Waterproof adapter

• US 9,515,414 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2016
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Liu, Feng S., Popa, George N. III
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US15/226,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20160344133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 126 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

An 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 includes a 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 connector into or from a corresponding connector of the mobile electronic device. The accessory connector further includes a waterproof adapter configured to provide the liquid-tight seal between the connector aperture of the waterproof housing and the accessory connector of the accessory device. The waterproof adapter including two or more tension tabs and an exterior gasket on the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter.

Claims

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

a body having an exterior surface, a hole passing through the body, the hole defining an interior surface of the body, the body having a first attachment feature on the interior surface, the first attachment feature configured to attach to a second attachment feature on the electrical connector of the accessory device, the body having two or more tension tabs extending from a first end of the body;

an exterior gasket disposed on the exterior surface of the body; and

an interior sealing surface proximate the interior surface of the body, the first attachment feature of the body and the second attachment feature on the electrical connector configured to form a liquid-tight seal between the electrical connector and the sealing surface of the waterproof adapter.

2. The waterproof adapter of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector includes an electrical plug.

3. The waterproof adapter of claim 2 wherein the electrical plug is a headphone plug.

4. 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 the body, the hole defining an interior surface of the body, the body comprising a first attachment feature on the interior surface, the first attachment feature configured to attach to a second attachment feature on the accessory connector of the accessory device to form a liquid-tight seal between a gasket associated with the accessory connector and an interior gasket seat proximate the interior surface of the body, the body comprising two or more tension tabs extending from a first end 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; and

an exterior gasket disposed at least partially within the exterior gasket channel.

5. The waterproof adapter of claim 4, wherein the waterproof adapter is removably attachable to the accessory connector.

6. The waterproof adapter of claim 4, wherein the waterproof adapter is an integrally formed portion of the accessory connector.

7. A waterproof adapter configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between a waterproof housing for a mobile electronic device and an electrical connector of an accessory for use with the mobile electronic device, the electrical connector having a gasket, the waterproof adapter comprising:

a body having;

an exterior surface,

a hole passing through the body, the hole defining an interior surface of the body,

a first attachment feature on the interior surface of the body, the first attachment feature configured to attach to a second attachment feature of the electrical connector of the accessory to form a liquid-tight seal between the gasket of the electrical connector and an interior gasket seat proximate the interior surface of the body,

a third attachment feature on 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 body; and

an exterior gasket disposed on the exterior surface of the body.

8. The waterproof adapter of claim 7, 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.

9. The waterproof adapter of claim 7, each lip portion configured to associate with a lip receiving notch in a connection aperture of the waterproof housing.

10. The waterproof adapter of claim 7 wherein the third attachment feature includes at least one of a threaded feature and two or more bayonet-style mounting features.

11. The waterproof adapter of claim 7, wherein the electrical connector is configured to transfer power and/or data to and/or from the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is encased in the waterproof housing.

12. The waterproof adapter of claim 7, wherein each of the two or more tension tabs comprises a lip portion that extends outwardly relative to the body.

13. The waterproof adapter of claim 7 further comprising an exterior gasket channel on an exterior surface of the waterproof adapter, the exterior gasket disposed at least partially within the exterior gasket channel.

14. 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 body having a connector extending from the body, the body configured to allow a user to grasp the accessory connector during insertion or removal of the accessory connector into or from, respectively, a corresponding connector of the 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 an exterior gasket on the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter.

15. The accessory connector of claim 14, wherein the waterproof adapter is removably attachable to the accessory connector.

16. The accessory connector of claim 14, wherein the waterproof adapter is an integrally formed portion of the accessory connector.

17. The accessory connector of claim 14, wherein the accessory connector is configured to transfer power or data to and/or from the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is encased in the waterproof housing.

18. The accessory connector of claim 14, wherein each tension tab further comprises a lip portion that extends outwardly relative to a centerline axis of the body.

19. The accessory connector of claim 14, further comprising an exterior gasket channel on an exterior surface of the waterproof adapter, the exterior gasket disposed at least partially within the exterior gasket channel.

20. The accessory connector of claim 14 further comprising an exterior gasket on the exterior surface of the waterproof adapter.