Waterproof key structure for thermal imager
By using a waterproof button structure that combines a silicone body, a plastic control lever, and a metal bracket on a thermal imager, the problems of waterproofing and ergonomic operation of a five-way button on a thermal imager are solved, achieving a low-cost, double-layer waterproof effect.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing five-way buttons cannot simultaneously meet waterproof requirements and tactile feedback on thermal imagers. Plastic keycaps offer good tactile feedback but are not waterproof, while silicone keycaps are waterproof but offer poor tactile feedback and are expensive. Furthermore, one-piece injection molding is costly.
It adopts a combination structure of silicone body and plastic operating rod, combined with metal bracket design, and achieves waterproof effect and maintains the operating feel through interference fit and bolt fixation.
It achieves waterproofing while maintaining a good handling feel, reduces costs, and improves waterproofing performance through a double-layer waterproof structure.
Smart Images
Figure CN224005804U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of waterproofing and sealing technology, specifically a waterproof button structure for thermal imagers. Background Technology
[0002] Infrared thermal imaging technology has applications in both military and civilian sectors. It originated in the military and gradually transitioned to civilian use. In civilian applications, it is generally called a thermal imager. It is mainly used in research and development, industrial inspection and equipment maintenance. It is also widely used in fire prevention, night vision and security. In layman's terms, a thermal imager converts the invisible infrared energy emitted by an object into a visible thermal image. Different colors on the thermal image represent different temperatures of the object being measured.
[0003] A five-way button, also called a five-way switch, is a button that can control five function keys, enabling the functions of up, down, left, right, and center confirmation. Five-way buttons are generally used on infrared thermal imagers.
[0004] Existing five-way switches typically fall into two categories: 1. Plastic keycaps, where the key's oscillating head is inserted into the keycap. This type of structure offers good tactile feedback but may not meet waterproofing requirements. 2. Silicone keycaps, where the key's oscillating head is inserted into the keycap and then integrally injection molded with the machine casing to achieve waterproof and dustproof effects. This achieves the desired effect, but the cost of double-shot injection molding and integral injection molding is relatively high. Alternatively, all-silicone materials may be used, but because silicone is a soft material and the key's operating lever has a certain length, it may result in poor tactile feedback and make it easy for the keycap to detach from the oscillating head.
[0005] Therefore, this utility model provides a waterproof button structure for thermal imagers to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content
[0006] (a) Technical problems to be solved
[0007] This invention provides a waterproof button structure for thermal imagers, aiming to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0008] (II) Technical Solution
[0009] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a waterproof button structure for a thermal imager, comprising a thermal imager body, a mounting groove formed on the thermal imager body, a housing fixedly mounted on the mounting groove, a five-way button disposed inside the mounting groove, and a control mechanism disposed inside the mounting groove for using the five-way button.
[0010] The control mechanism includes a silicone body fixedly installed inside the mounting slot, a plastic operating rod disposed inside the silicone body, and a snap-fit groove formed inside the plastic operating rod, wherein the silicone body penetrates the housing.
[0011] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the side surface of the plastic operating rod is fitted to the inner wall of the silicone body, and the top of the five-way button is engaged with the plastic operating rod through the snap-fit groove.
[0012] As a preferred technical solution of this application, a metal bracket is provided inside the mounting slot, and a through hole adapted to the five-way button is opened inside the metal bracket.
[0013] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the bottom of the metal bracket is attached to the top of the five-way button, and the top of the metal bracket is attached to the bottom of the silicone body.
[0014] As a preferred technical solution of this application, both the five-way button and the metal bracket have multiple fixing grooves inside, and the mounting groove has multiple threaded holes inside.
[0015] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the mounting groove is provided with a plurality of bolts, which pass through the plurality of fixing grooves and are screwed into the corresponding threaded holes.
[0016] (III) Beneficial Effects
[0017] 1. This utility model has a simple structure and is easy to use. Through the setting of the control mechanism, for the use of the five-way button, the plastic operating lever has a better operating feel than the silicone one, given the same lever length. By combining the plastic operating lever and the silicone body, the rigidity of the plastic and the elasticity of the silicone are combined, achieving waterproofing while ensuring a good operating feel. It is also easy to install and has a low cost.
[0018] 2. This utility model has a simple structure and is easy to use. By setting a metal bracket, the metal bracket is used to press the silicone body tightly, so that the silicone body and the shell are interference fit, thereby achieving a second layer of waterproof effect. If the metal bracket is not used, the skirt and the shell need to be injection molded as a whole to achieve the waterproof effect, which is more expensive. Therefore, using a metal bracket can improve the waterproof effect while reducing costs. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a waterproof button structure for a thermal imager. Figure 1 ;
[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a waterproof button structure for a thermal imager. Figure 2 ;
[0021] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the mounting groove in a waterproof button structure for a thermal imager;
[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;
[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;
[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the silicone body in a waterproof button structure for a thermal imager.
[0025] In the picture:
[0026] 1. Thermal imager body; 2. Mounting slot; 3. Housing; 4. Five-way button; 5. Silicone body; 6. Plastic operating lever; 7. Snap-fit slot; 8. Metal bracket; 9. Through hole; 10. Fixing slot; 11. Threaded hole; 12. Bolt. Detailed Implementation
[0027] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0028] This utility model provides a waterproof button structure for thermal imagers, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the waterproof button structure for the thermal imager includes a thermal imager body 1, a mounting groove 2 formed on the thermal imager body 1, a housing 3 fixedly mounted on the mounting groove 2, a five-way button 4 disposed inside the mounting groove 2, and a control mechanism disposed inside the mounting groove 2 for using the five-way button 4.
