Press Button Device Flexible Sealing Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional audio equipment press button devices require additional design and complex assembly to achieve airtight and watertight functions, often using sealants which complicate the space design and assembly process.

Innovation Solution

A press button device with a button unit and flexible connection unit made of soft elastic material, featuring a tubular button-coupling portion, annular fixed portion, and deformable portion, which are formed integrally as one piece, allowing direct mounting to the housing without the need for sealing means, achieving airtight, watertight, and anti-vibration functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional button is mounted on a housing wall with a gap for movement, then the button can be pressed to actuate a control switch, but air leakage occurs in the main space of the housing when the button is pressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton pressing operationVSAvoidair leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The button device is divided into separate functional components: the button body for operation, the flexible connection unit for sealing and movement, and the fixed portion for mounting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively solving the air leakage problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible connection unit acts as a flexible membrane that seals the gap between the button and housing wall. It allows the button to move during pressing while maintaining the seal, preventing air leakage in the main space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an independent space with sealant is used to isolate the control switch, then air leakage is prevented, but the assembly process becomes complicated and space design is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair leakage preventionVSAvoidassembly process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function and button movement function are merged into a single flexible connection unit component. This eliminates the need for separate sealant application and independent space construction, simplifying both design and assembly while maintaining air leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is extracted from the housing structure and integrated into the button assembly itself through the flexible connection unit. This removes the complexity of creating sealed independent spaces in the housing design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the button is directly mounted to the housing without sealing means, then the assembly process is simplified, but the housing becomes vulnerable to vibration and water infiltration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly process simplicityVSAvoidanti-vibration and water resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible connection unit serves as both a seal and a vibration damper. Its elastic material properties provide resistance to vibration while maintaining the airtight and watertight seal, eliminating the need for additional protective structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible connection unit is made of elastic material that combines sealing, vibration resistance, and water protection properties in a single material composition, achieving multiple protective functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Simplifies the assembly process and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional space design and sealants, while maintaining airtight and watertight functions, and providing anti-vibration protection.

Implementation Method 1

The deformable portion is elastically displaced relative to the fixed portion when the button unit is pressed, and restores the button unit to its original position when the pressing force thereon is removed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9536688B2Press button device and audio equipment having the press button device

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 LITE ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LTD

AI summary

A press button device includes a button unit having a main body with a surrounding wall, and an actuating member protruding from an inner side of the main body for actuating a control switch. A flexible connection unit includes a button-coupling portion connected to the surrounding wall in an airtight manner, a fixed portion radially spaced apart from and surrounding the button-coupling portion, and a deformable portion interconnecting the button-coupling and fixed portions. The deformable portion is elastically displaced relative to the fixed portion when the button unit is pressed, and restores the button unit to its original position when the pressing force thereon is removed.