Waterproof combined global positioning system receiver and two-way radio and method of waterproof enclosure fabrication

A waterproof housing for a combined global positioning system navigation unit and two-way radio communications unit (GPS/radio unit) capable of wirelessly communicating with at least one other such GPS/radio unit, the at least one other BPS/radio unit being configured to transmit radio signals indicative of that GPS/radio units location, the waterproof housing comprising:

• a first housing section;
• a second housing section cooperatively coupled with the first housing section to create a watertight seal therewith;
• wherein one of the first housing section and the second housing section includes a peripheral edge carrying a continuous elastomeric gasket thereon, the other of the first housing section and the second housing section includes a peripheral edge against which the continuous elastomeric gasket is compressed;
• and
• wherein the continuous elastomeric gasket includes a continuous seal head protruding from a face thereof the peripheral edge of the other of the first housing section and second housing section comprises a polished flat and the continuous seal bead is compressed against the polished flat.

A method for substantially waterproofing a combined global positioning system navigation unit and two-way radio communications unit (GPS/radio unit), comprising:

• disposing a GPS/radio unit that Is configured for wirelessly communicating with at least one other such GPS/radio unit at least partially within a housing section having at least one opening therein;
• and
• sealing the at least one opening to substantially prevent the ingress of water therethrough;
• wherein sealing the at least one opening to substantially prevent the ingress of water therethrough comprises placing another housings section having a peripheral edge cooperatively configured for continuous contact with a continuous contact and effecting a continuous sent between the housing section and the another housing section;
• forming a continuous elastomeric gasket along the peripheral edge of one of the housing section and the another housing section, and compressing the continuous elastomeric gasket between the housing section and the another housing section;
• forming the continuous elastomeric gasket comprises forming a seal bead protruding from a surface of the continuous elastomeric gasket and compressing the seal bead;
• and
• configuring the peripheral edge of another of the housing section and the another housing section as a flat and compressing the seal head against the flat.

A method of forming a substantially waterproof enclosure for an electronic communications device, comprising:

• molding a first housing section defining a cavity and having a peripheral edge;
• molding a second housing section defining a cavity and having a peripheral edge cooperatively configured for continuous contact with the peripheral edge of the first housing section;
• molding a continuous elastomeric gasket along one of the peripheral edge of the first housing section and the peripheral edge of the second housing section;
• placing the first housing section and the second housing section with their respective peripheral edges in mutual alignment and compressing the continuous elastomeric gasket therebetween;
• wherein molding the continuous elastomeric gasket comprises forming a seal bead protruding from surface of continuous elastomeric gasket and wherein compressing the gasket comprises compressing the seal bead;
• and
• configuring the peripheral edge of one of the first housing section and the second housing section as a flat and compressing the seal bead against the flat.