A waterproof key structure for an outdoor device

Abstract

The utility model relates to a waterproof key structure for outdoor equipment, include: installation base is equipped with the key hole on installation base, key body includes soft quality closed body and the hard quality press body that is covered in soft quality closed body, the first waterproof structure is equipped with between soft quality closed body inserts in the key hole and with installation base, circuit board includes control circuit and the trigger element that electric connection is in control circuit, and the second waterproof structure is equipped with between circuit board is located in installation base and with soft quality closed body, wherein, one side of hard quality press body is used for connecting the key cap of outdoor equipment surface, the other side is connected with trigger element transmission, makes the key cap can pass through hard quality press body to trigger element transmission connection force, the rebound structure is formed on soft quality closed body, drives hard quality press body to release the force of trigger element through rebound structure. The utility model can effectively solve the technical problem that traditional waterproof key hand feeling, consistency and waterproof performance are difficult to take into account.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of outdoor equipment technology, and in particular to a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Outdoor equipment, such as lawnmowers and garden tools, has its operating buttons exposed to harsh environments such as rain and dust for extended periods, so it must have reliable waterproof and dustproof capabilities.

[0003] Therefore, membrane keypad structures are widely used in the industry as a common solution. This structure typically involves covering the circuit board with a flexible film, achieving a basic seal by forming an adhesive interface between the film and the device substrate. However, this solution has significant drawbacks.

[0004] First, its waterproof performance is unreliable. The sealing effect of this structure relies entirely on the adhesive interface between the film and the substrate. This interface is prone to aging and delamination after long-term exposure to sunlight, temperature changes, and repeated pressure, leading to seal failure. Therefore, its protective capability is usually limited to preventing splashes and cannot cope with continuous rain or short-term immersion.

[0005] Secondly, because users are pressing a soft membrane, the pressing stroke is short and the force feedback is vague, resulting in a soft feel that makes it difficult for users to obtain clear confirmation of successful operation. Furthermore, this feel is generally inconsistent. Due to factors such as manufacturing tolerances and uneven material tension, the initial tactile feel of different buttons on the same device often varies, lacking good consistency, which directly affects the perceived quality of the product.

[0006] Furthermore, after prolonged and repeated pressing, thin-film materials are prone to plastic deformation or fatigue, resulting in issues such as button collapse, weak rebound, and a sticky feel. This performance degradation not only leads to the eventual malfunction of the buttons, but also, due to the different usage frequencies and forces applied to each button, the rate of degradation varies, further exacerbating the inconsistency in the user experience between buttons and severely compromising the overall reliability of the product.

[0007] Therefore, while existing membrane keypad technology has advantages in cost, it exhibits significant limitations in terms of waterproof rating, tactile feedback, consistency, and long-term reliability. Utility Model Content

[0008] In order to address the problems of existing technologies to a certain extent, this utility model provides a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment. It can provide a clear and uniform tactile feel and reliable rebound feedback of physical buttons while ensuring a high level of waterproof sealing effect, effectively solving the technical problem that traditional waterproof buttons cannot simultaneously achieve a good balance between feel, consistency and waterproof performance.

[0009] This utility model discloses a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment, characterized in that it includes: A mounting base is used to fix the outdoor equipment, and a button hole is provided on the mounting base; The button body includes a soft enclosure and a hard pressing body enclosed inside the soft enclosure; the soft enclosure is inserted into the button hole and a first waterproof structure is provided between the soft enclosure and the mounting base to seal the button hole. The circuit board includes a control circuit and a trigger element electrically connected to the control circuit; the circuit board is disposed within the mounting base and a second waterproof structure is provided between it and the flexible enclosure. The rigid pressing body is connected to the triggering element, and the soft enclosed body has a spring structure formed on it for driving the rigid pressing body to reset.

