Sealed Button Assembly Interlocking Flanges Water Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in creating a durable, reliable, and compact liquid-sealed button assembly that prevents foreign matter and liquid ingress without requiring specialized attachment mechanisms or additional space, while ensuring consistent activation regardless of button cap pressure application.
Innovation Solution
A sealed button assembly featuring a button cap with flanges that interlock with a complementary retainer, including a central post and a shelf within the housing, which provides a rigid seal and prevents pivoting, using a combination of interlocking flanges and seals like O-rings to ensure water-tightness and uniform translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid seals are made larger to provide effective sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple segments: a stationary seal attached to the housing and a movable seal attached to the button cap. This segmentation allows each seal to be optimized independently, with the movable seal being smaller than previously required while maintaining effective sealing through coordinated movement with the button cap.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal system transitions from a static, large perimeter seal to a dynamic system where the movable seal on the button cap moves with the button during actuation. This dynamic configuration allows the seal to maintain contact and sealing effectiveness throughout the button's range of motion without requiring excessive seal size.
2Reliability
If specialized attachment mechanisms like screw taps are added to the housing, then button retention reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The button retention mechanism is merged with the sealing system. The retainer that provides mechanical retention also incorporates sealing functionality, eliminating the need for separate attachment mechanisms like screw taps. This integration reduces manufacturing steps while maintaining reliable button retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical retention for the button assembly and creates the sealing interface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized attachment mechanisms, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable button retention.
3Ease of operation
If vertical translation guides are added below physical buttons, then button activation consistency is improved, but internal volume and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The translation guide functionality is merged into the retainer structure. The retainer's geometry provides the necessary guidance for vertical button movement without requiring separate guide components, thereby maintaining consistent button activation while minimizing internal volume requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer serves multiple purposes: it provides sealing, mechanical retention, and vertical translation guidance for the button. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated guide components, reducing internal volume while ensuring consistent button activation through proper geometric constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed physical button for use with a portable electronic device that effectively presents ingress of liquids. Embodiments include a button cap having flange portions that interlock with complementary flanges from a button retainer. The button cap may also include a downward oriented central post, proportioned and oriented to interface with the top surface of a button attached to a bracket. The button retainer may include an aperture sized and positioned to receive the central post of the button cap. The button retainer may rest on a shelf within the electronic device housing such that the shelf interposes the bracket and the retainer to form a rigid seal.