Patent Application
20170343532
With the advent of electronic home medical devices, there is a desire to have the medical devices be both functional under a wide variety of conditions as well as aesthetically pleasing to consumers. One common usage is home monitoring of blood glucose levels via glucose meters. As a result of their condition, some diabetics experience visual impairment as well as hand dexterity or control issues. If the user improperly reads the glucose meter and/or accidentally hits the wrong button, it may lead to undesirable consequences, such as improper glucose control by the diabetic. Moreover, buttons or other input devices in glucose meters are typically subjected to repeated actuation which can lead to failure of the meter at inopportune times. Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.
Common glucose meters typically are designed from a functional perspective and are commonly aesthetically unappealing. In a customary glucose meter design, the display and the accompanying lens or window protecting the display are framed by the housing on the front of the meter. To provide a more appealing look, a one piece wrap around window design was developed in which the window for the display stretched from the front face of the meter to the side of the meter. The side portion of the window further included an opening for a side button that is used to interact with the meter. Though this wraparound window design provided an aesthetically pleasing glucose meter, it was unexpectedly discovered that this design had some significant drawbacks which made it difficult to produce in a cost effective manner. For example, it created issues with any visual items, such as instructions or decorative items, stretching from the front face of the window to the side. Due to the molding requirements for producing the window, a mold parting line is created generally around the bend where the window transitions from the front face to the side. Any visual items stretching across this parting line would is generally require painting with masking. This masking process typically causes poor yields when a very good appearance quality is required for painted items. Painting with masking also requires the addition of a groove between the painted and unpainted areas. This groove damages the appearance of the smooth flat sections of the window. It was further found that the side opening in the window for the button creates other issues. Given the button extends through the side opening, insertion of the window frame becomes difficult during assembly. Moreover, the overall design of the meter becomes more constrained which in turn results in less robust product assembly. When the bend between the front and side of the window is at an acute angle, mold undercut issues are created. As a result, a more complicated mold is required, such as those requiring collapsible cores or mold inserts. The interior molding would also have to properly align with the exterior molding so as to form the button opening. The mold requirements together would make it difficult to maintain mold tooling because the parting line is now located between two moving parts of the molding. This in turn can result in mold flashing occurring along the parting line of the window during production.
To address these as well as other issues, an integrated interface system was developed to give the impression that the button is part of a front decorative window of a medical device, such as a glucose meter. The meter includes a unique molded button that uses a flexing and twisting action during actuation of the button and has the appearance of being part of the front lens or window of the meter. However, the meter actually utilizes a two-piece construction. Specifically, the button element is in the form of a narrow strip that includes a stiffening rib or beam positioned to face the front of the meter such that it is offset to induce a twisting motion when the button is pressed. The length of the button element generally coincides with the width of the lens so as to give the appearance of a smooth transition between the front facing lens and the side facing button element. The button element further includes a hard point, such as in the form of an alignment rib for locating purposes and retention flanges positioned to keep the button element within the back shell of the housing. One of the flanges includes a button actuator that is used to activate the switch in the meter. When the meter is assembled, the beam of the button element is not visible to the user but is able to facilitate the twisting action of the button element. The stiffness of the rib is selected to create the proper twisting action for applying the proper force to the switch. This design allows the button element to be easily captured between the front and back shells of the housing during assembly. When the front shell snaps onto the back shell, the is button element is trapped in its final position. The resulting design gives the impression that the window has a waterfall type shape without the drawbacks associated with the previously mentioned wrap around window design. For example, complicated mold tooling is not required even when the side of the meter is angled at an acute angle relative to the front face because the window and button element are molded separately. With this unique design, a reliable button actuator is created in an intricate location of the meter. Moreover, it is cost effective because it helps to simplify the mold construction and is simple to assemble. The risk of unintended actuation of the button when holding the meter is also reduced because the wrap around window appearance gives a visual indicator of where to press.
Aspect 1 concerns a medical device. The medical devices includes a housing having a front face and a side face. The housing defines a window cavity in the front face and a button cavity in the side face. A display is disposed in the housing, and the display is aligned in the housing for viewing through the window cavity. A window covers the display in the window cavity. The display is at least partially visible through the window. The window extends along the front face to the button cavity in the side face. The window has opposing end edges. A button element is received in the button cavity. The button element and the window are separate components. The button element has opposing end edges that align with the end edges of the window where the button element and the window meet to provide an impression that the window and the button element are integral with one another.
Aspect 2 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element has an exterior surface. The window has a rounded edge that at least a portion of which is flush with the exterior surface of the button element where the window and button element meet to provide the impression that the window bends from the front face to the side face.
