PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE FOR A COMPUTER
First Claim
1. A protective enclosure for a computer comprising:
- a flexible membrane that is molded to fit over at least a front portion of said computer that allows interactive access to controls on said front portion of said computer;
a hard shell cover that fits over said flexible membrane and said computer and that is formed to provide openings that allow a user to access said flexible membrane to have interactive access to said controls of said computer, said hard shell cover providing rigidity to said protective enclosure;
a stretchable cushion layer that is disposed over said hard shell cover that has sufficient elasticity to substantially confirm to said hard shell cover and provide cushioning to said protective enclosure.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a three-layer protective enclosure that provides resistance to water, dust, dirt, and bump protection for sensitive computers. In one embodiment, an inner membrane layer is provided, which is a thin, flexible layer that protects portions of a computer and allows the user to interact with keyboards, push buttons and other interactive features of the computer. A protective hard shell fits tightly over the membrane and provides additional sealing and rigidity to the protective enclosure. A stretchable cushion layer is placed over the hard shell which conforms to the hard shell and seals moisture, dust and dirt from entering the hard shell. The stretchable cushion layer provides cushioning and also allows access to certain controls on the computer. In another embodiment, a touch screen cover may be used with, or without, a membrane over other portions of the computer.
305 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A protective enclosure for a computer comprising:
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a flexible membrane that is molded to fit over at least a front portion of said computer that allows interactive access to controls on said front portion of said computer; a hard shell cover that fits over said flexible membrane and said computer and that is formed to provide openings that allow a user to access said flexible membrane to have interactive access to said controls of said computer, said hard shell cover providing rigidity to said protective enclosure; a stretchable cushion layer that is disposed over said hard shell cover that has sufficient elasticity to substantially confirm to said hard shell cover and provide cushioning to said protective enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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9. A protective enclosure for a computer comprising:
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a hard shell cover that fits over said computer and that is formed to provide openings that allow access to controls of said computer; a stretchable cushion layer that is disposed over said hard shell cover that has sufficient elasticity to stretch over said hard shell cover and substantially conform to an outer surface of said hard shell cover to cushion said hard shell cover and absorb shocks that would otherwise be transmitted to said computer.
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14. A protective enclosure for a computer that has a touch screen comprising:
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a hard shell cover that fits over said computer and that is formed to provide at least one opening that is aligned with said touch screen; a touch screen cover that is attached to said hard shell cover, said touch screen cover being sufficiently thin and disposed sufficiently close to said touch screen when said computer is disposed in said protective enclosure to allow activation of said touch screen through said touch screen cover; a stretchable cushion layer that is disposed over said hard shell cover that has sufficient elasticity to stretch over said hard shell cover to substantially conform to an outer surface of said hard shell cover and cushion said hard shell cover to absorb shocks that would otherwise be transmitted to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of protecting a computer that has a keyboard by surrounding said electronic device with a protective enclosure comprising:
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providing a hard shell case having an opening for said keyboard; placing said computer in said hard shell case so that said opening is aligned with said keyboard; providing a stretchable cushion layer that absorbs shocks and has sufficient elasticity to stretch over said hard shell case and substantially conform to an outer surface of said hard shell case; placing said stretchable cushion layer over said hard shell case to provide said protective enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of protecting an electronic device that has a keyboard by surrounding said computer with a protective enclosure comprising:
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providing a hard shell case having an opening for said keyboard; providing a flexible membrane made from a thin flexible material that allows actuation of said keyboard through said flexible membrane; placing said membrane over said keyboard; placing said computer in said hard shell case so that said opening for said keyboard and said flexible membrane disposed over said keyboard are aligned with said keyboard and said flexible membrane is held in place by said hard shell case; providing a stretchable cushion layer that absorbs shocks and has sufficient elasticity to stretch over said hard shell case and substantially conform to an outer surface of said hard shell case; placing said stretchable cushion layer over said hard shell case to provide said protective enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of protecting a computer that has a touch screen by surrounding said computer with a protective enclosure comprising:
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providing a hard shell case having an opening for said touch screen; placing said computer in said hard shell case so that said opening is aligned with said touch screen; providing a touch screen cover made from a clear, hard material that is sufficiently thin to allow actuation of said touch screen through said touch screen cover; attaching said touch screen cover to said hard shell case over said opening so that said touch screen cover is disposed adjacent to said touch screen when said computer is disposed in said protective hard shell case and said touch screen can be operated through said touch screen cover; providing a stretchable cushion layer that absorbs shock, and has sufficient elasticity to stretch over said hard shell case and substantially conform to an outer surface of said hard shell case; placing said stretchable cushion layer over said hard shell case to provide said protective enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification