Waterproof structure for portable terminal

• US 8,625,290 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Wee, Jong-Cheon, Kim, Jae-Shik, Baek, Seung-Hyub, Lee, Wook-Jin, Song, Hyon-Myong, Kim, Jin-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILAKOVICH, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US12/885,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 174/152.R, 174/152.G, 361/752
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft

Abstract

A waterproof structure for a portable terminal including a flexible printed circuit (FPC) extending outside of a first housing of a pair of housings from inside the first housing and arranged inside of a second housing of the pair of housings. A wiring hole is formed in each housing to provide a path allowing passage of the FPC therethrough. A waterproof member provided in the wiring hole substantially contacts at least inner walls of the housings and an outer circumferential surface of the FPC to prevent movement of the FPC. An outer circumferential surface of the waterproof member substantially contacts a circumference of an inlet of the wiring hole or an inner wall of the wiring hole. The waterproof member is provided between the housing of the portable terminal and the FPC improving a waterproof function and preventing moisture or water from being introduced into the housing of the terminal.

Claims

1. A waterproof structure for a portable terminal comprising at least a first housing and a second housing, comprising:

a flexible printed circuit extending from an inside to an outside of the first housing and extending into and contained within an inside of the second housing;

a first and a second wiring hole formed in the first and the second housings respectively for providing a path in which the flexible printed circuit passes therethrough;

a first and a second partition wall formed respectively inside the first housing and the second housing; and

a first and second protrusion extending respectively from a surface of the first partition wall and the second partition wall,

wherein the first wiring hole is formed to penetrate the first protrusion and the second wiring hole is formed to penetrate the second protrusion; and

a first and a second waterproof member provided in the first and the second wiring hole respectively to have substantial contact with at least inner walls of each of the first housing and the second housing and an outer circumferential surface of the flexible printed circuit so that said flexible printed circuit is held in place by the first and second waterproof member, wherein each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member comprises;

a body portion substantially contacting an outer end of the first protrusion of the first partition wall and the second protrusion of the second partition wall, respectively; and

a waterproof portion extending from the body portion to the inside of the first wiring hole and the second wiring hole, respectively,

wherein the flexible printed circuit is wired through the waterproof portion, wherein the body portion is comprised of a rigid synthetic resin, and wherein the waterproof portion is comprised of an elastic material, and a slit penetrating the waterproof portion from the body portion allows the passage of the flexible printed circuit therethrough; and

wherein an outer circumferential surface of each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member substantially contacts a circumference of an inlet of the first wiring hole or the second wiring hole or an inner wall of the first wiring hole or the second wiring hole to form a first and a second waterproof seal.

2. The waterproof structure of claim 1, further comprising:

a first receiving partition wall and a second receiving partition wall formed in each of the first housing and the second housings, respectively;

a first receiving recess and a second receiving recess surrounded by each of the first receiving partition wall and the second receiving partition wall, respectively; and

a first through-hole and a second through-hole extending from the first receiving recess and the second receiving recess and communicating with the outside of each the first housing and the second housings, respectively, through the first receiving partition wall and the second receiving partition wall, respectively;

wherein the first wiring hole and the second wiring hole extends from the first receiving recess and second receiving recess to the inside of each of the first housing and second housing, respectively, through the first receiving partition wall and the second receiving partition wall facing the first through hole and second through-hole, respectively, and is disposed on a substantially straight line with respect to the first through-hole and the second through-hole, respectively.

3. The waterproof structure of claim 2, wherein each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member which are arranged in the first and second receiving recess and face each other, respectively, the first sealing member and the second sealing member substantially contacting upper and lower surfaces of the flexible printed circuit to form the first and the second waterproof seals, respectively.

4. The waterproof structure of claim 3, further comprising a first clamp and a second clamp fixed to each of the first housing and the second housings respectively, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member are pressed against the upper and the lower surfaces of the flexible printed circuit when the clamp is fixed to the first housing and the second housings.

5. The waterproof structure of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member is integrally formed with a respective one of the first housing and second housings by double injection molding.

6. The waterproof structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one sealing protrusion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first waterproof portion or the second waterproof portion, wherein the at least one sealing protrusion extends along the outer circumference of the first waterproof portion or the second waterproof portion, and an end portion thereof contacting the inner wall of the first wiring hole or the second wiring hole.

7. The waterproof structure of claim 6, wherein said at least one sealing protrusion comprises a first sealing protrusion and a second sealing protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first waterproof portion or the second waterproof portion, wherein the second sealing protrusion component is formed in a position corresponding to the first sealing protrusion component, an end portion of the first sealing protrusion and the second sealing protrusion are substantially contacting the flexible printed circuit to form a waterproof seal.

8. The waterproof structure of claim 1, wherein each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member further comprises a first engagement piece and a second engagement piece extending from a first side end and a second side end of the body portion respectively, the first engagement piece being fixed to the inner surface of the first housing and the second engagement piece being fixed to the inner surface of the second housing.

14. The waterproof structure of claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing comprises a front case and a rear case that are coupled to face each other, and the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member comprises a first waterproof member seal which is provided on the front case of the respective housing and substantially contacts a surface of the flexible printed circuit and a second waterproof member seal that is provided on the rear case of the respective housing and substantially contacts another surface of the flexible printed circuit.