Aspect 3 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element has a button portion that protrudes from the exterior surface of the button element.
Aspect 4 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the window and the button element have similar visual appearances.
Aspect 5 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the window and the button element at least where the window and the button element meet have the same color.
Aspect 6 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes a stiffening structure asymmetrically positioned along a longitudinal axis of the button element to promote a twisting motion of the button element when pressed.
Aspect 7 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the stiffening structure includes a stiffening rib positioned proximal to a side of the button element facing the window.
Aspect 8 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes an alignment rib extending transverse to the stiffening rib to form a T-shape.
Aspect 9 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the stiffening structure includes a lattice of ribs defining rib cavities.
Aspect 10 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the housing includes a button alignment structure defining an alignment groove. The alignment structure of the button element includes an alignment rib received in the alignment groove.
Aspect 11 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the housing includes a front shell defining the window cavity, and a back shell defining the button cavity. The front shell and the back shell are coupled together to trap the button element in the button cavity.
Aspect 12 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes one or more retention flanges engaging the button shell around the button cavity.
Aspect 13 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, further including a switch. The button element includes an actuator foot extending from one of the retention flanges to actuate the switch.
Aspect 14 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element has an interior side that faces an interior of the housing and an exterior side that is opposite to the interior side. The actuator foot extends from the interior side of the button element. The button element has a button portion protruding on the exterior side. The button portion is aligned to be opposite the actuator foot.
Aspect 15 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein a seam between the front shell is aligned with a seam between the window and the button element.
Aspect 16 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element has one or more spacer tabs extending into a seam between the window and the button element.
Aspect 17 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the housing includes a test strip connector port.
Aspect 18 concerns a medical device. A housing has a side face that defines a button cavity. A button element is retained in the button cavity. The button element has a stiffening rib located at an offset position along the length of the button element to induce a twisting motion in the button when pressed.
Aspect 19 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes an alignment rib extending transverse to the stiffening rib to form a T-shape.
Aspect 20 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the housing includes a button alignment structure defining an alignment groove. The alignment rib is received in the alignment groove.
Aspect 21 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes a lattice of ribs defining rib cavities.
Aspect 22 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes a first edge and a second edge located opposite to the first edge. The button element has an actuator foot positioned along the first edge at one end of the button element. The actuator foot extends from an interior surface of the button element. The button element has a button portion protruding from an exterior surface at a position aligned with the actuator foot. The stiffening rib extends along the second edge of the button element.
Aspect 23 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the button element includes one or more retention flanges engaging the housing around the button cavity.
Aspect 24 concerns the device of any preceding aspect, wherein the housing has a front face with a window. The window extends along the front face to the button cavity in the side face. The window has opposing end edges. The button element and the window are separate components. The button element has opposing end edges that align with the end edges of the window where the button element and window meet to provide an impression that the window and the button element are integral with one another.
Aspect 25 concerns a method of manufacturing a medical device. An electronic circuit board is positioned in a back shell. The back shell has a button cavity. The electronic circuit board includes a display and a switch. The switch is aligned to face the button cavity. A button element is inserted into the button cavity. The button element has opposing end edges. The button element includes an actuator structure configured to actuate the switch. The actuator structure is aligned to face the switch of the electronic circuit board. A front shell is attached to the back shell to retain the button element in the button cavity. The front shell includes a window having opposing end edges. The window is positioned to cover at least a portion of the display in which the display is visible through the window. The end edges of the window are aligned with the end edges of the button element where the window meets the button element.
Aspect 26 concerns the method of any preceding aspect, in which the button element has a stiffening rib which extends along a front shell facing edge. The front shell facing edge is positioned to face the front shell when the front shell is attached to the back shell.
Aspect 27 concerns the method of any preceding aspect. The back shell has a button alignment structure that has a groove. The button element has an alignment rib that extends transverse to the stiffening rib. The alignment rib is slid into the groove.
Aspect 28 concerns the method of any preceding aspect, wherein the window includes a rounded edge. The button element has a body portion. The rounded edge of the window is aligned to be flush with the body portion of the button element.
Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.
