Elastomeric Key Shaft With Integrated Water Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small-sized portable electronic devices, traditional key structures with water stop members and coil springs lead to increased component count, cost, and assembly complexity, with rigid shafts failing to apply suitable pre-tension and absorb impact effectively.
Innovation Solution
A key structure featuring a shaft portion made of elastomer with a small-diameter portion and a stopper portion that applies pre-tension to the switch, integrated with a water stop member, allowing for fine adjustment and impact absorption, reducing the number of components and enhancing assemblability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional key structures with water stop members and coil springs are used, then waterproof function and resilience are achieved, but component count and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water stop member and the key shaft into a single integrated structure. The elastomeric shaft portion itself serves as the water stop member, eliminating the need for separate water stop components while maintaining waterproof functionality between the key and case.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric shaft portion performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides waterproof sealing, absorbs impact through elasticity, and applies pre-tension to the switch. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining all necessary functions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid shafts are used in key structures, then structural stability is maintained, but pre-tension application and impact absorption are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the shaft from rigid to elastomeric. This material parameter change enables the shaft to exhibit elastic deformation, allowing it to absorb impact and apply pre-tension to the switch while maintaining structural stability through its inherent elasticity.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for key structure functions, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components (key shaft, water stop member, and resilience element) into a single elastomeric shaft portion. This integration simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining all required functions, directly addressing the contradiction between functional requirements and ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, reliable, and impact-resistant key structure that maintains pre-tension on the switch, preventing vain movements and ensuring proper operation even under external impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft portion that extends from the top portion and includes a elastomer at a tip of the shaft portion
Data Source
AI summary
A key structure in an electronic apparatus case includes a top portion that is exposed through a surface of the case, a shaft portion that extends from the top portion and includes a elastomer at a tip of the shaft portion, and a stopper portion that projects from a periphery of the top portion to engage and that is engaged so as to be in contact with the switch in the state where the elastomer is contracted.