PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20060274493A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Morine, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.400
• 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 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/36 Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
• 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: A45C 2200/10 Transparent walls
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/02 specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/022 Containers made of shock-absorbing material B65D81/03 takes precedence; for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3813
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/05 maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents B65D81/022, B65D81/025, B65D81/03 take precedence
• 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 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 : Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 : Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 : Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 : Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 : Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 : Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/02 : Details casings, cabinets or mounting therein for transducers covered by H04R1/02 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 : sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/068 : having a pressure compensation device, e.g. membrane venting means H05K5/0213
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 : Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24413 : Metal or metal compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24909 : Free metal or mineral containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 : Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31605 : Next to free metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31696 : Including polyene monomers [e.g., butadiene, etc.]

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an electronic device such as a laptop computer or tablet computer that comprises a shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the electronic device. The shell is substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant. The inside of the shell has a hook and loop liner with shock absorbing corner bumpers having hook and loop type bases so that the bumpers may attach at any point on the liner inside the shell to accommodate electronic devices of various sizes and to secure the device inside the enclosure in a shock absorbent suspended manner. The shell may further comprise a USB connector hub for connection to the USB port of a laptop computer or PC tablet enclosed in the protective shell.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device comprising:

a shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding said electronic device, said electronic device being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said electronic device being insertable in and removeable from said protective enclosure by hand, said shell being substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant;

a hook and loop liner attached to an inner surface of said shell;

movable shock absorbing corner bumpers; and

hook and loop material secured to a base portion of said shock absorbing bumpers so that said shock absorbing bumpers can be releaseably attached at any point on the liner inside said shell to fit snuggly at the corners of said electronic device so as to secure said electronic device according to the size of said electronic device.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the shock absorbing corner bumpers are rubber bumpers that provide a shock absorbing suspension system for said electronic devices.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 2 wherein hook and loop material that is secured to said base portion of said shock absorbing corner bumpers extends beyond the dimensions of said base portion a predetermined area to provide enhanced adhesion.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one air-permeable watertight vent in said shell that permits heat transfer by convection of air, as a result of heat generated by said electronic device, from the interior of said protective enclosure to the exterior of said protective enclosure.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell is formed from a polycarbonate material having sufficient thickness to make said shell substantially crush-resistant.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell is made of a rigid plastic that has a flexural modulus of at least 310 kilo pounds per square inch so that said shell is substantially crush-resistant.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell of said protective enclosure further comprises grip-enhancing structures that enable said protective enclosure to be securely held by hand in slippery conditions.

8. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell is made of at least one engineered thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell is reinforced with at least one fiber material selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers, polyamide fibers and mixtures thereof.

10. The protective enclosure of claim 9 wherein said shell further comprises stiffeners that are embedded in a perimeter that surrounds said protective membrane of said shell so that said stiffeners strengthen said shell and prevent said shell from warping.

11. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell has an integrated USB hub having a cable and USB connector attached to said USB hub that is disposed to connect with a USB port of a computer enclosed in the shell.

12. A method of manufacturing a protective enclosure for electronic devices comprising:

providing a protective shell that is capable of enclosing said electronic devices and that is substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant;

attaching a hook and loop liner to an interior surface of said shell to secure said electronic devices of various sizes;

providing shock absorbent corner bumpers; and

attaching hook and loop material to said shock absorbent corner bumpers so that said corner bumpers can be attached to said hook and loop liner at any desired location to secure said electronic devices having various sizes.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing a USB connector hub in said shell for connection to a USB port of a computer enclosed in the protective shell.

14. A protective enclosure for an electronic device having an interactive flat-panel control comprising:

a shell that is capable of enclosing said electronic device, said electronic device being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said electronic device being insertable in and removable from said enclosure by hand, said shell being substantially crush-resistant and having an interactive flat-panel control opening formed in said shell that is aligned with said interactive flat-panel control when said electronic device is disposed in said protective enclosure;

a shock-absorbing cushion that is fixed and sealed to said shell, said shock-absorbing cushion forming a seal between said shell and said shock absorbing cushion; and

a protective membrane that is fixed and sealed to said shock absorbing cushion so that said protective enclosure is substantially watertight, said protective membrane aligned with said interactive flat-panel control of said electronic device when said electronic device is disposed in said enclosure and recessed from an outer surface of said shell to protect said interactive flat-panel control from breakage, said protective membrane having a back side that is adjacent to said interactive flat-panel control of said electronic device when said electronic device is disposed in said protective enclosure so that inputs on a front side of said protective membrane are communicated to said interactive flat-panel control through said protective membrane, said protective membrane being at least partially transparent such that said interactive flat-panel control is visible through said protective membrane.

