Liquid-resistant coating on an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9967375-B1
Application number	US-201715593252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 11, 2017
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device having liquid-resistant modifications that prevent liquid ingress into an opening (or openings) in an enclosure of the electronic device is disclosed. For example, the electronic device may include a coating formed from a liquid-resistant material that is applied internally to the enclosure. The electronic device may further include a frame that carries a protective transparent layer designed to cover a display assembly. In order to secure the frame with the enclosure, the electronic device may include an adhesive assembly disposed over an outer perimeter of the coating. The adhesive assembly may include several adhesive parts initially separate from one another. However, with the adhesive parts between the frame and the enclosure, the adhesive parts can be compressed by the frame and the enclosure, causing the adhesive parts to expand and engage each other. As a result, the coating and the adhesive parts provide a seal against liquid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure that defines an internal volume, the enclosure comprising a first portion separated from and coupled to a second portion by a molded part;
a platform that extends into the internal volume and capable of carrying a component, the platform defined by the first portion and the molded part;
a coating layer that coats the molded part and at least a portion of the platform, wherein a portion of the platform that is not coated by the coating layer defines an uncovered portion; and
a first adhesive part and a second adhesive part separate from the first adhesive part, the first adhesive part and the second adhesive part disposed on the coating layer and covering the uncovered portion, wherein the material first adhesive part and a second adhesive part secure the component to the platform and combines with the coating layer; and
a seal that is between the component and the platform, the seal preventing passage of moisture around the molded part, wherein the first adhesive part and the second adhesive part, under compression, expand to engage each other and combine with the coating layer to form the seal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the uncovered portion of the platform includes the first portion.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive part is positioned on the uncovered portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a frame that carries a protective layer formed from a transparent material.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising a fastener having a compliant coating, wherein the enclosure include a through hole that receives the fastener, and wherein the complaint coating forms a second seal against the moisture at the through hole.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a switch assembly, wherein the enclosure comprises a through hole that opens to the internal volume, and wherein the switch assembly comprises:
a switch positioned at least partially in the through hole, the switch configured to generate a command to an operational component in the internal volume;
a bracket that carries the switch; and
a sealing element that (i) secures the bracket with the enclosure at the through hole, and (ii) provides a seal against a liquid at the through hole.

7. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure having an interior surface that defines an internal volume, the enclosure comprising:
a first metal portion,
a second metal portion separate from the first metal portion, and
a molded layer between the first metal portion and the second metal portion, wherein the enclosure and the molded layer define a platform;
a coating applied to the enclosure at the interior surface along the platform, the coating covering the first metal portion, the second metal portion and the molded layer;
a first adhesive part positioned on the platform; and
a second adhesive part positioned on the platform, wherein the first adhesive part and the second adhesive part compress and expand to contact each other and combine with the coating such that a liquid is prevented from passing through the enclosure between the first metal portion and the second metal portion and into the internal volume.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a third adhesive part, and
a fourth adhesive part, wherein the third adhesive part compresses and expands to engage both the second adhesive part and the fourth adhesive part, and wherein the fourth adhesive part compresses and expands to engage the first adhesive part.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the first adhesive part comprises a protruding section,
the second adhesive part comprises a recessed section that corresponds to the protruding section, and
the protruding section compresses and expands to engage the recessed section.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising a frame, wherein the first adhesive part and the second adhesive part define a adhesive assembly that combines with the coating to seal against the liquid between the frame and the enclosure.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the second metal portion comprises a chassis, and wherein at least some of the chassis is free of the coating such that the chassis defines an electrical grounding pathway.

12. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a channel between the first metal portion and the second metal portion; and
a second molded layer positioned in the channel, wherein the molded layer and the second molded layer combine to form a radio frequency window.

13. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure having an interior surface that defines an internal volume, the enclosure comprising a platform;
a coating that is disposed along the interior surface and the platform;
an adhesive assembly positioned on the coating at the platform, the adhesive assembly comprising a first adhesive part and a second adhesive part separate from the first adhesive part;
a frame that is secured with the enclosure by the adhesive assembly, the frame and the enclosure compressing and expanding the first adhesive part to engage the second adhesive part; and
a liquid-resistant seal that prevents a liquid from entering the internal volume between the frame and the enclosure, the liquid-resistant seal defined by the coating combined with the adhesive assembly.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the first adhesive part comprises a protruding section,
the second adhesive part comprises a recessed section having a shape corresponding to the protruding section, and
the frame combines with the enclosure to compress both the protruding section and the recessed section such that the protruding section and the recessed section engage each other.

15. The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a channel formed in the enclosure;
a first molded layer disposed in the channel; and
a second molded layer in the internal volume and engaging the first molded layer, wherein the platform is at least partially defined by the second molded layer.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the enclosure comprises an extension that engages the second molded layer and fixes a positioned of the second molded layer.

17. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the enclosure comprises:
a first metal portion; and
a second metal portion separated from the first metal portion by the first molded layer and the second molded layer.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the enclosure comprises a sidewall defined in part by the first metal portion, and wherein the coating is applied to the first metal portion and the sidewall.

19. The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprises:
a rail embedded in the frame;
a fastener that includes a fastener coating, the fastener extending through an opening of the enclosure and secured with the rail, the fastener coating engaging the enclosure at the opening to provide a seal against the liquid at the opening.

20. A method for forming an electronic device that includes an enclosure having an interior surface that defines an internal volume, the enclosure comprising a platform, the method comprising:
applying a coating along the interior surface and the platform; and
positioning an adhesive assembly on the coating at the platform, the adhesive assembly comprising a first adhesive part and a second adhesive part separate f

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zhao xiao ying
• Lui Timothy S
• Cater Tyler B
• Phouthavong Rasamy
• Myers Scott A
• Pope Benjamin J
• Hurrell David A
• Xydis Christopher R
• Huo Edward S
• Dinh Richard Hung Minh
• Firka Michael W
• Auclair Martin J
• Mundell Kurtis J
• Bavetta Salome
• Leutheuser Paul
• Esmaeili Hani
• Froese Kevin M
• Chowdhury Ihtesham H
• Tan Tang Yew
• Bates Eric W
• Zhang Yaocheng

Classifications

• H04M1/026 Primary

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title

• H05K5/0217 Primary

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title

• H04R1/025

  Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture · CPC title

• H01H13/06

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings · CPC title