[0010] Specifically, the waterproof button structure of this utility model includes a mounting base, a button body, and a circuit board. The mounting base is the load-bearing foundation of the entire structure, fixed to outdoor equipment, and provides mounting space and basic protection for its internal electronic components. The mounting base has a button hole to accommodate button movement. The button body is a composite core component that realizes the pressing operation and sealing function. A key structural feature is that it is integrally composed of an internal rigid pressing body and an external soft sealing body. The rigid pressing body acts as a rigid force transmission component, while the soft sealing body utilizes the elasticity and flexibility of its material to perform sealing and reset functions. During assembly, the soft sealing part of the button body is inserted into the button hole of the mounting base. To achieve waterproofing, this solution incorporates two waterproof structures. The first waterproof structure is located between the soft sealing body and the mounting base and seals the button hole, effectively preventing external liquid water, moisture, and dust from intruding into the interior of the mounting base through the gap in the button hole. On the other hand, the circuit board is located inside the mounting base, carrying control circuitry and trigger elements for sensing pressing actions. To provide more comprehensive protection for the control circuitry of the circuit board, this solution also includes a second waterproof structure. Located between the flexible enclosure and the circuit board, this second waterproof structure acts as an additional internal safety barrier, preventing trace amounts of water that might seep through the first waterproof structure, or condensation caused by temperature changes inside the device, from contacting the control circuitry and triggering elements. During operation, the button cap on the device surface is connected to one side of the rigid pressing body. When the user presses the button cap, the pressure is transmitted directly and without damage to the other side of the rigid pressing body, driving and triggering the triggering element located below, completing an electrical signal input. When the pressure is released, the spring structure formed on the flexible enclosure activates. This spring structure utilizes the elastic deformation and recovery ability of the flexible material itself to generate an upward thrust, driving the entire button body along with the rigid pressing body to reset, detaching from the triggering element, and preparing for the next press.

[0011] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the rigid pressing body is integrally formed within the soft enclosed body by a double-injection molding process.

[0012] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the rigid pressing body is made of rigid plastic and the soft sealing body is made of elastic soft plastic.

[0013] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the rigid pressing body is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

[0014] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment includes a spring-loaded structure comprising an elastic dome integrally formed on the soft enclosed body; the elastic dome protrudes toward the button cap, and the rigid pressing body is disposed on the elastic dome and connected to the button cap; the triggering element abuts against the inner cavity of the elastic dome and is drively connected to the rigid pressing body.

[0015] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the triggering element is a micro switch, a tactile switch, a membrane switch, or a dome switch.

[0016] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein a plurality of limiting grooves are integrally formed on the rigid pressing body for cooperating and connecting the various positioning structures of the button cap, and each of the limiting grooves is circumferentially distributed on the outer side wall of the rigid pressing body.

[0017] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein a stepped hole is formed on the mounting base surrounding the button hole; the first waterproof structure includes a radial sealing lip integrally formed around the periphery of the soft enclosure; the radial sealing lip is fitted into the stepped hole and is interference-fitted with the stepped hole.

[0018] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment includes an axial sealing surface integrally formed on the soft enclosure; the axial sealing surface is sleeved in the button hole and is interference-fitted with the button hole.

[0019] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the first waterproof structure includes a sealing ring, which is sleeved between the soft sealing body and the button hole.

[0020] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the second waterproof structure includes a sealing ring; the sealing ring is sealed and abuts between the circuit board and the soft enclosure and surrounds the trigger element and control circuit on the circuit board.

[0021] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment includes several button bodies; several button holes, each button hole arranged on the mounting base and respectively docking with the soft enclosed body of each button body; and several trigger elements on the circuit board, each trigger element being connected to the hard pressing body of each button body.

[0022] According to the present invention, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided, wherein the outer wall of the mounting base is integrally formed with screw seats distributed in a circumferential direction, and the mounting base is fixedly connected to the outdoor equipment through each of the screw seats.

[0023] This utility model provides a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment, which achieves the following technical effects: 1. A double seal is constructed through the first and second waterproof structures, which effectively solves the problem of unreliable sealing caused by the reliance on the adhesive interface in traditional membrane buttons. This allows the button structure to withstand continuous rinsing and even short-term immersion, thus achieving more reliable waterproof performance.

