Protective sealable transparent flexible membrane for electronic touch screens

• US 20020195910A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Curt E. Peterson, Frank J. Flavin, Jeffrey D. Wenzel, Joseph A. Langmaid, Mary M. Hoagland, Michael E. Hus, Robert J. Cleereman
• Original Assignee: Curt E. Peterson, Frank J. Flavin, Jeffrey D. Wenzel, Joseph A. Langmaid, Mary M. Hoagland, Michael E. Hus, Robert J. Cleereman
• Inventors: Hoagland, Mary M., Langmaid, Joseph A., Cleereman, Robert J., Hus, Michael E., Wenzel, Jeffrey D., Peterson, Curt E., Flavin, Frank J.
• Application Number:
  US10/164,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/223.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A protective sealable transparent membrane comprised of a film and a frame which is suspended above a touch screen of a personal electronic device encased in a protective enclosure. The protective sealable transparent membrane allows activation of the touch screen, scratch resistance and a water and dust tight seal.

Claims

1. A protective sealable transparent flexible membrane comprising a film and a frame, which fits into a protective enclosure for a personal electronic device wherein said membrane is suspended above the personal electronic device allowing activation of the personal electronic device and provides a liquid and particulate tight seal.

2. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a transparent thermoplastic elastomer.

3. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 2 wherein the film comprises a transparent thermoplastic polyurethane.

4. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 4 wherein the frame comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.

6. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 4 wherein the frame has a hardness between about Shore 50 A to about Shore 65 D.

7. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 1 further comprising molded-in buttons.

8. The protective sealable transparent flexible membrane of claim 1 further comprising decorative printing.