[0029] The control mechanism includes a silicone body 5 fixedly installed inside the mounting slot 2, a plastic operating rod 6 disposed inside the silicone body 5, and a snap-fit groove 7 opened inside the plastic operating rod 6. The silicone body 5 penetrates the housing 3.
[0030] The side surface of the plastic operating lever 6 is attached to the inner wall of the silicone body 5, and the top of the five-way button 4 is engaged with the plastic operating lever 6 through the snap-fit groove 7.
[0031] The thermal imager uses a waterproof button structure. During use, the plastic operating lever 6 is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the silicone body 5. The plastic operating lever 6 is slightly larger than the inner wall of the silicone body 5, thus achieving a sealing effect. When the two are assembled, they undergo elastic deformation, forming a tight contact surface similar to a piston structure. This interference fit not only effectively prevents liquid from intruding into the core circuit area of the mounting slot 2 along the gaps in the inner wall of the silicone body 5, but also achieves a balance between sealing durability and operational stability through the material properties of the high elasticity of silicone and the rigidity of plastic. The silicone body 5 includes a skirt that fits snugly against the housing 3, achieving a waterproof effect inside the mounting slot 2. Then, by pushing the plastic operating lever 6, the five-way button 4 can be controlled via the snap-fit groove 7 to perform up, down, left, right, and center confirmation functions. Because the plastic operating lever 6 is made of plastic, its operating feel is superior to silicone when the lever length is the same. The keycap design combines the rigidity of plastic and the elasticity of silicone, achieving waterproofing while ensuring a good operating feel.
[0032] Furthermore, to further enhance the waterproofing effect, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, a metal bracket 8 is provided inside the mounting slot 2, and a through hole 9 adapted to the five-way button 4 is provided inside the metal bracket 8.
[0033] The bottom of the metal bracket 8 is attached to the top of the five-way button 4, and the top of the metal bracket 8 is attached to the bottom of the silicone body 5.
[0034] When using the waterproof button structure of this thermal imager, the choice of material for the metal bracket 8 is flexible. Its core function is to provide stable mechanical clamping force. Specifically, the bracket can be made of metal or other materials with sufficient rigidity. The key is to ensure that it can effectively press against the silicone body 5. When the metal bracket 8 and the silicone body 5 are pressurized, the silicone material will undergo radial elastic deformation under pressure. This deformation makes the outer wall of the silicone body 5 fit tightly against the inner wall of the housing 3, thus building the first waterproof barrier. The hollow design of the metal bracket 8 includes multiple through holes 9, which provide a through channel for the five-way button 4. This allows the button assembly to form a precise snap-fit structure with the plastic operating lever 6 after passing through the metal bracket 8. This design not only ensures the freedom of movement of the operating parts, but also forms a secondary sealing interface at the gap between the components through the elastic recovery characteristics of the silicone body 5, ultimately achieving a double-layer waterproof protection system.
[0035] It should be noted that, in order to ensure that the five-way button 4 and the metal bracket 8 are fixed inside the mounting slot 2, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2, Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, both the five-way button 4 and the metal bracket 8 have multiple fixing slots 10 inside, and the mounting slot 2 has multiple threaded holes 11 inside.
[0036] The mounting slot 2 is provided with multiple bolts 12, which pass through multiple fixing slots 10 and are screwed into the corresponding threaded holes 11.
[0037] When using the waterproof button structure of this thermal imager, firstly, two bolts 12 are passed through the corresponding fixing grooves 10 on the five-way button 4, and then screwed into the corresponding threaded holes 11. Next, the fixing grooves 10 on the metal bracket 8 are aligned with the corresponding fixing grooves 10 on the five-way button 4. Then, the remaining bolts 12 are passed through the corresponding fixing grooves 10, and then screwed into the corresponding threaded holes 11. This completes the fixation of the five-way button 4, the metal bracket 8, and the silicone body 5 inside the mounting groove 2, improving stability.
[0038] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A waterproof key structure for a thermal imager, characterized in that: The waterproof button structure of the thermal imager comprises a thermal imager body (1), a mounting groove (2) opened on the thermal imager body (1), a shell (3) fixedly installed on the mounting groove (2), a five-way button (4) arranged inside the mounting groove (2), and a control mechanism arranged inside the mounting groove (2) for using the five-way button (4). The control mechanism comprises a silica gel body (5) fixedly installed inside the mounting groove (2), a plastic operating rod (6) arranged inside the silica gel body (5), and a clamping groove (7) opened inside the plastic operating rod (6), and the silica gel body (5) penetrates the shell (3).
2. The waterproof key structure for a thermal imager according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side surface of the plastic operating rod (6) is attached to the inner wall of the silica gel body (5), and the top of the five-way button (4) is clamped with the plastic operating rod (6) through the clamping groove (7).
3. The waterproof key structure for a thermal imager according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inside of the mounting groove (2) is provided with a metal support (8), and the inside of the metal support (8) is provided with a through hole (9) matched with the five-way button (4).
4. The waterproof key structure for a thermal imager according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom of the metal support (8) is attached to the top of the five-way button (4), and the top of the metal support (8) is attached to the bottom of the silica gel body (5).
5. The waterproof key structure for a thermal imager according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inside of the five-way button (4) and the inside of the metal support (8) are both provided with a plurality of fixing grooves (10), and the inside of the mounting groove (2) is provided with a plurality of threaded holes (11).
6. The waterproof key structure for a thermal imager according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inside of the mounting groove (2) is provided with a plurality of bolts (12), and the plurality of bolts (12) respectively pass through the plurality of fixing grooves (10) and are screwed in the inside of the corresponding threaded holes (11).