Waterproof housing for mobile electronic device and waterproof adapter for accessory device

• US 9,300,078 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Rodney, Liu, Feng S., Popa, George N. III, Clarke, Alan D., McCray, Dennis J., Borra, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US14/468,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20150055917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3891 Bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A waterproof adapter can provide a liquid-tight seal between a waterproof housing for a mobile electronic device and an accessory connector extending from an accessory device, such as a jack plug extending from a pair of headphones. The waterproof adapter can be an integral part of the accessory connector or can be installed on the accessory connector using, for example, a threaded or bayonet-style connection. In one example, the waterproof adapter can include an exterior gasket channel circumscribing an exterior surface of its body, an exterior gasket disposed at least partially within the exterior gasket channel, thereby permitting the waterproof adapter to provide a liquid-tight seal between a connector aperture in the waterproof housing and the accessory connector. When the accessory device is disconnected from the mobile electronic device, a port-sealing bung can be inserted into the connector aperture of the waterproof housing and can provide a liquid-tight seal therewith.

Claims

1. A waterproof adapter configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between a waterproof housing for a mobile electronic device and an accessory connector of an accessory device, the waterproof adapter comprising:

a body having an exterior surface, a hole passing through a centerline axis of the body, the hole defining an interior surface of the body;

two or more tension tabs extending from a first end of the body, each tension tab comprising a lip portion that extends outwardly relative to the centerline axis of the body;

an exterior gasket channel on the exterior surface of the body, the exterior gasket channel circumscribing the exterior surface of the body;

an exterior gasket disposed at least partially within the exterior gasket channel on the exterior surface of the body; and

an interior gasket seat proximate the interior surface of the body.

2. The waterproof adapter of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a first attachment feature on the interior surface of the body, the first attachment feature configured to attach to a second attachment feature on the accessory connector of an accessory device to form a liquid-tight seal between a jack plug gasket on the accessory connector and the interior gasket seat of the body.

3. The waterproof adapter of claim 2, wherein the first attachment feature on the interior surface of the body comprises a threaded feature.

4. The waterproof adapter of claim 2, wherein the first attachment feature on the interior surface of the body comprises two or more bayonet-style mounting features.

5. The waterproof adapter of claim 1, wherein each tension tab further comprises a receiving notch proximate each lip portion, each receiving notch configured to receive an aperture protrusion extending from an inner surface of a connector aperture of the waterproof housing for the mobile electronic device.

6. The waterproof adapter of claim 1, each lip portion configured to associate with a lip receiving notch in a connection aperture of the waterproof housing.

7. The waterproof adapter of claim 1, wherein the exterior gasket disposed within the exterior gasket channel on the exterior surface of the body is an O-ring.

8. A waterproof case for a mobile electronic device, the waterproof case comprising:

a housing that is adapted to cover at least a portion of the mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device comprising an electrical or optical connector accessible proximate an external surface of the mobile electronic device;

a connector aperture extending through the housing, the connector aperture providing access to the mobile electronic device encased in the housing, the connector aperture being proximate to the electrical or optical connector of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is installed in the housing; and

a port-sealing bung attached to the housing by a tether, the port-sealing bung adapted to fit within the connector aperture to provide a liquid-tight seal therewith, the port-sealing bung comprising;

a body having an exterior surface;

two or more tension tabs extending from a first end of the body, each tension tab comprising a lip portion extending outwardly relative to a centerline axis of the body;

an exterior gasket channel proximate the exterior surface of the body, the exterior gasket channel circumscribing the exterior surface of the body; and

an exterior gasket disposed at least partially within the exterior gasket channel on the exterior surface of the body, wherein the exterior gasket is adapted to form a liquid-tight seal between the port-sealing bung and an inner surface of the connector aperture when the port-sealing bung is inserted into the connector aperture.

9. The waterproof case of claim 8, each tension tab further comprising a receiving notch, each receiving notch configured to receive an aperture protrusion extending from an inner surface of the connector aperture of the housing when the port-sealing bung is installed in the connector aperture.

10. The waterproof case of claim 8, the connector aperture further comprising two or more lip receiving notches, each lip receiving notch adapted to receive one or more of the lip portions of the port-sealing bung when the port-sealing bung is inserted into the connector aperture.

11. The waterproof case of claim 8, wherein a tool is required to remove the port-sealing bung from the connector aperture to avoid inadvertently uninstalling the port-sealing bung from the connector aperture during use of the waterproof case.

12. The waterproof case of claim 8, wherein, when the port-sealing bung is installed in the connector aperture, an extraction force of at least 15 newtons must be applied to the port-sealing bung to uninstall the port-sealing bung from the connector aperture, the extraction force being aligned with the centerline axis of the body of the port-sealing bung.

13. An accessory connector for an accessory device, the accessory connector configured to provide a liquid-tight seal when inserted into a connector aperture of a waterproof housing for a mobile electronic device, the accessory connector comprising:

a male connector extending from a body of the accessory connector, the body configured to allow a user to grasp the accessory connector during insertion or removal of the male connector into or from, respectively, a female connector of a mobile electronic device; and

a waterproof adapter configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the connector aperture of the waterproof housing and the accessory connector of the accessory device, the waterproof adapter comprising;

two or more tension tabs extending from a first end of the waterproof adapter, each tension tab comprising a lip portion that extends outwardly relative to a centerline axis of the body of the male connector;

an exterior gasket channel on an exterior surface of the waterproof adapter, the exterior gasket channel circumscribing the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter; and

an exterior gasket at least partially disposed within the exterior gasket channel on the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter.

14. The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the waterproof adapter is removably attached to the accessory connector.

15. The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the waterproof adapter is an integrally formed portion of the accessory connector.

16. The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the exterior gasket is an O-ring.

17. The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the male connector is a jack plug or a micro-USB connector.

18. The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the accessory connector is configured to transfer power or data.

19. The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the accessory connector is configured to transfer electrical or optical signals.

20. A waterproof case for a mobile electronic device, the waterproof case comprising:

a housing that is adapted to cover at least a portion of a mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device comprising an electrical or optical connector accessible proximate an external surface of the mobile electronic device; and

a connector aperture extending through the housing, the connector aperture providing access to the mobile electronic device encased in the housing, the connector aperture being proximate to the electrical or optical connector of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is installed in the housing, the connector aperture configured to receive an accessory connector of an accessory device, the accessory connector comprising;

a male connector extending from a body of the accessory connector, the body configured to allow a user to grasp the accessory connector during insertion or removal of the male connector into or from, respectively, the electrical or optical connector of the mobile electronic device;

a waterproof adapter configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the connector aperture of the waterproof housing and the accessory connector of an accessory device, the waterproof adapter comprising;

two or more tension tabs extending from a first end of the waterproof adapter, each tension tab comprising a lip portion that extends outwardly relative to a centerline axis of the body of the accessory connector;

an exterior gasket channel on an exterior surface of the waterproof adapter, the exterior gasket channel circumscribing the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter; and

an exterior gasket at least partially disposed within the exterior gasket channel on the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter.

21. The waterproof case of claim 20, the connector aperture further comprising two or more lip receiving notches, each lip receiving notch adapted to receive one or more of the lip portions of the waterproof adapter when the accessory connector is inserted into the connector aperture.

22. The waterproof case of claim 20, each tension tab further comprising a receiving notch, each receiving notch configured to receive an aperture protrusion extending from an inner surface of the connector aperture of the waterproof case when the accessory connector is installed in the connector aperture.