Electronic display suitable for submersion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10684648-B2
Application number	US-201815990713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2018
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a water tight submersible electronic device, such as a dive computer or a dive watch, comprising a case, a bezel, and glass through which a display can be viewed. The glass, case and bezel can all be different materials. The bezel is affixed to the case, in a permanent or removable manner, and has an opening for the glass and an electronic display. The electronic display is positioned under the glass and within the electronic device. For example, the glass is separated from and locked to the bezel by at least a locking ring, a shock absorber and/or a gasket. As such the glass can be free floating so that it and the bezel can deform under pressure without being damaged or causing damage to each other while maintaining a water tight connection.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water tight submersible electronic device comprising;
a case,
a bezel, having an opening for an electronic display, affixed to the case,
an electronic display, positioned under a piece of glass, at least partially within the opening of the bezel, and
at least one electronic component,
wherein the display is attached to a surface of the glass within the device, and
the glass is separated from and locked to the bezel by at least a locking ring surrounding the perimeter of the glass, the locking ring comprising a protrusion, and
wherein the glass is free floating within the opening of the bezel and
wherein the bezel comprises a notch,
wherein the notch and the protrusion correspond and at least partially facilitate the locking of the glass to the bezel.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking ring extends below the glass.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking ring extends horizontally so that it overlaps a portion of the glass.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the opening in the bezel further comprises a second opening having dimensions smaller than those of the glass forming a lip which indirectly supports the glass within the first opening, the locking ring extending between the lip and the protrusion, and wherein the notch is comprised in a interior wall formed by the opening of the bezel and wherein the locking ring extends below the level of the glass.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic display is not directly affixed to electronic components within the device.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the bezel is metallic.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking ring is plastic.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the display is a touch sensitive display.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic display is mounted to the glass by an optically clear adhesive.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the optically clear adhesive completely supports the electronic display within the device, and wherein the electronic display is electrically connected to the at least one electronic component via a flexible electrical connection.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic component is not directly supported by the bezel.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a top surface of the glass is beveled and wherein a portion of the locking ring in contact with the bevel of the glass has a substantially similar slope.

13. A water tight submersible electronic device comprising;
a case,
a bezel, having an opening for an electronic display, affixed to the case,
an electronic display, positioned under a piece of glass, at least partially within the opening of the bezel, and
at least one electronic component,
wherein the display is attached to a surface of the glass within the device,
the glass is separated from and locked to the bezel by at least a locking ring surrounding the perimeter of the glass, and
wherein the glass is free floating within the opening of the bezel, wherein the opening in the bezel comprises an opening and interior walls wherein the interior walls comprise a notch, the locking ring comprises a corresponding protrusion, and wherein the notch and protrusion at least partially facilitate the locking of the glass to the bezel.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the interior walls within the opening having a height greater than or equal to the thickness of the glass.

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the opening in the bezel further comprises a second opening having dimensions smaller than those of the glass forming a lip which indirectly supports the glass within the first opening.

16. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the electronic display is not directly affixed to electronic components within the device.

17. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the bezel is metallic.

18. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the locking ring is plastic.

19. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the display is a touch sensitive display.

20. A water tight submersible electronic device comprising;
a case,
a bezel, having an opening for an electronic display, affixed to the case,
an electronic display, positioned under a piece of glass, at least partially within the opening of the bezel, and
at least one electronic component,
wherein the display is attached to a surface of the glass within the device, and
the glass is free floating and flexibly separated from and water tightly locked to the bezel by at least a locking ring surrounding the perimeter of the glass, the locking ring comprising a protrusion, and wherein the protrusion is at least partially retained by a notch of the bezel.

21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the locking ring extends below the glass.

22. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the locking ring extends horizontally so that it overlaps a portion of the glass.

23. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the opening in the bezel further comprises a second opening having dimensions smaller than those of the glass forming a lip which indirectly supports the glass within the first opening, the locking ring extending between the lip and the protrusion of the bezel.

24. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the electronic display is not directly affixed to electronic components within the device.

25. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the notch in the bezel is formed in a direction which is parallel to the glass.

Assignees

• Suunto Oy

Inventors

• Perko Panu
• Sepänniitty Mikko
• Savolainen Tapio

Classifications

• G06F1/1637 Primary

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G04B37/08

  Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits {(covers or protecting devices which can be directly removed, or by sliding or turning G04B37/005; hermetic sealing of watch or crystal with special pieces G04B39/02; hermetically-sealed electrical switches H01H23/06)} · CPC title

• G04B39/02

  Sealing crystals or glasses {(sealing the case and the winding stem G04B37/08)} · CPC title

• B63C11/02 Primary

  Divers' equipment · CPC title

• G04G17/045

  Mounting of the display · CPC title