Input device

Abstract

An input device includes: a housing 20 that has a first hole 23a; a button member 51 that extends through the first hole and has an operation surface 54 projecting from the first hole to the outside of the housing; and an elastic member 30 that is bonded to the outer surface of the housing and to the button member, seals a portion between the housing and the button member, and does not cover the operation surface.

Description

Input Devices

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input device.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Input devices having key tops arranged in openings formed in a case have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-39008

[0004] In the input device described in Patent Document 1, there is a gap between the opening and the key top, which may cause rattle or misalignment of the key top.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an input device that is less likely to cause rattles or misalignment.

[0006] The gist of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0007] (1) An input device comprising: a housing having a first hole; a button member extending through the first hole and having an operation surface protruding from the first hole to the outside of the housing; and an elastic member bonded to the outer surface of the housing and the button member, closing the gap between the housing and the button member but not covering the operation surface. (2) The input device described in (1) above, wherein the elastic member is arranged to surround the entire outer periphery of the housing. (3) The input device described in (2) above, wherein the housing has a front surface on which a display is provided, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a side surface connecting the front surface and the rear surface, the first hole being arranged on the side surface, and the elastic member being arranged to surround the side surface. (4) The input device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the housing further has a second hole different from the first hole, and the elastic member closes the second hole and forms a button portion extending through the second hole. (5) The input device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the button member has a first back surface opposite the operation surface, which depresses a switch when the operation surface is pressed by a user, and the elastic member does not cover the first back surface. (6) The input device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the button member has an operation portion forming the operation surface and a shaft portion protruding inward toward the inside of the housing from a second back surface of the operation portion opposite the operation surface, and the elastic member is adhered to the second back surface. (7) The input device according to (6), wherein the button member is positioned so that the second back surface is positioned outward toward the outside of the housing relative to the first hole. (8) The input device according to (6) or (7), wherein the second back surface has an inclined surface inclined inward toward the shaft portion, and at least a portion of the elastic member is adhered to the inclined surface. (9) An input device described in any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the button member has a second back surface opposite the operation surface from which a shaft portion protrudes, and a side surface connecting the operation surface and the second back surface, and the elastic member is adhered to the side surface.(10) The input device according to (9), wherein the elastic member is bonded to a first portion of the side surface that is located radially outward of the first hole relative to the operation surface, and a second portion that is located radially inward of the first hole relative to the first portion and facing outward toward the outside of the housing. (11) The input device according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the button member, the elastic member, and at least the portion of the housing to which the elastic member is bonded are integrally formed by injection molding.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, an input device that is less likely to become loose or shift in position is provided.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of a portable game device. FIG. 2 is a top view of the portable game device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable game device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first button and its surroundings taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second button and its surroundings taken along line V-V in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the three-color molding process performed by a manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the steps of how an integrated part is manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4(A) of the first button and its surroundings.

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, like components are designated by like reference numerals.

[0011] First Embodiment <Configuration of Portable Game Device> The configuration of a portable game device 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The portable game device 1 is an example of an input device for inputting user operations. The input device may be a device other than the portable game device 1, such as a controller or tablet terminal without a display, as long as it can input user operations using buttons.

[0012] Portable game device 1 is a game device that is held by a user and used to play a game. The user operates buttons 41 to 43 or joystick 45 provided on portable game device 1 while looking at display 5 provided on portable game device 1. When the user operates buttons 41 to 43 or joystick 45, portable game device 1 controls portable game device 1, specifically, for example, controls the display on display 5 and controls sound, based on signals transmitted from detection devices corresponding to buttons 41 to 43 or joystick 45.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of the portable game device 1, FIG. 2 is a top view of the portable game device 1, and FIG.

