US 12,517,382 B2 · Elastomer bellows with low-profile mounting features

Abstract

A movable assembly with an elastomer bellows forming a cosmetic covering and providing ingress protection of a dynamic opening between a pair of enclosures. On one side of the dynamic opening, the bellows is secured to an enclosure by protrusions of that enclosure that extend into mating openings in the bellows and a retainer that engages those protrusions. An adhesive secures the protrusions to the retainer to form a secure clamped connection of the bellows to the enclosure. On the other side of the dynamic opening, the bellows is secured to another enclosure without the use of fasteners or adhesives. Teeth in openings of the second enclosure are secured in a recessed channel of the bellows created by a protrusion and a flange. As the two enclosures move relative to one another, the bellows is stretched and compressed such that the dynamic opening between the two enclosures is cosmetically covered with ingress protection.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A movable assembly comprising:

a first enclosure comprising a plurality of protrusions;
a second enclosure spaced from the first enclosure;
a bellows extending between the first enclosure and the second enclosure, the bellows comprising a first portion adjacent the first enclosure and a second portion adjacent the second enclosure, the first portion comprising a plurality of openings that receive the plurality of protrusions of the first enclosure wherein the plurality of protrusions includes a first set of protrusions and a second set of protrusions, and the plurality of openings includes a first set of openings corresponding to the first set of protrusions and a second set of openings corresponding to the second set of protrusions, wherein each protrusion of the first set of protrusions comprises a recess, and
a retainer coupled to the plurality of protrusions received by the plurality of openings in the first portion;
and
an adhesive disposed in the recesses and coupling the first enclosure to the retainer.

3 more elements

A method of assembling a movable assembly, the movable assembly having a first enclosure comprising a plurality of protrusions, a second enclosure spaced from the first enclosure, a bellows extending between the first enclosure and the second enclosure, the bellows comprising a first portion adjacent the first enclosure and a second portion adjacent the second enclosure, the first portion comprising a plurality of openings configured to receive the plurality of protrusions of the first enclosure, wherein the plurality of protrusions includes a first set of protrusions and a second set of protrusions, and the plurality of openings includes a first set of openings corresponding to the first set of protrusions and a second set of openings corresponding to the second set of protrusions, wherein each protrusion of the first set of protrusions comprises a recess, and a retainer configured to couple to the plurality of protrusions received by the plurality of openings in the first portion, the method comprising;

coupling the bellows first portion to the first enclosure by inserting the plurality of protrusions of the first enclosure into the plurality of openings of the bellows;
coupling the retainer to the plurality of protrusions received by the plurality of openings in the first portion;
and
disposing an adhesive in the recesses to couple the first enclosure to the retainer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Elastomer bellows with low-profile mounting features

Life of this patent

Elastomer bellows with low-profile mounting features

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15