Sterilizable enclosure for securing a portable electronic device

• US 10,270,484 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Lambert, Trevor Jonathan, Alexander, Robert Kenneth, Henniges, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): West, Lewis G
• Application Number:
  US15/761,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20180234127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/10 Transparent walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/182 Rigid packaging means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A sterilizable enclosure for securing a portable electronic device having a touchscreen and for preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured device, comprising a frame with a frame periphery edge, the frame defining a window with a transparent panel adjacent the window arranged to abut the touchscreen. A base coupled to the frame comprises a base periphery edge and cooperates with the frame to define a closed position in which the device is secured between the base and the frame. A seal comprising a seal periphery edge is attached to at least one of the base and the frame and is arranged to be engaged between the base and the frame when the enclosure is closed to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured device with the seal periphery edge adjacent to the frame periphery edge and base periphery edge.

Claims

1. A sterilizable enclosure for use in securing a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface and for preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device, said sterilizable enclosure comprising:

a frame comprising a frame periphery edge with said frame defining a window with a glass panel operatively attached to said frame adjacent to said window and arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device;

a base for being coupled to said frame and comprising a base periphery edge, wherein said base and said frame cooperate to define a closed position of said sterilizable enclosure in which the portable electronic device is secured between said base and said frame;

a seal comprising a seal periphery edge with said seal operatively attached to at least one of said base and said frame and arranged to be engaged between said base and said frame when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position so as to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device with said seal periphery edge arranged adjacent to said frame periphery edge and said base periphery edge; and

a biasing mechanism operatively attached to said base and spaced inwardly of the base periphery edge to urge the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device into abutment with said glass panel to enable a capacitive coupling between said glass panel and the touchscreen interface of the secured portable electronic device when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

2. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an engagement element operatively attached to the other of said base and said frame and shaped to engage said seal when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

3. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 2, wherein said engagement element comprises an engagement periphery edge arranged adjacent to said seal periphery edge.

4. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a channel is defined in said base spaced inwardly from said base periphery edge to accommodate at least a portion of said seal.

5. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said seal comprises a channel portion shaped to be received in said channel, and an engagement portion extending from said channel portion to said seal periphery edge with said engagement portion shaped to engage said frame in said closed position.

6. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 5, wherein said channel portion and said channel each have a generally trapezoidal profile.

7. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal is a unitary once-piece component.

8. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a material with a melting point greater than 130 degrees celsius.

9. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism for selectively locking said sterilizable enclosure in said closed position, said lock mechanism comprising a first lock element rotatably coupled to one of said base and said frame, and a second lock element operatively attached to the other of said base and said frame arranged to engage said first lock element to lock said sterilizable enclosure in said closed position.

10. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 9, wherein said seal defines a first seal region shaped to accommodate the portable electronic device, and a second seal region shaped to accommodate said lock mechanism and to partition said lock mechanism from said first seal region.

11. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 10, further comprising four discrete lock mechanisms;

and

wherein said seal defines four discrete second seal regions each shaped to accommodate one of said lock mechanisms.

12. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth claim 1, wherein said glass panel comprises an aluminosilicate material.

13. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame periphery edge, said base periphery edge, and said seal periphery edge are coincident when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

14. A sterilizable enclosure for use in securing a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface and for preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device, said sterilizable enclosure comprising:

a frame defining a window;

a base for being coupled to said frame and the base having a base periphery edge, wherein said base and said frame cooperate to define a closed position of said sterilizable enclosure in which the portable electronic device is secured between said base and said frame;

a lock mechanism for selectively locking said sterilizable enclosure in said closed position;

a glass panel operatively attached to said frame adjacent to said window and arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device when said sterilizable enclosure is locked in said closed position;

a seal operatively attached to at least one of said base and said frame and arranged to be engaged between said base and said frame when said sterilizable enclosure is locked in said closed position so as to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device; and

a biasing mechanism operatively attached to said base and spaced inwardly of the base periphery edge to urge the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device into abutment with said glass panel to enable a capacitive coupling between said glass panel and the touchscreen interface of the secured portable electronic device when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

15. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 14, further comprising an engagement element operatively attached to the other of said base and said frame and shaped to engage said seal when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

16. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein said seal is a unitary once-piece component.

17. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein said lock mechanism comprising a first lock element rotatably coupled to one of said base and said frame, and a second lock element operatively attached to the other of said base and said frame arranged to engage said first lock element to lock said sterilizable enclosure in said closed position.

18. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein said seal defines a first seal region shaped to accommodate the portable electronic device and a second seal region shaped to accommodate said lock mechanism and to partition said lock mechanism from said first seal region.

19. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in claim 18, further comprising four discrete lock mechanisms;

and

wherein said seal defines four discrete second seal regions each shaped to accommodate one of said lock mechanisms.