BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a conventional roller;
FIG. 3 is a vertical view of a roller of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a roller of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a roller of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a roller holder of the invention;
FIGS. 7A-7D are schematic views of a flexible connecting portion generating deformation subsequent to exertion of force on the roller of the invention; and
FIG. 8 is a rear view of a roller of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the four way roller assembly 20 applied to an input device 30. The input device 30 comprises a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, a third sensor 33 and the fourth sensor 34. In this embodiment, the first sensor 31 may be an encoder. The second, third, and fourth sensors 32, 33, and 34 are switches. The four way roller assembly 20 comprises a base 20, a roller holder 22 and a roller 23.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the roller 23 comprises a wheel 231, a plurality of flexible connecting portions 232 and a second axle 234 (shown in FIG. 3). The wheel 231 comprises a cannular portion 235 for containing the first axle 233. In this embodiment, the flexible connecting portions 232 are radially connected to the fist axle 233 and the wheel 231. The second axle 234 extends from an inner side of wheel 231 to the outside. Additionally, the second axle 234 is formed by a plurality of connectors 236.
Please referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the roller holder 22 comprises an opening 221, a rotating portion 222, a flexible portion 223, a hole 224, a first protrusion 225, a second protrusion 226 and a third protrusion 227. The second axle passes through and rotates in the opening 221. The rotating portion 222 passes through and rotates on the base 21. The flexible portion is connected to the roller holder 22 and the rotating portion 222.
FIGS. 3, 7A-7C and 8, show the rotating portion 222 of the four way roller assembly 20 pivoted on the base 21, thus, the roller holder 22 selectively swings in a first direction (indicated by arrow A on the left side) or in a second direction (indicated by arrow B on the right side). The second protrusion 226 of the roller holder 22 corresponds to the third sensor 33 and the third protrusion 227 of the roller holder 22 corresponds to the fourth sensor 34. When the wheel 23 is pushed by a force F1 (shown in FIG. 8), the flexible connecting portions 232 of the wheel 23 slightly protrude rightward, and then the wheel 23 drives the roller holder 22 to swing in the first direction (leftward) initializing the third sensor 33 via the second protrusion 226. Conversely, when the wheel 23 is pushed by a force F2 (shown in FIG. 8), the flexible connecting portions 232 of the wheel 23 slightly protrude leftward, and the wheel 23 then drives the roller holder 22 to swing in the second direction (rightward) initializing the fourth sensor 34 via the third protrusion 227. In this embodiment, subsequent to motive force being exerted on the wheel 23, the flexible connecting portions 232 generate a back force restoring the wheel 23 to an initial state (shown in FIG. 7).
Please refer to FIGS. 3, 4, 7A and 7D, the flexible portion of the four way roller assembly 20 is connected to the roller holder 22 and the rotating portion 222. When a force F3 acts on wheel 23, the first axle 233 in hole 224 is pushed downward. The flexible connecting portions 232 of the wheel 23 and the flexible portion 223 then deforms (shown in FIG. 7D) the roller holder 22 to move downward. Thus, the first protrusion 225 initializes the second sensor 32. In this embodiment, subsequent to motive force being exerted on the wheel 23, the flexible connecting portions 232 generate a back force restoring the wheel 23 in an initial state (shown in FIG. 7A). Similarly, subsequent to motive force being exerted on the roller holder 22, the flexible portion 223 generates a back force restoring the roller holder 22 in an initial position.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Patent Application
20070234828
