APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VENTING AND SEALING A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• Main Authors: Akens Jody H, Kakiel Anthony M, Kline Charles E, Gilmore Peter B, Miehl Andrew P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.06.2017
• Subjects: CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; TRANSMISSION

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.