Compressible seal for rotatable and translatable input mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016259301-A1
Application number	US-201615064057-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 8, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device has a housing and a rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The housing has an aperture and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism has a shaft positioned at least partially within the aperture and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft. The manipulation structure may be manipulated to rotationally and translationally move the shaft to provide rotational and translational input to the electronic device. A compressible seal is positioned in a gap between the housing and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The compressible seal may resist and/or prevent passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or obscure one or more internal components. The compressible seal may be configured to collapse or bend when the rotatable and translatable member translates.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An input mechanism assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
a rotatable and translatable member comprising:
a shaft positioned at least partially within an aperture of a housing; and
a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft and separated from the housing by a gap; and
a compressible seal positioned in the gap that resists passage of contaminants into the aperture and is configured to collapse when the rotatable and translatable member translates; wherein rotation of the rotatable and translatable member generates a first input to the electronic device; and translation of the rotatable and translatable member generates a second input to the electronic device.

2 . The input mechanism assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compressible seal is formed of at least one of silicone, polyurethane, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber, or a fluoroelastomer.

3 . The input mechanism assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the compressible seal comprises first and second arms positioned obliquely with respect to each other; the first arm contacts the housing; the second arm contacts the rotatable and translatable input member; and the first and second arms are operable to move toward each other when the rotatable and translatable member translates.

4 . The input mechanism assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
the first arm has a first end and a second end; the second arm has a third end and a fourth end; the first and third ends are unconnected; and the second and fourth ends are connected.

5 . The input mechanism assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compressible seal obscures at least one component that is at least one of formed of a different material than the manipulation structure or has a different finish than the manipulation structure.

6 . The input mechanism assembly of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the rotatable and translatable member is not transferred to the compressible seal.

7 . The input mechanism assembly of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise liquid absent hydrostatic pressure.

8 . A wearable electronic device, comprising:
a body including an aperture; a crown comprising:
a knob;
a stem coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the aperture;
a tactile structure connected to the crown that is actuatable by translation of the crown; and an elastomer Y-ring positioned between the crown and the body configured to bend when the crown translates to move the knob toward the body; wherein the elastomer Y-ring obscures at least one component with a different visual appearance than the knob.

9 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the elastomer Y-ring is operable to move freely of the body or the crown.

10 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein rotation of the crown is transferred to the elastomer Y-ring.

11 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the crown and the body that is shaped to define an indent into which the gasket is configured to expand when compressed.

12 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein a shape of a force curve corresponding to actuation of the tactile structure by the translation of the crown is unchanged by the elastomer Y-ring.

13 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the elastomer Y-ring is configured to prevent light passage.

14 . The wearable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein a finish or a color of the elastomer Y-ring is configured to prevent light passage.

15 . A system, comprising:
a wearable device comprising an enclosure; a collar coupled to an aperture of the enclosure, the collar having an outside and an inside; an input mechanism moveably connected to the collar having a first portion and a second portion; and a compressible structure positioned between the enclosure and the input mechanism; wherein the first portion is moveably coupled to the outside of the collar via at least one bushing; and the second portion is positioned within the inside of the collar such that the input mechanism is operable to rotate and translate with respect to the collar.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the compressible structure is fixed to at least one of the enclosure or the input mechanism.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the compressible structure functions as a barrier against entry of dust and unpressurized liquid into the input mechanism.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the compressible structure functions as the barrier while the input mechanism is rotating.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the collar has at least one of a polished surface or a coated surface.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the compressible structure has at least one of a V shape, a U shape, an X shape, or a Y shape.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ely Colin M

Classifications

• G04C3/005

  Multiple switches (G04C3/004 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H25/065

  using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob · CPC title

• H01H25/06

  Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement · CPC title

• H01H2300/016

  Application timepiece · CPC title

• G04B37/081 Primary

  Complete encasings for wrist or pocket watches also comprising means for hermetic sealing of the winding stem and crown (hermetic sealing of the stem or crown G04B37/10) · CPC title