15. The protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein said electronic device is a table PC.

16. The protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein said electronic device is a PED.

17. The protective enclosure of claim 14 further comprising:

a hook and loop liner that is attached to an interior surface of said shell of said protective enclosure; and

a plurality of shock-absorbing bumpers that have hook and loop material attached to a base portion of said shock absorbing bumpers so that said shock absorbing bumpers can be removeably attached to said hook and loop liner, said bumpers being adapted to hold said electronic device snugly, said bumpers being compressible so that when said electronic device is disposed in said protective enclosure, said electronic device is substantially protected from mechanical shock to said protective enclosure, said bumpers sized and disposed within said protective enclosure so that air may flow around said electronic device within said protective enclosure.

18. The protective enclosure of claim 17 further comprising at least one air-permeable watertight vent in said protective enclosure that permits heat transfer by convection of heat generated by said electronic device from the interior of said protective enclosure to the exterior of said protective enclosure so that said electronic device operates with sufficient cooling.

19. The protective enclosure of claim 18 wherein said shell of said protective enclosure further comprises grip-enhancing structures that enable said protective enclosure to be securely held by hand in slippery conditions.

20. The protective enclosure of claim 19 wherein said protective enclosure uses at least one latch to securely close said enclosure around said electronic device.

21. The protective enclosure of claim 20 further comprising glare-reducing coating on a front side of said protective membrane.

22. The protective enclosure of claim 21 wherein said shell is made of at least one engineered thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof.

23. The protective enclosure of claim 22 wherein said shell is reinforced with at least one fiber material selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers, polyamide fibers and mixtures thereof.

24. The protective enclosure of claim 23 wherein said shell further comprises stiffeners that are embedded in a perimeter that surrounds said protective membrane of said shell so that said stiffeners strengthen said shell and prevent said shell from warping.

25. The protective enclosure of claim 24 wherein said protective membrane is fabricated from a member of the group consisting of polyvinylchloride, thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, thermoplastic polyurethane, and thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof.

26. A protective enclosure for a handheld device having a capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control comprising:

a shell that is capable of enclosing said handheld device, said handheld device being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said handheld device being insertable in and removable from said enclosure by hand, said shell being substantially crush-resistant; and

a protective membrane that is integrally fixed to an inner surface of said shell over an aperture in said shell so that said protective membrane is recessed with respect to an outer surface of said shell, said protective membrane disposed over said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control of said handheld device when said handheld device is disposed in said enclosure, said protective membrane being sufficiently thin and having a dielectric constant that allows capacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane to be transmitted to said capacitive-sensing interactive flat-panel control through said protective membrane.

27. The protective enclosure of claim 26 wherein said protective membrane has a dielectric constant in the range of 2.2 to 3.8.

28. The protective enclosure of claim 27 wherein said protective membrane is made of engineered thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof.

29. The protective enclosure of claim 28 wherein said protective membrane has a thickness in the range of 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches.

30. The protective enclosure of claim 29 wherein said protective membrane has matte texture, said texture having a texture depth of 0.0004 to 0.003 inches that reduce the surface area of said protective membrane that is in frictional contact with a user'"'"'s finger and permits said user'"'"'s finger to glide smoothly upon the surface of the membrane without sticking.

31. The protective enclosure of claim 26 wherein said shell is made from polyethylene.

32. The protective enclosure of claim 26 further comprising:

a transparent window formed in said shell that is aligned with a display screen of said handheld device when said handheld device is disposed in said protective enclosure.

33. A method of manufacturing a protective enclosure for a device having an interactive flat-panel control comprising:

providing a protective shell that is crush resistant and impact resistant, said device being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said device being insertable in and removable from said shell by hand;

forming an aperture in said shell that is aligned with said interactive flat-panel control when said device is disposed in said protective enclosure; and

attaching a protective membrane on an inner surface of said shell over said aperture in said shell, said protective membrane being integrally fixed on said shell so that said protective membrane is disposed over said interactive flat-panel control of said device when said device is disposed in said enclosure and recessed from an outer surface of said shell to prevent damage to said interactive flat-panel control, said protective membrane and said protective shell forming a protective enclosure for said interactive flat-panel control.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

providing a transparent window in said shell that is aligned with a display screen of said device when said device is disposed in said protective enclosure, said display screen being separate from said interactive flat-panel control.

35. A method of manufacturing a protective enclosure for a device having a capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control comprising:

providing a protective shell that is crush-resistant and impact-resistant, said protective shell that is adapted to enclose a device having a capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control, said device being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said device being insertable in and removable from said shell by hand;

forming an aperture in said shell that is aligned with said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control when said device is disposed in said protective enclosure; and

attaching a protective membrane to an inner surface of said shell over said aperture, said protective membrane being integrally fixed on said shell so that said protective membrane is disposed over said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control of said device when said device is disposed in said enclosure and said protective membrane is recessed from an outer surface of said shell to prevent damage to said interactive flat-panel control, said protective membrane being sufficiently thin and having dielectric constant that allows capacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane to be communicated to said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control through said protective membrane.