Patent Publication Number: US-9886005-B2

Title: Devices, systems, and methods for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/299,432 filed on Feb. 24, 2016, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component. By way of example, the wearable electronic component may include a smartwatch and the port may include a passage for speaking into a microphone included in the smartwatch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wearable electronic components such as smartwatches and the like are increasing in popularity. Many wearable electronic components include voice-command technology where a user can speak into a microphone to access functionality of the device. Microphone ports and the like are often sensitive to debris ingress, particularly in environmental conditions for an active wearer who may be swimming, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, and the like. There remains a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present teachings include a device for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component including a housing structurally configured to substantially hermetically seal an electronic component, where the housing includes a void for receiving the electronic component within the housing, a front, a back, and a side surface disposed between the front and the back of the housing and surrounding the void. The device may also include a cam disposed on the side surface of the housing, where the cam includes a proximal end and a distal end opposing the proximal end. The proximal end may be pivotally engaged with the housing between a first position where the distal end is disposed adjacent to the housing and a second position where the distal end is disposed away from the housing. The cam may include a cam port disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the cam that extends through a body of the cam. The device may further include a slider disposed on the side surface of the housing at least partially between the cam and the void, where the slider is slidably engaged with the housing between a sealed position where a body of the slider substantially seals the void from an external environment and an open position where the body of the slider does not seal the void from the external environment. When the cam is in the first position and the slider is in the sealed position, the slider may be prevented from sliding to the open position by an engagement between the body of the cam and the body of the slider. When the cam is in the second position, the engagement between the body of the cam and the body of the slider may be released thereby permitting the slider to slide between the sealed position and the open position. When the cam is in the first position and the slider is in the open position, the cam port may be aligned with an opening of the housing thereby forming a passage between the external environment and the void. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present teachings will become better understood with reference to the following description, examples and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. In these drawings, like reference numerals identify corresponding elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIGS. 6-9  are cross-sections of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are top views of a device according to an implementation. 
         FIGS. 12-14  are top perspective views of a device according to an implementation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which preferred embodiments are shown. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these illustrated embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will convey the scope to those skilled in the art. 
     All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generally be understood to mean “and/or” and so forth. 
     Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words “about,” “approximately,” or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described embodiments. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the embodiments. 
     In this document, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. For example, an element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “an embodiment,” “implementation(s),” “aspect(s),” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed devices, systems, and methods. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation. 
     In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” “inward,” “outward,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
     Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component. In implementations, the wearable electronic component may include a smartwatch and the port may include a passage for speaking into a microphone included in the smartwatch. Thus, implementations include a device for releasably sealing a microphone port of a smartwatch thereby forming a microphone lock for the smartwatch. The devices, systems, and methods described herein may also or instead be adapted for use with other electronic components, and other ports of electronic components. 
     In general, implementations may include a housing having a port locking device, e.g., for a microphone of a smart watch. Devices and systems may include a lockable, sliding closure for a port or passage connecting an interior of its housing and an external environment. The sliding closure may provide access to the passage, and the sliding closure may close the passage. Devices and systems may further include a gas permeable membrane situated in the passage that provides a secondary barrier, e.g., by permitting air flow while preventing debris (e.g., oil, sand, liquid, and the like) to infiltrate the interior of the housing, which can hold one or more sensitive electronic components of a smartwatch. Specifically, in implementations, a cam lock may pivot between an open position and a closed, locked position where the cam lock provides pressure on a slider that seals the passage, and where the cam lock holds the slider in place. 
     Implementations may be useful for smartwatch housings and casings, e.g., for active users who may be skiing, snowboarding, swimming, surfing, hiking, camping, hunting, and the like, where environmental conditions can threaten sensitive electronics or components included in the smartwatch, particularly through otherwise exposed ports such as microphone ports, charging ports, speaker ports, headphone ports, and the like. Thus, although the description may primarily refer to releasably sealing microphone ports, one skilled in the art will recognize that implementations may be used for releasably sealing other ports or sensitive areas of electronic components (or other hardware). Similarly, although the description may primarily refer to a use case of smartwatches, one skilled in the art will recognize that implementations may be used for other devices such as phones, fitness tracking devices, and other remote computing devices. 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a device according to an implementation. The device  100  may be structurally configured for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component, e.g., releasably sealing a microphone port in a smartwatch or the like. The device  100  may include a housing  102  and an electronic component  104  included within the housing  102 . 
