Connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9843127-B2
Application number	US-201615183903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

This disclosure presents a connector assembly for providing a waterproof connection to a case for an electronic device. The connector assembly includes a connector body, an electrical cable, and an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is electrically connected to the electrical cable and electrically engages the installed electronic device to convey at least one of data and power between the installed electronic device and the electrical cable. The connector assembly also includes an outer sleeve configured to freely rotate around the connector body and further configured to removably connect the connector assembly to the case. The outer sleeve includes a securing region to removably secure the connector assembly to the case, an inner gasket to seal an inner sealing interface of the outer sleeve with the connector body, and an outer gasket positioned to seal an outer sealing interface of the outer sleeve with the case.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A connector assembly for providing a waterproof connection to a case for an electronic device at an aperture of the case and for providing an electrical connection to an electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the case, the connector assembly comprising:
a connector body including a first barrier element on an outer surface of the connector body;
an electrical cable attached to the connector body;
an electrical conductor at least partially contained in the connector body and electrically connected to the electrical cable, the electrical conductor configured to electrically engage the electrical interface of the installed electronic device through the aperture of the case to convey at least one of data and power between the installed electronic device and the electrical cable when the connector assembly is removably connected to the case; and
an outer sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the connector body, the outer sleeve configured to freely rotate around the connector body when the connector assembly is being connected to the case and further configured to removably connect the connector assembly to the case at the aperture, the outer sleeve comprising:
a securing region on a first end of the outer sleeve to removably secure the connector assembly to the case when the outer sleeve is rotated around the connector body, the securing region comprising threads to engage corresponding threads of the case when the connector assembly is connected to the case;
an inner gasket positioned to seal an inner sealing interface of the outer sleeve with the connector body when the connector assembly is connected to the case;
an outer gasket positioned to seal an outer sealing interface of the outer sleeve with the case when the connector assembly is connected to the case, and
a second barrier element on an inner surface of the outer sleeve, the second barrier element to interface with the first barrier element to prevent removal of the outer sleeve from the connector body while permitting the rotation of the outer sleeve around the connector body.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the securing region comprises two or more bayonet arms to engage corresponding grooves of the case when the connector assembly is connected with the case.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the securing region comprises two or more grooves to engage corresponding bayonet arms of the case when the connector assembly is connected with the case.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the first barrier element includes a ridge and the second barrier element includes a groove.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the first barrier element includes a groove and the second barrier element includes a ridge.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor includes a male pin.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor includes a female socket.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner gasket is configured to be compressed against the inner sealing interface of the outer sleeve surrounding a circumference of the connector body.

9. A connector assembly for providing a waterproof connection to a case and to an electronic device installed in the case, the connector assembly comprising:
a connector body including a first barrier element on an outer surface of the connector body;
an electrical transmission element attached to the connector body and electrically connected to an electrical cable, the electrical transmission element adapted to electrically engage an electrical interface of the installed electronic device through an aperture of the case to convey at least one of data and power between the installed electronic device and the electrical cable when the connector assembly is removably connected to the case; and
a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the connector body, the sleeve configured to freely rotate around the connector body to connect the connector assembly to the case at the aperture, the sleeve comprising:
a securing feature on a first end of the sleeve to removably connect the connector assembly to the case when the sleeve is rotated around the connector body, the securing feature comprising two or more bayonet arms to engage corresponding grooves of the case when the connector assembly is connected with the case;
an inner gasket positioned to seal an inner sealing surface of the sleeve with the connector body when the connector assembly is connected to the case;
an outer gasket positioned to seal an outer sealing surface of the sleeve with the case when the connector assembly is connected to the case, and
a second barrier element on an inner surface of the sleeve, the second barrier element to interface with the first barrier element to prevent removal of the sleeve from the connector body while permitting the rotation of the sleeve around the connector body.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the electrical transmission element includes a headphone plug and the connector assembly is adapted for connecting headphones to the electronic device.

11. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the securing feature comprises two or more grooves to engage corresponding bayonet arms of the case when the connector assembly is connected with the case.

12. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the securing feature comprises threads adapted to engage corresponding threads of the case when the connector assembly is connected with the case.

13. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the electrical cable includes audio control buttons.

14. The connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the inner gasket is configured to be compressed against the inner sealing interface of the outer sleeve surrounding a circumference of the connector body.

15. A connector for providing a water resistant connection to an encasement and to a portable electronic device installed in the encasement, the connector comprising:
a connector body;
an electrical plug attached to the connector body and electrically connectable to an electrical cable, the electrical plug to electrically engage an electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device through an opening in the encasement to convey at least one of data and power between the installed portable electronic device and the electrical cable when the connector is removably connected to the encasement;
a sleeve including a gripping region, the sleeve rotatably coupled to the connector body such that a force received at the gripping region rotates the sleeve relative to the connector body to connect the connector body to the encasement at the opening, the sleeve further comprising a first gasket positioned to seal an inner sealing surface of the sleeve with the connector body when the connector is connected to the encasement and a second gasket positioned to seal an outer sealing surface of the sleeve with the encasement when the connector is connected with the encasement, wherein the first gasket comprises an O-ring and the sleeve further comprises a gasket seat for receiving the O-ring, and
a securing feature to removably secure the connector body to the encasement when the sleeve is rotated relative to the connector body, the securing feature including two or more bayonet arms to engage corresponding grooves of the case when the connector assembly is connected with the encasement.

16. The connector of claim 15 wherein the electrical plug includes a male pin.

17. The connector

Assignees

• Otter Products Llc

Inventors

• Liu feng song
• Bone Brian C
• Feng Feng
• Murrells Nicholas J

Classifications

• H04R2460/17

  Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices · CPC title

• H04R1/1075

  Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• H01R13/5202 Primary

  Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings · CPC title

• H04R1/44

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