[0024] 2. By employing a rigid, hard pressing body to directly transmit pressing force, the clear travel and crisp button feedback of physical buttons are preserved, solving the problem of the vague feel of membrane buttons. At the same time, the stable mechanical structure ensures a uniform initial feel across different buttons, overcoming the drawback of poor button feel consistency in existing technologies and improving the overall quality of the product.

[0025] 3. The integrated design of the button body avoids problems such as plastic deformation, sticking, or malfunction that easily occur after long-term use, similar to membrane buttons. This ensures that the button maintains stable and consistent performance and feel throughout its entire lifespan, helping to solve the problem of uneven performance degradation caused by different button usage frequencies in traditional solutions, and achieving long-term reliability of the button structure. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is an assembly diagram of the waterproof button structure of this utility model on an outdoor device; Figure 2 This is an assembly diagram of the waterproof button structure of this utility model; Figure 3 This is an assembly diagram of the waterproof button structure of this utility model (button caps are hidden). Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the waterproof button structure of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the mounting base of this utility model (with multiple button holes). Figure 6 This is an assembly position diagram of the mounting base and the circuit board according to this utility model; Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the button body of this utility model (multiple button bodies are integrally formed); Figure 8 This is an assembly position diagram of the button body and the circuit board according to this utility model; Figure 9 This is an assembly position diagram of the button body, circuit board and sealing ring of this utility model.

[0028] Figure label: 100. Keycaps; 101. Control panel; 1. Mounting base, 2. Button hole, 3. Button body, 4. Soft enclosure, 5. Hard pressing body, 6. Circuit board, 7. Trigger element, 8. Elastic dome, 9. Limiting groove, 10. Radial sealing lip, 11. Axial sealing surface, 12. Stepped hole, 13. Sealing ring, 14. Screw seat. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0030] Example 1 like Figures 1 to 9 As shown in this embodiment, a waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment is provided. This waterproof button structure is mainly used in outdoor equipment, such as lawnmowers. The button cap 100 is mounted on the control panel 101 of the equipment for user operation. The first waterproof structure can be selected from one or more combinations of radial sealing lip, axial sealing surface, and sealing ring. The second waterproof structure can be a sealing ring or other equivalent structure. Specifically, the above embodiments can be combined or substituted with each other.

[0031] like Figures 2 to 4As shown, the waterproof button structure of this embodiment mainly includes a mounting base 1, one or more button bodies 3, and a circuit board 6. The mounting base 1 serves as the mounting foundation for the entire structure and has one or more button holes 2. In this embodiment, as... Figure 5 As shown, the mounting base 1 has multiple button holes 2 to accommodate multi-button control panels. The mounting base 1, through multiple screw seats 14 integrally formed on its outer wall, can be securely fixed inside the housing of the outdoor equipment, providing a reliable mounting foundation.

[0032] like Figure 7 As shown, the button body 3 is the core component that enables the pressing and waterproofing functions. The button body 3 adopts a composite structure, including a rigid pressing body 5 encased inside and a soft sealing body 4 on the outside. These two parts are preferably integrally molded using a two-injection molding process, which forms a seamless chemical bond between the rigid and soft materials, resulting in a stable structure and eliminating the gaps that may exist in separate structures. In terms of material selection, the rigid pressing body 5 is usually made of rigid plastics with high rigidity such as ABS or PC to ensure that the connecting force can be transmitted without deformation during the pressing process; the soft sealing body 4 is made of elastic soft plastics such as silicone or TPU with excellent elasticity and weather resistance.

[0033] Optionally, to facilitate the implementation of backlighting in the device, the material of the rigid press body 5 can be transparent or semi-transparent, allowing the light source (not shown) on the circuit board 6 to pass through and illuminate the characters or icons on the keycap 100.

[0034] like Figure 7 As shown, the top of the rigid pressing body 5 is integrally formed with several limiting grooves 9. These limiting grooves 9 are circumferentially distributed on its outer side wall and are used to engage with the positioning structure at the bottom of the button cap 100 to achieve a firm connection and precise positioning between the button cap 100 and the button body 3.

