Apple'(s) idea of keeping iphone waterproof without changing its design

(Flickr/Kārlis Dambrāns) The iPhone 6. A recently published patent application from Apple shows how the company could design a waterproof iPhone.

The application, which was published on Thursday, describes a method that involves waterproofing the inside of the phone rather than the outside (via 9to5Mac).

Most water-resistant devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Active phones, come with a stronger casing that prevents water from seeping through. That's not what Apple has in mind.

Rather, Apple's patent describes a system in which the internal components would be covered with a "hydrophobic coating" that would prevent damage. This coating could be applied to a fully assembled circuit board, the patent says.

The patent does not mention whether the technology would be used for iPhones, but the drawings that accompany the patent clearly show a device that looks just like an iPhone, as shown below.

(USPTO.gov) A drawing from Apple's patent.

This type of method would allow Apple to keep the iPhone resistant to water without compromising its design. Most waterproof phones are a bit bulkier than devices that are not water-resistant.

It's worth noting, however, that Apple patents rarely end up in real products. Apple has patented tons of interesting yet unlikely ideas such as an iPhone-like device with a curved screen that wraps around the entire device to technology that allows you to charge your iPhone with sunlight.