Gasket and Spacer Assembly for Mobile Device Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic mobile devices face challenges in preventing debris ingress and impact force transmission due to the difficulty in assembling gaskets between delicate components, particularly between the device housing and display panels, which can lead to ineffective sealing and damage.
Innovation Solution
A gasket is compressed between the device housing, a spacer, and an outer panel to inhibit debris ingress, with a design that facilitates ease of assembly and manufacturing by using a softer, elastically deformable polymer gasket that engages the device housing and spacer, while transferring impact forces away from the display panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasket is positioned tightly between the device housing and display panel to prevent debris ingress, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to small clearances
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the display panel and the gasket. The spacer provides a mounting surface for the gasket and maintains proper spacing, allowing the gasket to be securely positioned without requiring tight clearances between the display panel and housing. This mediator component facilitates easier assembly while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Strength
If co-molding is used to connect the gasket to the display panel, then connection strength is improved, but the display panel is damaged due to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into separate components: the gasket is connected to the spacer (not directly to the display panel), and the spacer is separately mounted to the display panel. This segmentation allows the gasket-spacer connection to be formed using co-molding processes that provide strong bonding, while the display panel is not exposed to the high temperatures required for co-molding, thus avoiding thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer serves as a mediator that receives the co-molded gasket connection, protecting the temperature-sensitive display panel from direct exposure to high-temperature processing. The spacer acts as a thermal buffer, allowing strong mechanical connections to be formed without transmitting thermal damage to the display panel.
3Ease of operation
If the gasket is made softer to facilitate assembly, then ease of assembly is improved, but the gasket may flatten instead of properly connecting
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer provides a rigid mounting surface and structural support for the gasket, preventing the softer gasket material from flattening during assembly. The spacer maintains proper spacing and positioning, ensuring that the gasket connects precisely to the intended location on the display assembly without deforming, while still allowing the gasket's softness to facilitate easy installation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents debris ingress and reduces the risk of damage from impact forces by ensuring a secure seal between the display assembly and the device housing, while allowing for easier assembly and manufacturing processes without damaging components.
Implementation Method 1
these gaskets transfer impact forces to more rugged components (e.g., support frames within the device) and away from delicate components (e.g., display panels)
Implementation Method 2
A gasket is compressed between the device housing, a spacer, and an outer panel to inhibit debris ingress, with a design that facilitates ease of assembly and manufacturing by using a softer, elastically deformable polymer gasket
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An electronic mobile device includes a device housing and a spacer supported within the device housing. An outer panel is supported by the spacer, and the outer panel and the spacer together define an internal recess. A display configured to display information is supported by the device housing within the internal recess. A gasket is compressed between the device housing, the spacer, and the outer panel to inhibit debris ingress to the device housing. The gasket has a first side that engages the device housing and a second side that engages the spacer and the outer panel.