Portable electronic device having interceptor for foreign substance

• US 8,315,051 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jae-Shik, Jung, Tae-Hwa, Baek, Seung-Hyub, Wee, Jong-Cheon
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/699,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.3, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable electronic device having an interceptor for cutting off foreign substances such as water, dust or the like from being entered between the coupling surfaces thereof. The portable electronic device includes: a first case; a second case to be joined with the first case; and an intercepting part integrally formed with at least one of the first case or the second case, wherein the intercepting part is sealingly engaged with the coupling surface of the first case or the second case to prevent foreign substances and waterproof the device thereof.

Claims

1. A portable electronic housing for preventing foreign substances from entering thereto, comprising:

a first case;

a second case attachably coupled to the first case; and

an intercepting part arranged along a perimeter of the housing and integrally formed with at least one of the first case or the second case, wherein the intercepting part is sealingly engaged with the first case or the second case and is enclosed within a channel defined by interlocking edges of the first case and the second case that are in contact with each other and surround the intercepting part to form an interlocking boundary having the intercepting part in the channel there between to prevent the foreign substances from entering the housing and for waterproofing the housing.

2. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 1, wherein the intercepting part includes at least one protrusion to be sealingly engaged with a coupling surface of the first case or a coupling surface of the second case.

3. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 2, wherein the coupling surface of the second case is formed with a second stepped portion projecting outward from the second case, and wherein the intercepting part is integrally formed with the second stepped portion.

4. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 2, wherein the coupling surface of the first case is formed with a first stepped portion extending inward to the first case, and wherein the protrusion is sealingly engaged with the first stepped portion.

5. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 4, wherein the protrusion includes a first protrusion sealingly engaged with the coupling surface of the first stepped portion to prevent the foreign substances or water from being entered;

and a second protrusion facing perpendicularly to the first protrusion and sealingly engaged with the other coupling surface of the first stepped portion to further prevent the foreign substances or water from being entered.

6. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 1, wherein the intercepting part is formed with a soft rubber material.

7. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 5, wherein the intercepting part is formed with one of the coupling surface of the first case or the second case via a double injection molding.

8. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 1, wherein the intercepting part has at least two protruding edges that extend in substantially perpendicular directions to each other within the channel.

9. The portable electronic housing as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least two protruding edges of the intercepting part form respective seals from being elastically in contact with respective interior surfaces of the interlocking edges defining the channel.