Film laminator for cell phones

• US 10,625,496 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2018
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpha Comm Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Alpha Comm Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Xiong, Qiang, Lin, Shaoyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Sing P
• Application Number:
  US16/102,426
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 156247, 156249, 156289, 156297, 156701, 156291, 156750
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/003 to avoid air inclusion
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0046 characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1841 during laying up

Abstract

According to the utility model, there is provided a film laminator for cell phones, useful for film lamination on a surface of a cell phone, including: a cell phone fixing plate, on which a through hole for receiving the cell phone is established, and a top surface of which is a horizontal face; with at least one position limiting plate for abutting the cell phone within the through hole being also fixed on the top surface. The film laminator for cell phones further includes: a film laminating plate for fixing a cell phone film; one end of which is hinged to the cell phone fixing plate, and the other end of which is movable freely so that the film laminating plate is bonded with the top surface of the cell phone fixing plate. With respect to the film laminator for cell phones according to the utility model, because the position limiting plate is provided on the cell phone fixing plate, the surface of the cell phone to which a film is to be attached can handily be kept in flush with the top surface of the cell phone fixing plate. Upon film lamination, the film laminating plate can contact with the top surface of the cell phone fixing plate and the surface of the cell phone to which a film is to be attached at the same time, so that the stress that is laid on it in the course of film lamination is very even, and a good effect of film lamination is obtained.

Claims

1. A protective film applicator comprising:

a fixing structure shaped to receive a portable electronic device, said fixing structure having a horizontal top surface and an opening in said horizontal top surface, the opening corresponding to the defined shape of said portable electronic device;

a protective film assembly comprising a first outer film, a glass layer, and a second outer film; and

a hinge bonded to said protective film assembly and to said horizontal top surface of said fixing structure,

wherein said first outer film is configured to be completely removed from said glass layer, using a separating strip, prior to adhering said glass layer to a screen of said portable electronic device.

2. The protective film applicator according to claim 1, wherein said second outer film is configured to be completely removed from said glass layer subsequent to adhering said primary protective film layer to the screen of said portable electronic device.

3. The protective film applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a hole that provides access to a backside of said portable electronic device.

4. The protective film applicator according to claim 1, wherein said glass layer comprises tempered glass.

5. The protective film applicator according to claim 1, wherein after said first outer film is completely removed and prior to completely removing said second outer film from said primary protective layer, said apparatus is configured to permit an operator to press a central zone of said glass layer against said screen of said portable electronic device.

6. The protective film applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a position limiting plate attached to said fixing structure, wherein said position limiting plate controls at least one boundary of said opening.

7. A method of producing an apparatus for applying a protective film to the screen of a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of:

forming a fixing structure having an opening shaped for receiving said portable electronic device;

forming a protective film assembly comprising at least a primary protective film layer and a first outer film;

joining said protective film assembly and said fixing plate using a hinge, the hinge having a first end and a second end,

wherein said first end of said hinge is bonded to one end of said protective film assembly and said second end is bonded to a top horizontal surface of said fixing structure, and

wherein said first outer film is configured to be completely removed from said primary protective film layer prior to adhering said primary protective film layer to the screen of said portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said protective film assembly further comprises a second outer film, said second outer film configured to be completely removed from said primary protective film layer subsequent to adhering said primary protective film layer to the screen of said portable electronic device.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said protective film assembly comprises a film laminating plate, wherein said hinge is bonded an end portion of said film laminating plate.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said primary protective film layer comprises tempered glass.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said protective film assembly comprises a separating strip to facilitate complete removal of said first outer film prior to adhering said primary protective film layer to the screen of said portable electronic device.

12. A method for applying a protective film to a screen of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

positioning the portable electronic device into an opening of a protective film applicator, the opening being shaped to correspond to the defined shape of the portable electronic device, wherein the protective film applicator comprises;

a fixing structure having a top horizontal surface,

a protective film assembly comprising a primary protective film layer, a first outer film, and a second outer film layer, and

a hinge joining an upper portion of said protective film assembly and said top horizontal surface of said fixing structure;

completely removing said first outer film from said primary protective film layer;

after completely removing said first outer film, adhering said primary protective film layer to a screen of said portable electronic device; and

after adhering said primary protective film layer, completely removing said second outer film from said primary protective film layer.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said protective film assembly comprises a separating strip to facilitate complete removal of said first outer film prior to adhering said primary protective film layer to the screen of said portable electronic device.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said fixing structure comprises a fixing plate and a position limiting plate, wherein said fixing plate and said position limiting plate define the opening.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said fixing structure is formed from plastic.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said primary protective film layer comprises tempered glass.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said opening is a through hole.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said fixing structure comprises a hole that provides access to a backside of said portable electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

aligning said primary protective layer with said screen of said portable electronic device; and

after aligning, pressing a central zone of said primary protective film layer against said screen of said portable electronic device.