Ejection assembly with plug feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9627797-B2
Application number	US-201514805035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a plug feature for an electronic device. More specifically, the plug feature described herein is used to plug, fill or otherwise seal an aperture associated with a SIM tray of an electronic device. The plug feature may be coupled to an ejection mechanism and may extend at least partially into an aperture defined by the SIM tray and/or an aperture defined by the housing of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a SIM tray defining an outer aperture;
a housing defining an inner aperture aligned with the outer aperture;
an ejection mechanism; and
a plug feature fixedly coupled to the ejection mechanism, the plug feature extending at least partially into the inner aperture.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plug feature comprises a hydrophobic coating.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plug feature is compressible.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plug feature comprises a chamfered edge.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plug feature comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene coating.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plug feature seals the inner aperture.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plug feature extends at least partially into the outer aperture.

8. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a SIM tray at least partially received in the housing;
a tool aperture defined by the SIM tray;
an ejection mechanism positioned within the housing of the electronic device to eject the SIM tray from the housing in response to an actuation force; and
a plug feature fixedly coupled to the ejection mechanism and preventing contaminants from entering the housing through the tool aperture.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the plug feature receives the actuation force.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein an outer surface of the plug feature is substantially flush with the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the plug feature extends at least partially into the tool aperture; and
the plug feature is removed from the tool aperture in response to the actuation force.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the plug feature is received in the tool aperture when the actuation force is no longer applied.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the plug feature comprises a concave outer surface.

14. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the plug feature comprises a synthetic polymer.

15. A housing for an electronic device, the housing comprising:
a SIM tray defining an outer aperture;
an inner aperture formed in the housing and aligned with the outer aperture; and
an ejection mechanism fixedly coupled to a plug feature, the plug feature aligned with the inner aperture and the outer aperture to seal the inner aperture.

16. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the plug feature seals the outer aperture.

17. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the plug feature comprises a hydrophobic coating on an outer surface.

18. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the plug feature comprises a chamfered edge to facilitate removal of the plug feature from the inner aperture.

19. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the plug feature is compressible.

20. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the plug feature is receives a force applied by an ejection tool.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Song Yuanyuan
• Wu Wei Guang
• Lee Sungchang

Classifications

• H01R13/5213 Primary

  Covers · CPC title

• H01R13/443

  Dummy plugs · CPC title

• H01R13/631

  for engagement only · CPC title

• H01R13/6397

  with means for preventing unauthorised use · CPC title