PROTECTIVE CUSHION COVER FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100104814A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Willes, Stephen, Richardson, Curtis R., Morine, Alan V., Johnson, Jamie L., Glanzer, Matthew M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,623,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/156
• 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 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 24/001 formed of hollow ridges or ribs, e.g. separate ridges; continuous corrugated structure B29D24/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7138 Shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24512 Polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24521 with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24529 and conforming component on an opposite nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24537 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24983 Hardness

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective cover for an electronic device that is made from an elastomeric material that simultaneously provides cushioning that would otherwise be provided by a softer, thicker material, while utilizing a single, denser material that provides a slim profile and has sufficient density to conform well to the electronic device and prevent the transmission of impacts with hard surfaces directly to the electronic device. Although a denser material is used for the protective cover, recesses are formed in thicker portions at impact points that create compressible ribs. The ribs provide softer, cushioned portions of the cover in the impact areas, which are capable of absorbing the shock and energy of impacts. Other protective covers have a uniform thickness.

Claims

9. A method of protecting an electronic device from impacts comprising:

providing a protective cover formed from an elastomeric material that has a predetermined density;

providing reduced thickness portions of said protective cover that have a first predetermined thickness;

providing raised impact portions of said protective cover that have a second predetermined thickness that is greater than said first predetermined thickness;

providing recesses in corner portions of said protective cover that allow said protective cover to compress and absorb impacts at said raised impact portions.

17. A protective cover for a handheld electronic device comprising:

an elastomeric material having a substantially uniform predetermined thickness and a predetermined density that allows said elastomeric material to substantially conform and surround at least a back portion, end portions and side portions of said electronic device;

ribs and recesses formed in said elastomeric material that have a size and spacing that substantially absorbs shocks from impacts to said protective cover.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said elastomeric material is silicon and said predetermined density is approximately 50 Shore A.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said predetermined thickness is approximately 1.5 mm.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said ribs have a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.

21. A method of protecting a handheld electronic device comprising:

providing a protective cushion cover having a predetermined density, a predetermined modulus of elasticity and a predetermined thickness that allow said cushion cover to tightly conform to said handheld electronic device and provide a slim profile for ease of use of said handheld electronic device;

forming ribs and recesses in said protective cushion cover that have a size and spacing that allow said protective cushion cover to substantially absorb impact energy in a manner that is equivalent to thicker, less dense protective cushion covers.

22-1. The method of claim 22 wherein said predetermined thickness is approximately 1.7 mm.

23. The method of claim 23 wherein said ribs have a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.