US-20260128438-A1 - RUGGED BATTERY CONNECTOR SEAL WITH SHARK FIN PROFILE

US20260128438A1US 20260128438 A1US20260128438 A1US 20260128438A1US-20260128438-A1

Abstract

A battery connector seal for a portable communication device includes a first sealing rib, a second sealing rib extending from the first sealing rib, a third sealing rib extending from the second sealing rib, and a fourth sealing rib extending from the third sealing rib to the first sealing rib. The first sealing rib, the second sealing rib, the third sealing rib, and the fourth sealing rib together define a central opening. The first sealing rib, the second sealing rib, the third sealing rib, and the fourth sealing rib are positioned to receive a battery sliding across the third sealing rib toward the first sealing rib. The third sealing rib has a non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile.

Inventors

Chun Wen Ooi
Pedram Djavadkhani
Khairul Azri bin Khairul Salleh
Ahmad IIman Mohd Masri

Assignees

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (20)

1 . A battery connector seal for a portable communication device, the battery connector seal comprising: a first sealing rib; a second sealing rib extending from the first sealing rib; a third sealing rib extending from the second sealing rib; and a fourth sealing rib extending from the third sealing rib to the first sealing rib; wherein the first sealing rib, the second sealing rib, the third sealing rib, and the fourth sealing rib together define a central opening, and wherein the first sealing rib, the second sealing rib, the third sealing rib, and the fourth sealing rib are positioned to receive a battery sliding across the third sealing rib toward the first sealing rib; and wherein the third sealing rib has a non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile.
2 . The battery connector seal of claim 1 , wherein the non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile is a shark fin profile.
3 . The battery connector seal of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing rib is an upper seal, wherein the second sealing rib is a right side seal, wherein the third sealing rib is a bottom seal, wherein the fourth sealing rib is a left side seal, wherein at least a portion of the first sealing rib extends parallel to at least a portion of the third sealing rib, and wherein at least a portion of the second sealing rib extends parallel to at least a portion of the fourth sealing rib.
4 . The battery connector seal of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing rib has a symmetrical cross-sectional profile, wherein the second sealing rib has a symmetrical cross-sectional profile, and wherein the fourth sealing rib has a symmetrical cross-sectional profile.
5 . The battery connector seal of claim 1 , further comprising a main seal body, wherein the first sealing rib protrudes from the main seal body, wherein the second sealing rib protrudes from the main seal body, wherein the third sealing rib protrudes from the main seal body, and wherein the fourth sealing rib protrudes from the main seal body.
6 . The battery connector seal of claim 1 , wherein the non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile is taken along a plane that extends through the third sealing rib, the central opening, and the first sealing rib.
7 . The battery connector seal of claim 6 , wherein the first sealing rib extends along a first direction, wherein the second sealing rib extends along a second direction, wherein the third sealing rib extends along a third direction, and wherein the fourth sealing rib extends along a fourth direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the third direction, and wherein the plane is perpendicular to each of the first direction and the third direction.
8 . The battery connector seal of claim 1 , wherein the non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile includes a first rib base point, a second rib base point, and a rib apex point, wherein a base line extending between the first rib base point and the second rib base point defines a lower boundary of the third sealing rib, wherein the rib apex point defines a peak of the third sealing rib, wherein the rib apex point is spaced apart from the lower boundary, and wherein the rib apex point is positioned closer to the second rib base point than the first rib base point.
9 . The battery connector seal of claim 8 , wherein the non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile includes a first boundary line extending between the first rib base point and the rib apex point and defining a first portion of an exterior of the third sealing rib, and a second boundary line extending between the rib apex point and the second rib base point and defining a second portion of the exterior of the third sealing rib.
10 . The battery connector seal of claim 9 , wherein an angle between the base line and the first boundary line is between 20 – 30 degrees.
11 . The battery connector seal of claim 9 , wherein an angle between the base line and the second boundary line is greater than 30 degrees and less than 120 degrees.
12 . The battery connector seal of claim 9 , wherein a reference line extends from the rib apex point to the base line, wherein the reference line extends perpendicular to the base line, and wherein an angle between the reference line and the second boundary line is between 0 – 60 degrees.
13 . The battery connector seal of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the first boundary line is curved.
14 . The battery connector seal of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the second boundary line is curved.
15 . The battery connector seal of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the first boundary line has a convex curvature, and wherein at least a portion of the second boundary line has a concave curvature.
16 . A portable communication device comprising: a housing defining a chassis; and the battery connector seal of claim 1 coupled to the chassis.
17 . The portable communication device of claim 16 , wherein the battery connector seal includes a main seal body, wherein the third sealing rib protrudes from the main seal body, and wherein the main seal body includes a recess sized and shaped to receive a portion of the chassis.
18 . The portable communication device of claim 17 , further comprising a connector spring body positioned within the central opening, and a connector spring coupled to the connector spring body, wherein the connector spring includes a first end that protrudes out of the central opening.
19 . The portable communication device of claim 18 , further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein a second, opposite end of the connector spring is coupled to the printed circuit board, and wherein the main seal body of the battery connector seal is coupled to the printed circuit board.
20 . The portable communication device of claim 19 , further comprising the battery, wherein the battery includes a leading edge that defines an opening to receive the first end of the connector spring, wherein the non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile includes a first rib base point, a second rib base point, and a rib apex point, wherein a base line extending between the first rib base point and the second rib base point defines a lower boundary of the third sealing rib, wherein the housing of the portable communication device includes a guide rail to guide a sliding movement of the battery across the battery connector seal, and wherein the battery is configured to slide along a direction that is parallel to the base line of the third sealing rib, such that the battery moves along a direction that extends from the third sealing rib to the first sealing rib, and such that the leading edge of the battery engages and presses against the third sealing rib.