[0014] In this specification, the direction in which the display 5 is provided with respect to the portable game device 1 is referred to as the front, and the direction opposite to the direction in which the display 5 is provided is referred to as the rear. Furthermore, when a user holds the portable game device 1 and uses it while looking at the display 5, the upward, downward, left, and right directions as viewed from the front (as viewed from the user) are referred to as the upward, downward, left, and right directions of the portable game device 1, respectively.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the portable game device 1 includes a front surface 11 on which a display 5 is provided, a rear surface 12 provided on the opposite side of the front surface, and side surfaces 13 formed between the front surface 11 and the rear surface 12 so as to connect the front surface 11 and the rear surface 12. The side surfaces 13 include a top surface 13a, a bottom surface 13b, a left surface 13c, and a right surface 13d. The top surface 13a is a side surface provided above the portable game device 1, and the bottom surface 13b is a side surface provided below the portable game device 1, and is therefore a side surface located opposite the top surface 13a. The left surface 13c is a side surface provided on the left side of the portable game device 1, and the right surface 13d is a side surface provided on the right side of the portable game device 1, and is therefore a side surface located opposite the left surface 13c. In this embodiment, when using the portable game device 1, the user holds the portable game device 1 from the left surface 13c side and the right surface 13d side with the left hand and the right hand, respectively.

[0016] In this embodiment, the front surface 11 of the portable game device 1 is formed to be substantially flat over its entirety. In this embodiment, the front surface 11 of the portable game device 1 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, with the top and bottom sides constituting the long sides and the left and right sides constituting the short sides. A display 5 is provided in the center of the rectangular front surface 11. Note that the front surface 11 may have any shape other than a rectangle, such as a rectangular shape with rounded corners or a square shape.

[0017] The side surfaces 13 of the portable game device 1 extend approximately perpendicular to the front surface 11 between the edges of the front surface 11 and the edges of the rear surface 12. In this embodiment, the top surface 13a, bottom surface 13b, left surface 13c, and right surface 13d are formed to be approximately flat. Note that if the front surface 11 has a rounded rectangular shape, the top surface 13a and bottom surface 13b may be curved toward the left surface 13c and right surface 13d near the left and right ends to match the shapes of the rounded corners of the front surface 11 and rear surface 12. The side surfaces 13 may also be curved in the front-to-rear direction.

[0018] 1 to 3, portable game device 1 has a housing 20 and an elastic member 30 arranged on the outer surface of housing 20. The circuit boards and electronic components (not shown) that make up portable game device 1 are housed or attached within housing 20. The electronic components include a processing device (processor) of portable game device 1 that controls display 5, speaker, etc. in accordance with input from buttons 41 to 43 or joystick 45, etc., a memory that stores various data used by the processing device, a battery that supplies power to display 5 and the processing device, etc., a speaker that outputs sound, etc. (none of which are shown).

[0019] The housing 20 is primarily formed from a metal (e.g., iron, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, etc.) or a hard resin material (e.g., polycarbonate, ABS resin, PC / ABS resin, polyamide, polyacetal, etc.). The housing 20 has a front wall 21 provided on the front side of the portable game device 1, a rear wall 22 (see FIG. 7) provided on the rear side of the portable game device 1, and a side wall 23 provided in the front-to-rear direction between the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22. The side wall 23 extends around the entire periphery between the edges of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22. In this embodiment, the housing 20 has a front half 20a (see FIG. 7(A)) that constitutes the front wall 21, and a rear half 20b in which the rear wall 22 and the side wall 23 are integrally formed. The housing 20 is formed by attaching the rear half 20b to the front half 20a. In this embodiment, the rear half 20b is formed from resin.

[0020] The front surface of the front wall 21, i.e., the front surface 24 of the housing 20, defines the front surface 11 of the portable game device 1. The rear surface of the rear wall 22, i.e., the rear surface of the housing 20, defines the rear surface 12 of the portable game device 1. Therefore, the display 5 is provided on the front surface 24 of the housing 20, and the rear surface of the housing 20 is provided on the opposite side of the front surface of the housing 20.

[0021] The outer surfaces of the side walls 23, i.e., the side surfaces 25 of the housing 20, connect the front surface 24 of the housing 20 to the rear surface of the housing 20. The side surfaces 25 of the housing 20 extend approximately perpendicular to the front surface 24 between the edges of the front surface 24 of the housing 20 and the edges of the rear surface of the housing 20. The side surfaces 25 of the housing 20 also have a shape corresponding to the side surfaces 13 of the portable game device 1. In this embodiment, since each of the four side surfaces 13 of the portable game device 1 is formed approximately flat, the four side surfaces 25 of the housing 20 are also formed approximately flat.