     The housing  102  may be structurally configured to substantially hermetically seal the electronic component  104 , e.g., within a void  106  of the housing  102 . Thus, the housing  102  may provide a hermetic seal for the electronic component  104 . The hermetic seal may create a substantially soundproof environment in the void  106 , e.g., such that, when the housing  102  is sealed, a microphone  108  included on the electronic component  104  cannot be accessed by a user speaking in an external environment  110  relative to the void  106  in the housing  102 . The seal provided by the housing  102 , when the housing  102  is in a sealed state, may also or instead include a waterproof seal. In certain implementations, the waterproof seal provided by the housing  102  may be capable of withstanding a pressure of about  10  atmospheres or up to about a  100  meter depth in a water column. One of ordinary skill will recognize that the configuration of the housing  102 , the selected materials, and so forth, may enable the housing  102  to provide a waterproof seal of pressures greater than or less than 10 atmospheres, and that any reference to an embodiment having a 10 atmosphere waterproof rating is provided by way of example only and not of limitation. 
     The housing  102  may be made from materials typically used for holding electronic components  104  such as smartwatches and the like. For example, the housing  102  may include one or more of a plastic, an elastomer (e.g., rubber and the like), a composite material, a ceramic, a glass, a metal, a stone or crystal, a wood, and so forth, and including any combination thereof. In certain implementations, the void  106  is surrounded by the housing  102  and visible from an external environment  110  through a top surface made of a substantially transparent material such as glass, crystal, acrylic, and the like. 
     As stated above, the housing  102  may include a void  106  for receiving the electronic component  104  within the housing  102 . In this manner, the housing  102  may be part of a case or the like for the electronic component  104 . In certain aspects, the electronic component  104  is integrated into the void  106  of the housing  102  or integrated into the housing  102  itself, such that the electronic component  104  and the housing  102  are a single unit. The housing  102  may also or instead include a structure for holding, stabilizing, or enclosing one or more elements of the electronic component  104  (e.g., electronic elements, mechanical elements, sensitive parts, and the like). In implementations, the housing  102  and the electronic component  104  are separate components, e.g., separate components in a system. In other words, a system may include the device  100  for releasably sealing a port as generally described herein and an electronic component  104  as generally described herein. The system may also or instead include other components such as mechanical components coupled with or cooperating with the device  100  or the electronic component  104 , and electrical/software components coupled with or otherwise in communication with the device  100  or the electronic component  104 . 
     The housing  102  may include a front  112 , a back  114 , and a side surface  116  disposed between the front  112  and the back  114  of the housing  102  and surrounding the void  106 . In an aspect, the housing  102  is constructed by placing the front  112  of the housing  102  on a frame (e.g., placing glass or crystal on the side surfaces  116 ), and then securing the back  114  onto a bottom surface of the frame (e.g., a bottom surface of the side surfaces  116 ). The different elements of the housing  102  may be formed together such that the void  106  is sealed from the external environment  110  as discussed above, e.g., using seals, gaskets, and the like. In one aspect, the front  112  of the housing  102  includes an electronic display, which can include a touch screen interface or the like for a user. 
     As referenced above, the device  100  may be waterproof through the design of different features of the device  100  including without limitation the thickness of the housing  102 , properties of the front  112  of the housing  102 , properties of the back  114  of the housing  102 , and properties of functional components on the housing  102 . For example, the elements forming the structure/walls of the housing  102  may be designed to withstand 10 ATM/100M pressure, and to avoid deflection. This can be achieved by a specific design shape and curvature, as well as general part thicknesses. By way of another example, the front  112  of the housing  102  may include a face constructed of a crystal/glass designed to withstand about 10 ATM/100M pressure, and to avoid deflection. This can be achieved by pressure fitting the face inside a tension-ring onto the housing structure, and through a specific design shape and curvature, as well as general part thicknesses. By way of another example, the back  114  of the housing  102  may be designed to engage with gaskets and seal against the housing structure to prevent water ingress, where it is also designed to withstand about 10 ATM pressure and minimize deflection. This can be achieved by a specific design shape and curvature, as well as general part thicknesses. By way of another example, functional components on the housing  102  such as buttons, knobs, and the like, can be designed to interact with gaskets and the housing structure to prevent water ingress at about 10 ATM pressure. 
