PROTECTIVE CUSHION COVER FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100147737A1
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Morine, Alan V., Johnson, Jamie L., Loudenslager, John H., Glanzer, Matthew M., Smith, W. Travis
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/701
• 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 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 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• 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: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective case for an electronic device. The protective case has two layers, an inner cushion cover that surrounds a portion of the electronic device and an outer rigid shell. The outer rigid shell has curved flexible arms that engage and hold the cushion cover 104 on the electronic device. The cushion cover has reduced thickness portions so that the curved flexible arms are embedded in the cushion cover and provide a protective case having a substantially smooth exterior. The cushion cover is capable of absorbing shocks from impacts on the rigid outer shell. Coring on the inner portion of the cushion cover provides additional softness and the ability of the cushion cover to absorb shocks while using a higher density material, which is able to conform to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A protective case for an electronic device comprising:

a rigid outer shell having a back portion that is connected to a plurality of curved flexible arms that engage said electronic device, on at least two surfaces, said rigid outer shell made from a plastic material that is capable of bending sufficiently to engage said electronic device without breaking and having sufficient elasticity to cause said plurality of curved flexible arms to generate a force on said at least two surfaces;

a cushion cover made from a single elastomeric material that is form-fitted to cover a portion of said electronic device, said cushion cover having a density and elasticity that causes said cushion cover to conform to said electronic device, said cushion cover comprising;

reduced thickness portions disposed in predetermined areas of said cushion cover, said plurality of curved flexible arms disposed in, and engaged with, said reduced thickness portions such that said force generated by said plurality of curved flexible arms is coupled through said reduced thickness portions to said electronic device;

raised impact portions located adjacent to said reduced thickness portions, said raised impact portions having a predetermined thickness.

2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein said predetermined thickness of said raised impact portions is sufficient to absorb impacts and prevent shocks from said impacts from being transferred to said electronic device.

3. The protective case of claim 1 further comprising:

pointed hooks disposed on said plurality of curved flexible arms that engage said cushion cover at edge portions of said electronic device.

4. The protective case of claim 3 further comprising:

ribs disposed between recesses formed in said raised impact portions that allow said cushion cover to compress and absorb said impacts.

5. The protective case of claim 4 wherein said pointed hooks engage said cushion cover at two edge portions located at longitudinal ends of said electronic device so that said rigid outer shell extends along a back surface of said cushion cover in a longitudinal direction along said electronic device and said lateral edges of said cushion cover are not covered by said rigid outer shell, said rigid outer shell made from a material that is smooth so that said protective case easily slides into and out of confined areas, and said elastomeric material of said cushion cover on said lateral edges form a gripping surface for said protective case.

6. The protective case of claim 5 further comprising a fluorescing material disposed in said rigid outer shell that fluoresces so that said protective case can be located in low light conditions.

7. The protective case of claim 6 wherein said cushion cover further comprises:

at least one die cut plug having a nipple formed on a surface that extends outwardly and engages an opening in said electronic device that retains said die cut plug.

8. The protective case of claim 7 wherein said die cut plug has cut edges that have been cut by a blade that does not substantially remove material from said cushion cover so that said die cut plug fits tightly in said cushion cover.

9. The protective case of claim 8 wherein said cut edges of said die cut plug adjoin strain relief openings that reduce ripping of said die cut plug from said cushion cover.

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

providing a rigid outer shell having a back portion that is connected to a plurality of curved flexible arms that engage said electronic device on at least two surfaces, said rigid outer shell made from a plastic material that is capable of bending sufficiently to engage said electronic device without breaking and having sufficient elasticity to cause said plurality of flexible arms to generate a force on said at least two surfaces;

providing a cushion cover made from a single elastomeric material that is form-fitted to cover a portion of said electronic device, said cushion cover having a density and elasticity that causes said cushion cover to conform to said electronic device, said cushion cover comprising;

reduced thickness portions disposed in predetermined areas of said cushion cover, said plurality of curved flexible arms disposed on and engaged with, said reduced thickness portions such that said force generated by said plurality of curved flexible arms is coupled through said reduced thickness portions to said electronic device;

raised impact portions located adjacent to said reduced thickness portions, said raised impact portions having a predetermined thickness.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

attaching said rigid outer shell to said electronic device so that pointed hooks disposed on said curved flexible arms engage said cushion cover at edge portions of said electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forming ribs between recesses in said raised impact portions that allow said cushion cover to compress and absorb said impacts.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

attaching said pointed hooks to said cushion cover along two edge portions located at longitudinal ends of said electronic device so that said rigid outer shell extends along a back portion of said cushion cover in a longitudinal direction along said electronic device and said lateral edges of said cushion cover are not covered by said rigid outer shell and said lateral edges of said cushion cover form a gripping surface on said protective case, and said back portion of said protective case can slide easily into and out of confined areas.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

placing a fluorescing material in said rigid outer shell so that said rigid outer shell can be located in low light conditions.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forming at least one die cut plug in said cushion cover by cutting said cushion cover with a blade such that said die cut plug fits tightly in said cushion cover.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

forming nipples in said die cut plug that engage an opening in said electronic device that retains said strain relief plug.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

cutting said cushion cover with a blade to form strain relief openings in said cushion cover.