# US 11,909,900 B2 · Portable communication device including sealing member

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- Number: US 11,909,900 B2
- Document ID: US11909900B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/168,179
- Filed: 2023-02-13
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-31
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jungwon Park; Youngmin Kang; Sunghun Kim; Yunsik Kim; Jingook Kim; Chijoon Kim; Hyosung La; Suman Lee; Seungjoon Lee; Seungwhee Choi; Junyoung Choi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909900B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable}
- H04M 1/18: Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence)
- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge}
- H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel}
- G06F 2203/04102: Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
- H04M 1/0218: {The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means}
- H04M 1/0269: {mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A portable communication device or electronic device is provided. The communication device includes a housing including a first housing structure, a second housing structure, and a hinge cover positioned between at least a portion of the first housing structure and at least a portion of the second housing structure, a flexible display at least partially received in the housing and including a first portion corresponding to the first housing structure, a second portion corresponding to the second housing structure, and a third portion corresponding to the hinge cover, a hinge structure positioned between the third portion of the flexible display and the hinge cover and connected with the first housing structure and the second housing structure, and at least one sealing member positioned between the third portion of the flexible display and the hinge cover and contacting the hinge cover.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A portable communication device, comprising:
a housing including:
a first housing structure,
a second housing structure rotatable with respect to the first housing structure, and
a hinge cover positioned between at least a portion of the first housing structure and at least a portion of the second housing structure;
a flexible display at least partially received in the housing, the flexible display including:
a first display portion corresponding to the first housing structure, and
a second display portion corresponding to the second housing structure; and
a hinge structure connected with the first housing structure and the second housing structure,
wherein the first housing structure includes:
a first housing portion defining a first inner surface configured to surround a first portion of the hinge cover while the housing is unfolded, the first housing portion including a first protrusion at an end of the first housing portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the first housing portion towards the hinge cover,
wherein the second housing structure includes:
a second housing portion defining a second inner surface configured to surround a second portion of the hinge cover while the housing is unfolded, the second housing portion including a second protrusion at an end of the second housing portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the second housing portion towards the hinge cover,
wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface are configured to surround the hinge cover while the housing is unfolded,
wherein the first housing portion is configured to form a first gap between an end of the first protrusion and an outer surface of the hinge cover while the housing is folded,
wherein the second housing portion is configured to form a second gap between an end of the second protrusion and the outer surface of the hinge cover while the housing is folded,
wherein the first protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the first display portion while the housing is unfolded, and
wherein the second protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the second display portion while the housing is unfolded.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the hinge cover includes at least one third protrusion configured to be positioned adjacent to the first protrusion to form the first gap in a folded state in which the second housing structure is folded to face the first housing structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion includes at least one of a painted layer, a coated layer, or synthetic resin formed on a surface of the first housing structure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first gap is smaller than a gap between the outer surface of the hinge cover and the first housing portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising:
a first sealing member disposed on the first inner surface of the first housing structure, and positioned adjacent to the first protrusion,
wherein the first sealing member is configured to be in contact with the outer surface of the hinge cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the first sealing member includes fabric, a lubricative high-polymer material, or a sponge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second sealing member disposed on the second inner surface of the second housing structure, and positioned adjacent to the second protrusion,
wherein the second sealing member is configured to be in contact with the outer surface of the hinge cover.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the second sealing member includes fabric, a lubricative high-polymer material, or a sponge.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the second protrusion is configured to move along the outer surface of the hinge cover during folding operation or unfolding operation of the housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the second gap is smaller than a gap between the outer surface of the hinge cover and the second housing portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is configured to move along the outer surface of the hinge cover during folding operation or unfolding operation of the housing.
