Protective material applicator device

• US 10,399,315 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superior Communications (Sinclair Broadcast Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Superior Communications (Sinclair Broadcast Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patel, Shraddha, LaColla, Charlie, Chou, Vivian
• Primary Examiner(s): Efta, Alex B
• Application Number:
  US15/943,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20180222170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2063/0008 Registering, centering the lining material on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0004 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0047 Preventing air-inclusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0056 Provisional sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/02 using sheet or web-like material B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0007 involving treatment or provisions in order to avoid deformation or air inclusion, e.g. to improve surface quality
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0023 around holes, apertures or channels present in at least one layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0053 Constructional details of laminating machines comprising rollers; Constructional features of the rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/10 characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0053 Arrangements for assisting the manual mounting of components, e.g. special tables or light spots indicating the place for mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0447 Hand tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/137 Stamp from multiple row sheet type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 : Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems disclosed herein relate to the application of a protective film on a surface of an electronic device that instantly reduces air bubbles and eliminates the waiting time usually required when using a wet fluid solution. In one embodiment, a flange may be configured to couple to the protective film. The flange may aid in the accurate application of the protective film to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an apparatus including;

an inner wall defining a cavity configured to receive a mobile communication device, and

a surface positioned outside of the cavity;

a backing layer of a screen protector;

a protective layer of the screen protector, the protective layer being affixed to the backing layer and having a first end and a second end and a length therebetween, with the second end configured to extend away from the first end such that the length of the protective layer extends along a length of the cavity, with the protective layer being sized to fit within the cavity, and the protective layer configured to be applied to a screen of the mobile communication device when the backing layer is separated from the protective layer; and

a tab having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the tab configured to couple to the surface and the second portion of the tab configured to couple to the protective layer to thereby couple the protective layer to the surface and sandwich the protective layer between the second portion of the tab and the backing layer, and

the tab configured to couple to the surface such that the first portion of the tab and the protective layer each remain coupled to the surface while the backing layer is being separated from the protective layer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner wall defines a depth of the cavity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner wall defines a perimeter of the cavity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner wall includes four side surfaces defining a rectangular shape of the cavity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner wall extends from a bottom of the cavity to an upper boundary of the cavity, and the surface positioned outside of the cavity extends outward from the upper boundary of the cavity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the screen protector is sized such that the second end of the screen protector may move in and out of the cavity when the mobile communication device is not positioned in the cavity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the screen protector is configured such that the backing layer is positioned between the protective layer and the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is positioned in the cavity and the screen protector extends over the mobile communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the tab is configured to directly couple to the surface and the second portion of the tab is configured to directly couple to the protective layer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tab has a length and a width, and the tab is configured to couple to the protective layer and the surface such that the length of the tab extends along the length of the protective layer but does not extend further than the second end of the protective layer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tab is configured to couple to the surface with an adhesive.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the protective layer is configured to be applied to the screen with an adhesive.

12. A system comprising:

an apparatus including;

side surfaces defining a cavity configured to receive a mobile communication device, and

a portion of the apparatus positioned outside of the cavity;

a backing layer of a screen protector;

a protective layer of the screen protector, the protective layer being affixed to the backing layer and having a first end and a second end and a length therebetween, with the second end configured to extend away from the first end such that the length of the protective layer extends along a length of the cavity, with the protective layer being sized to fit within the cavity, and the protective layer configured to be applied to a screen of the mobile communication device when the backing layer is separated from the protective layer; and

a tab having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the tab configured to couple to the portion of the apparatus and the second portion of the tab configured to couple to the protective layer to thereby couple the protective layer to the portion of the apparatus and sandwich the protective layer between the second portion of the tab and the backing layer, and

the tab configured to couple to the portion of the apparatus such that the first portion of the tab and the protective layer each remain coupled to the portion of the apparatus while the backing layer is being separated from the protective layer.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the tab is configured to attach to the protective layer such that the tab separates from the backing layer when the backing layer is separated from the protective layer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the screen protector is configured such that the backing layer is positioned between the protective layer and the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is positioned in the cavity and the screen protector extends over the mobile communication device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the portion of the apparatus comprises a tab receiving portion.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the tab is configured to couple to the portion of the apparatus to align the protective layer over the screen of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is positioned in the cavity.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the backing layer extends along the length of the protective layer.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the tab is configured to removably couple to the portion of the apparatus and the second portion of the tab is configured to removably couple to the protective layer.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the tab is configured to removably couple to the portion of the apparatus with an adhesive.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the protective layer is configured to be applied to the screen with an adhesive.