[0035] The soft, enclosed body 4 has an integrally formed spring-loaded structure, which in this embodiment is specifically an upwardly protruding elastic dome 8. A rigid pressing body 5 is disposed on top of the elastic dome 8. When the user presses the button cap 100, the pressure is applied to the elastic dome 8 through the rigid pressing body 5, causing it to undergo elastic compression deformation.

[0036] Circuit board 6 is disposed inside mounting base 1, such as Figure 6 As shown. Control circuitry and a surface-mount microswitch 7, serving as the trigger element, are soldered onto circuit board 6. Figure 8As shown, the trigger end of the trigger element 7 extends into the inner cavity of the elastic dome 8, located directly below the rigid pressing body 5. When the elastic dome 8 is compressed, the bottom of the rigid pressing body 5 will touch the trigger element 7 downwards, thereby generating an electrical signal and completing a button operation. When the pressing force is released, the compressed elastic dome 8, relying on its own elastic restoring force, quickly pushes the entire button body 3 back to its initial position, providing a crisp feel and rapid response. Besides a microswitch, the trigger element 7 can also be other forms, such as a tactile switch, membrane switch, or dome switch, to adapt to different cost and feel requirements.

[0037] The waterproof function in this embodiment is achieved through two independent waterproof structures.

[0038] The first waterproof structure is used to block external liquid water. For example... Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, a stepped hole 12 is formed around the periphery of the button hole 2 on the mounting base 1. Correspondingly, a radial sealing lip 10 is integrally formed on the periphery of the soft sealing body 4. During assembly, the button body 3 is inserted into the button hole 2, and its radial sealing lip 10 is embedded in the stepped hole 12. By designing the outer diameter of the radial sealing lip 10 to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the stepped hole 12, a tight interference fit is formed between the two. This design not only forms a reliable seal when static, but more importantly, when the button moves up and down, the elastic radial sealing lip 10 can always be in close contact with the inner wall of the stepped hole 12, forming a reliable dynamic sealing barrier, effectively preventing rainwater, flushing water, etc. from entering the device from the button gap.

[0039] The second waterproof structure serves as additional internal protection. For example... Figure 4 and Figure 9 As shown, this structure is specifically a separate sealing ring 13. The sealing ring 13 is placed and pressed between the bottom of the circuit board 6 and the soft enclosure 4, surrounding the trigger element 7 and related control circuitry. The main function of this sealing structure is to prevent condensation formed inside the device due to extreme temperature differences, or trace amounts of moisture that may accidentally seep in from the first waterproof structure, from contacting sensitive electronic components, thus providing a deeper layer of protection for the circuit board 6.

[0040] Through the above-mentioned dual waterproof structure design, the button structure of this embodiment can achieve a waterproof performance of at least IPX7 level, while providing a clear and consistent physical button feel, and greatly improving the durability and reliability of the product in harsh outdoor environments.

[0041] Example 2 The overall structure of this embodiment is largely the same as that of Embodiment 1, with the main difference being the specific implementation of the first waterproof structure. In this embodiment, the first waterproof structure no longer employs a radial sealing lip structure, but rather... Figure 7 As shown, an axial sealing surface 11 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral wall of the soft enclosed body 4. During assembly, the outer surface of the axial sealing surface 11 forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the button hole 2 of the mounting base 1. When the button body 3 is pressed into the button hole 2, the axial sealing surface 11 is compressed in the radial direction, thereby tightly fitting against the inner wall of the button hole 2 to form an axially extending sealing band.

[0042] This structure can also maintain an effective dynamic seal during the reciprocating motion of the button, preventing external water from entering the device. Its advantage lies in its relatively simple structure, although the requirements for the mold may differ. It can serve as an effective alternative or supplementary solution. Other structures in this embodiment, including the second waterproof structure and the spring-loaded structure, are the same as in Embodiment 1 and will not be described again here.

[0043] Example 3 This embodiment also discloses another alternative solution for the first waterproof structure, the overall structure of which is basically the same as that of Embodiment 1.

