Patent Publication Number: US-2010122470-A1

Title: Dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Reference is hereby made to provisional patent application, titled, “Air-tight, Moisture-Proof, Anti-Static Re-Sealable Container with Desiccant to De-Humidify Water Damaged Handheld Electronics to a Specified Humidity Level so as to Facilitate Recovery of Functional Operability;” filed by Bradley C. Davis, of Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 18, 2008, Ser. No. 61/115,899. The prior application is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of dehumidifying containers, and more particularly to a dehumidifier for restoring handheld electronic devices that have been damaged by immersion in water, which may include other contaminants. 
     A handheld electronic device, such as a cellular phone, a digital music player, a digital messaging device, a handheld computer or calculator, digital camera, pager, GPS device, and the like, is carried and sometimes dropped by its user. Such a device, dropped into a puddle, lake, toilet, or ocean, will be damaged by the water, and rendered non-functional, especially if the water contains contaminants, such as salt water. Salt is an electrolyte, and will short out electrical circuitry. 
     In order to restore these expensive devices to functionality, the contaminants and the water must be removed. Firstly, the battery must be removed. Then the contaminants must be removed from the device by rinsing in de-ionized water, or with a cleaning fluid such as isopropyl alcohol. The water must then be removed thoroughly. During the entire process, the electronic device must be protected from electrostatic charges, which can build up on surfaces as humidity decreases. The high electrostatic voltages, discharged through a digital device, will destroy sensitive circuitry. 
     Containers for dehumidifying items are known and have taken a variety of configurations in the past. Some examples of dehumidifying containers in the prior art are found in the following patents: 
     Giraud, U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,720; Loop, U.S. Pat. No. 6,977,589; Boroson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,145; Neteler, U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,197; Cunanan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,908; Jersby, U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,942; and Brunner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,401; each disclose a sealable container, box, or bag having an integral desiccant pack or surface to control humidity within the container. The container is intended to hold items such as electronic components, instruments, medical specimens, etc. 
     Loop, U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,276; shows a desiccant bag with an integral moisture indicating, color change material. 
     None of the references discloses a process for cleaning and decontaminating the damaged article prior to dehumidifying. None of the prior art devices addresses the problem of electrostatic discharge destroying the electronic device. The above-described devices provide for shipping and storage in a low humidity atmosphere, but not for functional recovery or restoration of a damaged article. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices that can provide for cleaning and decontaminating the damaged article. 
     There is a further need to provide a dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices of the type described and that will preclude destruction of the electronic device by electrostatic discharge. 
     There is a yet further need to provide a dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices of the type described and that has an integral moisture indicating, color change material. 
     There is a still further need to provide a dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices of the type described and that will allow an unskilled person to restore a water damaged electronic device to full functionality. 
     There is another need to provide a dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices of the type described and that can be manufactured cost-effectively in large quantities of high quality. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dehumidifier  12 , for use in restoring a water damaged electronic device  10 . The dehumidifier  12  comprises a sealable watertight container  14  having a wall  16  with an inside surface  18 . The container  14  has an interior chamber  20 , and an open end  22 . The open end  22  has a releasable seal  24 . The wall  16  has an anti-static property, which prevents electrostatic charges from damaging the electronic device  10 . 
     The wall  16  is a moisture barrier. The interior chamber  20  is large enough to receive the electronic device  10 . A desiccant material  26  is placed within a water vapor-permeable enclosure  28 , which is disposed within the interior chamber  20 . The desiccant material  26  is a hydrophilic material such as silica gel, calcium carbonate, molecular sieve, activated clay, and alumina. The container wall  16  is generally transparent. A humidity indicator  30  is placed within the interior chamber  20 . 
