IP Library Granted Patent US 7,590,434
Granted Patent B2
US 7,590,434 · App. 11/424,465 · Granted Sep 15, 2009

Seal for portable electronic device housing with flex circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,590,434
App. No.
11/424,465
Granted
Sep 15, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a portable electronic device housing ( 110 ) where the housing has at least one orifice ( 120 ) to an internal portion ( 130 ) of the housing. The electronic device also includes a flex circuit ( 140 ) projecting from the orifice, a seal ( 150 ) located at the orifice to prevent liquid from entering the internal portion of the housing, where the seal has a first portion ( 150 a ) and a second portion ( 150 b ). The first portion and the second portion of the seal sandwich the flex circuit and the seal is snug fit in the orifice. A method ( 300 ) of installing a seal for a portable electronic device housing having an orifice through which a flex circuit protrudes is also provided.

Claims (26)

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a portable electronic device housing, the housing having at least one orifice to an internal portion of the housing;

a flex circuit projecting from the orifice;

a seal located at the orifice to prevent liquid from entering the internal portion of the housing, the seal having a first portion and a second portion;

wherein the first portion and the second portion of the seal sandwich the flex circuit and the seal is snug fit in the orifice.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the seal has a first flex sealing surface and the second portion of the seal has a second flex sealing surface, the first flex sealing surface having structure that engages corresponding structure of the second flex sealing surface.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the structure of the first flex sealing surface includes a projection and the structure of the second flex sealing surface includes a recess, the projection inserts in the recess.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the flex circuit includes an aperture through which the projection extends to insert in the recess.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the seal includes an alignment projection orientated to indicate that the first portion and the second portion are flush with the flex circuit.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , the first portion and the second portion of the seal include at least a portion of a collar through which a fastening member inserts to fasten the first the first portion and the second portion of the seal to the housing.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the seal provide an insertion member orientated for insertion into the housing orifice, the insertion member having a beveled edge.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the beveled edge includes a raised ledge.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive located between the seal and the flex circuit.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover compresses the seal against the flex circuit.

11. A seal for a portable electronic device housing having an orifice through which a flex circuit protrudes, the seal comprising:

a first portion with a first flex sealing surface;

a second portion with a second flex sealing surface;

wherein the first flex sealing surface has structure that engages corresponding structure of the second flex sealing surface; and

wherein the first portion and the second portion engage each other with the flex circuit sandwiched therebetween.

12. The seal of claim 11 , wherein the structure of the first flex sealing surface includes a projection and the structure of the second flex sealing surface includes a recess, the projection inserts in the recess.

13. The seal of claim 11 , wherein the seal includes an alignment projection orientated to indicate that the first portion and the second portion are flush with the flex circuit.

14. The seal of claim 11 , the first portion and the second portion of the seal include at least a portion of a collar through which a fastening member inserts to fasten the first the first portion and the second portion of the seal to the housing.

15. The seal of claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the seal provide a insertion member orientated for insertion into a housing orifice, the insertion member having a beveled edge.

16. The seal of claim 15 , wherein the beveled edge includes a raised ledge.

17. The seal of claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive located between the seal and the flex circuit.

18. The seal of claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are flexible.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2014
From: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
To: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 034318/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2012
From: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
To: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
Reel/Frame 029216/0282 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2010
From: MOTOROLA, INC
To: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC
Reel/Frame 025673/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2006
From: NOGUEIRAS, EDUARDO; BLATT, DAVID I.; NGUYEN, BACH L.
To: MOTOROLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 017797/0854 →