Waterproof micro-USB receptacle

• US 9,478,998 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lapetina, John, Mirov, Russell Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD C
• Application Number:
  US14/485,637
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 439/607.57, 439/607.58, 439/607.07, 439/607.09, 439/607.11, 439/607.13, 439/607.14, 439/607.2, 439/607.32, 439/607.33, 439/607.35, 439/607.4, 439/607.51, 439/620.12, 439/620.15, 439/620.16, 439/538, 439/909, 439/271, 439/278, 439/559, 439/589, 439/620.18, 439/620.23, 600/384, 600/394
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0278 of USB type details relating to connectors H01R27/00

Abstract

A device including a housing, a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, a micro-USB receptacle positioned in the housing, a recharger disposed within the housing and configured to recharge the rechargeable battery, wherein the recharger is configured to be powered through the micro-USB receptacle, wherein the micro-USB receptacle is configured to be waterproof, and includes a metal shell having an exterior surface and a front face extending forwardly from the exterior surface of the metal shell, a layer of plastic overmolded onto the exterior surface of the metal shell, a front face in the layer of plastic that extends around a periphery of the front face of the metal shell, and a seal positioned between the front face of the layer of plastic and an inner surface of the housing.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

a housing;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing;

a mount configured to mount the housing to an external body surface;

one or more sensors positioned in the housing and configured to measure one or more physiological parameters via the external body surface;

a micro-USB receptacle positioned in the housing; and

electronics disposed in the housing, wherein the electronics comprises a recharger configured to recharge the rechargeable battery, wherein the recharger is configured to be powered through the micro-USB receptacle;

wherein the micro-USB receptacle comprises;

a metal shell having an exterior surface and a front face extending forwardly from the exterior surface of the metal shell;

a layer of plastic overmolded onto the exterior surface of the metal shell;

a front face in the layer of plastic that extends around a periphery of the front face of the metal shell; and

a seal positioned between the front face of the layer of plastic and an inner surface of the housing.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a waterproof, double-sided adhesive.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a compressible rubber.

4. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the adhesive comprises a closed cell foam.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the metal housing is a stamped metal housing.

6. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the layer of plastic comprises a liquid crystal polymer.

7. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein a pair of spaced apart retention notches are formed on an inner surface of the metal shell and are contiguous with the inner surface of the metal shell.

8. The wearable device of claim 7, wherein the pair of spaced apart retention notches are adapted to receive a corresponding pair of spring loaded members positioned on an outer surface of a micro-USB plug to retain the micro-USB plug within the micro-USB receptacle.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein a pair of spaced apart retention notches are positioned on an inner surface of the metal shell, and a metal plate is secured over an outer surface of the metal shell containing the retention notches to create a seal between the outer surface of the metal shell and the metal plate.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the metal plate is laser welded to the bottom surface of the metal shell.

11. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein one or more retention arms are positioned on the metal plate for securing the micro-USB receptacle within the housing of the wearable device.

12. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein a retention arm is positioned within the plastic for securing the micro-USB receptacle within the housing of the wearable device.

13. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the micro-USB receptacle has an IPx7 rating.

14. A device, comprising:

a housing;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing;

a micro-USB receptacle positioned in the housing;

a recharger disposed in the housing and configured to recharge the rechargeable battery,

wherein the recharger is configured to be powered through the micro-USB receptacle;

wherein the micro-USB receptacle comprises;

a metal shell having an exterior surface and a front face extending forwardly from the exterior surface of the metal shell;

a layer of plastic overmolded onto the exterior surface of the metal shell;

a front face in the layer of plastic that extends around a periphery of the front face of the metal shell; and

a seal positioned between the front face of the layer of plastic and an inner surface of the housing.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the seal comprises a waterproof, double-sided adhesive.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the adhesive comprises a closed-cell foam.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein a pair of spaced apart retention notches are formed on an inner surface of the metal shell and are contiguous with the inner surface of the metal shell, and wherein the pair of spaced apart retention notches are adapted to receive a corresponding pair of spring loaded members positioned on an outer surface of a micro-USB plug to retain the micro-USB plug within the micro-USB receptacle.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein a pair of spaced apart retention notches are positioned on an inner surface of the metal shell, and a metal plate is laser welded over an outer surface of the metal shell containing the retention notches to create a seal between the outer surface of the metal shell and the metal plate.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein one or more retention arms are positioned on the metal plate for securing the micro-USB receptacle within the housing of the wearable device.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein a retention arm is positioned within the plastic for securing the micro-USB receptacle within the housing of the wearable device.

21. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein a pair of retention arms extend from first and second sides of the metal shell and each retention arm includes an extending portion configured to be placed within an aperture in a circuit board within the housing, and wherein a pair of mounting lugs extend from a rear of the micro-USB receptacle and each rear mounting lug is configured to mount to a surface of the circuit board within the housing used for securing the micro-USB receptacle to the circuit board within the housing.

22. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the micro-USB receptacle has an IP67 rating.

23. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the micro-USB receptacle has an IPx7 rating.