     An optional heater  34  is placed within the interior chamber  20 . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices, constructed in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional, front elevational view of the dehumidifier for water damaged electronic devices of  FIG. 1 , taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawing, a dehumidifier is shown at  12 , and is for use in restoring a water damaged electronic device  10  to full functionality. The dehumidifier  12  comprises a sealable watertight container  14  having a wall  16  with a wall inside surface  18 . The container  14  has an interior chamber  20 , and an open end  22 . The open end  22  has a releasable seal  24 . The wall  16  has an anti-static property, which prevents electrostatic charges from building up on surfaces as humidity decreases. The high electrostatic voltages, discharged through a digital device, will destroy sensitive circuitry. The anti-static property of the wall  16  thus protects the electronic device  10  from irreversible damage. 
     The wall  16 , made from a polymeric material, is a moisture barrier. The interior chamber  20  is large enough to receive the electronic device  10 . A desiccant material  26  is disposed within the interior chamber  20 . In the preferred embodiment, a water vapor-permeable enclosure  28  is received within the interior chamber  20 . The desiccant material  26  is disposed within the water vapor-permeable enclosure  28 . An alternative is to coat the desiccant material  26  onto the wall inside surface  18 . The desiccant material  26  is a hydrophilic material. Such materials commonly include: silica gel, calcium carbonate, molecular sieve, activated clay, and alumina, as well as other hydrophilic materials well known in the art. 
     The container wall  16  is generally transparent. A humidity indicator  30  is placed within the interior chamber  20 . This can be a strip or card having spots  32  with a humidity indicating substance. Each spot  32  shows a different percent humidity as a change of color, typically from blue to pink. The percent humidity reading is visible through the transparent container wall  16 . Humidity indicators of this type are well known in the art. 
     An optional heater  34  is placed within the interior chamber  20 . The heater  34  can be an electrical heater  34  with an included battery (not shown). Preferably, an exothermic chemical heater  34  would be used. These chemical heat-generating devices are known, and usually employ two compartments separated by a membrane which, when ruptured, allow the chemicals to mix and react. The heater  34  provides gentle warmth to evaporate the water from the electronic device  10 . 
     A dehumidifying method is also disclosed for restoring a water damaged electronic device  10  to functionality. The method comprises the steps of removing a battery (not shown) from the electronic device  10 , and then removing contaminants by washing the electronic device  10 . The washing is done with de-ionized water. Alternatively, alcohol or a water-soluble cleaner can be used. The preferred solvent is isopropyl alcohol. The next step is inserting the electronic device  10  into a sealable watertight container  14 , and then sealing the watertight container  14  with a releasable seal  24 . Next, providing a wall  16  of the container  14  with an anti-static property, and protecting the electronic device  10  from an electrostatic discharge with the anti-static property. Then, providing the wall  16  of the container  14  with a moisture barrier, and receiving a water vapor-permeable enclosure  28  within the container  14 . Next, disposing a desiccant material  26  within the water vapor-permeable enclosure  28 , and drying the electronic device  10  with the desiccant material  26 . One with ordinary skill in the art has the option of selecting the desiccant material  26  from the group of hydrophilic materials consisting of: silica gel, calcium carbonate, molecular sieve, activated clay, and alumina. 
     Further steps comprise providing general transparency to the container wall  16 , and placing a humidity indicator  30  within the container  14 . 
     Yet further steps include placing a heater  34  within the container  14 . The heater  34  can be either an electrical heater or, preferably, an exothermic chemical heater. 
     Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications that will come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. 
     PARTS LIST 
     Dehumidifier for Water Damaged Electronic Devices 
     Part 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 NO. 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 10 
                 electronic device 
               
               
                 12 
                 dehumidifier 
               
               
                 14 
                 watertight container 
               
               
                 16 
                 wall 
               
               
                 18 
                 wall inside surface 
               
               
                 20 
                 interior chamber 
               
               
                 22 
                 open end 
               
               
                 24 
                 releasable seal 
               
               
                 26 
                 desiccant material 
               
               
                 28 
                 water vapor-permeable enclosure 
               
               
                 30 
                 humidity indicator 
               
               
                 32 
                 spots 
               
               
                 34 
                 heater