[0022] In this embodiment, elastic members 30 are arranged on the side surfaces 25 of the housing 20. The elastic members 30 are formed of an elastic material that is more elastic than the material forming the housing 20, such as silicone or an elastomer (e.g., a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) including a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPS), an olefin-based elastomer (TOP), etc.). In this embodiment, the elastic members 30 are arranged so as to surround the entire four side surfaces 25 of the housing 20. Thus, in this embodiment, the elastic members 30 are arranged on the side surfaces 25 of the housing 20 so that the side surfaces 25 of the housing 20 are not visible from the outside. Therefore, the elastic members 30 arranged on the upper side wall 23, the elastic members 30 arranged on the lower side wall 23, the elastic members 30 arranged on the left side wall 23, and the elastic members 30 arranged on the right side wall 23 define the top surface 13a, the bottom surface 13b, the left surface 13c, and the right surface 13d of the portable game device 1, respectively. The inner surface of the elastic member 30 is bonded to the side surface 25 of the housing 20 over the entire surface.

[0023] However, the elastic member 30 does not necessarily have to be arranged so as to surround the entire side surface 25 of the housing 20. Therefore, the elastic member 30 may be arranged partially on the side surface 25 of the housing 20. In this case, the elastic member 30 may be arranged so as to surround the entire side surface 25 of the housing 20, or may be arranged only partially. The elastic member 30 may also be arranged on, for example, the front surface or the rear surface of the housing 20. In any case, the elastic member 30 may be arranged in any position as long as it is arranged around a first button 41 and a second button 42, which will be described later.

[0024] 1 to 3, the portable game device 1 has buttons 41 to 43 or a joystick 45 that are used as an input unit for inputting operations related to a program being executed by the processing device. In this embodiment, the buttons 41 to 43 or the joystick 45 are arranged on the front surface 11 or the top surface 13a, but may also be arranged on the rear surface 12 or another side surface 13.

[0025] The buttons 41 to 43 are used together with detection devices that detect changes in the positions of the buttons 41 to 43. When a user operates one of the buttons 41 to 43, the detection device detects the user's operation and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation performed by the user. The detection devices corresponding to the buttons 41 to 43 are connected to a processing device by wire or wirelessly, and the signals output from the detection devices are input to the processing device.

[0026] The buttons 41 to 43 include a first button 41, a second button 42, and a third button 43. In this embodiment, the first button 41 and the second button 42 are provided on the top surface 13a. Therefore, the elastic member 30 is located around the first button 41 and the second button 42. In this embodiment, two first buttons 41 and two second buttons 42 are provided on the top surface 13a. The two first buttons 41 are located close to the left-right ends of the top surface 13a and spaced apart from each other. On the other hand, the two second buttons 42 are located close to each other near the center of the top surface 13a in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the third button 43 is provided on the front surface 11. Therefore, the elastic member 30 is not located around the third button 43.

[0027] In this embodiment, the first button 41 and the second button 42 are provided on the top surface 13a. However, the first button 41 and the second button 42 may be provided in a region other than the top surface 13a as long as the region is provided with the elastic member 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first button 41 and the second button 42 may be provided on the bottom surface 13b, the left surface 13c, or the right surface 13d. Furthermore, if the elastic member 30 is provided on the front surface 11 or the rear surface of the portable game device 1, the first button 41 and the second button 42 may be provided on the front surface 11 or the rear surface.

[0028] The joystick 45 is used together with a detection device that detects changes in the position and tilt of the joystick 45. When the joystick 45 is operated by a user, the detection device detects the user's operation and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation performed by the user.

[0029] <Configuration of First Button> Next, the configuration of the first button 41 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first button 41 and its surroundings taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. FIG. 4(A) shows the first button 41 in a normal state where it is not pressed, and FIG. 4(B) shows the first button 41 in a pressed state where it is pressed. Note that in this specification, the direction from the inside to the outside of the housing 20 as shown in FIG. 4 is referred to as the outward direction, and the direction from the outside to the inside of the housing 20 is referred to as the inward direction. In this embodiment, the first button 41 is pressed inward.

