Protective cover for electronic device

• US 10,420,406 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2018
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Lipner, Aaron M., Lopez, Oscar L., Nguyen, Lan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Paul P
• Application Number:
  US15/879,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20180228259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 4555758
• 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 11/38 Camera cases, e.g. of ever-ready type
• 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: B29C 45/0013 using fillers dispersed in the moulding material, e.g. metal particles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/12 Non-planar diaphragms or cones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/20 Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands

Abstract

A cover for protecting an audio port of an electronic device is provided. The cover includes a check valve, a bellows, and an air vent. The check valve moves between a first position to allow audio pressure to exit the audio port and a second position to fluidly seal the audio port. The bellows at least partially surround the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device and move the check valve from the first position to the second position in response to a pressure exerted on the bellows. The air vent is attached to the bellows and allows audio pressure to pass through the air vent and to restrict passage of at least some water through the air vent.

Claims

1. A cover for protecting an audio port of an electronic device, the cover comprising:

a check valve configured to move between a first position to allow audio pressure to exit the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device and a second position to fluidly seal the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device;

a bellows configured to at least partially surround the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device and move the check valve from the first position to the second position in response to a pressure exerted on the bellows; and

an air vent attached to the bellows, the air vent configured to allow the audio pressure to pass through the air vent and to restrict passage of at least some water through the air vent when the cover is attached to the electronic device, the air vent comprising a flexible, hydrophobic semi-permeable membrane configured to prevent the transfer of water across the membrane at a differential pressure across the membrane of less than 2 psi.

2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is connected to and at least partially surrounded by the air vent, and wherein the air vent is connected to and at least partially surrounded by the bellows.

3. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the bellows are configured to fully surround the audio port.

4. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the bellows are configured to move the check valve about 1 mm in distance between the first position and the second position.

5. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the flexible, hydrophobic, semi-permeable membrane is configured to prevent the transfer of water across the membrane at a differential pressure across the membrane of about 0.5 psi to about 1 psi.

6. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is configured such that at least a portion of the check valve is positioned in the audio port when the check valve is in the second position.

7. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover is formed as a portion of a protective case configured to receive at least a portion of the electronic device.

8. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the air vent comprises an expanded non-woven acoustic vent material.

9. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the air vent comprises an expanded non-woven material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, polyester, polyolefin, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.

10. A cover for reversible fluidly sealing an audio port of an electronic device from an external environment, the cover comprising:

a check valve movable between a first position defining a gap between the check valve and the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device and a second position configured to fluidly seal the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device; and

an air vent at least partially surrounding the check valve, the air vent being formed from a flexible semi-permeable membrane configured to prevent the transfer of water across the membrane at a differential pressure across the membrane of less than 2 psi.

11. The cover according to claim 10, further comprising a bellows at least partially surrounding the check valve, the bellows and the air vent configured to permit movement of the check valve between the first position and the second position in response to an external pressure.

12. The cover according to claim 11, wherein the bellows at least partially surrounds the air vent, the bellows including a curved portion extending away from the audio port, the curved portion of the bellows biasing the check valve in the first position.

13. The cover according to claim 10, wherein the air vent is configured to allow audio pressure to pass through the air vent and to restrict passage of at least some water through the air vent when the cover is attached to the electronic device.

14. The cover according to claim 10, wherein the gap between the check valve and the audio port is about 1 mm or less when the check valve is in the first position.

15. The cover according to claim 10, wherein the check valve includes at least one angled edge configured to fluidly seal with a flared edge of the audio port when the check valve is in the second position.

16. A cover for protecting an audio port of an electronic device, the cover comprising:

a seal configured to move between a first position to allow sound and/or audio pressure to exit the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device and a second position to fluidly seal the audio port when the cover is attached to the electronic device;

a compressible material, the compressible material having a first uncompressed state and a second compressed state, the compressible material configured to change from the first uncompressed state to the second compressed state in response to being contacted by a water pressure thereby moving the seal from the first position to the second position; and

an air vent attached to the compressible material, the air vent configured to allow the audio pressure to pass through the air vent and to restrict passage of at least some water through the air vent when the cover is attached to the electronic device, wherein the air vent comprises a flexible semi-permeable membrane configured to prevent the transfer of water across the membrane at a differential pressure across the membrane of less than 2 psi.

17. The cover of claim 16, wherein the compressible material at least partially surrounds the audio port.

18. The cover of claim 16, wherein the compressible material is positioned only on one side of the audio port.