JP2010098674A - Side keybutton mounting structure and portable terminal comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a side keybutton mounting structure that reduces variations in mounting in a thin and compact portable terminal, and a portable terminal comprising the same. <P>SOLUTION: The side keybutton mounting structure is configured so that a switch 3 arranged in a case operates by pressing a side keybutton 1 exposed to the case side from an opening formed in the case. The side keybutton 1 comprises a base part 1a that protrudes to both sides on the side opposite to a key top part. In the case, a rib 5 that regulates depression of the side keybutton 1 is formed. A part of the rib 5 in contact with the base part 1a is bent when the side keybutton 1 is pressed. The side keybutton 1 can be pressed by a predetermined amount even after the rib 5 and the base part 1a come into contract with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a side key button mounting structure that can reduce mounting variation in a thin and small portable terminal.

  In a portable terminal, the number of buttons that can be installed on the front surface of the terminal is limited.

  In a foldable portable terminal, the operation unit is hidden inside in the folded state.

  For this reason, by installing side key buttons on the side of the housing, it is possible to cope with multi-functionality and to operate even in a folded state.

As an invention related to installing a button on the side surface of a portable terminal, there is a “button mounting structure for an electronic device” disclosed in Patent Document 1. The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a rib that forms a space for supporting a part of a button member between a housing wall having a window and bonding with a caulking or double-sided tape using a jig. The button member is arranged without the need for the button.
JP-A-6-349375

  In consideration of assembly variation of the side key button and mounting variation of the switch on the board, it is necessary to sufficiently secure the stroke of the side key button (distance until the side key button interferes with the rib of the casing).

  A rib 5 is provided to position and mount the side key button on the housing. This is not only due to the positioning of the side key button 1, but also from the side key button 1 against a drop impact or an external press. This is a member for preventing the shock of this from being directly transmitted to the switch 3, and it is difficult to have a configuration in which this is omitted.

  That is, when the side key button is downsized and the side key button 1 interferes with the rib 5 when the side key button 1 is pressed, the operability of the key button 1 is hindered.

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the button member is supported in a cantilever state, and if the button is strongly pressed, it may be pushed into the housing. Therefore, it is difficult to say that it is suitable for use in a portable terminal in which a strong force may be applied to the button due to a drop impact or the like.

  As described above, it has been difficult to ensure the operability of the side key buttons while realizing the reduction in thickness and size of the portable terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a side key button mounting structure capable of reducing mounting variation in a thin and small mobile terminal and a mobile terminal including the side key button mounting structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, as a first aspect, the present invention provides a press installed inside the casing by pressing a side key button exposed from an opening formed in the casing on the side of the casing. Side key button mounting structure that activates the switch. The side key button has a base part that protrudes on both sides on the opposite side of the key top part, and the housing restricts the pressing of the side key button. The rib is formed so that when the side key button is pressed, the portion that comes into contact with the base is bent, so that the side key button can be pushed in a predetermined amount even after the rib and the base come into contact. The present invention provides a side key button mounting structure characterized by being.

  Moreover, in order to achieve the said objective, this invention provides the portable terminal provided with the side key button mounting structure which concerns on the said 1st aspect of the said this invention as a 2nd aspect.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the side key button mounting structure which can reduce mounting dispersion | variation in a thin and small portable terminal, and a portable terminal provided with the same can be provided.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a mobile terminal to which the side key button mounting structure according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a mobile terminal to which the side key button mounting structure according to this embodiment is applied. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the side key button mounting structure. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portable terminal to which the side key button mounting structure according to this embodiment is applied. A mobile terminal to which the side key button mounting structure according to the present embodiment is applied is, for example, a mobile phone terminal having a function of communicating via a mobile phone network.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the side key buttons 1 share a base 1 a and are connected in three, and each has a similar mounting structure. The base 1a of the side key button 1 is installed in a state where it is disposed in the gap between the rib 5 and the housing wall, and faces the switch 3 at a predetermined interval at the cut of the rib 5. The key top portion of the side key button 1 is exposed to the outside of the housing, and the switch 3 is activated by pressing the key top portion.

  When the side key button 1 is pushed, the base 1 a of the side key button 1 abuts on the rib 5 on both sides of the cut of the rib 5. For this reason, even when the side key button 1 is strongly pressed, the button is not pushed into the housing.

  Moreover, the rib 5 is formed to be thin and easily bent, and is given flexibility.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the rib 5 and the side key button 1 interfere with each other, the rib 5 bends in the direction of the arrow, and the side key button 1 can be pushed further.
By this. Both miniaturization of the device and securing of the operability of the side key button 1 can be achieved.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, in consideration of positioning and pressing from the outside, the rib 5 is formed such that both end portions of the range in contact with the base portion 1 a of the side key button 1 are higher than the central portion. Has been.

  As described above, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained by reviewing the shape of the rib that affects the stroke of the side key button.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, if the rib 5 is made extremely thin to give flexibility, the resin does not spread during molding and a nest is formed, which may not be molded into a desired part shape. By reducing the height in conjunction with reducing the thickness, nests are less likely to occur during molding.

  Each of the above embodiments is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these and can be variously modified.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable terminal to which the side key button mounting structure which concerns on 1st Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably is applied. It is a cross-sectional view of the portable terminal to which the side key button mounting structure according to the first embodiment is applied. It is sectional drawing of the side key button mounting structure which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the portable terminal to which the side key button mounting structure concerning a 1st embodiment is applied. It is sectional drawing at the time of side key button pressing of the side key button mounting structure which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the side key button mounting structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is sectional drawing of another structure of the side key button mounting structure concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Side key button 1a Base 2 Board 3 Switch 4 Stroke 5 Rib

Claims (6)

A side key button mounting structure for operating a push switch installed inside the casing by pressing a side key button exposed from an opening formed in the casing on the side of the casing,
The side key button has a base portion that protrudes on both sides on the opposite side to the key top portion,
The housing is formed with a rib for restricting the pressing of the side key button.
The rib can be pushed by a predetermined amount even after the rib and the base come into contact with each other when the portion that comes into contact with the base is bent when the side key button is pressed. Side key button mounting structure characterized by   The side key button mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the side key button is supported in a state where the base portion is disposed in a gap between the rib and the outer wall of the housing.   The side key button mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the side key button shares the base with another side key button.   4. The side key button mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the base is in contact with the rib in a state of protruding from a tip of the rib. 5.   5. The side key button mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the rib in a range in contact with the base portion are formed higher than a central portion.   The portable terminal provided with the side key button mounting structure of any one of Claim 1 to 5.

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