[0030] A first hole 23a extending through the housing 20 is formed in the housing 20 at a position where the first button 41 is disposed. In particular, in this embodiment, the first button 41 is disposed on the upper side wall 23 of the housing 20, and therefore the first hole 23a is formed in the upper side wall 23, as shown in Figures 4 and 7(A) .

[0031] As described above, the first button 41 may be provided on the side surface 13 other than the top surface 13a, the front surface 11, or the rear surface. Since the first hole 23a is formed at the position where the first button 41 is to be disposed, in this case, the first hole 23a is formed in the side wall 23 other than the upper side wall 23, the front wall 21, or the rear wall 22.

[0032] 4, the first button 41 is composed of a button member 51 and an elastic member 30 located around the button member 51. The button member 51 is arranged to extend through the first hole 23a. The button member 51 is made of a material harder than the elastic member that forms the elastic member 30, for example, the hard resin material that forms the housing 20. The elastic member 30 is adhered to the surface of the button member 51.

[0033] The button member 51 is formed to have an axis X. The button member 51 is arranged so that the direction of the axis X extends inward and outward. The button member 51 is also arranged to be movable in the direction along the axis X, i.e., inward and outward.

[0034] The button member 51 has an operating portion 52 exposed to the outside of the housing 20 and a shaft portion 53 connected to the inward side of the operating portion 52. In this embodiment, the operating portion 52 is a portion having a rectangular shape when viewed in the direction of the axis X. However, the operating portion 52 may have a shape other than a rectangle, such as a circle, an ellipse, or a cross, when viewed in the direction of the axis X. Also, in this embodiment, the shaft portion 53 is a cylindrical portion. However, the shaft portion 53 may be a columnar portion having any cross-sectional shape, such as a rectangular column. The centers of the cross sections of the operating portion 52 and the shaft portion 53 are located on the axis X. Therefore, the operating portion 52 and the shaft portion 53 are formed to be coaxial.

[0035] The operation portion 52 has an operation surface 54 on its outward side and a back surface 55 on its inward side. Therefore, the back surface 55 is formed on the opposite side of the operation surface. The operation surface 54 is a surface for a user to operate. Therefore, the operation surface 54 is pressed inward by, for example, the user's finger. In this embodiment, the operation surface 54 is a flat surface extending perpendicular to the axis X. However, the operation surface 54 may be inclined with respect to the axis X or may have any shape, such as a concave shape that fits the shape of a finger. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the back surface 55 is formed to have a flat surface 55a that is perpendicular to the axis X and a sloped surface 55b that slopes inward toward the shaft portion 53 around the shaft portion 53. However, the back surface 55 may be a flat surface extending perpendicular to the axis X as a whole, a surface that slopes inward toward the shaft portion 53 as a whole, or a surface with any shape, such as a surface with irregularities.

[0036] The shaft portion 53 is connected to the operating portion 52 so as to protrude inward from the back surface 55. The shaft portion 53 has a tip portion 56 on the side opposite the end connected to the operating portion 52. The tip portion 56 forms the back surface opposite the operating surface 54.

[0037] The elastic member 30, positioned around the button member 51, extends between the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20 and the button member 51. The elastic member 30 is adhered to the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20 (i.e., the outer surface of the housing 20) at least around the first hole 23a. The elastic member 30 is also adhered to the surface of the button member 51. In particular, in this embodiment, the elastic member 30 is adhered to the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52 of the button member 51, particularly to both the flat surface 55a and the inclined surface 55b. As a result, the gap between the button member 51 and the side wall 23 of the housing 20 is sealed by the elastic member 30. Note that "sealing" not only means filling the space between the objects but also includes covering the space between the objects. Furthermore, because the elastic member 30 is adhered to the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52 but not to the operating surface 54, the operating surface 54 is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 without being covered by the elastic member 30. In addition, since the elastic member 30 is adhered to the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52 but not to the tip 56 of the shaft portion 53, the tip 56 of the shaft portion 53 is also exposed and not covered by the elastic member 30. Furthermore, the button member 51 is held in an optimal position with respect to the first hole 23a in the side wall 23 of the housing 20 by the elastic member 30.

[0038] 4A , the button member 51 is positioned such that the operation surface 54 protrudes outward from the first hole 23 a when the first button 41 is not pressed, which is the normal state. Therefore, in the normal state, the operation surface 54 is located outside the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20.

