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:
Aug. 16, 2011
Filed:
Nov. 24, 2008
Martin Wedel, Furulund, SE;
William H. Tolbert, Malmö, SE;
Martin Wedel, Furulund, SE;
William H. Tolbert, Malmö, SE;
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Lund, SE;
Abstract
A seal section for a side key of a portable electronic device is provided contiguously with a main seal. The seal section includes a flexible exterior and an exposed portion, the exposed portion facing the device exterior toward an adjacent side key. The flexible exterior also includes an extension opposite the exposed portion that extends inward toward the interior of the device. When a user depresses a side key, the inward movement of the side key is transmitted through the seal section via the exposed portion and inward extension. The inward movement of the side key is thus transmitted through the seal section to a switching element to convert the manual user input into an electrical input signal command. In this manner, side keys may be sealed without having to provide separate sealing elements, while maintaining the functionality of the side keys.