Protective material applicator device

• US 10,555,445 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• 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, Dinh, Thai, Chou, Vivian
• Primary Examiner(s): Osele, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US16/030,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20180324987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 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: B32B 37/0046 characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1168 Gripping and pulling work apart during delaminating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1195 Delaminating from release surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1978 Delaminating bending means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1994 Means for delaminating from release surface

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 roller device may include a carriage or housing and one or more rollers coupled or integrated with the housing, configured to apply a protective material to a surface of the electronic device in a first orientation, and configured to function as a device stand in a second orientation. In addition or alternatively, a roller guide apparatus and/or a wedge may be utilized to assist the roller device in applying the protective material to the surface of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an apparatus including;

one or more side surfaces defining an area for receiving a mobile communication device and extending from a bottom of the area to an upper boundary of the area to define a depth of the area, and

a portion of the apparatus positioned outside of the area;

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 area, with the protective layer being sized to fit within the area, 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more side surfaces include four side surfaces defining a rectangular shape of the area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the apparatus comprises a tab receiving portion.

4. The system of claim 1, 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 area.

5. The system of claim 1, 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.

6. 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 area and the screen protector extends over the mobile communication device.

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

8. A method of applying a protective layer to a screen of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

inserting the mobile communication device into an area of an apparatus, the area being defined by one or more side surfaces;

providing a screen protector coupled to a tab, the screen protector including a backing layer and a protective layer sandwiched between the backing layer and the tab;

separating the backing layer of the screen protector from the protective layer while the protective layer remains attached to the tab; and

applying the protective layer to the screen of the mobile communication device while the mobile communication device is positioned in the area and the protective layer remains attached to the tab, to cover the screen of the mobile communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein applying the protective layer to the screen of the mobile communication device includes positioning the protective layer on the screen of the mobile communication device while the protective layer remains attached to the tab.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein applying the protective layer to the screen of the mobile communication device includes positioning the protective layer between the tab and the screen of the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein applying the protective layer to the screen of the mobile communication device includes pressing the protective layer to the screen of the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising separating the tab from the protective layer after the protective layer has been applied to the screen of the mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more side surfaces define a depth of the area.

14. A system comprising:

an apparatus including;

an inner wall 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.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the inner wall defines a depth of the cavity.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the inner wall includes one or more side surfaces.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more side surfaces include four side surfaces defining a rectangular shape of the cavity.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the inner wall extends from a bottom of the cavity to an upper boundary of the cavity, and the portion of the apparatus extends outward from the upper boundary of the cavity.

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

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