Water-tight closure for an opening in an electronic device

• US 6,595,608 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Poindexter, Brian, Kalis, Robert M., Minelli, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/874,762
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 312/296, 312/326, 312/327, 312/328, 312/329, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/7.1, 163/36, 163/35
• US Class Current: 312/296
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/027 Covers G11B33/022 takes precedence; with means for guiding the record carrier G11B17/34

Abstract

An apparatus and method for sealing an opening in a structure, e.g., an electronic device, are provided. The apparatus includes a cover, a fastening member and a receiving member. The cover is adapted to be pivotally coupled with the structure and positioned over the opening. The fastening member is adapted to be coupled with the cover and the receiving member is adapted to be coupled with the structure. The receiving member is further adapted to selectively engage the fastening member providing a water-tight seal over the opening. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a biasing member for selectively biasing the cover in one of two positions.her includes a biasing member for selectively biasing the cover in one of two positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sealing an aperture in a structure, the apparatus comprising:

a structure having a substantially planar face plate with an opening therein, said substantially planar face plate having a ridge outwardly protecting therefrom surrounding and adjacent said opening;

a cover pivotally coupled proximate a periphery thereof with said face plate at a position adjacent said opening, said cover having a length and width smaller than a length and width of said face plate which encompass the dimensions of said opening and extend therebeyond around beyond a periphery of said ridge when said cover is pivotally positioned over said face plate;

a gasket carried by said cover on an inner wall thereof, said gasket positioned to extend beyond said periphery of said ridge when said cover is positioned over said face plate;

a fastening member carried by said cover on said inner wall thereof; and

a receiving member associated with said face plate and positioned to cooperate with said fastening member when said cover is positioned over said opening to maintain said cover in place over said opening and to compress said gasket by contact with said ridge to create a seal substantially preventing water from entering said opening.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said fastening member and said receiving member are magnetically attracted to one another.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of fastening members arranged in pairs, wherein said fastening members of each pair are oriented in mutually opposite magnetic polarity.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said gasket is formed from a neoprene material.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a biasing member, wherein said biasing member is located to bias said cover in one of two selective positions relative to said face plate.

6. An apparatus for sealing an aperture in an electronic device and for diverting water away from the aperture, the apparatus comprising:

a structure having a substantially planar face plate with an opening therein, said substantially planar face plate having a ridge outwardly projecting therefrom surrounding and adjacent said opening;

a cover pivotally coupled proximate a periphery thereof with said face plate at a position adjacent said opening, said cover having a length and width smaller than a length and width of said face plate which encompass the dimensions of said opening and extend beyond a periphery of said ridge when said cover is pivotally positioned over said face plate;

a gasket carried by said cover on an inner wall thereof, said gasket positioned to extend beyond said periphery of said ridge when said cover is positioned over said face plate,

a fastening member carried by said cover on said inner wall thereof; and

a plurality of receiving members associated with said face plate and positioned to magnetically cooperate with said fastening member when said cover is positioned over said opening to maintain said cover in place over said opening and to compress said gasket by contact with said ridge to create a seal substantially preventing water from entering said opening.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said gasket is formed from a neoprene material.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a biasing member, wherein said biasing member is located to bias said cover in one of two selective positions relative to said face plate.

9. An apparatus for providing a water-tight closure over an aperture in an electronic device, the, apparatus comprising:

a structure having a substantially planar face plate with an opening therein, said substantially planar face plate having a ridge outwardly projecting therefrom surrounding and adjacent said opening;

a cover pivotally coupled proximate a periphery thereof with said face plate at a position adjacent said opening, said cover having a length and width smaller than a length and width of said face plate which encompass the dimensions of said opening and extend beyond a periphery of said ridge when said cover is pivotally positioned over said face plate;

a gasket carried by said cover on an inner wall thereof, said gasket positioned to extend beyond said periphery of said ridge when said cover is positioned over said face plate,

fastening means carried by said cover on said inner wall thereof; and

receiving means associated with said face plate and positioned to cooperate with said fastening means when said cover is positioned over said opening to maintain said cover in place over said opening and to compress said gasket by contact with said ridge to create a seal substantially preventing water from entering said opening.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said fastening means and said receiving means are magnetically attracted to one another.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said gasket is formed from a neoprene material.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a biasing means, wherein said biasing means is located to bias said cover in one of two selective positions relative to said face plate.

13. A method for forming a water-tight seal over an aperture in an electronic device, said method comprising:

providing a structure having a substantially planar face plate with an opening therein said substantially planar face plate having a ridge outwardly protecting therefrom surrounding and adjacent said opening;

pivotally coupling a cover proximate a periphery thereof with said face plate at a position adjacent said opening, said cover having a length and width smaller than a length and width of said face plate which encompass the dimensions of said opening and extend beyond a periphery of said ridge when said cover is pivotally positioned over said face plate;

providing a gasket carried by said cover on an inner wall thereof, said gasket positioned to extend beyond said periphery of said ridge;

providing a fastening member carried by said cover on said inner wall thereof;

providing a receiving member associated with said face plate; and

positioning said receiving member to cooperate with said fastening member when said cover is positioned over said face plate to maintain said cover in place, thereover and to compress said gasket by contact with said ridge to create a seal substantially preventing water from entering said opening.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising providing a biasing member located to bias said cover in one of two selective positions relative to said face plate.

15. An apparatus for providing a water seal over an aperture in an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

a structure having a substantially planar face plate with an opening therein, said substantially planar face plate having a ridge outwardly projecting therefrom surrounding and adjacent said opening;

a cover pivotally coupled proximate a periphery thereof with said face plate at a position adjacent said opening, said cover having a length and width smaller than a length and width of said face plate which encompass the dimensions of said opening and extend beyond a periphery of said ridge when said cover is pivotally positioned over said face plate;

a gasket carried by said cover on an inner wall thereof, said gasket positioned to extend beyond said periphery of said ridge when said cover is positioned over said face plate;

a fastening device carried by said cover on said inner wall thereof; and

receiving means associated with said face plate and positioned to magnetically cooperate with said fastening device when said cover is positioned over said opening to maintain said cover in place over said opening and to compress said gasket by contact with said ridge to create a seal substantially preventing water from entering said opening.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising a biasing means located to bias said cover in one of two selective positions relative to said face plate.