EP-4739011-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING WATERPROOF STRUCTURE

EP4739011A1EP 4739011 A1EP4739011 A1EP 4739011A1EP-4739011-A1

Abstract

An electronic device includes a front plate and a back plate. The electronic device includes a front case including a first face facing the front plate, a second face facing the back plate, and a first side face oriented in a lateral direction, where the front case is arranged between the front plate and the back plate. The electronic device includes a rear case including a third face facing the front plate, a fourth face facing the back plate, and a second side face oriented in the lateral direction, where the rear case is arranged between the front case and the back plate and is coupled to the front case. The electronic device includes a waterproof structure including a first waterproof member disposed on the front case and a second waterproof member disposed on the rear case.

Inventors

CHANG, Borami
KIM, Donghak
LIM, Heekwang
LIM, Hyosang

Assignees

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20241024

Claims (15)

An electronic device comprising: a front plate; a back plate; a front case comprising: a first face facing the front plate; a second face facing the back plate; and a first side face oriented in a lateral direction, wherein the front case is arranged between the front plate and the back plate; a rear case comprising: a third face facing the front plate; a fourth face facing the back plate; and a second side face oriented in the lateral direction, wherein the rear case is arranged between the front case and the back plate and is coupled to the front case; and a waterproof structure comprising: a first waterproof member disposed on the front case; and a second waterproof member disposed on the rear case, wherein a portion of the first waterproof member is connected to a portion of the second waterproof member, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member is connected to the second waterproof member comprises an overlapping portion.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in a state in which the front case is coupled to the rear case, the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are integrally arranged in a closed-curve shape.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first waterproof member is arranged in a straight shape along the first side face, and the second waterproof member is disposed on the third face.
The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first waterproof member is disposed on the first side face along a straight section of the first side face, and the second waterproof member is arranged in a corner region of the third face along a curve section.
The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first waterproof member is of a straight shape, and the second waterproof member is of a curve shape.
The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first waterproof member comprises a first sponge member to a fourth sponge member that are each arranged along a respective straight section of the first side face.
The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the second waterproof member comprises a fifth sponge member to an eighth sponge member that are arranged at edges of corner regions of the third face.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first waterproof member further comprises a protrusion portion that is arranged such that the protrusion portion overlaps the second waterproof member, and the protrusion portion protrudes to the back plate.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the lateral direction is substantially perpendicular to each of directions in which the first face and the second face are oriented or is oriented in a direction substantially inclined from a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first face is oriented and the direction in which the second face is oriented, and the inclined direction has an inclination of 10 degrees or less.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second waterproof member further comprises an overlapping recess for overlapping the first waterproof member.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the first side face further comprises a receiving recess in which the first waterproof member is seated, and the receiving recess comprises: a straight-shape receiving recess; and a protrusion-shape receiving recess extending from the straight-shape receiving recess.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first waterproof member is arranged within a threshold distance of the second face and stops, at a beginning, moisture penetration through a parting line provided by a coupling of the front case and the rear case.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second waterproof member is arranged in a step portion that is recessed from the third face to the back plate.
The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a catch structure formed between the front case and the rear case, wherein, in a process of coupling the front case to the rear case, the first waterproof member is compressed by the rear case at an end of a catching operation of the catch structure.
An electronic device comprising: a front case comprising: a first face; a second face opposite the first face; and a first side face surrounding at least a portion of the front case between the first face and the second face; a rear case comprising: a third face facing the second face; a fourth face opposite the third face; and a second side face surrounding at least a portion of the rear case between the third face and the fourth face, wherein the rear case is coupled to the front case; and a waterproof structure comprising: a first waterproof member disposed on the first side face; and a second waterproof member disposed on the third face, wherein a portion of the first waterproof member is connected to a portion of the second waterproof member, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member is connected to the second waterproof member comprises an overlapping portion.

Description

[Technical Field] Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a waterproof structure for an electronic device. [Background Art] A housing of an electronic device can have a waterproof structure arranged between a front case and a rear case in order to prevent or reduce moisture penetration into the housing. The waterproof structure can be arranged in a closed-curve shape along a corner region of the housing. When the front case is coupled to the rear case, the waterproof structure arranged between the front case and the rear case is arranged in a compressed state and may prevent or reduce moisture penetration into the housing. The waterproof structure is formed of an elastic material and has a structure capable of previously preventing or reducing the penetration of moisture introduced into a side face of the housing. [Disclosure of Invention] [Solution to Problem] However, since a waterproof structure arranged in a housing for waterproofing an electronic device arranges a waterproof member of a closed-curve shape between a front case and a rear case, moisture introduced into a gap formed in a side face of the housing can penetrate via an inner side face of the housing. Accordingly, for example, moisture penetration through a side key, a power key, or a hole formed in the side face of the housing may not be completely prevented. In some aspects, the integrated waterproof member of the closed-curve shape may be uneconomical in that many portions are wasted during manufacturing. In some aspects, since a large area of the integrated waterproof member of the closed-curve shape is arranged in the housing, it may be difficult to repair the integrated waterproof member. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an electronic device in which a waterproof structure is arranged at an entry point of moisture penetration, thereby achieving complete waterproofing. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an electronic device having a structure in which a waterproof member is disposed on a front case and a rear case, thereby reducing wasted portions of a waterproof fabric when the waterproof member is manufactured. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an electronic device in which repair is easy in that a waterproof member is divided and disposed on a front case and a rear case. A technical task to be achieved in this document is not limited to the technical task described herein, and other technical tasks not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the descriptions herein. As a technical means for achieving the technical tasks described herein, one aspect of the disclosure provides an electronic device including a front plate, a back plate, a front case including a first face facing the front plate, a second face facing the back plate, and a first side face oriented in a lateral direction, where the front case is arranged between the front plate and the back plate, a rear case including a third face facing the front plate, a fourth face facing the back plate, and a second side face oriented in the lateral direction, where the rear case is arranged between the front case and the back plate and is coupled to the front case, and a waterproof structure including a first waterproof member disposed on the front case, and a second waterproof member disposed on the rear case. A portion of the first waterproof member is connected to a portion of the second waterproof member, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member is connected to the second waterproof member includes an overlapping portion. Another aspect of the disclosure provides an electronic device including a front case including a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and a first side face surrounding at least a portion between the first face and the second face, a rear case including a third face facing the second face, a fourth face opposite the third face, and a second side face surrounding at least a portion of the rear case between the third face and the fourth face, where the rear case is coupled to the front case; and a waterproof structure including a first waterproof member disposed on the first side face, and a second waterproof member disposed on the third face. A portion of the first waterproof member is connected to a portion of the second waterproof member, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member is connected to the second waterproof member includes an overlapping portion. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, aspects of a waterproof structure described herein may prevent or reduce moisture penetration through a side key, a power key, or a hole into an electronic device. In some aspects, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the waterproof member is arranged in a divided state, which is economical and supports a reduction in wasted portions when the waterproof member is manufactured and reduced complex