Hinge Wiper Gasket Sealing for Serviceable Water Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Extended reality devices face challenges in sealing their housings due to complex geometries and adhesive seals, which compromise integrity and are difficult to service, especially when subjected to stresses, making them unsuitable for wearable electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A wiper gasket with a stepped profile is used to seal the hinge assembly, engaging the inner peripheral edge of the frame and minimizing moisture and dust ingress, while internal mounts transfer forces away from the gasket to maintain seal integrity during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If adhesive is used to seal the housing, then moisture and contaminants are prevented from entering, but the seal integrity is compromised and serviceability becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple components: a first seal member integrated with the hinge assembly and a second seal member integrated with the housing. This segmentation allows the seals to be independently manufactured, installed, and replaced without affecting the entire device structure, thereby improving serviceability while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If adhesive is used to seal the housing, then moisture protection is achieved, but the seal integrity deteriorates under repeated stress
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical bonding mechanism of adhesive is replaced with a mechanical sealing system consisting of elastic seal members that create seals through physical contact and deformation. The seal members are made of elastomeric material that can flex and deform to accommodate repeated stress and movement while maintaining continuous contact with the mating surfaces, ensuring reliable sealing under stress.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex geometry housing is sealed with adhesive, then sealing is attempted, but consistent uniform bead application is difficult and seal integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple discrete seal members positioned at different locations around the housing perimeter. Each seal member is a separate component that can be independently positioned and secured, allowing for consistent and uniform sealing coverage even on complex geometries where applying a continuous adhesive bead would be difficult.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If adhesive is used for sealing, then housing protection is achieved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal members are merged with their respective component structures - the first seal member is integrated with the hinge assembly and the second seal member is integrated with the housing. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall sealing system compared to using adhesive, while still providing effective housing protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted device may include a frame having an inner peripheral edge defined within a peripheral region of the frame, a temple extending from the peripheral region of the frame, and a hinge assembly coupling the temple to the frame. The head-mounted device may include a wiper gasket that is configured to engage a peripheral surface of a stationary section of the hinge assembly and extend around the inner peripheral edge of the frame to seal against ingress of water and dust. The stationary section may be coupled to the frame via one or more internal mounts such that force applied on the frame is transferred to the internal mounts, thereby minimizing forces experienced by the wiper gasket.