The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 02, 2000
Nobuhiro Aoki, Saitama, JP;
Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., Saitama, JP;
Abstract
An operation button comprises a button body swingably attached to a recess of a portable apparatus. The button body has a conical shape and is uniformly urged toward the recess by arm portions of a leaf spring. The button body is kept in a neutral position where a bottom edge of the button body abuts on the bottom of the recess and the button body does not incline. When the operation button is depressed, the button body is swung in a state that the bottom edge thereof is a fulcrum. Upon this, contact points formed on a printed circuit board is short-circuited. The arm portion corresponding to the depressed position urges a button cover in a direction separating from the recess. At the same time, a position of the button body opposite to the depressed position is urged toward the recess by the other arm portion. When the operation button is stopped to be depressed, it is speedily returned to the neutral position owing to synergism of the arm portions.