Waterproof housing for an electronic device

• US 10,548,380 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Rayner, Gary A., Glanzer, Matthew M., Vinson, Richard W., Davison, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K
• Application Number:
  US15/333,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20170035170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 206320, 361600, 36167901, 36167902
• 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 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• 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: A45F 2003/142 Carrying-straps
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/146 Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2028 for rolling, i.e. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 : for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 : Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 : External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 : Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 : Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 : Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 : Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/811 : Waterproof

Abstract

A waterproof housing for an electronic device includes a first member, a second member, and a gasket. The first member includes a perimeter portion, an interior bounding member, and an exterior bounding member. The interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member form a channel in the first member and the exterior bounding member includes a groove. The second member removably couples to the first member to form the waterproof housing. The second member includes a perimeter portion that extends into the channel of the first member when the second member is coupled to the first member. The second member further includes a ridge that mates with the groove of the exterior bounding member of the first member. The gasket is compressed between the first member and the second member when the first member is coupled to the second member.

Claims

1. A waterproof housing for an electronic device, the waterproof housing comprising:

a bottom member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof housing, the bottom member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the bottom member, where the perimeter portion of the bottom member includes an interior bounding member and an exterior bounding member, the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member forming a channel in the bottom member, the exterior bounding member including a groove;

a first gasket;

a second gasket; and

a top member that removably couples to the bottom member to form the waterproof housing, the top member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the top member, the perimeter portion of the top member extending into the channel of the bottom member between the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member of the bottom member when the top member is coupled to the bottom member, the top member further including a ridge that mates with the groove of the exterior bounding member of the bottom member, wherein the first gasket is compressed between the exterior bounding member of the bottom member and the perimeter portion of the top member and the second gasket is compressed by the perimeter portion of the top member in the channel of the bottom member when the top member is coupled to the bottom member, and wherein the first gasket is configured to be compressed laterally relative to the second gasket.

2. The waterproof housing of claim 1 wherein the perimeter portion of the top member further includes a groove and the first gasket sits in the groove of the top member.

3. The waterproof housing of claim 1 wherein the first gasket is bonded to the bottom member.

4. The waterproof housing of claim 1 wherein the first gasket is bonded to the top member.

5. The waterproof housing of claim 1 wherein the second gasket is bonded to the bottom member.

6. The waterproof housing of claim 1 wherein the second gasket is bonded to the top member.

7. A waterproof housing for an electronic device, the waterproof housing comprising:

a first member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof housing, the first member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the first member, where the perimeter portion of the first member includes an interior bounding member and an exterior bounding member, the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member forming a channel in the first member, the exterior bounding member including a groove;

a first gasket;

a second gasket; and

a second member that removably couples to the first member to form the waterproof housing, the second member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the second member, the perimeter portion of the second member extending into the channel of the first member between the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member of the first member when the second member is coupled to the first member, the second member further including a ridge that mates with the groove of the exterior bounding member of the first member, wherein the first gasket is compressed between the exterior bounding member of the first member and the perimeter portion of the second member and the second gasket is compressed by the perimeter portion of the second member in the channel of the first member when the second member is coupled to the first member.

8. The waterproof housing of claim 7 wherein the perimeter portion of the second member further includes a groove and the first gasket sits in the groove of the second member.

9. The waterproof housing of claim 7 wherein the first gasket is bonded to the first member.

10. The waterproof housing of claim 7 wherein the first gasket is bonded to the second member.

11. The waterproof housing of claim 7 wherein the second gasket is bonded to the first member.

12. The waterproof housing of claim 7 wherein the second gasket is bonded to the second member.

13. The waterproof housing of claim 7 wherein the second gasket sits in a second channel extending around the waterproof housing, the second channel formed from complementary grooves in each of the exterior bounding member of the first member and the perimeter portion of the second member.

14. A waterproof housing for an electronic device, the waterproof housing comprising:

a first member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof housing, the first member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the first member, where the perimeter portion of the first member includes an interior bounding member and an exterior bounding member, the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member forming a channel in the first member, the exterior bounding member including a groove;

a bottom gasket;

a lateral gasket; and

a second member that removably couples to the first member to form the waterproof housing, the second member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the second member, the perimeter portion of the second member extending into the channel of the first member between the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member of the first member when the second member is coupled to the first member, the second member further including a ridge that mates with the groove of the exterior bounding member of the first member, wherein the lateral gasket is compressed between the exterior bounding member of the first member and a side of the perimeter portion of the second member when the first member is coupled to the second member, and wherein the bottom gasket is compressed between the perimeter portion of the second member and a bottom of the channel of the first member when the first member is coupled to the second member.

15. The waterproof housing of claim 14 wherein the perimeter portion of the second member further includes a groove and the lateral gasket sits in the groove of the second member.

16. The waterproof housing of claim 14 wherein the lateral gasket is bonded to the first member.

17. The waterproof housing of claim 14 wherein the bottom gasket is bonded to the second member.

18. A waterproof housing for an electronic device, the waterproof housing comprising:

a first member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof housing, the first member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the first member, where the perimeter portion of the first member includes an interior bounding member and an exterior bounding member, the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member forming a channel in the first member, the exterior bounding member including one of a groove and a ridge;

a first gasket;

a second gasket; and

a second member that removably couples to the first member to form the waterproof housing, the second member including a perimeter portion extending around a perimeter of the second member, the perimeter portion of the second member extending into the channel of the first member between the interior bounding member and the exterior bounding member of the first member when the second member is coupled to the first member, the second member further including another of the groove and the ridge that mates with the one of the groove and the ridge of the exterior bounding member of the first member, wherein the first and second gaskets are compressed between the first member and the second member when the second member is coupled to the first member, and wherein the first gasket is compressed in a direction lateral to the compression of the second gasket.

19. The waterproof housing of claim 18 wherein the first gasket is compressed between the exterior bounding member of the first member and the perimeter portion of the second member and the second gasket is compressed in the channel of the first member by the perimeter portion of the second member.