[0044] In this embodiment, the first waterproof structure consists of a separate sealing ring, such as an O-ring. To accommodate the installation of this sealing ring, an annular groove needs to be formed on the outer peripheral wall of the flexible enclosure 4. During assembly, the sealing ring is first inserted into the groove of the flexible enclosure 4, and then the button body 3 with the sealing ring is pressed into the button hole 2 of the mounting base 1. At this time, the sealing ring is simultaneously compressed between the bottom surface of the groove of the flexible enclosure 4 and the inner wall of the button hole 2, thereby forming a reliable seal.

[0045] This solution, employing independent sealing rings, has the advantage that the sealing components (such as O-rings) are standardized parts, easy to procure and replace, and their sealing performance has been proven reliable over a long period. Designers can flexibly select sealing rings of different materials and hardnesses according to different pressure and operating conditions. Other technical features of this embodiment are consistent with those of Embodiment 1, achieving the same excellent waterproof effect and user experience.

[0046] Other structures in this embodiment, including the second waterproof structure and the rebound structure, are the same as in Embodiment 1 and will not be described again here.

[0047] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment, characterized in that, include: Mounting base (1) is used to fix and connect to the outdoor equipment. The mounting base (1) is provided with button hole (2). The button body (3) includes a soft enclosure (4) and a hard pressing body (5) enclosed inside the soft enclosure (4); the soft enclosure (4) is inserted into the button hole (2) and a first waterproof structure is provided between it and the mounting base (1) to seal the button hole (2); The circuit board (6) includes a control circuit and a trigger element (7) electrically connected to the control circuit; the circuit board (6) is disposed in the mounting base (1) and a second waterproof structure is provided between it and the soft enclosure (4); The hard pressing body (5) is connected to the triggering element (7) in a transmission manner, and the soft enclosed body (4) has a spring structure formed on it for driving the hard pressing body (5) to reset.

2. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rigid pressing body (5) is integrally formed in the soft enclosed body (4) by a double injection molding process.

3. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the hard pressing body (5) is hard plastic, and the material of the soft sealing body (4) is elastic soft plastic.

4. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the rigid pressing body (5) is set to be transparent or semi-transparent.

5. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rebound structure includes an elastic dome (8) integrally formed on the soft enclosure (4); The elastic dome (8) is used to protrude toward the button cap (100), and the rigid pressing body (5) is disposed on the elastic dome (8) and connected to the button cap (100); The trigger element (7) is inserted into the inner cavity of the elastic dome (8) and is connected to the rigid pressing body (5) in a driving connection.

6. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering element (7) is configured as a micro switch, tactile switch, membrane switch or dome switch.

7. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rigid pressing body (5) has a plurality of limiting grooves (9) integrally formed on it for cooperating with and connecting the various positioning structures of the button cap (100). Each of the limiting grooves (9) is circumferentially distributed on each of the outer side walls of the rigid pressing body (5).

8. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base (1) has a stepped hole (12) surrounding the key hole (2). The first waterproof structure includes a radial sealing lip (10) integrally formed around the periphery of the soft closure (4). The radial sealing lip (10) is fitted inside the stepped hole (12) and is interference-fitted with the stepped hole (12).

9. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first waterproof structure includes an axial sealing surface (11) integrally formed on the soft enclosure (4); The axial sealing surface (11) is fitted inside the key hole (2) and is interference-fitted with the key hole (2).

10. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first waterproof structure includes a sealing ring, which is sleeved between the soft sealing body (4) and the key hole (2).

11. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second waterproof structure includes a sealing ring (13); The sealing ring (13) seals against the circuit board (6) and the soft enclosure (4) and surrounds the trigger element (7) and the control circuit on the circuit board (6).

12. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of button bodies (3) is set to several; The number of button holes (2) is set to several, and each button hole (2) is arranged on the mounting base (1) and respectively docks with the soft enclosure (4) of each button body (3); The circuit board (6) has several trigger elements (7) and each of them is connected to the hard pressing body (5) of each button body (3).

13. The waterproof button structure for outdoor equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the mounting base (1) is integrally formed with screw seats (14) distributed in a circumferential direction, and the mounting base (1) is fixedly connected to the outdoor equipment through each of the screw seats (14).

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