     In implementations, the electronic component  104  is disposed within the housing  102  such that it is removable from the housing  102 . For example, the electronic component  104  may be accessible in the housing  102  (e.g., for removal or otherwise) through the front  112  or back  114  of the housing  102 . In an aspect, the back  114  may be removed via one or more of screws, pins, bolts, hinges, or the like, e.g., for accessing the electronic component  104 . 
     The electronic component  104  may include wearable component such as a smartwatch as discussed herein. The electronic component  104  may also or instead include a mobile phone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or other computing device such as a hand-held computing device or a wearable computing device (e.g., watch, jewelry, or clothing), and so forth. In implementations, the housing  102  is structurally configured such that the electronic component  104  can be engaged with the housing  102 , e.g., inserted within the void  106  of the housing  102 . The electronic component  104  may also or instead include a plurality of electronic elements including without limitation one or more of an electronic display (e.g., OLED, AMOLED, LCD, and the like), a processor, a memory, circuitry, wiring, a sensor, a microphone, a speaker, a communications interface, a power supply, and so forth. The plurality of electronic elements may be contained within a modular unit or they may be separately dispersed within the housing  102  (e.g., in an embodiment where the housing  102  and electronic component  104  are integrated). 
     The electronic component  104  may include a microphone  108  for input and usability, e.g., for voice commands received from a user to perform different functionality for the electronic component  104 . In an implementation where the electronic component  104  is disposed within the void  106  of the housing  102 , the microphone  108  may work in conjunction with a port or aperture to allow sound to pass through from the external environment  110  to the void  106  to interact with its sound sensors. Similarly, other components or features of the electronic component  104  may work in conjunction with a port or aperture in communication with to the external environment  110 . The device  100  may thus advantageously include a cam-lock mechanism as described herein to hermetically seal a port, aperture, or the like provided in the housing  102 , e.g., on demand by a user. By sealing the port, the overall device  100  may maintain its structural integrity and sealing capabilities, e.g., substantially eliminating water ingress. The device  100  may further allow a user to unlock and open the port on demand, e.g., so that a user of the electronic component  104  (e.g., the wearer of a smartwatch) can allow the electronic component  104  to receive audio input for desired functionality and use. 
     The device  100  may further include a cam  130  and a slider  150 , e.g., disposed on one or more of the side surfaces  116  of the housing  102 , as described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of a device according to an implementation. Specifically, this figure clearly shows the back  114  of the device  100 , and a side surface  116  featuring a cam  130  and a slider  150  as described herein. 
       FIG. 3  is a left side view of a device according to an implementation. As shown in the figure, in certain implementations, a side surface  116  on the left side of the device  100  includes a cam  130  and a slider  150  as described herein. The cam  130  and the slider  150  may also or instead be disposed on one or more of the right side of the device  100 , the top side of the device  100 , the bottom side of the device  100 , and so on. In fact, implementations may include the cam  130  and the slider  150  on any surface of the device  100 , e.g., the front  112  surface of the device  100 , or combinations of surfaces of the device  100 . 
       FIG. 4  is a right side view of a device according to an implementation. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of a device according to an implementation. As shown in the figure, the device  100  may include a strap  118  attached to the housing  102 , where the strap  118  is structurally configured to engage the device  100  with a wrist of a user. This figure also clearly shows the front of the device  100 , and a side surface  116  featuring a cam  130  and a slider  150  as described herein. 
       FIGS. 6-9  are cross-sections of a device according to an implementation. The device  100  may be the same or similar to the devices depicted in the figures above, or it may be a different device. In implementations, the device  100 , or a component thereof, is structurally configured for releasably sealing a port for a wearable electronic component. The device  100  may include a housing  102 , a cam  130 , and a slider  150 . 
     The housing  102  may be structurally configured for substantially hermetically sealing an electronic component such as any as described herein. The housing  102  may include a void  106  for receiving the electronic component within the housing  102 . In general, the housing  102  may include a front, a back, and a side surface  116  disposed between the front and the back of the housing  102  and surrounding the void  106 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , the cam  130  may be disposed on the side surface  116  of the housing  102 . In an alternate embodiment, the cam  130  is disposed on one or more of the front or the back of the housing  102 . 
