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EP0685954A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Waterproofed portable telephone

Assignee: Kokusai Denki Electric Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-31
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2015-05-31
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic device, such as a portable telephone, includes a front panel (1) in which a plurality of holes (10) is formed. A respective key button (3) is received in each hole and is movable from the exterior of the panel by the application of pressure. An electronic circuit board (5) bearing a respective switch associated with each key button is situated behind the front panel and one contact (12) of each switch is positioned to be moved by the respective key button thereby closing or opening the switch. A flexible waterproof keypad member (2) extends over all the button holes (10) between the key buttons (3) and the circuit board (5), whereby movement of the or each key button is transmitted to the associated switch contact (12) through the keypad member (2). The keypad member (2) is pressed by the circuit board (5) into sealed engagement with the rear surface of the front panel over an annular area extending around the key button holes whereby water which passes into the interior of the device through the gaps between the key buttons and the edges of the holes in the front panel is positively prevented from gaining access to the circuit board.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takeshi C/O Kokusai Electric Co. Ltd. Sato
  • 👤 Isamu C/O Kokusai Electric Co. Ltd. Sekine
  • 👤 Tatsuo C/O Kokusai Electric Co. Ltd. Kuwayama
  • 👤 Tatsuya C/O Kokusai Electric Co. Ltd. Okawa
  • 👤 Ryuichi C/O Kokusai Electric Co.Ltd. Takahashi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-10 02:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/23; H04M1/0202; H04M1/18; H01; H01H; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/002; H01H2223/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
An electronic device, such as a portable telephone, including a front panel (1) in which at least one hole (10) is formed, a respective key button (3) being received in each hole and movable from the exterior of the panel (1) by the application of a pressure, an electronic circuit board (5) bearing a respective switch associated with each key button (3), one contact (12) of each of which is positioned to be moved by the associated key button (3), characterised by a flexible waterproof keypad member (2) extending over all the button holes (10) between the key buttons (3) and the circuit board, whereby movement of the or each key button (3) is transmitted to the associated switch contact (12) through the keypad member (2), the keypad member (2) being in sealed engagement with the rear surface of the front panel (1) over an annular area extending around the key button holes (10).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 37 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 including means (13) retaining the circuit board (5) in position within it, the circuit board engaging the keypad member and retaining it in sealing engagement with the front panel (1).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the keypad member (2) includes an integral continuous peripheral rib (6) which projects from its front surface and is in sealing engagement with the front panel (1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the peripheral rib (6) includes an integral sealing bead or projection (8) extending therefrom into sealing engagement with the front panel (1).
Claim 5
Independent Claim 29 words
A device as claimed in claims 1 and 2 in which the keypad member (2) includes an integral continuous peripheral rib (7) in engagement with the circuit board (5).
Claim 6
Independent Claim 36 words
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the keypad member (2) is provided with projections (9) on its rear surface at positions corresponding to those of the key buttons (3).
Claim 7
Independent Claim 75 words
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the circuit board (5) includes at least one light-emitting element and carries reflective material over at least part of its front surface, an opaque sheet (4), in which holes are formed at positions corresponding to those of the key buttons (3), being positioned between the circuit board (5) and the keypad member (2), the keypad member (2) being made of translucent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the key buttons (3) are made of translucent material.

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