# US 10,482,927 B2 · Waterproof module and seal member thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,927 B2 - Document ID: US10482927B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/031,169 - Filed: 2018-07-10 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-07 - Assignees: Etac Technology Corporation - Applicants: Getac Technology Corporation - Inventors: Tzu-Chiu Huang; Juei-Chi Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482927B2 ## CPC - G11B 33/1453: {by moisture} - G11B 25/043: {using rotating discs} - G11B 33/02: Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon - G11B 33/14: Reducing influence of physical parameters, e.g. temperature change, moisture, dust - G11B 17/053: Indirect insertion, i.e. with external loading means - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A waterproof module includes a housing, an optical disc drive and a seal member. The housing has an outer surface, an opening and an inner surface defining a receiving space. The opening penetrates the outer surface and communicates with the receiving space. The optical disc drive includes a disc tray and a body disposed in the receiving space. The disc tray includes a tray body and a cover plate disposed at one end of the tray body. The tray body is slidable relative to the body between a retracted position and an ejected position. The seal member includes a connecting portion and a resilient portion. The connecting portion is stacked on the cover plate. The resilient portion surrounds the connecting portion. When the disc tray moves from the ejected position to the retracted position, the resilient portion presses against the outer surface and seals the opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A module, comprising: a housing having an opening, wherein the opening penetrates through an outer surface of the housing; an inserting element adapted to enter and exit the housing through the opening; and a seal member comprising a connecting portion and a resilient portion, wherein the resilient portion surrounds and extends away from a periphery of the connecting portion, the connecting portion is fixed to the inserting element, the connecting portion is proportioned to fit in the opening, and the resilient portion and the connecting portion are proportioned and arranged such that when the inserting element is moved from an ejected position to a retracted position, the connecting portion at least partially enters into the opening, the resilient portion is pressed against the outer surface of the housing at a periphery of the opening, the resilient portion is deformed at a junction of the resilient portion and the connecting portion so as to bend away from the inserting element, and a waterproof seal is created between the resilient portion and the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an inner surface, the inner surface defining a receiving space, wherein the opening penetrates the outer surface and is in communication with the receiving space; wherein the inserting element is an optical disc drive, comprising: a body disposed in the receiving space; and a disc tray comprising a tray body and a cover plate, with the cover plate disposed at an end of the tray body, and the tray body being movable relative to the body to allow the disc tray to have a retracted position and an ejected position; wherein the connecting portion of the seal member is stacked on the cover plate; and wherein the resilient portion presses against the outer surface and seals the opening when the disc tray moves from the ejected position to the retracted position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the seal member protrudes from a rim of the cover plate, and an image of the seal member orthographically projected onto the outer surface has a greater area than the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein an image of the cover plate orthographically projected onto the outer surface falls inside a rim of the opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the cover plate has a compulsory ejection hole, and the seal member has an insertion hole in alignment with the compulsory ejection hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the seal member is disposed on the cover plate by one of injection molding and adhesion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the cover plate has a wall surface facing away from the tray body, and the wall surface of the cover plate is hidden below the outer surface when the disc tray is at the retracted position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the resilient portion of the seal member is made of one of rubber, silica gel and plastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The module of claim 8, wherein the connecting portion of the seal member is made of one of rubber, silica gel and plastic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the resilient portion decreases gradually toward the connecting portion to allow deformation at a junction of the resilient portion and the connecting portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion pulls the resilient portion to cause deformation at a junction of the connecting portion and the resilient portion when the inserting element is at the retracted position and the resilient portion is pressed against the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein a seal surface of the resilient portion rests against the outer surface of the housing at the periphery of the opening when the inserting element is at the retracted position, thereby preventing intrusion of water. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The module of claim 12, wherein the connecting portion is offset from the seal surface when the inserting element is at the ejected position, and the connecting portion further deviates from the seal surface when the inserting element is at the retracted position and the resilient portion is pressed against the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the resilient portion directly contacts the periphery of the connecting portion. ### Claim 15 A seal member, adapted to be fixed to an inserting element and adapted to seal an outer rim of an opening formed in an outer surface of a housing when the inserting element is in a retracted position, the seal member comprising: a connecting portion, whereby the seal member is adapted to be fixed to the inserting element; and a resilient portion surrounding and extending away from a periphery of the connecting portion, wherein a thickness of the resilient portion decreases gradually toward the connecting portion to allow deformation at a junction of the resilient portion and the connecting portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The seal member of claim 15, wherein the connecting portion pulls the resilient portion to cause deformation at a junction of the resilient portion and the connecting portion when the inserting element is at the retracted position and the resilient portion is pressed against the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The seal member of claim 15, wherein the resilient portion has a seal surface adapted to rest against the outer surface of the housing at the periphery of the opening when the inserting element is at the retracted position, thereby preventing intrusion of water. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The seal member of claim 15, wherein the resilient portion has a seal surface, the connecting portion is offset from the seal surface when the inserting element is at an ejected position, wherein the resilient portion and connecting portion are proportioned and arranged such that the connecting portion further deviates from the seal surface when the inserting element is at the retracted position and the resilient portion is pressed against the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The seal member of claim 15, wherein the resilient portion directly contacts the periphery of the connecting portion.