Waterproof port for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9625944-B2
Application number	US-201315025214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2013
Priority date	Sep 29, 2013
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure may take the form of an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing defining a port and a cavity, a processing element contained within the cavity of the housing, an input/output device (such as, but not limited to, a sound wave transducer) in selective communication with the port, and a flow-blocking member movably connected to the housing. The flow-blocking member selectively prevents fluid-flow, such as the flow of air, through the port. The electronic device also includes a fluid repelling member connected to the housing and positioned in a flow path between the port and the input/output device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing defining a port and a cavity;
a processing element contained within the cavity of the housing;
an input/output device in selective communication with the port;
a flow-blocking member movably connected to the housing;
an actuator connected to the flow blocking member;
a fluid repelling member connected to the housing and positioned in a flow path between the port and the input/output device; and
a selectable component operative to:
move the actuator to move the flow-blocking member from an open position to a closed position to block flow through the port into the cavity; and
allow the actuator to move back to return the flow-blocking member from the open position to the closed position.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the selectable component is movable.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the selectable component is a compressible button or a slidable button.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member operably connected to the flow-blocking member, wherein the biasing member exerts a return force on the flow-blocking member.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member is a motor and exerts an open force to move the flow-blocking member to the open position and exerts the return force to move the flow-blocking member to the closed position.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the input/output device is a microphone or a speaker.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising
a user input sensor in communication with the processing element; and
an actuator operably connected to the flow-blocking member and in communication with the processing element; wherein
the user input sensor detects a user input and in response to the user input the processing element directs the actuator to move the flow-blocking member.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid repelling member is a fluid repelling mesh.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with the processing element.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing defining a cavity;
a port defined in the housing that is in fluid communication with the cavity;
a sound wave transducer; and
a waterproof port assembly, comprising:
a selectable component movably connected to the housing;
an actuator connected to the selectable component;
a biasing mechanism coupled to the actuator;
a flow-blocking member operably connected to the actuator and selectively positioned between the port and the sound wave transducer;

wherein movement of the selectable component moves the actuator to:
compress the biasing mechanism and move the flow-blocking member to an open position; or
uncompress the biasing mechanism and move the flow-blocking member to a closed position.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the selectable component includes a base coupled to a main body having a smaller dimension than the base.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the base is operable to seal an aperture in the housing.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising an O-ring that seals against an inner surface of the housing.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein movement of the selectable component causes movement of the sound wave transducer.

16. An electronic device comprising:
a housing defining a port and a cavity;
a processing element contained within the cavity of the housing;
an input/output device;
a flow-blocking member movably connected to the housing;
a fluid repelling member connected to the housing and positioned in a flow path between the port and the input/output device; and
a biasing member operably connected to the flow-blocking member; and
an actuator coupled to the flow-blocking member operative to:
move the flow-blocking member to an open position; and
allow the biasing member to move the flow blocking member from the open position to a closed position.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a motor that exerts an open force to move the flow-blocking member to the open position.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a motor that exerts a return force to move the flow-blocking member to the closed position.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member exerts a return force on the flow-blocking member after a predetermined time period.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Weber Douglas J

Classifications

• G06F1/1656 Primary

  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 title

• H04M1/18

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title

• H04M1/03

  Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets · CPC title