Elastomer seal and housing for a remote keyless entry device
View Patent ↗An automotive keyless entry device 10 is provided, including a first cover element 12 including a tongue element 30 including a plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs 32 positioned along a first cover intermediary perimeter 34 . A second cover element 14 includes a groove element 62 and a plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs 64 positioned along a second cover outer perimeter 66 . The plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs 64 engage the plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs 32 during assembly. The second cover element 14 includes an inner seal wall 70 positioned internally of the groove element 62 and the plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs 64 . An elastomer seal element 26 includes an alternating plurality of fold-over portions 46 and plurality of lock-seal portions 48 . The elastomer seal element 26 is positioned between the first cover element 12 and the second cover element 14 such that the plurality of fold-over portions 46 surround the tongue element 30 sealing the tongue element 30 to the inner seal wall 70 and the plurality of lock-seal portions 48 seal the plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs 32 to the inner seal wall 70 . The plurality of lock-seal portions 48 exert sealing forces on the plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs 32 in primarily a lateral engagement direction 78.
1. An automotive keyless entry device comprising:
a first cover element including a tongue element including a plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs positioned along a first cover intermediary perimeter;
a second cover element including a groove element including a plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs positioned along a second cover outer perimeter, said plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs engaging said plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs during assembly, said second cover element including an inner seal wall positioned internally of said groove element and said plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs; and
an elastomer seal element including an alternating plurality of fold-over portions and plurality of lock-seal portions, said elastomer seal element positioned between said first cover element and said second cover element such that said plurality of fold-over portions surround said tongue element sealing said tongue element to said inner seal wall and said plurality of lock-seal portions seal said plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs to said inner seal wall;
wherein said plurality of lock-seal portions exert sealing forces on said plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs in primarily a lateral engagement direction.
2. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter assembly positioned between said elastomer seal element and said second cover element.
3. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of button elements mounted to said transmitter assembly, said plurality of button elements aligned with a plurality of button apertures formed in said first cover element; and
a plurality of button face protrusions formed into said elastomer seal element, said plurality of button face protrusions positioned between said plurality of button elements and said plurality of button aperatures.
4. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 2 , wherein said inner seal wall provides structural support for said transmitter assembly.
5. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
a first element planar portion extending outwards from said first cover intermediary perimeter, said first element planar portion including an alternating plurality of core out portions and plurality of support ribs.
6. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer elastomer protrusion formed on said elastomer element, said outer elastomer protrusion engaging a rear knub face of said outwardly projecting locking tabs, said outer elastomer protrusion compressing against said rear knub face.
7. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 6 , wherein said outer elastomer protrusion compresses against said tongue element.
8. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner elastomer protrusion formed on said elastomer element, said inner elastomer element engaging said inner seal wall, said inner elastomer protrusion compressing against said inner seal wall.
9. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fold-over portions comprises comprise u-shaped vertical extensions from a seal face of said elastomer seal element.
10. An automotive keyless entry device as described in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of lock-seal portions comprises comprise flat vertical extensions from a seal face of said elastomer seal element.
11. An electronic device comprising:
a first cover element including a of tongue element including plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs positioned along a first cover intermediary perimeter;
a second cover element including a groove element including a plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs positioned along a second cover outer perimeter, said plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs engaging said plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs during assembly, said second cover element including an inner seal wall positioned internally of said groove element and said plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs; and
an elastomer seal element including an alternating plurality of fold-over portions and plurality of lock-seal portions, said elastomer seal element positioned between said first cover element and said second cover element such that said plurality of fold-over portions seal said tongue element to said inner seal wall and said plurality of lock-seal portions seal said plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs to said inner seal wall;
wherein said plurality of fold-over portions comprises comprise u-shaped vertical extensions from a seal face of said elastomer seal element, said u-shaped vertical extensions engaging said tongue element to secure said elastomer element to said first cover element during assembly.
12. An electronic device as described in claim 11 , wherein said plurality of lock-seal portions exert sealing forces on said plurality of outwardly projecting locking tabs in primarily a lateral engagement direction.
13. An electronic device as described in claim 11 , further comprising:
a transmitter assembly positioned between said elastomer seal element and said second cover element.
14. An electronic device as described in claim 13 , further comprising:
a plurality of button elements mounted to said transmitter assembly, said plurality of button elements aligned with a plurality of button apertures formed in said first cover element; and
a plurality of button face protrusions formed into said elastomer seal element, said plurality of button face protrusions positioned between said plurality of button elements and said plurality of button aperatures.
15. An electronic device as described in claim 13 , wherein said inner seal wall provides structural support for said transmitter assembly.
16. An electronic device as described in claim 11 , further comprising:
a first element planar portion extending outwards from said first cover intermediary perimeter, said first element planar portion including an alternating plurality of core out portions and plurality of support ribs.
17. An electronic device as described in claim 11 , further comprising:
an outer elastomer protrusion formed on said elastomer element, said outer elastomer protrusion engaging a rear knub face of said outwardly projecting locking tabs, said outer elastomer protrusion compressing against said rear knub face.
18. An electronic device as described in claim 11 , further comprising:
an inner elastomer protrusion formed on said elastomer element, said inner elastomer element engaging said inner seal wall, said inner elastomer protrusion compressing against said inner seal wall.
19. An electronic device as described in claim 11 , wherein said plurality of lock-seal portions comprises comprise flat vertical extensions from a seal face of said elastomer seal element.
20. An electronic device comprising:
a first cover element including a of tongue element including plurality of first locking tabs positioned along a first cover intermediary perimeter;
a second cover element including a groove element including a plurality of second locking tabs positioned along a second cover outer perimeter, said plurality of second locking tabs engaging said plurality of first locking tabs during assembly, said second cover element including an inner seal wall positioned internally of said groove element and said plurality of second locking tabs; and
an elastomer seal element including an alternating plurality of fold-over portions and plurality of lock-seal portions, said elastomer seal element positioned between said first cover element and said second cover element such that said plurality of fold-over portions seal said tongue element to said inner seal wall and said plurality of lock-seal portions seal said plurality of first locking tabs to said inner seal wall;
wherein said plurality of fold-over portions comprises comprise u-shaped vertical extensions from a seal face of said elastomer seal element, said u-shaped vertical extensions engaging said tongue element to secure said elastomer element to said first cover element during assembly.