Active impact protection system
First Claim
1. An impact protection system for a portable device, comprising:
- a) a housing;
b) a impact absorbing means attached to said housing and having a retracted position and an extended position;
c) an extension means connected to said impact absorbing means for providing forceful extension of the impact absorbing means from said retracted position to said extended position;
d) a free-fall detection means defined within said housing for detecting a dangerous free-fall conditions of the portable device;
e) an activation means responsive to said free-fall detection means for activating said extension means and extending the impact absorbing means from its retracted position to its extended position, whereby the dangerous free-fall condition is detected, the impact protection system activates the impact absorbing means to provide impact protection for the portable device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An impact protection system for a portable device, comprising a housing 20 with a plurality of impact absorbing arms 22 attached to housing 20 and having a retracted position and an extended position; an extension spring 26 connected to each arm provides forceful extension of the arms from their retracted position to their extended position; a free-fall detection sensor 30 defined within housing 20 for detecting dangerous free-fall conditions of the portable device and providing a signal to an activation controller 32 which is responsive to the free-fall detection sensor 30 and connected to the impact absorbing arms 22, whereby the arms are extended from their retracted position to their extended position upon detection of dangerous free-fall conditions to provide impact protection for the portable device.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An impact protection system for a portable device, comprising:
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a) a housing; b) a impact absorbing means attached to said housing and having a retracted position and an extended position; c) an extension means connected to said impact absorbing means for providing forceful extension of the impact absorbing means from said retracted position to said extended position; d) a free-fall detection means defined within said housing for detecting a dangerous free-fall conditions of the portable device; e) an activation means responsive to said free-fall detection means for activating said extension means and extending the impact absorbing means from its retracted position to its extended position, whereby the dangerous free-fall condition is detected, the impact protection system activates the impact absorbing means to provide impact protection for the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of protecting a portable device from free-fall impact damage, comprising the steps of:
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1) detecting if the portable device is in a dangerous free-fall condition; 2) extending an impact absorbing means attached to the portable device outward from the portable device'"'"'s exterior surface when the existence of the dangerous free-fall condition is detected, wherein the impact absorbing means when extended is designed to substantially make contact with an impact surface before any other portion of the portable device and absorb impact energy. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22)
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20. A method of protecting a portable device from impact damage, comprising the steps of:
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1) detecting if an external object is in physical contact with the portable device'"'"'s exterior to provide support, wherein if no external physical contact is detected for a predetermined period of time the portable device is considered to be in a dangerous free-fall condition, and 2) extending an impact absorbing means attached to the portable device outward from the portable device'"'"'s exterior surface when the existence of the dangerous free-fall condition is detected, wherein the impact absorbing means when extended is designed to substantially make contact with an impact surface before any other portion of the portable device and absorb impact energy. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification