Waterproof button and electronic device using same

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610189823.2 filed on Mar. 30, 2016.

[0002] The subject matter herein generally relates to waterproofing of controls, and particularly to a waterproof button and an electronic device using the waterproof button.

[0003] Operation buttons are widely used in electronic products, such as smart watches, smart glasses, mobile phones, and flat computers. Waterproofing is important for the operation buttons.

[0009] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0010] The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”, it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device 100. In the embodiment, the electronic device 100 at least includes a casing 200, a waterproof button 300, and a circuit trigger 400. The trigger 400 is mounted in the casing 200. Referring to FIG. 4, the casing 200 defines a receiving groove 201 to receive the waterproof button 300. An opening 202 is defined in a wall of the receiving groove 201, one end of the waterproof button 300 passes through the opening 202 and resists against the trigger 400. When the waterproof button 300 is pressed by a user, the waterproof button 300 presses on the trigger 400, thus the trigger 400 can trigger functions of the electronic device 100. In the embodiment, the electronic device 100 can be smart glasses, a smart watch, a smart phone, a flat computer, and the like. The electronic device 100 includes many other elements not shown which are not relevant to this application.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the embodiment, the waterproof button 300 can include a button portion 10 and a waterproof portion 20.

[0013] The button portion 10 includes an operating portion 11, a first connecting portion 12, a second connecting portion 13, and a pressing portion 14.

[0014] In the embodiment, the operating portion 11 is configured for a user to press the button portion 10 with his fingertip. In this embodiment, the operating portion 11 is cylindrical. It can be understood that the operating portion 11 also can be made into various other shapes for other embodiments.

[0015] The first connecting portion 12 is connected between the operating portion 11 and the second connecting portion 13. A diameter of the first connecting portion 12 is less than a diameter of the operating portion 11, and a diameter of the second connecting portion 13 is less than the diameter of the first connecting portion 12. In the embodiment, the first connecting portion 12 and the second connecting portion 13 are cylindrical. It can be understood that, in other embodiments, the first connecting portion 12 and the second connecting portion 13 can be replaced by an integral cylinder, and the diameters of the first connecting portion 12 and the second connecting portion 13 would be the same.

[0016] The pressing portion 14 is connected to the second connecting portion 13. In the embodiment, the pressing portion 14 is cylindrical, and the diameter of the pressing portion 14 is greater than the diameter of the second connecting portion 13.

[0017] The button portion 10 is made of a hard material. In the embodiment, the hard material can be resin or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In other embodiment, the hard material can include metal, ceramic, and the like.

[0018] In the embodiment, the waterproof portion 20 can include a positioning portion 21, a sleeve 22, and a receiving portion 23.

[0019] The positioning portion 21 is a flat ring plate. A groove 211 is defined on a top surface of the positioning portion 21, a shape of the groove 211 is the same as a shape of a cross section of the first connecting portion 12. A through hole 212 is defined in the center of the groove 211, and the shape of the through hole 212 is the same as the shape of a cross section of the second connecting portion 13. The second connecting portion 13 can thus pass through the through hole 212, and the first connecting portion 12 can be received in the groove 211. A bottom surface of the positioning portion 21 forms a fixing surface 213. When the waterproof button 300 is mounted to the electronic device 100, the fixing surface 213 is fixed to the casing 200. In this embodiment, the fixing surface 213 is fixed to the receiving groove 201 of the casing 200 by adhesive. It can be understood that, in other embodiments, the fixing surface 213 further can be fixed to the casing 200 by using screws or other means.

[0020] The sleeve 22 receives the second connecting portion 13. One end of the sleeve 22 is connected to the fixing surface 213, and a hollow portion of the sleeve 22 is in communication with the through hole 212 of the positioning portion 21. An inner diameter of the sleeve 22 is equal to the diameter of the second connecting portion 13.

[0021] The receiving portion 23 is connected to the other end of the sleeve 22. The receiving portion 23 forms a cavity communicating with the hollow portion of the sleeve 22. The receiving portion 23 receives the pressing portion 14 of the button portion 10, and a shape of the receiving portion 23 is the same as the shape of the pressing portion 14.

[0022] The waterproof portion 20 is made of elastic material which is waterproof. In the embodiment, the waterproof portion 20 is made of flexible and adhesive materials, such as rubber, Polyethylene (PE), or Polypropylene (PP).

[0023] In the embodiment, the button portion 10 and the waterproof portion 20 are made by injection molding.

[0024] In other embodiments, the button portion 10 and the waterproof portion 20 can be manufactured separately, and then be assembled together. In detail, the assembly can include the pressing portion 14 and the second connecting portion 13 being passed through the through 212 of the positioning portion 21 and the sleeve 22 until the pressing portion 14 is received in the receiving portion 23. Simultaneously, the first connecting portion 12 is received in the groove 211.

[0025] When mounting the waterproof button 300 to the casing 200, the receiving portion 23 and the sleeve 22 firstly passes through the opening 202 of the casing 200 until the receiving portion 23 resists against the trigger 400 and the fixing surface 213 is received in the receiving groove 201. The fixing surface 213 can be fixed to the receiving groove 201 by adhesive. Thus, the casing 200 and the waterproof button 300 are tightly connected, preventing the ingress of water or vapor or dust and dirt.

[0026] In use, the operating portion 11 transmits the fingertip pressure to the first connecting portion 12 and the pressing portion 14, the first connecting portion 12 presses the groove 211 to compress the groove 211. The pressing portion 14 presses and compresses the receiving portion 23, and the receiving portion 23 presses on the trigger 400 to trigger a function of the electronic device 100. When the user releases the operating portion 11, the elastic restoring force of the waterproof portion 20 brings the button portion 10 to the original state.

[0027] It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.