Gasket for a mobile device having a touch sensitive display

• US 8,260,377 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Paleczny, Todd Robert, Smittmatter, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US12/437,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20100285850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.8, 345/156, 345/173, 37943301-43309, 379/433.1, 379/433.11, 379/433.12
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A mobile device is disclosed that includes a housing, a touch sensitive display subassembly, and a gasket. The touch sensitive display subassembly is received in the housing and is movable relative to the housing. The touch sensitive display subassembly includes a lens overlaying a display. The gasket is attached to only one of the housing and the touch sensitive display subassembly. This gasket inhibits passage of debris between the housing and the touch screen display subassembly.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a housing;

a touch sensitive display subassembly received in the housing and movable relative to the housing, the touch sensitive display subassembly including a lens overlaying a display; and

a gasket attached to only one of the housing and the touch sensitive display subassembly, the gasket inhibiting passage of debris between the housing and the touch screen display subassembly, wherein the gasket includes;

a shedding portion located proximate a gap between the housing and the lens, the shedding portion shaped so as to direct any debris passing through the gap away from the touch sensitive display subassembly;

a centering portion that contacts a periphery of the touch sensitive display to urge the touch sensitive display subassembly toward a centered position within the housing, the centering portion being curved and at least a portion of the centering portion forming a sliding seal between the gasket and the touch sensitive display subassembly; and

wherein the centering portion includes a convex surface and extends from the shedding portion to a terminal end, the convex surface forming the sliding seal with one of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing and the terminal end contacts the other of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to the touch sensitive display subassembly and substantially forms a seal between a perimeter of the lens and a perimeter of the touch sensitive display subassembly to inhibit passage of debris between the lens and the display.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the gasket is located between the lens and a tray supporting the display.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the touch sensitive display subassembly is movable between a first position in which the gasket further contacts the housing to substantially form a seal between the housing and the touch sensitive display subassembly, and a second position in which at least a portion of the gasket is separated from the housing.

5. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the gasket is located between the lens and a bezel of the display.

6. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the gasket further includes a rib extending toward a facing wall of the housing of the mobile device to inhibit passage of debris between the housing and the touch sensitive display subassembly.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the centering portion further includes a concave surface opposing the convex surface, the concave surface facing a space between the centering portion and one of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing for deflection of the centering portion.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the convex surface and the concave surface define a section of the centering portion having a substantially constant wall thickness.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the gasket is composed of an elastically deformable polymeric material.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the gasket includes a rib that contacts a facing wall of the housing to cushion an impact of a drop when the mobile device is dropped, the drop causing the rib of the touch sensitive display subassembly to move laterally towards the facing wall of the housing.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to the housing.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a housing;

a touch sensitive display subassembly received in the housing and movable relative to the housing, the touch sensitive display subassembly including a lens overlaying a display;

a gasket attached to the touch sensitive display subassembly and substantially forming a seal between a perimeter of the lens and a perimeter of the touch sensitive display subassembly to inhibit passage of debris between the lens and the display, the gasket including;

a shedding portion located proximate a gap between the housing and the lens, the shedding portion shaped so as to direct any debris passing through the gap away from the touch sensitive display subassembly;

a centering portion that contacts a periphery of the touch sensitive display to urge the touch sensitive display subassembly toward a centered position within the housing, the centering portion being curved and at least a portion of the centering portion forming a sliding seal between the gasket and the touch sensitive display subassembly; and

wherein the centering portion includes a convex surface and extends from the shedding portion to a terminal end, the convex surface forming the sliding seal with one of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing and the terminal end contacts the other of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a housing;

a touch sensitive display subassembly received in the housing and movable relative to the housing, the touch sensitive display subassembly including a lens overlaying a display;

a gasket attached to the touch sensitive display subassembly and contacting and substantially forming a seal between a perimeter of the lens and a perimeter of the touch sensitive display subassembly to inhibit passage of debris between the lens and the display, the gasket including;

a shedding portion located proximate a gap between the housing and the lens, the shedding portion shaped so as to direct any debris passing through the gap away from the touch sensitive display subassembly;

a centering portion that contacts a periphery of the touch sensitive display to urge the touch sensitive display subassembly toward a centered position within the housing, the centering portion being curved and at least a portion of the centering portion forming a sliding seal between the gasket and the touch sensitive display subassembly; and

wherein the centering portion includes a convex surface and extends from the shedding portion to a terminal end, the convex surface forming the sliding seal with one of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing and the terminal end contacts the other of the touch sensitive display subassembly and the housing, and the touch sensitive display subassembly is movable between a first position in which the gasket further contacts the housing to substantially form a seal between the housing and the touch sensitive display subassembly, and a second position in which at least a portion of the gasket is separated from the housing.