[0039] 4A , the button member 51 is arranged so that the entire back surface 55 faces outward from the first hole 23a in the normal state. Therefore, the back surface 55 faces outward from the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20 in the normal state. Note that the button member 51 may be arranged so that only a portion of the back surface 55 faces outward from the first hole 23a. In this case, only the outer peripheral region of the back surface 55 close to the surrounding side wall 23 (i.e., the region away from the shaft portion 53) may be arranged outward from the first hole 23a.

[0040] 4A, a tactile switch 60 is disposed on the inward side of the button member 51. The tactile switch 60 functions as a detection device that detects changes in the position of the first button 41, particularly changes in the position of the button member 51. The tactile switch 60 has a switch body 61 and a plunger 62 that slides relative to the switch body 61. The tactile switch 60 detects changes in the relative position of the plunger 62 with respect to the switch body 61. Note that any type of switch other than the tactile switch 60 can be used as the detection device as long as it can detect changes in the position of the button member 51.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4A, in a normal state, the button member 51 is positioned so that the tip 56 of the shaft portion 53 contacts the plunger 62 of the tactile switch 60. At this time, the plunger 62 is not pressed into the switch body 61. In a pressed state where the first button 41 is pressed by a user, the button member 51 moves inward as shown in Fig. 4B, and as a result, the shaft portion 53 presses the plunger 62 into the switch body 61, thereby pressing down the tactile switch 60.

[0042] In this embodiment, even in the pressed state, the operation surface 54 of the button member 51 protrudes outward from the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20. On the other hand, in this embodiment, in the pressed state, a part or all of the back surface 55 of the operation portion 52 of the button member 51 is positioned inward from the outer surface of the side wall 23. However, in the pressed state, the operation surface 54 may be positioned inward from the outer surface of the side wall 23, or the entire back surface 55 may be positioned outward from the outer surface of the side wall 23.

[0043] <Configuration of Second Button> Next, the configuration of the second button 42 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the area around the second button 42 as seen along VV in Fig. 2. In particular, Fig. 5 shows the second button 42 in a normal state when not pressed.

[0044] A second hole 23b extending through the housing 20 is formed in the position where the second button 42 is disposed in the housing 20. In particular, in the present embodiment, the second button 42 is disposed in the upper side wall 23 of the housing 20, and therefore the first hole 23a is formed in the upper side wall 23, as shown in Figures 4 and 7(A) . Note that the second hole 23b may be formed in a side wall 23 other than the upper side wall 23, the front wall 21, or the rear wall 22, as long as it is in a position where the second button 42 is disposed.

[0045] 5, the second button 42 is formed by the elastic member 30. The second button 42 has a button portion 31 that extends through the second hole 23b. In other words, the elastic member 30 constitutes the button portion 31.

[0046] The button portion 31 is formed to have an axis Y. The button portion 31 is arranged so that the direction of the axis Y extends in an inward and outward direction. The button portion 31 is also arranged to be movable in a direction along the axis Y, i.e., in an inward and outward direction.

[0047] Like the button member 51, the button portion 31 also has an operation portion 32 and a shaft portion 33. The operation portion 32 of the button portion 31 has an operation surface 34 on its outward side and a back surface 35 on its inward side. The operation surface 34 of the button portion 31 is a surface for operation by the user, and in this embodiment, is a flat surface extending perpendicular to the axis Y. In this embodiment, the back surface 35 of the button portion 31 is a surface perpendicular to the axis Y. However, the operation surface 34 and the back surface 35 of the button portion 31 may be surfaces of any shape other than flat surfaces.

[0048] The shaft portion 33 of the button portion 31 is formed in the same manner as the shaft portion 53 of the button member 51. Therefore, the shaft portion 33 of the button portion 31 is connected to the operating portion 32 so as to protrude inward from the back surface 35. The shaft portion 33 has a tip portion 36 on the side opposite to the end connected to the operating portion 52, and this tip portion 36 comes into contact with the plunger 62 of the tactile switch 60 in the normal state.

