Electronic apparatus

Abstract

A button member for disposing within a housing includes: at least one pressed part that is exposed through an opening formed through the inner and outer surfaces of the housing, where the at least one pressed part is for being pressed by a user in a first direction; at least one elastic arm part extending from the at least one pressed part such that a reaction force is generated when the at least one pressed part is pressed in the first direction, and such that the at least one elastic arm part biases the at least one pressed part in a direction opposite to the first direction to a position of rest; a base part located at an end part of the at least one elastic arm part, at least a portion of the base part extending in the first direction, and where the at least one pressed part, the at least one elastic arm part, and the base part are monolithically molded. A support part is located within the housing to receive and engage at least a portion of the base part and to provide a counter support to the base part in the direction opposite to the first direction when the at least one pressed part is pressed in the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a housing an inner surface and an outer surface;   a button member configured to have at least one pressed part that is exposed through an opening formed through the inner and outer surfaces of the housing, where the at least one pressed part is for being pressed by a user in a first direction;   at least one elastic arm part extending from the at least one pressed part such that a reaction force is generated when the at least one pressed part is pressed in the first direction, and such that the at least one elastic arm part biases the at least one pressed part in a direction opposite to the first direction to a position of rest;   a base part located at an end part of the at least one elastic arm part, at least a portion of the base part extending in the first direction, and where the at least one pressed part, the at least one elastic arm part, and the base part are monolithically molded; and   a support part located within the housing to receive and engage at least a portion of the base part and to provide a counter support to the base part in the direction opposite to the first direction when the at least one pressed part is pressed in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support part includes a recess formed in the inner surface of the housing, which receives and engages the at least a portion of the base part. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic arm part includes a first elastic arm part and a second elastic arm part, each extending from respective first ends at the at least one pressed part to respective second ends at the base part. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the first elastic arm part and the second elastic arm part includes a respective curved portion providing respective regions of flexibility that produce the reaction force and the biasing of the at least one pressed part to the position of rest. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the respective curved portions provide the respective regions of flexibility through cantilever action. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pressed part includes a first pressed part connected to the first end of the first elastic arm part, and a second pressed part connected to the first end of the second elastic arm part. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressed part defines a central axis extending in the first direction, and the at least one at least one elastic arm part extends from a location on the at least one pressed part that is spaced radially away from the central axis toward a periphery thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressed part extends forward from at least one flange member such that the at least one pressed part extends through the opening but the flange member abuts the inside surface of the housing when at rest. 
     
     
         9 . A button member for disposing within a housing of an apparatus, the housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the button member comprising:
 at least one pressed part that is exposed through an opening formed through the inner and outer surfaces of the housing, where the at least one pressed part is for being pressed by a user in a first direction;   at least one elastic arm part extending from the at least one pressed part such that a reaction force is generated when the at least one pressed part is pressed in the first direction, and such that the at least one elastic arm part biases the at least one pressed part in a direction opposite to the first direction to a position of rest; and   a base part located at an end part of the at least one elastic arm part, at least a portion of the base part extending in the first direction, and where the at least one pressed part, the at least one elastic arm part, and the base part are monolithically molded,   wherein a support part is located within the housing to receive and engage at least a portion of the base part and to provide a counter support to the base part in the direction opposite to the first direction when the at least one pressed part is pressed in the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The button member according to  claim 9 , wherein the support part includes a recess formed in the inner surface of the housing, which receives and engages the at least a portion of the base part. 
     
     
         11 . The button member according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one elastic arm part includes a first elastic arm part and a second elastic arm part, each extending from respective first ends at the at least one pressed part to respective second ends at the base part. 
     
     
         12 . The button member according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the first elastic arm part and the second elastic arm part includes a respective curved portion providing respective regions of flexibility that produce the reaction force and the biasing of the at least one pressed part to the position of rest. 
     
     
         13 . The button member according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the respective curved portions provide the respective regions of flexibility through cantilever action. 
     
     
         14 . The button member according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one pressed part includes a first pressed part connected to the first end of the first elastic arm part, and a second pressed part connected to the first end of the second elastic arm part. 
     
     
         15 . The button member according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one pressed part defines a central axis extending in the first direction, and the at least one at least one elastic arm part extends from a location on the at least one pressed part that is spaced radially away from the central axis toward a periphery thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The button member according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one pressed part extends forward from at least one flange member such that the at least one pressed part extends through the opening but the flange member abuts the inside surface of the housing when at rest.