     In general, the cam  130  may include an elongate body  132  having a proximal end  134  and a distal end  136 , where the distal end  136  opposes the proximal end  134  on the body  132  of the cam  130  (i.e., the distal end  136  is located on one end of the body  132  and the proximal end  134  is located on an opposite end of the body  132  of the cam  130 ). It will be understood that the terms “proximal,” “distal,” and the like are words of convenience and could be substituted with words like “first,” “second,” and so forth, unless explicitly recited to the contrary or otherwise clear from the context. 
     The proximal end  134  of the cam  130  may be pivotally engaged with the housing  102  between a first position where the distal end  136  is disposed adjacent to the housing  102  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 ) and a second position where the distal end  136  is disposed away from the housing  102  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Pivoting of the cam  130  may be facilitated by a pivot point  138  (e.g., a pin, a bearing, a hinge, or the like), where the cam  130  is engaged with the pivot point  138  such that it is rotatable about the pivot point  138 . The pivot point  138  may be disposed on the housing  102 . Other attachments to facilitate movement of the cam  130  between the first position and the second position are also or instead possible. For example, one or more of a hinge, an articulating joint, a spring (e.g., a coil spring or a leaf spring), a toggle, a bearing, and the like may be implemented into one or more of the housing  102  or cam  130  to facilitate movement of the cam  130  between the first position and the second position. In certain implementations, once the distal end  136  is disengaged from the housing  102 , the cam  130  may move freely between the first position and the second position. In other implementations, a force such as a spring force or the like directs the cam  130  into one or more of the first position and the second position. 
     The cam  130  may be shaped to facilitate its movement between the first position and the second position. For example, the proximal end  134  of the cam  130  may be shaped to facilitate pivoting (e.g., the proximal end  134  may be rounded as shown in the figure). The cam  130  may also or instead include one or more recesses  140 , e.g., recesses  140  structurally configured to be utilized by a user to grip the cam  130  to move it between the first position and the second position. Similarly, the distal end  136  of the cam  130  may include a shape to facilitate gripping by a user, such as the inclined edge shown in the figure. 
     The cam  130  may include a cam port  142  disposed between the proximal end  134  and the distal end  136  of the cam  130 . The cam port  142  may extend through the body  132  of the cam  130 —e.g., the cam port  142  may be a hole through the cam  130 . The cam port  142  may include a gasket  144  or the like on an end thereof for engagement with the slider  150 . The gasket  144  may be formed by a ring or the like encircling an end of the cam port  142 , e.g., where the ring is able to form a seal with the slider  150  when the cam  130  is in the first position. The gasket  144  may be made from one or more of a rubber (or another elastomer), a plastic, a metal, and so on. 
     The distal end  136  of the cam  130  may be engaged with the housing  102  when the cam  130  is in the first position. This engagement may be provided by a cam securing mechanism  145  or the like that engages the cam  130  with housing  102  when the cam  130  is in the first position (see  FIG. 9 ). The cam securing mechanism  145  may include one or more features on the cam  130  and the housing  102 , such as male and female features that engage with one another, for securing the cam  130  in the first position. For example, the cam securing mechanism  145  may include a projection  146  on the cam  130  structurally configured to create a friction fit with the housing  102  when received by a securement opening  147  in the housing  102  when the cam  130  is in the first position. In addition, the housing  102  may further include a protrusion  148  or the like, e.g., within or adjacent to the securement opening  147 , that engages with the projection  146  of the cam  130 . In an aspect, a force for disengaging the friction fit between the projection  146  and the securement opening  147  is selected such that a user can manually disengage the distal end  136  of the cam  130  from the housing  102  using one or more of a finger and a thumb. Other securing mechanisms are also or instead possible including without limitation a clamp, a clip, a dowel, a dock, a hook, a latch, a pin, a snap, and so forth. 
     The slider  150  may be disposed on the side surface  116  of the housing  102 . In an alternate embodiment, the slider is disposed on one or more of the front or the back of the housing  102 . The slider  150  may be disposed on the housing  102  such that it is at least partially disposed between the cam  130  and the void  106 . In other words, the cam  130  may be disposed on one side of the slider  150 , and the void  106  and/or a wall of the housing  102  may be disposed on the other side of the slider  150 . 
