  40  may facilitate the insertion of electronic device  20  into case  10 . For example, button mechanism  40  may include a spring that biases mechanism  40  away from position  42  (e.g., a spring that biases the mechanism into its un-depressed position illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). With this type of arrangement, button  30  and other protruding components of device  20  may be less likely to scrape against or otherwise catch on button mechanism  40  as device  20  is being inserted into case  10 . 
     An example of how button mechanism  40  may facilitate the insertion of electronic device  20  into case  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , as device  20  slides into case  10  along direction  22 , there may be a relatively small gap such as gap  44  between the exterior edge of device  20  and the interior of case  10 . In addition, button  30  may have a height above the exterior edge of device  20  such as height  46 . In general, gap  44  and height  46  may be any suitable sizes. As examples, gap  44  may be 0.1 mm or less and height  46  may be 0.5 mm or less. In general, it is possible for gap  44  to be less than height  46  in embodiments in which case  20  is formed from flexible or semi-flexible materials. 
     As illustrated by  FIG. 2 , if button mechanism  40  were depressed and in position  42 , button mechanism  40  could potentially interfere with the insertion of device  20  into case  10  (e.g., by presenting a physical obstacle in the path of device  20  and in the path of button  30  of device  20 ). However, since button mechanism  40  may include a biasing member that biases the mechanism away from position  42  (i.e., away from the interior of case  10 ), button mechanism  40  will generally not be in position  42  when device  20  is being inserted into case  10 . This type of arrangement facilitates the use of cases such as case  10  that have a relatively close form-fit with the associated electronic device  20  that the case is configured to hold. 
     An exploded perspective view of button mechanism  40  and a portion of housing  18  in case  10  in which button mechanism  40  may be provided is shown in  FIG. 3 . Button mechanism  40  may pass through hole  48  of housing  18  (as one example). As shown in  FIG. 3 , button mechanism  40  may include retaining plate  50 , spring  52 , and external plate  54 . Retaining plate  50 , spring  52 , and external plate  54  may be sandwiched together such that button mechanism  40  can move within hole  48  of housing  18  and a user can use button mechanism  40  to actuate one or more buttons adjacent to hole (e.g., buttons on an electronic device such as device  20  of  FIG. 1 ). External plate  54  may sometimes be referred to as an external surface or an external member and retaining plate  50  may sometimes be referred to as a retaining member. 
     Retaining plate  50  and external plate  54  may be formed from any suitable materials. As examples, plate  50  and plate  54  may be formed from rigid plastics, semi-rigid plastics, flexible plastics, non-plastic materials, etc. If desired, retaining plate  50  and external plate  54  may be formed from metals such as stainless steel. With one suitable arrangement, external plate  54  may be formed from the same material as button  30  and may have a finish that is similar to the finish of button  30 . With this type of arrangement, the aesthetics of device  20  when mounted in case  10  may more closely match the aesthetics of device  20  when the device is not mounted in case  10 . 
     Button mechanism  40  may be held together by connecting plates  50  and  54 . As examples, retaining plate  50  and external plate  54  may be held together using screws or other fasteners, welds, adhesives, etc. With one suitable arrangement, retaining plate  50  and external plate  54  may have mating press-fit engagement features that lock retaining plate  50  and external plate  54  together when plate  50  and plate  54  are pressed together during assembly.  FIG. 3  illustrates an example of this type of mating press-fit arrangement in which retaining plate  50  includes extending male press-fit member  51 . External plate  54  may include a corresponding female press-fit member (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). Alternatively, retaining plate  50  may be provided with a female press-fit member and external plate  54  can be simultaneously provided with a male press-fit member. Combinations of these arrangements can also be used, if desired. 
     Spring  52  may provide a preload force in button mechanism  40  (e.g., bias button mechanism  40  outward and away from position  42  of  FIG. 1 ). With one suitable arrangement, spring  52  may bear against housing  18  (e.g., a lip on housing  18  adjacent to hole  48 ) and may bear against external plate  54 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , spring  52  may be formed from a ring-shaped sheet of spring material (i.e., a sheet spring). In general, however, spring  52  may be formed from any suitable type of spring such as a coil spring, a torsion spring, a cantilever spring, a volute spring, a tension spring, a leaf spring, etc. Spring  52  may be formed using any suitable materials. As one example, spring  52  may be formed from stainless steel. 
