SIDE KEY SEAL FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

摘要

A seal section (40) for a side key (17) of a portable electronic device (10) is provided contiguously with a main seal (30). The seal section includes a flexible exterior (42) and an exposed portion (46), the exposed portion facing the device exterior toward an adjacent side key. The flexible exterior also includes an extension (48) 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 (50) 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.