     The slider  150  may be slidably engaged with the housing  102  between a sealed position where a body  152  of the slider  150  substantially seals the void  106  from an external environment  110  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and an open position where the body  152  of the slider  150  does not seal the void  106  from the external environment  110  (as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     The slider  150  may generally include a substantially flat, elongate body  152 , e.g., suitable for creating a seal with the gasket  144  of the cam  130  when the cam  130  is in the first position and the slider  150  is in the sealed position. The slider  150  may also or instead include engagement mechanisms to facilitate engagement with the cam  130  in one or more of the sealed position or the open position. This may include recesses or protrusions included on the slider  150  that engage with cooperating features on the cam  130 . The slider  150  may also or instead include a gasket or the like. 
     The slider  150  may include a slider port  156  in the body  152  of the slider  150  that is offset from the opening  120  of the housing  102  when the slider  150  is in the sealed position (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and that is aligned with the opening  120  of the housing  102  when the slider  150  is in the open position (as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The slider port  156  may generally be disposed on a distal end  158  of the slider  150 . The slider port  156  may include a hole disposed through the body  152  of the slider  150 . The slider port  156  may be sized and shaped such that portions of the slider  150  surrounding the slider port  156  will engage portions of the body  132  of the cam  130  (e.g., the gasket  144 ) such that the cam  130  applies a force onto the slider  150  when the slider  150  is in its open position thereby maintaining the slider  150  in the open position when the cam  130  is in the first position. In an alternate embodiment, the distal end  158  of the slider  150  may be completely open such that no port need be formed therein and the passage between the void  106  and the external environment  110  is unobstructed when the slider  150  is in the open position. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the slider  150  may include a surface  160  that is at least partially concealed when the slider  150  is in the sealed position (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 7 ) and at least partially exposed or otherwise visible from an external environment  110  when the slider  150  is in the open position (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 ). The surface  160  may include a marking or the like disposed thereon. The marking, or the surface  160  generally, may provide an indication to a user about whether the slider  150  is in the open position or the sealed position. For example, the marking on the surface  160 , or the surface  160  generally, may be substantially concealed from the user by a covering  162  on the housing  102  when the slider  150  is in the sealed position (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 7 ) and the marking, or the surface  160  generally, may be visible to the user when the slider  150  is in the open position (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 ). The marking on the surface  160  may include one or more of a conspicuous color, design, or material such that it stands out to a user (e.g., a reflective material, a bright/distinctive color, a pattern, and so on). 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the device  100  may further include a membrane  170  disposed between the external environment  110  and the void  106 . In one aspect, the membrane  170  is disposed in the opening  120  of the housing  102 . The membrane  170  may also or instead be disposed in other locations, e.g., in the cam port  142 , in the slider port  156 , as part of the gasket  144  of the cam  130  or a gasket  172  provided on the opening  120  of the housing  102 , in the void  106 , integral with a microphone of an electronic component, and so on. The membrane  170  may be a gas permeable membrane that provides a secondary barrier, e.g., permitting air flow while preventing the ingress of debris (e.g., oil, sand, liquid, and the like) into the void  106  of the housing  102 . The membrane  170  may include one or more of a fabric and a metallic mesh. The fabric of the membrane  170  may include a waterproof, breathable fabric such as those supplied under the trademark GORE-TEX® or the like. 
     As referenced above, the opening  120  of the housing  102  may include a gasket  172  for engaging the slider  150 . The gasket  172  may be the same or similar to the gasket  144  included on the cam  130 . In another embodiment, the slider  150  also or instead includes a gasket, e.g., on either side of the body  152  of the slider  150  for engaging one or more of the cam  130  and the housing  102  in one or more of the sealed position or the open position. In certain implementations, the slider  150  includes a gasket disposed around the slider port  156 . In other implementations, the opening  120  of the housing  102  includes an interior gasket  173  or seal that engages with the electronic component  104 , e.g., a port of the electronic component  104 . 