Description

BACKGROUND Portable radios commonly use a slide-in locking mechanism to releasably lock a battery in place along a housing of the portable radio. Portable radios also commonly include a battery connector seal along the housing. The battery slides across the battery connector seal when the battery is being attached or removed from the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying figures similar or the same reference numerals may be repeated to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. These figures, together with the detailed description, below are incorporated in and form part of the specification and serve to further illustrate various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features of concepts that include the claimed subject matter, and to explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments, examples, aspects, and features. FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a portable communication device according to one example, illustrating a housing and a battery. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a portion of the portable communication device, illustrating a battery connector seal coupled to the housing. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the battery connector seal. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the battery connector seal, taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, illustrating a sealing rib having a non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a sealing rib according to another example, having a non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile. FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the portable communication device, taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the battery in a first position, sliding onto the housing of the portable communication device. FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the battery in a second position, sliding onto the housing of the portable communication device. FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the battery in a third position, sliding onto the housing of the portable communication device. FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the battery in a fourth position, sliding onto the housing of the portable communication device. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the portable communication device, after the battery has been attached to the housing. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the examples, aspects, and features presented in this disclosure. The system, apparatus, and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding of the various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Portable radios commonly use a slide-in locking mechanism to releasably lock a battery in place along a housing of the portable radio. Portable radios also commonly include a battery connector seal along the housing. The battery slides across the battery connector seal when the battery is being attached or removed from the housing. Repeated sliding of the battery over the battery connector seal during battery attachment and battery removal, however, often causes abrasion to the battery connector seal due to abrasion forces, and may cause the battery connector seal to tear, particularly along a bottom sealing rib of the battery connector seal. Thus, there exists a need for an improved battery connector seal that is able to withstand the repeated abrasion forces imparted by a battery during battery attachment and removal. One example provides a battery connector seal for a portable communication device. The battery connector seal includes a first sealing rib, a second sealing rib extending from the first sealing rib, a third sealing rib extending from the second sealing rib, and a fourth sealing rib extending from the third sealing rib to the first sealing rib. The first sealing rib, the second sealing rib, the third sealing rib, and the fourth sealing rib together define a central opening. The first sealing rib, the second sealing rib, the third sealing rib, and the fourth sealing rib are positioned to receive a battery sliding across the third sealing rib toward the first sealing rib. The third sealing rib has a non-symmetrical cross-sectional profile. Further advantages and features consistent with this disclosure will be set forth in the following detailed description, with reference to the figures. Referring now to the drawings, and i