Acoustic isolation mechanism with membrane
View Patent ↗A removable case for an electronic device may have an acoustic isolation mechanism between the removable case and an acoustic component on the electronic device. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be a compressible component that may provide an acoustic seal between an inner surface of the removable case and an exterior surface of the electronic device, and may include a waterproof acoustic membrane. The waterproof membrane prevents the entry of water while reacting to sound pressure changes to acoustically couple the electronic device with sounds outside the case. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be constructed of several different materials and several different manufacturing processes.
1. A protective cover for an electronic device, the protective cover comprising:
a case for at least partially enclosing the electronic device, the case having a rigid frame with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a cavity in the rigid frame positioned proximate at least one sound aperture in the rigid frame, the sound aperture being proximate an acoustic opening of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the case; and
a sound transmission apparatus disposed at least partially in the cavity of the rigid frame, the sound transmission apparatus comprising
an acoustic isolation mechanism having an interior face oriented towards the interior of the case and an exterior face that contacts the inner surface of the case,
at least one acoustic channel extending from the interior face to the exterior face of the acoustic isolation mechanism, the acoustic channel acoustically coupling the acoustic opening of the electronic device with the sound aperture,
at least one acoustic membrane that extends from the external face of the acoustic isolation mechanism to an anchor knob, forming a truncated cone structure,
wherein the anchor knob of the sound transmission apparatus is coupled to the inner surface of the case.
2. The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the sound transmission apparatus further includes a stability member extending from the anchor knob into the interior of the cone, the stability member forming a second truncated cone that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless the acoustic membrane is subjected to sufficient water pressure.
3. The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the stability member forms a truncated pyramid having at least three sides that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless subjected to sufficient water pressure.
4. The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are molded from a waterproof elastomer.
5. The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the anchor knob is molded from a waterproof elastomer.
6. The protective cover according to claim 4 , wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are co-molded.
7. The protective cover according to claim 4 , wherein the acoustic membrane comprises one or more molded structures selected from the group consisting of an arch; a dome; a cone; an accordion pleat; a side pleat; and a box pleat.
8. A protective cover for an electronic device, the protective cover comprising:
a case for at least partially enclosing the electronic device, the case having a rigid frame with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a cavity in the rigid frame positioned proximate at least one sound aperture in the rigid frame, the sound aperture being proximate an acoustic opening of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the case; and
a sound transmission apparatus disposed at least partially in the cavity of the rigid frame, the sound transmission apparatus comprising
an acoustic isolation mechanism having an interior face oriented towards the interior of the case and an exterior face that contacts the inner surface of the case,
at least one acoustic channel extending from the interior face to the exterior face of the acoustic isolation mechanism, the acoustic channel acoustically coupling the acoustic opening of the electronic device with the sound aperture,
at least one acoustic membrane that extends from the external face of the acoustic isolation mechanism to an anchor knob, forming a pyramid structure,
wherein the anchor knob of the sound transmission apparatus is coupled to the inner surface of the case.
9. The protective cover according to claim 8 , wherein the sound transmission apparatus further includes a stability member extending from the anchor knob into the interior of the pyramid structure, the stability member forming a second pyramid structure that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless the acoustic membrane is subjected to sufficient water pressure.
10. The protective cover according to claim 8 , wherein the sound transmission apparatus further includes a stability member extending from the anchor knob into the interior of the pyramid structure, the stability member forming a truncated cone structure that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless subjected to sufficient water pressure.
11. The protective cover according to claim 8 , wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are molded from a waterproof elastomer.
12. The protective cover according to claim 8 , wherein the anchor knob is molded from a waterproof elastomer.
13. The protective cover according to claim 11 , wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are co-molded.
14. The protective cover according to claim 11 , wherein the acoustic membrane comprises one or more molded structures selected from the group consisting of an arch; a dome; a cone; an accordion pleat; a side pleat; and a box pleat.