     As discussed above,  FIG. 6  shows the cam  130  in the first position and the slider  150  in the sealed position;  FIG. 7  shows the cam  130  in the second position and the slider  150  in the sealed position;  FIG. 8  shows the cam  130  in the second position and the slider  150  in the open position; and  FIG. 9  shows the cam  130  in the first position and the slider  150  in the open position. 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 6 , i.e., when the cam  130  is in the first position and the slider  150  is in the sealed position, the slider  150  may be prevented from sliding to the open position by an engagement between the body  132  of the cam  130  and the body  152  of the slider  150 . In implementations, when the cam  130  is in the first position, the cam  130  provides an inward force on the body  152  of the slider  150  against the housing  102 . The inward force may prevent the slider  150  from sliding when the cam  130  is in the first position. In this manner, the inward force may form the engagement between the body  132  of the cam  130  and the body  152  of the slider  150  that prevents the slider  150  from sliding. The inward force provided by the cam  130  onto the slider  150  when the cam  130  is in the first position may occur when the slider  150  is in the sealed position, when the slider  150  is in the open position, or both. The inward force may press the slider  150  against the housing  102  in an implementation. 
     In the configuration of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , i.e., when the cam  130  is in the second position, the engagement between the body  132  of the cam  130  and the body  152  of the slider  150  may be released, e.g., completely or partially. Releasing the engagement between the body  132  of the cam  130  and the body  152  of the slider  150  may permit the slider  150  to slide freely between the sealed position (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) and the open position (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). The slider  150  may also or instead include an engagement with the housing  102  (and/or one or more mechanical elements, such as protrusions, fittings, or springs) such that a force is needed to move the slider  150  from the sealed position to the open position and vice-versa. In general, the slider  150  may be sized and shaped such that a user can use their finger or thumb to move the slider  150  between the sealed position and the open position when the cam  130  is in the second position. For example, a proximal end  154  of the slider  150  may include a substantially bulbous shape, which can include one or more inclined surfaces or other features that promote gripping of the slider  150  by a user at its proximal end  154 . 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 9 , i.e., when the cam  130  is in the first position and the slider  150  is in the open position, the cam port  142  may be aligned with an opening  120  of the housing  102  thereby forming a passage (e.g., shown by the arrows  122 ) between the external environment  110  and the void  106 . As discussed above, in an aspect, when the cam  130  is in the first position and the slider  150  is in the open position, the cam  130  provides an inward force on the body  152  of the slider  150  against the housing  102 , which may form the engagement between the body  132  of the cam  130  and the body  152  of the slider  150 , where the engagement prevents the slider  150  from sliding to the sealed position. 
     An example of a use case with respect to  FIGS. 6-9  will now be discussed. As discussed above, the device  100  shown in the figures may include an electronic component disposed within the void  106 , where the electronic component includes a microphone. The void  106  may thus be structurally configured to receive the electronic component in a predetermined orientation such that the microphone is disposed near the opening  120  of the housing  102  (e.g., adjacent to the opening  120 ). The electronic component may include a smartwatch (or a component thereof) or the like. The housing  102  may provide a substantially hermetic seal that creates a substantially soundproof environment in the void  106  when the cam  130  is in the first position and the slider  150  is in the sealed position, e.g., such that the microphone of an electronic component is substantially isolated from noises or debris in the exterior environment  110 . This may be advantageous when a wearer of the electronic component (e.g., smartwatch) is in an environment that could damage the electronic component or port thereof, e.g., surfing, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, and so on. It may also or instead be advantageous to prevent unwanted voice commands from being received by the electronic component. When the slider  150  is in the open position, however, the passage between the external environment  110  and the void  106  may enable fluid communication between the external environment  110  and the void  106  such as to allow sound waves to travel from the external environment  110  to the void  106 . 
