ENCLOSURE TO PREVENT FLUID INGRESS OF A DEVICE HAVING A TOUCH SCREEN INTERFACE

• US 20080055258A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Operations Limited (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Operations Limited (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sauers, Matthew Carlyle
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1656 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 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

An electronic device enclosure having an integrated in-mold foil, which prevents fluid ingress around an included display of the electronic device, is disclosed. A portion of the in-mold foil is adapted to the specific contour and profile of the display, thereby allowing a user to use a touch screen interface of the display with no shortcomings. In addition, the in-mold foil protects the display from direct chemical attack, and may provide a liquid-tight seal between a button of the electronic device and the enclosure.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device with a display comprising:

a molded front housing sized to accommodate the electronic device; and

a polymer in-mold foil integral with said front housing and providing a liquid-tight seal with said front housing which protects against fluid ingress from said front housing around the display, said in-mold foil includes a screen covering portion overlaying the display.

2. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said display is a touch screen interface.

3. The protective enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said screen covering portion is configured to permit operation of the touch screen interface through said screen covering portion.

4. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said in-mold foil further includes a button covering portion which permits operation of a button of the electronic device overlaid by said button covering portion, said liquid-tight seal between said in-mold foil and said front housing also protects against fluid ingress from said front housing around said button.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a display; and

a protective enclosure which comprises;

a molded front housing sized to accommodate the electronic device; and

a polymer in-mold foil integral with said front housing, said in-mold foil includes a screen covering portion for overlaying the display and provides a liquid-tight seal with the front housing to prevent fluid ingress from the front housing around the display.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil further includes a button covering portion which permits operation of a button of the electronic device overlaid by said button covering portion, said liquid-tight seal between said in-mold foil and said front housing also protects against fluid ingress from said front housing around said button.

7. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising a molded rear housing which engages sealing with said front housing.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said protective enclosure includes a receptacle for a stylus.

9. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said electronic device is a handheld reagent-based glucose monitor.

10. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said protective enclosure provides a port for inserting a test strip into the electronic device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said protective enclosure is formed from a chemically resistant material.

12. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising a rear housing, wherein said protective enclosure is made watertight by a gasket provided between the front and rear housings.

13. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising a rear housing, wherein said protective enclosure is made watertight by a gasket provided between the front and rear housings, said gasket is molded to an interior side of the rear housing.

14. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising a rear housing, wherein said protective enclosure is made watertight by a gasket provided between the front and rear housings, said gasket is molded adjacent and above an inner lip portion of the rear housing, wherein said front housing provides a complimentary lip portion, such that the squeezing of the gasket therebetween forms a suitable watertight seal.

15. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil is bonded to a cabinet of said front housing.

16. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said screen covering portion is a large unsupported recessed area of the in-mold foil, which is sized to overlay an outer film layer of said display.

17. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil is at least partially transparent, so that images displayed on said display may be visible through said screen covering portion.

18. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil is a polycarbonate material.

19. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil has decorations.

20. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil further includes a button covering portion which permits operation of a button of the electronic device overlaid by said button covering portion and provides a liquid-tight seal between the button and said front housing, wherein said button covering portion is an unsupported recessed area of said in-mold foil.

21. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil includes a raised portion provided above said screen covering portion, said screen covering portion being an unsupported recessed area of said in-mold foil.

22. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil includes a raised portion and a button covering portion, said screen covering portion and said button covering portion both being unsupported recessed areas of said in-mold foil, said button covering portion permits operation of a button of the electronic device overlaid by said button covering portion and provides a liquid-tight seal between the button and said front housing.

23. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil is integral with said front housing via a thermal bond.

24. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said display is a touch screen interface.

25. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said in-mold foil has a thickness in said screen covering portion in a range from about 0.005 inch to about 0.035 inch.