# US 11,996,877 B2 · Systems and methods for providing buoyant electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,996,877 B2 - Document ID: US11996877B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/582,610 - Filed: 2022-01-24 - Published: 2023-07-27 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-24 - Assignees: Appear Inc. - Applicants: Appear Inc. - Inventors: Prashant Rurs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11996877B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers - B32B 3/26: characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids {(foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205); characterised by an apertured layer} - B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)} - B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material - B32B 27/302: {comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers} - B32B 27/34: comprising polyamides - B32B 27/365: {comprising polycarbonates} - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres - B32B 2266/126: Aerogel, i.e. a supercritically dried gel - B32B 2439/00: Containers; Receptacles - B32B 2457/00: Electrical equipment - B32B 2571/00: Protective equipment - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract Systems and methods for providing a buoyant portable device. The buoyant portable device, comprising a frame and layers disposed in the frame. The layers comprise a first layer spaced apart from a stack of densely packed second layers such that a hollow cavity filled with air resides between the first layer and second layers. The hollow cavity has a size/shape providing an overall density of the mobile device that is below a density of a liquid that the mobile device displaces when the mobile device is disposed in the liquid. The second layers comprise an electronic layer residing adjacent to a cover/display layer. The cover/display layer is configured to allow a user to interact with electronic components of the electronic layer and has an overall weight less than a combined weight of the frame and at least the first layer of the plurality of layers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A buoyant portable device, comprising: a frame comprising a midframe with sidewalls defining an internal cavity; and a plurality of layers disposed in the internal cavity of the midframe, the plurality of layers comprising a cover layer, a cover/display layer, and a stack of densely packed intermediate layers residing between the cover layer and the cover/display layer; wherein the sidewalls of the midframe are configured to maintain a portion of the internal cavity as an empty space filled with air and residing between the cover layer and a first intermediate layer of the stack of densely packed intermediate layers; wherein the empty space has a size and shape providing an overall density of the buoyant portable device that is below a density of a liquid that the buoyant portable device displaces when the buoyant portable device is disposed in the liquid; wherein a second intermediate layer of the stack of densely packed intermediate layers comprises an electronic layer residing between the cover/display layer and the first intermediate layer; wherein the cover/display layer is configured to allow a user to interact with electronic components of the electronic layer and has an overall weight less than a combined weight of the frame and at least the cover layer; and wherein the electronic layer comprises a battery located between at least two spaced apart circuit boards. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a graphene-based battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the buoyant portable device comprises a smart phone, a portable computer, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, a portable music player, a portable gaming device, a handheld transceiver, a portable two-way radio, a portable electric machine, or a portable electric tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the cover layer has a density equal to or less than a density of the liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The buoyant portable device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid comprises water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the empty space occupies 5% to 25% of a total volume of the buoyant portable device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, further comprising a center of gravity that causes the buoyant portable device, when disposed in the liquid, to float horizontally on a surface of the liquid with the cover/display layer facing an upward direction and residing above the surface of the liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity is aligned with a vertical axis of the buoyant portable device and is offset from a horizontal axis of the buoyant portable device, the vertical axis extending from the first layer to the cover/display layer and the horizontal axis extending perpendicular to the vertical axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the cover/display layer comprises a graphene-based display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein the buoyant portable device has a balanced distribution of weight in a horizontal plane of the buoyant portable device at least partially defined by the cover/display layers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The buoyant portable device according to claim 10, wherein (i) the frame has a uniform thickness in the horizontal plane and (ii) the electronic layer has a balanced distribution of weight in the horizonal plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The buoyant portable device according to claim 10, wherein (i) the electronic layer has an unbalanced distribution of weight in the horizonal plane and (ii) the frame has a non-uniform thickness configured to balance a distribution of weight of the buoyant portable device in view of the unbalanced distribution of weight of the electronic layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The buoyant portable device according to claim 12, wherein the non-uniform thickness of the frame is provided by at least one detent or protrusion formed on an at least one sidewall of the frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The buoyant portable device according to claim 1, wherein a stable upward buoyant force is applied to the buoyant portable device when the buoyant portable device is disposed in liquid that is larger than a weight of the buoyant portable device. ### Claim 15 A buoyant portable device, comprising: a frame comprising a midframe with sidewalls defining an internal cavity; and a plurality of layers disposed in the internal cavity of the midframe, the plurality of layers comprising a cover layer, a display layer, and a stack of densely packed intermediate layers residing between the cover layer and the display layer; wherein the sidewalls of the midframe are configured to maintain a portion of the internal cavity as an empty space filled with air and residing between the cover layer and a first intermediate layer of the stack of densely packed intermediate layers; wherein the empty space has a size and shape providing an overall density of the buoyant portable device that is below a density of a liquid that the buoyant portable device displaces when the buoyant portable device is disposed in the liquid; wherein a second intermediate layer of the stack of densely packed intermediate layers comprises an electronic layer residing between the display layer and the first intermediate layer; wherein the display layer is configured to allow a user to interact with electronic components of the electronic layer and has an overall weight less than a combined weight of the frame and at least the cover layer; wherein a size of the empty space is variable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The buoyant portable device according to claim 15, further comprising an internal motorized mechanism configured to cause a change in the size of the empty space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The buoyant portable device according to claim 16, wherein operations of the internal motorized mechanism are enabled in response to a condition sensed by a sensor of the buoyant portable device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The buoyant portable device according to claim 17, wherein the condition comprises at least one of a level or amount of the liquid in a surrounding environment, an amount of pressure being applied to the buoyant portable device by the liquid, a depth of the electronic device within the liquid, and an amount of time the electronic device is located at least partially in the liquid.