[0049] <Manufacturing Method> Next, a manufacturing method for an integrated part 70 that integrates the rear half 20b of the housing 20 (i.e., the portion of the housing 20 to which the elastic member 30 is adhered), the first button 41, the second button 42, and the elastic member 30 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the integrated part 70 is manufactured integrally by multi-color integral molding, particularly three-color molding. Figure 6 is a diagram that schematically illustrates the three-color molding process using manufacturing apparatus 75. Figure 7 is a diagram that illustrates the steps in which the integrated part 70 is manufactured by manufacturing apparatus 75.

[0050] 6, the manufacturing apparatus 75 includes a turntable 76, a mold 77 attached to the turntable 76, and three injection molding machines 78 that inject resin into the mold 77. The turntable 76 rotates in 90° increments in the direction of arrow R in the figure, and one integrated part 70 is molded when the turntable 76 makes one rotation.

[0051] First, at the first rotation position A, the first injection molding machine 78a injects resin to form the rear half 20b of the housing 20 into the first mold 77a, thereby molding the rear half 20b as shown in FIG.

[0052] Next, at a second rotation position B where the turntable 76 is rotated 90° in the R direction from the first rotation position A, a resin for forming the button member 51 is injected from a second injection molding machine 78b into a second mold 77b. The second mold 77b is formed using a mold that is partially identical to the first mold 77a, and has substantially the same shape as the first mold 77a, but is formed with an additional space corresponding to the button member 51 compared to the first mold 77a. By injection from the second injection molding machine 78b, the button member 51 is molded in the second mold 77b in addition to the rear half 20b, as shown in FIG. 7B .

[0053] Next, at a third rotation position C where the turntable 76 is rotated another 90° in the R direction from the second rotation position B, a resin for forming the elastic member 30 is injected from a third injection molding machine 78c into a third mold 77c. The third mold 77c is formed by a mold that is partially identical to the first mold 77a and the second mold 77b, and has substantially the same shape as the second mold 77b, but is formed with an additional space corresponding to the elastic member 30 compared to the second mold 77b. By injection from the third injection molding machine 78c, the elastic member 30 is molded in the third mold 77c in addition to the rear half 20b and the button member 51 (and therefore the button portion 31 is also molded), as shown in FIG. 7(C). As a result, the integrated part 70 is molded.

[0054] Thereafter, the turntable 76 is rotated another 90° in the R direction from the third rotation position C to a fourth rotation position D, at which the integrated part 70 is removed from the mold 77. The mold 77 is changed from the third mold 77c to the first mold 77a. Thereafter, the turntable 76 is rotated again 90° in the R direction to return to the first rotation position A, and molding of a new integrated part 70 begins.

[0055] In this manner, in this embodiment, the rear half 20b of the housing 20, the first button 41, the second button 42, and the elastic member 30 are integrally formed by injection molding using a partially identical mold.

[0056] In this embodiment, the rear half 20b of the housing 20 is molded at the first rotation position A, and the button member 51 is molded at the second rotation position B. The rear half 20b and the button member 51 are molded at different times. However, the rear half 20b and the button member 51 may be molded at the same rotation position and at the same time by different injection molding machines. In this case, the rotary table 76 is rotated in three stages, for example, by 120° each.

