Protective enclosure for an electronic device

• US 10,206,472 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Northrup, Nathan, Witter, Kevin W., Prestien, James M., Russell, David C., Johnson, Erika E., Krajec, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mastrodonato, Margaret G
• Application Number:
  US16/156,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20190037991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 132 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/24 Etuis for purposes not covered by a single one of groups A45C11/02 - A45C11/22, A45C11/26, A45C11/32 - A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/001 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/04 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/10 Transparent walls
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an electronic device is provided. The protective enclosure includes a structural member, a cushioning member permanently affixed to the structural member, and a cavity. The structural member has a back portion and a plurality of side portions. The cushioning member extends from an upper edge configured to extend beyond the front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure to a lower edge configured to extend beyond the back surface of the electronic device and be in direct contact with a portion of the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure. The cavity is configured to extend between the inner surface of the structural member to the back surface of the installed electronic device and is at least partially bounded by the lower edge of the cushioning member.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device including a front surface, a back surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, the protective enclosure comprising:

a structural member having a back portion and a plurality of side portions, the back portion including an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;

a cushioning member permanently affixed to the structural member, the cushioning member continuously extending from an upper edge to a lower edge, the upper edge configured to extend beyond the front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, the lower edge configured to extend beyond the back surface of the electronic device and be in direct contact with a portion of the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure; and

a cavity configured to extend between the inner surface of the back portion of the structural member to the back surface of the installed electronic device, the cavity at least partially bounded by the lower edge of the cushioning member.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the structural member includes a cutout region in one more of the plurality of side portions of the structural member, the cutout region configured to allow the protective enclosure to bend towards the back portion of the structural member to allow a portion of the installed electronic device to be exposed and removed from the protective enclosure.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is configured to not cover the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cavity is configured to be bounded by the lower edge of the cushioning member, the inner surface of the structural member, and the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cushioning member includes an interior section configured to cover a portion of the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is configured to cover at least a portion of the side surfaces of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is a perimeter cushioning member configured to define a perimeter area covering the plurality of side surfaces of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

8. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device including a front surface, a back surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, the front surface and side surfaces of the electronic device defining a front edge, and the back surface and side surfaces of the electronic device defining a back edge, the protective enclosure comprising:

a bumper portion extending between a first protective rim configured to extend above the front edge of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in protective enclosure and an inner protective rim configured to extend behind the back edge of the electronic device and be in direct contact only with a portion of the back surface of the electronic device proximate the back edge when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure; and

a bottom shell permanently affixed to the bumper portion, the bottom shell having a back portion and a plurality of side portions, the back portion including an inner surface and an opposing outer surface;

wherein the protective enclosure is configured to define a gap extending between the inner surface of the bottom shell to the back surface of the installed electronic device, the gap configured to be at least partially bounded by the inner protective rim of the bumper portion.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 8, wherein bottom shell is configured not to make contact with the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

10. The protective enclosure of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the back portion of the structural member is transparent.

11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the bumper portion includes an interior section configured to cover a portion of the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the enclosure.

12. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device including a front surface, a back surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, the protective enclosure comprising:

an elastomeric cushioning member including;

a top section including a raised beveled edge configured to extend beyond the front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure;

a bottom section including a lower edge configured to extend beyond the back surface of the installed electronic device and be in direct contact with only a portion of the back surface of the installed electronic device; and

a plurality of side sections connecting the top section and the bottom section of the elastomeric cushioning member, each of the plurality of side sections being configured to cover a side surface of the plurality of side surfaces of the installed electronic device;

a polymeric structural member permanently affixed to the elastomeric cushioning member, the polymeric structural member having a back portion and a plurality of side portions, the back portion including an inner surface, the side portions at least partially covering the plurality of side sections of the elastomeric cushioning member; and

a cavity at least partially bounded by the lower edge of the elastomeric cushioning member and the inner surface of the polymeric structural member.

13. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein the lower edge is configured to extend along the side surfaces of the installed electronic device.

14. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein the polymeric structural member is formed from a rigid material.

15. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein a portion of the back portion of the polymeric structural member comprises a transparent or semi-transparent component.

16. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein the cavity is configured to extend between the inner surface of the structural member to the back surface of the installed electronic device.

17. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein the polymeric structural member includes a cutout region in one or more of the plurality of side portions of the polymeric structural member, the cutout region configured to allow the protective enclosure to bend towards the back portion of the polymeric structural member to allow a portion of the installed electronic device to be exposed and removed from the protective enclosure.

18. The protective enclosure of claim 12, further comprising a functional control feature configured to cover a button of the installed electronic device and allow for the button of the installed electronic device to be depressed while the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

19. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein the elastomeric cushioning member is overmolded to the polymeric structural member.

20. The protective enclosure of claim 12, wherein the polymeric structural member is configured not to make contact with the installed electronic device.