Apparatus and method for venting and sealing a portable communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9843355-B2
Application number	US-201715496005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2017
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

An improved venting and sealing assembly for a portable communication device is provided. The venting and sealing assembly is formed of a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough. A flexible substrate having a vent hole is coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset through-hole. A breathable membrane is coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A rigid plate having an opening is coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole of the flexible substrate and/or upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture of the housing enclosure. The assembly provides a vent path and a self-sealing enclosure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A venting and sealing assembly, comprising:
a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough;
a flexible substrate having a vent hole, the flexible substrate being coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset-through-hole;
a breathable membrane coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate;
a rigid plate having an opening coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate; and
a closed-loop sealing rib formed upon at least one of:
the flexible substrate, around the vent hole;
the housing enclosure, upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture.

2. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is moveable relative to the housing enclosure to provide venting and sealing of the assembly.

3. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 2 , wherein force and deflection characteristics of the flexible substrate and positioning of the closed-loop sealing rib is tuned as follows:
for a normal use case:
the assembly behaves as a passive pressure equalization vent; and
for a pressure use case:
the flexible substrate collapses into the walled aperture such that the closed loop rib seals against the bottom surface, thereby isolating the breathable membrane.

4. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop sealing rib seals the flexible substrate with the housing enclosure in response to changes in pressure.

5. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vent path is formed through the offset through-hole of the housing enclosure, the walled aperture of the housing enclosure, the vent hole of the flexible substrate, the breathable membrane coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate and the opening of the rigid plate.

6. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rigid plate provides an external rigid surface area that is larger than an internal sealing area created by the closed-loop sealing rib.

7. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop sealing rib comprises at least one of:
a compliant closed loop sealing rib integrated with the flexible substrate around the vent hole;
a hard-stop closed loop sealing rib integrated with the housing enclosure, upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture.

8. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the breathable membrane provides a passive pressure equalization vent mounted in series with the flexible substrate which operates as an active sealing valve mechanism.

9. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rigid plate provides gain to the active sealing valve mechanism sealing pressure to securely isolate the passive pressure equalization vent.

10. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate operates as an active sealing valve mechanism to form a waterproof barrier over the walled aperture of the housing enclosure.

11. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop sealing rib limits travel of the flexible substrate.

12. The venting and sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole upon two sides of the flexible substrate.

Assignees

• Motorola Solutions Inc
• Motorola Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Miehl Andrew P
• Akens Jody H
• Gilmore Peter B
• Kakiel Anthony M
• Kline Charles E

Classifications

• H05K5/0213 Primary

  Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof · CPC title

• A45C13/008

  for making water- or air-tight · CPC title

• H04B2001/3894

  Waterproofing of transmission device · CPC title

• A45C11/00

  Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title