[0057] <Effects> In the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 is adhered to the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20 and to the button member 51, supporting the button member 51 relative to the side wall 23. Therefore, the button member 51 is less likely to wobble or become misaligned. Furthermore, because the operating surface 54 of the button member 51 is not covered by the elastic member 30, the tactile feel of the first button 41 can be made different from that of the elastic member 30 by appropriately selecting the material of the button member 51. Furthermore, because the elastic member 30 is adhered to the outer surface of the side wall 23, the elastic member 30 is less likely to peel off from the side wall 23 when the button member 51 is pressed inward, compared to when the elastic member 30 is adhered to the inner surface of the side wall 23.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 is disposed so as to completely surround the outer periphery of the housing 20. As a result, the elastic member 30 is prevented from peeling off from the housing 20.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 is arranged to surround the entire side surface of the housing 20. In the above embodiment, the user holds the portable game device 1 from the left surface 13 c and the right surface 13 d, and therefore, when the user holds the portable game device 1, the elastic member 30 comes into contact with the user's hand, making it easier for the user to hold the portable game device 1.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 constitutes the button portion 31. As a result, the number of parts constituting the button can be reduced, and a button with a different tactile sensation from the button member 51 can be provided.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 does not cover the tip 56 of the shaft portion 53. As a result, the tip 56 of the shaft portion 53 comes into direct contact with the tactile switch 60 without going through the elastic member 30, providing a solid operational feel when the user presses the button member 51.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 is adhered to the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52. Therefore, the operating portion 52 is adhered to the outer surface side of the elastic member 30, and the button member 51 is prevented from peeling off from the elastic member 30 when the button member 51 is pressed inward.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52 is located further outward than the first hole 23a, i.e., further outward than the outer surface of the housing 20. This causes the elastic member 30 between the button member 51 and the outer surface of the housing 20 to extend at least partially linearly therebetween. This prevents the elastic member 30 from easily bending between the button member 51 and the outer surface of the housing 20.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52 has an inclined surface 55b that is inclined inward toward the shaft portion 53, and the elastic member 30 is adhered to this inclined surface 55b. As a result, the adhesion area between the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52 and the elastic member 30 is increased, and the adhesion therebetween can be strengthened.

[0065] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the button member 51, the elastic member 30, and the housing portion of the housing 20 (rear half 20b) to which the elastic member 30 is attached are integrally formed by injection molding, which makes it possible to prevent misalignment of these parts due to assembly errors or the like.

[0066] In one modification, multiple detectors may be provided for one button. As a result, the output from the detector can be varied depending on not only the degree to which the button is pressed by the user's finger, but also the location on the button where the user's finger presses. For example, four detectors may be provided for one cross-shaped button.

[0067] In another modified example, the elastic member 30 may be arranged to cover the tip end 56 of the shaft portion 53. Furthermore, in another modified example, the front and rear halves may be configured in any manner, such as the front half 20a configuring the front wall 21 and the side wall 23, and the rear half 20b configuring only the rear wall 22. In addition, in another modified example, the elastic member 30 may be arranged to cover the operation surface 54.

[0068] Second Embodiment Next, the configuration of a portable game device 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The configuration of the portable game device 1 according to the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the portable game device 1 according to the first embodiment. The following description will focus on the parts that are different from the configuration of the portable game device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0069] 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4A of the first button 41' and its surroundings. In the second embodiment, the button member 51' also has an operating portion 52' exposed to the outside of the housing 20 and a shaft portion 53' connected to the inward side of the operating portion 52'. In this embodiment, the operating portion 52' also has a rectangular shape when viewed in the direction of the axis X, but may have other shapes.

[0070] Similar to the operation portion 52 of the first embodiment, the operation portion 52' has an operation surface 54' on its outward side and a back surface 55' on its inward side. In this embodiment, the back surface 55' is a flat surface that extends entirely perpendicular to the axis X. Similarly to the shaft portion 53 of the first embodiment, the shaft portion 53' has a tip portion 56' on the side opposite the end connected to the operation portion 52'. Note that the back surface 55' of the operation portion 52' of this embodiment may also be formed to have a portion that is inclined inward toward the shaft portion 53', similar to the operation portion 52 of the first embodiment.

[0071] Additionally, the operation portion 52' includes a side surface 57 formed between the operation surface 54' and the back surface 55' so as to connect the operation surface 54' and the back surface 55'. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 , a protrusion 58 is formed on the side surface 57, protruding in the circumferential direction beyond the operation surface 54'. In addition, in this embodiment, the protrusion 58 protrudes inward in the circumferential direction in a stepped manner. In addition, in this embodiment, the protrusion 58 is provided adjacent to the back surface 55'. As a result, the side surface 57 is formed in a stepped manner extending inward. In particular, in this embodiment, the side surface 57 has a first portion 57a ​​located radially outward of the first hole 23a relative to the operation surface 54', and a second portion 57b located radially inward and outward of the first portion 57 from the first hole 23a. In this embodiment, the second portion 57b is located radially outward of the first hole 23a relative to the operation surface 54', but it may also be located at the same position radially as the edge of the operation surface 54' of the first hole 23a.