     In the  FIG. 3  example, spring  52  has a “U” shape in which the center of spring  52  pushes against housing  18  and the outside ends spring  52  push against external plate  54  (e.g., when viewed edgewise). The “U” or “V” shape of spring  52  may bow outwardly from button mechanism  40  and toward housing  18 . If desired, the direction of spring  52  may be flipped so that spring  52  bows outwardly from housing  18  and toward button mechanism  40 . This is merely one example of how spring  52  may be formed. In general, spring  52  may have any suitable shape. Examples of shapes in which spring  52  may be formed include, but are not limited to, “U” or “V” shapes, “W” shapes, as well as more complex shapes. The “U” or “V” shapes illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  may sometimes be referred to as U-shaped or V-shaped edge profiles (e.g., spring  52  may have a U-shaped edge profile when viewed from above). 
     A cross-sectional view of button mechanism  40  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , retaining plate  50  includes female press-fit member  49  and external plate  54  includes male press-fit member  55  which mates with member  49  of plate  50 . Spring  52  (e.g., center portions of spring  52 ) may press inward against housing  18  at portion  19  of housing  18  and may press outward against member  54  (e.g., on surface  101 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when device  20  is mounted within case  10 , a user may actuate button  30  by pressing external plate  54 . Button mechanism  40  may be configured so that button  30  can be actuated if force is received from any one of directions  56 . 
     A second cross-sectional view of button mechanism  40  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in the  FIG. 5  example, retaining plate  50  may have portions  60  that bear against a lip such as lip  58  of housing  18  (e.g., lip  58  may form a stop structure that limits outwards travel of button mechanism  40 ). When button mechanism  40  is depressed (e.g., in position  42  illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), portions  62  of external plate (and/or spring  52 ) may bear against portions of housing  18  such as lip  58 . With this type of arrangement, portions  60  of retaining plate  50  and portions  62  of external plate  54  may help to retain button mechanism  40  within housing  18  (e.g., within hole  48  of  FIG. 3 ). In particular, retaining plate  50  may help prevent button mechanism  40  from traveling too far outward (e.g., away from device  20 ) while external plate  54  may help prevent button mechanism  40  from traveling too far inward (e.g., towards device  20 ). 
     In general, button mechanism  40  and its components may have any suitable dimensions. The available travel of button mechanism  40  (e.g., the distance between its extended position and its depressed position illustrated by position  42  of  FIG. 1 ) may be equal to dimension  64 . Dimension  64  may be approximately 0.50 mm (as one example). The thickness of lip  58  of housing  18  may be equal to dimension  66 . Dimension  66  may be approximately 0.50 mm (as one example). The separation between the bottom of retaining plate  50  and housing  24  of device  20  equal to dimension  68 . Dimension  68  may be approximately 0.55 mm (as one example). If desired, there may be a small gap of approximately 0.05 mm between the top of button  30  of device  20  and the bottom of retaining plate  50 . Alternatively, the top of button  30  and the button of retaining plate  50  may bear against each other even when button mechanism  40  is not depressed. The vertical distance from the bottom of retaining plate  50  to the top of lip  58  of housing  18  of case  10  may be equal to dimension  70 . Dimension  70  may be approximately 0.65 mm (as one example). 
     A perspective view of retaining plate  50  is shown in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated by  FIG. 6 , female press-fit member  49  of plate  50  may be formed as a continuous ring-like lip or wall structure that defines a cavity such as cavity  76 . While member  49  of plate  50  is shown as having a rectangular shape in the  FIG. 6  example, this is merely one example. In general, press-fit member  49  may be formed in any suitable shape. As examples, member  49  may be circular, triangular, pentagonal, or polygonal. In general, member  49  may be formed using any suitable random or patterned shape. 
