The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2018
Filed:
Jun. 02, 2017
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Warren Taylor, Felton, CA (US);
Jesse A. Lippert, San Jose, CA (US);
Amin M. Younes, Mountain View, CA (US);
Paul Choiniere, Livermore, CA (US);
Sathyanarayanan Kaliyamoorthy, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Maegan K. Spencer, La Honda, CA (US);
Shannon X. Yang, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
An electronic device with a port is disclosed. To expel liquid in the port, the port includes modifications to form a capillary pressure gradient with the liquid, causing uneven capillary forces to act on the liquid in the port. For example, the port may include an asymmetric profile with one section having a curved profile and another section having one or more linear profiles that join at an edge. The edge may form a relative higher curved surface as compared to the curved profile. As a result, the capillary pressure gradient may exert a higher capillary pressure in a location associated with the edge, as compared to a capillary pressure along the curved profile. The capillary pressure gradient causes ambient air into the port along the edge, and separates the liquid from the edge, allowing gravity to overcome atmospheric pressure and causing removal of the liquid from the port.