[0072] The elastic member 30, positioned around the button member 51', extends between the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20 and the button member 51'. The elastic member 30 is adhered to the outer surface of the side wall 23 of the housing 20 at least around the first hole 23a. The elastic member 30 is also adhered to the surface of the button member 51'. In this embodiment, the elastic member 30 is adhered to the side surface 57 (including the circumferential surface of the protrusion 58) of the operating portion 52' of the button member 51'. In particular, in this embodiment, the elastic member 30 is adhered to the first portion 57a, the second portion 57b, and the stepped portion (outward-facing surface) between them of the side surface 57. Note that the elastic member 30 does not have to be adhered to the first portion 57a ​​or the second portion 57b as long as it is adhered to the stepped portion (outward-facing surface).

[0073] As a result, the gap between the button member 51 and the side wall 23 of the housing 20 is blocked by the elastic member 30. Furthermore, because the elastic member 30 is adhered to the side surface 57 of the operation portion 52' but not to the operation surface 54', the operation surface 54' is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 without being covered by the elastic member 30. In addition, because the elastic member 30 is adhered to the side surface 57 of the operation portion 52' but not to the tip 56' of the shaft portion 53', the tip 56' of the shaft portion 53' is also exposed without being covered by the elastic member 30. Furthermore, the button member 51 is held in an optimal position with respect to the first hole 23a in the side wall 23 of the housing 20 by the elastic member 30.

[0074] In the second embodiment, the elastic member 30 is bonded to the side surface 57 of the operating portion 52' of the button member 51'. As a result, the connection between the operating portion 52' and the elastic member 30 can be made smoother than in the first embodiment, in which the elastic member 30 is bonded to the back surface 55 of the operating portion 52'. In particular, according to the second embodiment, the elastic member 30 is bonded to at least the first portion 57a ​​to the second portion 57b of the side surface 57 (i.e., to the stepped portion (outward-facing surface) between the first portion 57a ​​and the second portion 57b). As a result, a portion of the operating portion 52' is bonded to the inward-facing side of the elastic member 30, thereby preventing the button member 51' from slipping out. Note that the shape of the protrusion 58 is not particularly limited as long as the side surface 57 has a portion that bulges outward from the operating surface 54' toward the outer diameter of the first hole 23a.

[0075] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims.

[0076] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Portable game device (input device) 5 Display 20 Housing 30 Elastic member 31 Button portion 41 First button 42 Second button 51 Button member

Claims

1. An input device comprising: a housing having a first hole; a button member extending through said first hole and having an operating surface protruding from said first hole to the outside of said housing; and an elastic member adhered to the outer surface of said housing and said button member, filling the gap between said housing and said button member and not covering said operating surface.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the housing over the entire circumference.

3. An input device as described in claim 2, wherein the housing has a front surface on which a display is provided, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a side surface connecting the front surface and the rear surface, the first hole is disposed on the side surface, and the elastic member is disposed so as to surround the side surface.

4. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing further has a second hole different from the first hole, and the elastic member forms a button portion that covers the second hole and extends through the second hole.

5. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the button member has a first back surface on the opposite side to the operation surface, which presses a switch when the operation surface is pressed by a user, and the elastic member does not cover the first back surface.

6. An input device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the button member has an operating portion which forms the operating surface, and a shaft portion which protrudes inwardly from a second back surface of the operating portion opposite the operating surface towards the inside of the housing, and the elastic member is adhered to the second back surface.

7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein said button member is arranged so that said second back surface is positioned on an outward side of said housing, facing toward the outside of said housing, relative to said first hole.

8. The input device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second back surface has an inclined surface inclined inwardly toward the shaft portion, and at least a portion of the elastic member is bonded to the inclined surface.

9. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the button member comprises a second back surface opposite the operation surface from which a shaft portion protrudes, and a side surface connecting the operation surface and the second back surface, and the elastic member is adhered to the side surface.

10. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the elastic member is adhered to a first portion of the side surface that is positioned radially outward of the first hole relative to the operating surface, and a second portion that is positioned radially inward of the first hole relative to the first portion and outward toward the outside of the housing.

11. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the button member, the elastic member, and at least that portion of the housing to which the elastic member is adhered are integrally formed by injection molding.

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