     External plate  54  is illustrated in perspective in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , external plate  54  may include male press-fit member  55 . Male press-fit member  55  may be formed as a single structure extending out from external plate  54 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . When external plate  54  is joined with retaining plate  50 , member  55  may fill cavity  76  of member  49 . Member  55  may be formed using any suitable shape. In general, it is necessary to match the shape of member  55  and the shape of member  49  of retaining plate  50  such that members  49  and  55  function as press-fit members. 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view of button mechanism  40  of  FIG. 8 , retaining plate  50  may include male press-fit member  74 . External plate  54  may include a member such as female press-fit member  72  that mates with member  74  of plate  50 . This is merely an example of how retaining plate  50  and external plate  54  may be held together. Other attachment mechanisms may be used, if desired. 
     Button  30  of device  20  may be a rocker-type switch that has two actuation modes. To replicate this functionality in case  10 , button mechanism  40  may also be configured as a rocker-type mechanism. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , button  30  may have a first actuation mode in which portion  94  of button  30  is depressed (e.g., button  30  rocks in direction  78 ) and may have a second actuation mode in which portion  96  of button  30  is depressed (e.g., button  30  rocks in direction  80 ). This type of a button arrangement may be used to provide a volume button with a volume up option and a volume down option (as an example). In addition, button  30  may have a third actuation mode in which the entire button is depressed (e.g., portions  94  and  96  are both depressed simultaneously). 
     Housing  18  may include stop members  98 . Housing  18  may include optional stops  88 . External plate  54  may include a member such as member  86  that bears against optional stops  88 . With one suitable arrangement, optional stops  88  may act as a fulcrum for button mechanism  40 . For example, when a user presses on external plate  54  in direction  84 , member  86  of external plate  54  may bear against stops  88  and external plate  54  may pivot such that portion  96  of button  30  is depressed by button mechanism  40  while portion  94  of button  30  is not depressed. Similarly, when a user presses on external plate  54  in direction  82 , external plate  54  may pivot the fulcrum created by stops  88  such that portion  94  of button  30  is depressed while portion  96  remains undepressed. Stops  98  may help to hold button mechanism within housing  18 . For example, stops  98  may prevent retaining plate  50  from moving too far away from device  20  and may also prevent external plate  54  from moving too close to device  20 . 
     As illustrated in the  FIG. 9  example, button mechanism  40  may include one or more springs such as springs  90  and  92 . Spring  90  may be a “W” shaped spring with end portions that bear against housing  18 , with center portions that bear against stops  88  of housing  18 , and with portions that bears against external plate  54 . Spring  92  may be a “U” or “V” shaped spring that bears against external plate  54  at each of the ends of plate  54  and that bears against stops  88  of housing  18 . With another suitable arrangement, spring  92  maybe inverted such that the center of the spring bears against the center of external plate  54  and the outside ends of the spring bear against stops  98  of housing  18 . The “W” shapes illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10  may sometimes be referred to as a W-shaped edge profiles (e.g., springs  90  and  92  may have a W-shaped edge profile when viewed from above). These are merely illustrative examples and, in general, any suitable spring or combinations of springs may be used in button mechanism  40 . 
     An exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 9  embodiment of button mechanism  40  is shown in  FIG. 10 . As shown in the  FIG. 10  example, external plate  54  may have a female press-fit member  100  (e.g., a press-fit member similar to press-fit member  49  of the  FIG. 6  example) and retaining plate  50  may have a male press-fit member  102  (e.g., a press-fit member similar to press-fit member  55  of the  FIG. 7  example). If desired, external plate  54  may have one or more male press-fit members and retaining plate  50  may have one or more corresponding female press-fit members. 
       FIG. 10  also illustrates that housing  18  may include a pair of stops  88  and that stops  88  may extend past stops  98 . In particular, the outside surfaces of stops  88  may be closer to the outside surface of housing  18  than the outside surfaces of stops  98 . This type of arrangement may help button mechanism  40  pivot on stops  88  while stops  98  prevent external plate  54  from traveling too far (e.g., moving too close to device  20 ). 
     The cross-sectional view in  FIG. 9  of the assembled button mechanism of case  10  is taken in direction  105  of  FIG. 10  along cross-sectional line  103  of  FIG. 10 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20090929
Publication Date: 20120501
Grant Date: 20120501
Priority Date: 20090929
Inventors: STIEHL KURT
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 43779111