Membrane for liquid-resistant devices and methods of making a membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10245767-B2
Application number	US-201615368307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A bracket assembly suitable for use with an electronic device is described. The bracket assembly may include a bracket body having a channel. The bracket assembly may further include a membrane embedded in the bracket body and designed to allow air, but not liquid (such as water), to pass through the membrane. The membrane may be at least partially surrounded by a membrane support molded to the membrane. The membrane and the membrane support may be disposed in a molding tool to receive a material used to mold the bracket body over the membrane and the membrane support. During the molding operation, the membrane support may act as a buffer to shield the membrane from temperature and pressure increases associated with the molding operation of the bracket body. The bracket assembly may improve the ability of the electronic device to prevent liquid ingress.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket assembly for preventing liquid ingress, the bracket assembly comprising:
a bracket body comprising a through hole and a recess that surrounds the through hole;
a membrane carried by the bracket body and at least partially sealing the through hole such that a liquid is prevented from passing through the through hole, the membrane allowing air to pass through the through hole; and
a membrane support that defines a hollow ring coupled to an edge of the membrane, the membrane support further coupled to the bracket body and positioned within the recess.

2. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the membrane support forms a buffer between the bracket body and the membrane.

3. The bracket assembly of claim 2 , wherein the membrane support comprises an elastomeric material.

4. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket body comprises at least one of a polymeric material or polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. The bracket assembly of claim 4 , wherein the membrane is free of contact with the bracket body.

6. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket body comprises:
a first end having a threaded region for threaded engagement with an enclosure; and
a second end that carries the membrane, the second end opposite the first end.

7. The bracket assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bracket body comprises a cavity at the first end, and wherein the membrane is adhesively secured with the bracket body at the first end by an adhesive disposed in the cavity such that the membrane is co-planar with respect to the bracket body.

8. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure comprising an internal region, the enclosure further comprising a sidewall and an opening extending through the sidewall;
a touch-sensitive display assembly;
a transparent cover that overlays the touch-sensitive display assembly and couples with the enclosure; and
a bracket assembly at least partially disposed in the opening, the bracket assembly comprising:
a bracket body comprising a through hole aligned with the opening, and
a membrane embedded in the bracket body and at least partially blocking the through hole, the membrane defining a seal that prevents liquid ingress from passing through the through hole and entering the internal region.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a membrane support that defines a hollow ring coupled to an edge of the membrane and embedded in the bracket body, wherein the membrane is partially embedded in the membrane support such that the membrane support defines a buffer between the bracket body and the membrane.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a band mechanically interlocked with the enclosure, the band used to secure the enclosure, and components within the enclosure, to an appendage of a user.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the bracket body comprises a polymeric material.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the membrane allow air to pass through the through hole and into the internal region.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a sealing element positioned around the bracket body, the sealing element pressed against the opening.

14. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising an operational component disposed in the internal region, wherein the operational component passes audible sound through the opening, the membrane, and the through hole.

15. A method for assembling a bracket assembly, the method comprising:
molding a membrane support to a membrane in a first molding tool to define a membrane assembly, the membrane support defining a hollow ring coupled to an edge of the membrane; and
molding a bracket body to the membrane assembly, the bracket body comprising a through hole, wherein the membrane defines a seal to prevent an ingress liquid from passing through the through hole while allowing air to pass through the through hole, wherein molding the bracket body to the membrane assembly comprises forming a channel in the bracket body such that the through hole is at least partially blocked by the membrane.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein molding the bracket body to the membrane assembly comprises molding the bracket body only to the membrane support such that the membrane support defines a buffer between the bracket body and the membrane.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein molding the membrane support to the membrane comprises molding the membrane support only to an edge region of the membrane.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein molding the bracket body to the membrane assembly defines a recess in the bracket body, and wherein the membrane support is positioned in the recess.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein molding the bracket body to the membrane assembly comprises molding a housing for an operational component.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Li Xuesen
• Bushnell Tyler S
• Werner Christopher M

Classifications

• H04R1/44

  Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone · CPC title

• H04R2231/001

  Moulding aspects of diaphragm or surround · CPC title

• H04R31/003

  for diaphragms or their outer suspension · CPC title

• H04R7/20

  Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands · CPC title

• H04R2307/204

  Material aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker diaphragms · CPC title