Connector for fluidly sealing an aperture of a protective case

• US 9,960,521 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Armstrong, Peter S., Garcia, Francisco, Arpin, Jonathan, Terry, Warren M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US15/419,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20170244194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/516 Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing , hoods
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal

Abstract

A protective case for a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device has a device connector for transmission of data and/or power between the device connector and a data and/or power source via a reciprocal connector assembly. The case includes an aperture disposed proximate the device connector of the installed portable electronic device, the aperture passing between an outer surface and an inner surface of the case and defined by a surface between the outer and inner surfaces, the aperture having a circumference; and a compliant seal surrounding the circumference of the aperture, the compliant seal to interface with at least a portion of the backshell portion of the reciprocal connector assembly to seal the aperture when the reciprocal connector assembly is inserted through the aperture to interface with the device connector of the installed portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a reciprocal connector to a device connector of a portable electronic device accessed through an aperture of a protective case, the connector comprising:

a sleeve for receiving at least a portion of the reciprocal connector;

an orientation member including a hollow body member configured to receive at least a portion of the reciprocal connector, the orientation member including one or more depth arms configured to contact a face portion of the reciprocal connector and resist movement of the reciprocal connector in a first direction; and

a seal positioned between the sleeve and the device connector, the seal fluidly sealing the aperture of the protective case.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the hollow body member has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the orientation member further comprises one or more attachment tabs extending from the hollow body member, each attachment tab including an attachment end configured to be received within a corresponding receiving slot of the aperture to removeably secure the connector to the case.

4. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a receiver surrounding the orientation member, the seal being attached to a front face of the receiver.

5. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a gasket at least partially positioned in an interior of the sleeve, the gasket configured to fluidly seal the interior of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a closed configuration.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of resilient ridges configured to contact a cord of the reciprocal connector to fluidly seal the interior of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a closed configuration.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein the gasket comprises an O-ring configured to be positioned around at least a portion of the reciprocal connector, the O-ring configured to fluidly seal the interior of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a closed configuration.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the orientation member further comprises a first pair of aligning tabs configured to contact a portion of the reciprocal connector when the reciprocal connector is received by the orientation member, the first pair of aligning tabs further configured to center and hold the contacted portion of the reciprocal connector along a first axis within the hollow body member of the orientation member.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the orientation member further comprises a second pair of aligning tabs configured to contact a second portion of the reciprocal connector when the reciprocal connector is received by the orientation member, the second pair of aligning tabs further configured to center and hold the second contacted portion of the reciprocal connector along a second axis within the hollow body member of the orientation member.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a living hinge configured to allow the sleeve to move between an open configuration for receiving the portion of the reciprocal connector and a closed configuration for fluidly sealing an interior of the sleeve.

12. The connector of claim 11, further comprising a latch for reversibly securing the sleeve in the closed configuration.

13. A connector for positioning a reciprocal connector in a predetermined position, the connector comprising:

a hollow body member having an interior configured to receive at least a portion of the reciprocal connector within the interior; and

one or more depth arms extending from the hollow body member, the depth arms configured to contact a face portion of the reciprocal connector and resist movement of the reciprocal connector in a first direction;

a first pair of aligning tabs configured to contact a first portion of the reciprocal connector when the reciprocal connector is received in the interior, the first pair of aligning tabs further configured to center and hold the first portion of the reciprocal connector along a first axis within the interior of the hollow body member; and

a second pair of aligning tabs configured to contact a second portion of the reciprocal connector when the reciprocal connector is received in the interior, the second pair of aligning tabs further configured to center and hold the second portion of the reciprocal connector along a second axis within the interior of the hollow body member.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

15. The connector of claim 13, wherein the hollow body member has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

16. The connector of claim 13 further comprising one or more attachment tabs extending from the hollow body member.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein each attachment tab terminates in an end having a substantially triangular cross-section.