Protective enclosure for an electronic device

• US 10,448,718 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Jamie L., Guerdrum, Jonathan H., Gaylord, Aaron M., Li, Shanshan, Bulkley, Ross V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grano, Ernesto A
• Application Number:
  US15/059,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 206320, 29428
• 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 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: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an electronic device includes a back structural member configured to connect with a front structural member, the back and front structural member connected with clasping features and forming a hard shell shaped to and surrounding an installed electronic device. An external cushion member can be disposed over the hard shell of the protective enclosure. An internal cushion member can be lined in between the back structural member and the electronic device. The front structural member can include a portion that extends over the touchscreen of the installed electronic device, the portion of the front structural member that extends over the touchscreen of the installed electronic device having the same material as the remaining portion of the front structural member.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device having a touchscreen, the protective enclosure comprising:

a back structural member configured to fit a back portion and side portions of the electronic device, the back structural member having an internal surface and an external surface, the back structural member having a first opening allowing access to a feature on the back portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure;

a front structural member configured to engage with the back structural member to at least partially enclose the electronic device, a portion of the front structural member configured to cover the touchscreen of the installed electronic device, the touchscreen being visible and operable through the portion of the front structural member when covered by the front structural member, the front structural member having clasping features that engage with clasping features of the back structural member to removably engage the front structural member with the back structural member, the clasping features of the front structural member comprising a same material as the portion of the front structural member that covers the touchscreen of the installed electronic device;

a first cushioning member disposable over the engaged back and front structural members, the first cushioning member having sufficient elasticity to stretch over and substantially conform to a portion of the outer surface of the engaged back structural member and the front structural member; and

a second cushioning member configured to conform to at least a portion of the internal surface of the back structural member, the second cushioning member configured to cushion the back portion and the side portions of the installed electronic device.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1, the first cushioning member having a second opening aligned with the first opening of the back structural member, the second cushioning member having a third opening aligned with the first opening of the back structural member and the second opening of the first cushioning member.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 2, wherein a portion of the second cushioning member extends through the first opening of the back structural member and the second opening of the first cushioning member, the portion of the second cushioning member making contact with the first cushioning member.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 1, the front structural member having one or more feature openings configured to extend along a perimeter of the touchscreen of the installed electronic device, the feature openings aligned with one or more features of the installed electronic device.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 4, wherein the one or more features of the installed electronic device includes a speaker.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 1, the front structural member having a recessed area, the recessed area including the portion of the front structural member that covers the touchscreen of the installed electronic device.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 6, the recessed area of the front structural member having a beveled edge, the beveled edge configured to extend away from the touchscreen of the installed electronic device.

8. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front portion, a back portion, and side portions, the front portion of the electronic device having a touchscreen, the protective enclosure comprising:

a hard shell that at least partially encloses the electronic device, the hard shell comprising;

a back member formed to a shape of the back portion and the side portions of the electronic device;

a front member formed to a shape of the front portion of the electronic device and including one or more clasping mechanisms for engaging the back member, the front member formed as a single part, the front member configured to cover the touchscreen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, the touchscreen being visible and operable when covered by the front member;

an external cushioning member configured to at least partially cover the hard shell; and

an internal cushioning member configured to extend between the back portion of the electronic device and an internal surface of the back member of the hard shell, the internal cushioning member extending along the side portions of the installed electronic device, wherein a portion of the internal cushioning member extends through a first open area in the back member of the hard shell and through a second open area in the external cushioning member, the portion of the internal cushioning member configured to make contact with an outer surface of the external cushioning member.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 8, the front member of the hard shell having a thinner region, the thinner region including the portion of the front member that covers the touchscreen on the installed electronic device.

10. The protective enclosure of claim 9, the front member of the hard shell having an adhesive attached to an inner surface of the thinner region of the front member, the adhesive configured to make contact with the touchscreen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

11. The protective enclosure of claim 8, the hard shell further comprising an opening configured to extend along a top portion of the installed electronic device, the opening of the hard shell allowing access to a feature of the installed electronic device.

12. The protective enclosure of claim 11, the external cushioning member having an opening corresponding to the opening of the hard shell, the external cushioning member further having a perimeter portion surrounding the opening of the external cushioning member, the perimeter portion configured to extend from the external cushioning member through the opening of the hard shell and making contact with the installed electronic device.

13. The protective enclosure of claim 11, wherein the feature of the electronic device is a microphone.

14. The protective enclosure of claim 8, wherein the internal cushioning member is adhered to the internal surface of the back member of the hard shell.

15. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a hard shell having a first shell member and a second shell member, the first and second shell members configured to snap together and encase at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the hard shell, the first shell member having a portion configured to cover a touchscreen on a front surface of the electronic device while permitting the touchscreen to be visible and operable through the portion of the first shell member that covers the touchscreen, the portion of the first shell member that covers the touchscreen being formed as part of the first shell member and from a same material as the material of the first shell member, the portion of the shell member that covers the touchscreen being thinner than a remainder of the first shell member and including a protective rim configured to surround the touchscreen of the installed electronic device, the protective rim configured to prevent the thinner portion of the first shell member of the hard shell from touching an external surface when the protective case is resting on a front portion of the protective case;

a first cushion layer disposed over at least a portion of the hard shell, the first cushion layer having sufficient elasticity to substantially conform to the hard shell; and

a second cushion layer disposed between the second shell member of the hard shell and a back surface of the electronic device.

16. The protective case of claim 15, the thinner portion of the first shell member further including a feature opening, the feature opening configured to surround a home button of the installed electronic device.

17. The protective case of claim 15, the first shell member of the hard shell comprising an injection compression molded plastic.

18. The protective case of claim 15 wherein the material that comprises the first shell member and the portion of the first shell member that covers the touchscreen is a transparent material.