15. The waterproof structure of claim 14, wherein the first waterproof member seal comprises a gasket formed of silicone or urethane and is positioned on a top end portion of the partition wall that is provided on the front case to receive a circuit unit.

16. The waterproof structure of claim 15, wherein the top end of the first partition wall and the second partition wall of the front case of the respective housing comprises a recess for receiving the gasket.

17. The waterproof structure of claim 14, wherein the first waterproof member seal on the first housing and the second waterproof member seal on the second housing each comprises a gasket formed of silicone or urethane and each includes ribs on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the ribs substantially contacting the rear case of the respective housing.

18. The waterproof structure of claim 14, wherein the first waterproof member seal comprises a sealing portion in a closed curve shape on the first wiring hole, and the flexible printed circuit is wired from an inside to an outside of the first housing, passing through the sealing portion.

19. The waterproof structure of claim 18, wherein the sealing portion is provided with a recess for receiving a portion of the flexible printed circuit.

20. The waterproof structure of claim 18, wherein the second waterproof member seal is positioned to face the sealing portion having the flexible printed circuit therebetween.

21. The waterproof structure of claim 14, wherein the second waterproof member seal is manufactured from one of sponge, rubber, silicone, and urethane.

9. A waterproof structure for a portable terminal comprising a first housing and a second housing, comprising:

a flexible printed circuit extending from an inside to an outside of the first housing and extending into and contained within an inside of the second housing;

a first wiring hole and a second wiring hole formed in the first housing and the second housing respectively for providing a path in which the flexible printed circuit passes therethrough; and

a first waterproof member provided in the first wiring hole and a second waterproof member provided in the second wiring hole to have substantial contact with at least inner walls of each of the first housing and the second housing, respectively, and an outer circumferential surface of the flexible printed circuit so that said flexible printed circuit is held in place by the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member,

wherein an outer circumferential surface of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member substantially contacts a circumference of an inlet of the first wiring hole and second wiring hole or an inner wall of the first wiring hole or the second wiring hole to form a first waterproof seal and a second waterproof seal, respectively; and

wherein each of the first wiring hole and the second wiring hole is a through hole extending from the outside of the first housing and the second housing to the inside of the first housing and the second housing, respectively,

wherein each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member comprises (a) a first coupling member and a second coupling member disposed in the first wiring hole and the second wiring hole, respectively, made of rigid synthetic resin; and

(b) a first sealing member and a second sealing member adhered to inner surfaces of each of the first coupling member and the second coupling member, respectively, and

wherein as each of the first coupling member and the second coupling member are coupled in each of the first wiring hole and the second wiring hole, facing each other, and the first sealing member and the second sealing member substantially contact one of the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible printed circuit, respectively.

10. The waterproof structure of claim 9, wherein each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member substantially contacts the inner wall of the first wiring hole and the second wiring hole, and the first sealing member and the second sealing member surrounds the outer surfaces of the first coupling member and the second coupling member respectively.

11. The waterproof structure of claim 9, wherein both end portions of the first coupling member and the second coupling member of the first waterproof member and the second water proof member are bent to face each other, and fusion protrusions are formed at both bent end portions of the first coupling member of the first and second waterproof members, and wherein a pair of fusion grooves are formed respectively at both bent end portions of the second coupling member of the first and second water proof members, and the fusion protrusions of the first coupling member are adhered into the fusion grooves of the second coupling member of the respective first or second waterproof member by ultrasonic fusion.

12. A waterproof structure for a portable terminal comprising a first housing and a second housing, comprising:

a flexible printed circuit extending from an inside to an outside of the first housing and extending into and contained within an inside of the second housing;

a first and a second wiring hole formed in each of the first and the second housing respectively for providing a path in which the flexible printed circuit passes therethrough; and

a first waterproof member and a second waterproof member provided in the first wiring hole and in the second wiring hole, respectively, to have substantial contact with at least inner walls of each of the first housing and the second housing and an outer circumferential surface of the flexible printed circuit so that said flexible printed circuit is held in place by the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member, respectively, wherein an outer circumferential surface of each of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member substantially contacts a circumference of an inlet of the first wiring hole or the second wiring hole or an inner wall of the first wiring hole or the second wiring hole to form a first waterproof seal and a second waterproof seal of the waterproof structure, wherein the first waterproof member comprises a hollow formed therein, and the second waterproof member comprises a protrusion formed on a surface thereof, the protrusion pressing a surface of the flexible printed circuit across the flexible printed circuit, thereby making the flexible printed circuit come into contact to the first waterproof member, the waterproof structure further comprising;

a plurality of binding grooves formed on both side walls of a receiving recess of the first housing and the second housing; and

a first binding protrusion and a second binding protrusion, each formed at both side ends of the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member, respectively,

wherein each of the first binding protrusions and the second binding protrusions are engaged with the binding grooves of the respective housing such that the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are fixed into the receiving recess of the respective housing.

13. The waterproof structure of claim 12, wherein the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are each comprised of elastic materials.