The reference numerals in the following description have been organized to aid the reader in quickly identifying the drawings where various components are first shown. In particular, the drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the left-most digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. For example, an element identified by a “100” series reference is numeral will likely first appear in
The housing 106 has a two shell design that includes a front or top shell 132 and a back or bottom shell 134 that are joined together in a snap fit type fashion or in other ways, such as via screws and/or adhesives. The front shell 132 defines a window cavity 136 in which the window 114 is received. In the illustrated example, the window cavity 136 includes a recessed area having a thickness that matches the thickness of the window 114 so that the window is flush with the front face 110 of the front shell 132. The window cavity 136 further includes a through opening inside the recess so as to frame the display 102. It is envisioned that the window cavity 136 can be shaped differently in other examples. For instance, the recess can be eliminated and/or the opening for framing the display 102 can be extended completely to the edge of the front shell 132 by the button element 118. In one form, the window 114 is attached to the front shell 132 before the front shell 132 is attached to the back shell 134. The window 114 can be attached to the front shell 132 in any number of ways, such as through an adhesive, fastener, and ultrasonic welding, to name just a few examples. In other examples, the window 114 can be integrally formed with the front shell 132 or attached after the front 132 and back 134 shells are joined together. The back shell 134 defines a button cavity 138 in which the button element 118 is received. As can be seen, the window cavity 136 and the button cavity 138 are aligned with one another such that the window 114 and button element 118 are likewise aligned with one another so as to give the impression of both being a single integral unit. When the glucose meter 100 is assembled, seams 140 between both the front 132 and back 134 shells as well as the window 114 and button element 118 are formed. The seams 140 are aligned so as to minimize the impression of the window 114 and button element 118 being separate.
Turning to
The alignment structure 304 is designed to align the button element 118 with the rest of the components of the glucose meter 100. The alignment structure 304 in the depicted example includes an alignment rib 312 that extends generally transverse to the length of the button element 118 near the midway point between the end edges 124. The alignment rib 312 is generally tapered so as to facilitate the button element 118 being dropped into the button cavity 138 in the back shell 134 during assembly. The alignment rib 312 is designed as a hard point to engage the button alignment structure 206 of the back shell 134 so as to ensure the button element 118 is properly positioned within the button cavity 138.
The stiffening structure 306 is configured to facilitate a biased flexing and twisting action of the button element 118 when actuated. In
With continued reference to
This construction of the button element 118 provides a robust input device that can be used over multiple cycles (i.e., pressed and released).
A method of manufacturing the glucose meter 100 will now be described with reference to
The button element 904 is illustrated in further detail in
The stiffening structure 306 in the
In the illustrated example, the actuator structure 308 includes an actuator foot 1116 extending from one of the retention flanges 1102. The actuator foot 1116 extends from the retention flanges 1102 and is positioned so as to contact the switch 204 when the button element 904 is pressed. Turning to
Though the integrated interface systems were described above with respect to glucose is meters, it should be recognized that the systems can be in incorporated into other types of diagnostic or medical devices. In the illustrated examples, the integrated interface systems were designed for right-handed use by having the button elements located on the right-hand side of the glucose meters, but in other variations, the integrated interface systems can be adapted for left-handed use by positioning the button elements on the left side of the glucose meters or other medical devices (or even ambidextrous use). The housings, display windows, and button elements are normally made of plastic, but in other examples, these components can be made from other types of materials and in different combinations of materials. The window and button elements are described above as having the same or similar color and/or other visual appearance at least where they meet. It should be recognized that the window and button elements can have the same visual appearance throughout their entirety or the similarity can be just limited to where they meet. For example, in one variation, the shade of the window gradually changes towards the button element such that the shade of both components where the window and button element meets is the same, but at locations farther away from the button element, the window has a different shade than the button element. In the examples described above, the rounded edge 116 of the window is generally flush with the button element where both components meet (i.e., at the seam). However, in other examples, these components might not be entirely flush where they meet. For instance, a protruding button portion may extend all the way towards the seam such that this portion of the button element would not be flush with the rounded edge, but most of the button element would be flush. As can be seen in the drawings, the window and button element have similar rounded edges that further aid in the visual impression that both components are integral with one another or the same. It should be appreciated that other visual indicators can further facilitate this visual impression that both components are integral. The window can be secured to the front shell of the housing in any number of manners, such as through adhesives, ultrasonic welding, etc., and the shells of the housing can be secured in any number of manners, such as through snap fit connections, adhesives, ultrasonic welding, fasteners, or combinations thereof. In the illustrated examples, the stiffening rib is positioned along the front shell facing edge of the button on and the actuator foot is positioned along the back shell facing edge so as to promote the flexing or twisting action. In other examples, the stiffening rib can be positioned along the back shell facing edge and the actuator foot can be positioned along the front shell facing edge such that the button element twists or flexes an opposite fashion.
Though directional terms, such as front, back, interior, exterior, etc., were used to describe the design above, it should be appreciated that the invention should not be limited to specific directional orientations. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.
