Protective enclosure for an interactive flat-panel controlled device

• US 7,158,376 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Kempel, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US10/937,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 361/363, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A protective enclosure is disclosed for an interactive flat-panel controlled device. The protective enclosure is watertight, crush-resistant, and impact-resistant. While providing protection, the protective enclosure simultaneously allows smooth and accurate interaction with the interactive flat-panel controlled device. The protective enclosure has a protective membrane that permits RF and touch screen stylus inputs, as well as capacitance, such as from a finger, to be transmitted accurately to the flat-panel control. The hardness and texture of the protective membrane allows a stylus or finger to glide smoothly along the surface of the membrane without catching or sticking. The protective enclosure is further adapted to allow infrared and other communication signals while the device is secured inside the case. Further, electrical connections can be made through the case without affecting the protection afforded the electronic device inside.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for a tablet PC having an interactive flat-panel control comprising:

a shell that is capable of enclosing said tablet PC, said tablet PC being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said tablet PC being insertable in and removable from said enclosure by hand, said shell being substantially crush-resistant and having an elevated protective rim around a perimeter portion of said interactive flat-panel control of said tablet PC so that when said tablet PC is disposed in said enclosure, said interactive flat-panel control of said tablet PC is recessed with respect to said protective rim of said shell so that said elevated protective rim protects said interactive flat-panel control from breakage; and

a protective membrane that is integrally fixed to a shock-absorbing cushion, said shock-absorbing cushion being fixed to said shell, said shock-absorbing cushion forming a seal between said shell and said protective membrane so that said protective enclosure is substantially watertight, said protective membrane is disposed over said interactive flat-panel control of said tablet PC when said tablet PC is disposed in said enclosure, said protective membrane having a back side that has a substantially planar smooth surface that is adjacent to said interactive flat-panel control of said tablet when said tablet PC is disposed in said 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, said shock-absorbing cushion pressing said protective membrane flatly against said interactive flat-panel control of said tablet PC so that smooth stylus strokes and inputs may be transmitted accurately to said interactive flat-panel control.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of shock-absorbing bumpers that are attached to said shell of said protective enclosure, said bumpers being adapted to hold said tablet PC snugly, said bumpers being compressible so that when said tablet PC is disposed in said protective enclosure said tablet PC 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 tablet PC within said protective enclosure.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 1 further comprising at least one air-permeable watertight vent in said protective enclosure that permits heat transfer by convection of heat generated by said tablet PC from the interior of said protective enclosure to the exterior of said protective enclosure so that said tablet PC operates with sufficient cooling.

4. 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.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said protective enclosure uses at least one latch to securely close said enclosure around said tablet PC.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 1 further comprising glare-reducing coating on a front side of said protective membrane.

7. 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.

8. The protective enclosure of claim 7 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.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 8 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.

10. The protective enclosure of claim 9 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.

11. 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 having an elevated protective rim around a perimeter portion of said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control of said handheld device so that when said handheld device is disposed in said enclosure, said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control of said handheld device is recessed with respect to said protective rim of said shell so that said elevated protective rim protects said interactive flat-panel control from breakage; and

a protective membrane that is integrally fixed to 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 having a back side that has a substantially planar smooth surface that is adjacent to 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 that capacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane are transmitted to said capacitive-sensing 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, said protective membrane having a dielectric constant such that capacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane are transmitted to said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control.

12. The protective enclosure of claim 11 wherein said protective membrane has a dielectric constant in the range of 2.2 to 3.8.

13. The protective enclosure of claim 12 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.

14. The protective enclosure of claim 13 wherein said protective membrane has a thickness in the range of 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches.

15. The protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein said protective membrane has matte texture, said texture having a texture depth of 0.0004 to 0.003 inches that reduces 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.

16. 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 protective shell having embedded stiffeners that prevent said protective shell from warping, said protective shell that is adapted to enclose a device having an 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, said shell being substantially crush-resistant and providing an elevated protective rim around a perimeter portion of said interactive flat-panel control of said device so that when said device is disposed in said enclosure, said interactive flat-panel control is recessed with respect to said protective rim of said shell so that said elevated protective rim protects said interactive flat-panel control of said device from breakage;

providing a protective membrane that is capable of 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, said protective membrane having a back side that has a substantially planar smooth surface adjacent said interactive flat-panel control when said device is disposed in said 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; and

fixing said protective membrane onto said protective shell so that said protective membrane and said protective shell form a protective enclosure for said touch screen device.

17. 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, said shell being substantially crush-resistant and providing an elevated protective rim around a perimeter portion of said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control of said device so that when said device is disposed in said enclosure, said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control is recessed with respect to said protective rim of said shell so that said elevated protective rim protects said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control of said device from breakage;

providing a protective membrane that is capable of 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, said protective membrane having a back side that has a substantially planar smooth surface adjacent said interactive flat-panel control when said device is disposed in said enclosure, said protective membrane being sufficiently thin and having dielectric constant so that capacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane are communicated to said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control through said protective membrane, said protective membrane being at least partially transparent such that said capacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control is visible through said protective membrane; and

fixing said protective membrane onto said protective shell so that said protective membrane and said protective shell form a protective enclosure for said device.