     A user may encounter the device  100  in the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , where the cam  130  is secured against the housing  102  in the first position and the slider  150  is in the sealed position. This configuration may provide a state in which the electronic component within the void  106  is protected in a waterproof/soundproof environment where the microphone would not function through a user attempting to speak into it, e.g., using voice commands. To use the microphone, the user may ‘unlock’ the cam  130 , by moving the cam  130  to the second position as shown in  FIG. 7 . However, because the slider  150  is still in its sealed position, the electronic component may still not be accessible to the user through speaking into the microphone. When the cam  130  is in the second position, the user may then slide the slider  150  (e.g., along an axis substantially parallel with the side surface  116  of the housing  102 —in a direction as shown by arrow  164 ) to open the passage to the void  106  as shown in  FIG. 8 , and thus to open a passage to an electronic component with a microphone disposed within the void  106 . As discussed herein, the void  106  and thus the electronic component may still be protected by a membrane  170 , e.g., protected from contaminant ingress such as water (e.g., from splashing when swimming or surfing), sand, dirt, oil, and the like. Because the passage between the external environment  110  and the void  106  is open when the slider  150  is slid into its open position, a user may be able to speak into the microphone of the electronic component that is disposed within the housing  102 . If a user wishes to ‘lock’ the slider  150  in its open position (or otherwise place the cam  130  into its first position while the slider  150  is open, e.g., for ergonomic or aesthetic reasons, the user may move the cam  130  back into the first position as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are top views of a device according to an implementation, and  FIGS. 12-14  are top perspective views of a device according to an implementation. The implementations shown in  FIGS. 10-14  may include a device  1000  similar to those discussed above, but that further includes a cam locking mechanism  1080 . 
     The cam locking mechanism  1080  may be disposed on the housing  1002  for securing the distal end  1036  of the cam  1030  adjacent to the housing  1002  when the cam  1030  is in the first position, e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . As shown in the figures, the cam locking mechanism  1080  may include a latch pivotally engaged with the housing  1002 . The latch may include an aperture  1082  for receiving the distal end  1036  of the cam  1030 . The cam  1030  may include one or more recesses  1040  for receiving the latch. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10-14 , once the cam  1030  is placed in the first position, a user may manually place a latch or the like over the distal end  1036  of the cam  1030  and into a recess  1040  included on the cam  1030 . This engagement may secure the distal end  1036  of the cam  1030  adjacent to the housing  1002  when the cam  1030  is in the first position. To move the cam  1030  to the second position, a user may manually pivot the latch or the like off of the cam  1030  thereby allowing the distal end  1036  of the cam  1030  to be moved away from the housing  1002 . In this manner, the cam securing mechanism discussed above (e.g., the cam securing mechanism  145  shown and described with reference to  FIG. 9 ) can be thought of as a ‘first lock’ for the device and the cam locking mechanism  1080  can be thought of a ‘second lock’ for the device. Alternatively, only one of the cam securing mechanism and the cam locking mechanism  1080  may be present in an implementation. 
     The cam locking mechanism  1080  may also or instead include other mechanical features for engaging or mating the cam  1030  to the housing  1002  including without limitation one or more of a clip, a dowel, a docking device, a friction fit, a holding member, a hook, a pin, a screw, a snap, and so forth. 
     It will be appreciated that the devices, systems, and methods described above are set forth by way of example and not of limitation. Absent an explicit indication to the contrary, the disclosed steps may be modified, supplemented, omitted, and/or re-ordered without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Numerous variations, additions, omissions, and other modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the order or presentation of method steps in the description and drawings above is not intended to require this order of performing the recited steps unless a particular order is expressly required or otherwise clear from the context. 
     The method steps of the implementations described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing such method steps to be performed, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. So, for example, performing the step of X includes any suitable method for causing another party such as a remote user, a remote processing resource (e.g., a server or cloud computer) or a machine to perform the step of X. Similarly, performing steps X, Y and Z may include any method of directing or controlling any combination of such other individuals or resources to perform steps X, Y and Z to obtain the benefit of such steps. Thus, method steps of the implementations described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing one or more other parties or entities to perform the steps, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. Such parties or entities need not be under the direction or control of any other party or entity, and need not be located within a particular jurisdiction. 
     It should further be appreciated that the methods above are provided by way of example. Absent an explicit indication to the contrary, the disclosed steps may be modified, supplemented, omitted, and/or re-ordered without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
     It will be appreciated that the methods and systems described above are set forth by way of example and not of limitation. Numerous variations, additions, omissions, and other modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the order or presentation of method steps in the description and drawings above is not intended to require this order of performing the recited steps unless a particular order is expressly required or otherwise clear from the context. Thus, while particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure and are intended to form a part of the invention as defined by the following claims, which are to be interpreted in the broadest sense allowable by law.