Systems for Securing a Mobile Device in a Waterproof Case

Abstract

A mobile device case comprises a seal member and a sealing channel to receive the seal member. The sealing channel exerts a force of the seal member perpendicular to a direction of travel of an upper section of the mobile device case. The mobile device case may further comprise a latching system and an accessory rail mounting fixture integrated into a hinge mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device case, comprising:
 a case upper section, comprising:
 an upper rim encircling at least a portion of an outer edge of the case upper section; 
 a first portion of a hinge mechanism coupled to an outer surface of the upper rim; 
 a sealing channel; 
   a case lower section, comprising:
 a lower rim encircling at least a portion of an outer edge of the case lower section; 
 a second portion of the hinge mechanism coupled to an outer edge of the case lower section, the second hinge portion pivotably engaged with the first hinge portion and forming a rail mounting fixture in conjunction with the first hinge portion when the case upper and lower sections are in a closed relationship; and 
 an elastomeric seal member comprising a seal bead extending outward from a body of the seal member, the seal member adapted to engage the sealing channel when the case upper and lower sections are in the closed relationship, the seal bead urged in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the case upper section and contacting a sidewall of the sealing channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of latch members pivotably coupled to the case upper section, each latch member comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   an elastomeric engagement feature extending generally perpendicular from the latch member inner surface and terminating at a distal end, and a flange disposed around the distal end;   a mating feature disposed within the lower rim of the case lower section, comprising an opening adapted to receive the engagement feature therein, a diameter of the opening less than a diameter of the flange such that the flange is compressed when received by the mating feature and expands when the flange passes through the opening, thereby releasably coupling the latch member to the case lower section.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement feature is essentially round. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the mating feature comprises a cylindrical passage through the lower rim. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the mating feature comprises a tapered passage through the lower rim. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the mating feature corresponding generally to a length of the engagement feature such that the flange returns to its uncompressed shape after passing through the passage. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed along a side of the case upper section opposite the hinge mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device case of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed along three sides of the case upper section other than a side to which the hinge mechanism is coupled. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device case of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed at one or more corners of the upper case section. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device case of  claim 2 , wherein the latch members comprise an elastomeric material that provides impact resistance when the mobile device case is dropped. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device case of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more mechanical interlocks positioned along the upper rim and lower rim between the latch members, each interlock on the upper rim positioned to releasable engage a corresponding interlock on the lower rim. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing channel comprises opposing first and second sidewalls and a top wall disposed between the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device case of  claim 12 , wherein the first sidewall contacts the seal member opposite the seal bead and urges the seal bead into the second sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device case of  claim 12 , wherein the first sidewall urges the seal bead in a direction towards the upper rim with a greater force than the top wall exerts on the seal member. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device case of  claim 12 , wherein the second sidewall is generally perpendicular to the top wall, and the first sidewall is oriented at an obtuse angle to the top wall. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the seal member is greater than a height of the lower rim. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device case of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement feature is formed integrally with the latch member. 
     
     
         18 . A mobile device case, comprising:
 a case upper section, comprising an upper rim encircling at least a portion of an outer edge of the case upper section;   a case lower section comprising a lower rim encircling at least a portion of an outer edge of the case lower section;   a generally U-shaped sealing channel in the upper rim, the sealing channel comprising opposing first and second sidewalls and a top wall disposed between the first and second sidewalls, the first sidewall oriented at an obtuse angle to the top wall, and the second sidewall oriented generally perpendicular to the top wall;   an elastomeric seal member comprising a body section coupled at a proximal end to the case lower section, the body section extending upward from the case lower section adjacent to the lower rim and terminating at a distal end, the distal end comprising a seal bead; and   the first sidewall of the sealing channel contacting the distal end of the seal member when the case upper and lower sections are in a closed relationship, thereby urging the seal bead in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the case upper section such that the seal bead contacts the second sidewall.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile device case of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a plurality of latch members pivotably coupled to the case upper section, each latch member comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   an elastomeric engagement feature extending essentially perpendicular from the latch member inner surface and terminating at a distal end, and a flange disposed around the distal end;   a mating feature disposed within the lower rim of the case lower section, comprising an opening adapted to receive the engagement feature therein, a diameter of the opening less than a diameter of the flange such that the flange is compressed when received by the mating feature and expands when the flange passes through the opening, thereby releasably coupling the latch member to the case lower section.   
     
     
         20 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , wherein the engagement feature is essentially round. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , wherein the mating feature comprises a cylindrical passage through the lower rim. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , wherein the mating feature comprises a tapered passage through the lower rim. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , wherein a length of the mating feature corresponding generally to a length of the engagement feature such that the flange returns to its uncompressed shape after passing through the passage. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed along a side of the case upper section opposite the hinge mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed along three sides of the case upper section other than a side to which the hinge mechanism is coupled. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile device case of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed at one or more corners of the upper case section. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more mechanical interlocks positioned along the upper rim and lower rim between the latches, each interlock on the upper rim positioned to releasable engage a corresponding interlock on the lower rim. 
     
     
         28 . A seal system for a mobile device case, comprising:
 a case upper section comprising a generally U-shaped sealing channel, the sealing channel comprising opposing first and second sidewalls and a top wall disposed between the first and second sidewalls, the first sidewall oriented at an obtuse angle to the top wall, and the second sidewall oriented generally perpendicular to the top wall;   a case lower section;   an elastomeric seal member comprising a body section coupled at a proximal end to the case lower section, the body section extending upward from the case lower section and terminating at a distal end, the distal end comprising a seal bead, the first sidewall of the sealing channel contacting the distal end of the seal member when the case upper and lower sections are in a closed relationship, thereby urging the seal bead in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the case upper section such that the seal bead contacts the second sidewall;   a plurality of latch members pivotably coupled to the case upper section, each latch member comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   an elastomeric engagement feature extending generally perpendicular from the latch member inner surface and terminating at a distal end, and a flange disposed around the distal end; and   a plurality of mating features disposed within the case lower section, each mating feature comprising an opening adapted to receive the engagement feature therein, a diameter of the opening less than a diameter of the flange such that the flange is compressed when received by the mating feature and expands when the flange passes through the opening, thereby releasably coupling the latch member to the case lower section.   
     
     
         29 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the engagement feature is essentially round. 
     
     
         30 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the mating feature comprises a cylindrical passage through the lower rim. 
     
     
         31 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the mating feature comprises a tapered passage through the lower rim. 
     
     
         32 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein a length of the mating feature corresponding generally to a length of the engagement feature such that the flange returns to its uncompressed shape after passing through the passage. 
     
     
         33 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed along a side of the case upper section opposite the hinge mechanism. 
     
     
         34 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed along three sides of the case upper section other than a side to which the hinge mechanism is coupled. 
     
     
         35 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of latch members are disposed at one or more corners of the upper case section. 
     
     
         36 . The seal system of  claim 28 , wherein the latch members comprise an elastomeric material that provides impact resistance when the mobile device case is dropped. 
     
     
         37 . The seal system of  claim 28 , further comprising one or more mechanical interlocks positioned along the upper rim and lower rim between the latch members, each interlock on the upper rim positioned to releasable engage a corresponding interlock on the lower rim.