Detachable pod assembly for protective case

• US 7,889,489 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Glanzer, Matthew, Johnson, Jamie Lee, Morine, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/251,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.32, D14/447
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an electronic device that has a protective shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding an electronic device, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant manner. POD units can be releasably connected to the protective enclosure to form an integrated unitary device that is substantially crush-resistant. The POD units can be interchangeable and connect to the protective case using the same format.

Claims

1. A detachable pod assembly that attaches to a housing for an electronic device comprising:

a first shell having a first flange on a proximal portion of said first shell with first openings formed in said first flange, and a first extended distal portion that forms a first cavity;

a second shell having a second flange on a proximal portion of said second shell with second openings formed in said second flange, and a second extended distal portion that forms a second cavity, said second extended distal portion formed to mate with said first extended distal portion to form a unitary pod shaft having a cross-sectional dimension that increases from said distal portion to said proximal portion;

a collar having a shape that allows said collar to slide over said unitary pod shaft and so that said pod shaft contacts a substantial portion of an inner surface of said collar to create a friction fit between said collar and said pod shaft to hold said first shell and said second shell together, said first openings and said second openings being disposed over tabs formed in said housing for said electronic device to secure said pod assembly to said housing to allow said pod assembly to be easily detached from said housing by removing said collar.

2. The detachable pod assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a key disposed on an outer surface of said first shell;

a slot formed in said collar that mates with said key to ensure that said collar is placed on said pod shaft in a proper orientation.

3. The detachable pod assembly of claim 2 wherein said pod shaft and said collar are made from a smooth soft plastic so that a friction fit is created between said pod shaft and said collar.

4. The detachable pod assembly of claim 3 wherein said first flange and said second flange form a surface that mates with said housing.

5. A method of attaching a pod assembly to a housing for an electronic device comprising:

providing a first shell having a first flange on a proximal portion of said first shell with first openings formed in said first flange, and a first extended distal portion that forms a first cavity;

providing a second shell having a second flange on a proximal portion of said second shell with second openings formed in said second flange, and a second extended distal portion that forms a second cavity;

assembling said first shell to said second shell to form said pod assembly so that said first openings and said second openings engage tabs on said housing that secure said pod assembly to said housing, said first extended distal portion and said second extended distal portion mating to form a unitary pod shaft having a cross-sectional dimension that increases from said distal portion to said proximal portion, said first cavity and said second cavity forming a pod cavity for said electronic device;

sliding a collar over said unitary pod shaft to securely hold said first shell and said second shell together to form said pod assembly, said collar having a first opening and a second opening, and a cross-sectional dimension that increases from said first opening to said second opening so that a substantial portion of an inner surface of said collar contacts said pod shaft to create a friction fit between said collar and said pod shaft to hold said first shell and said second shell together.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

aligning a key disposed on said pod shaft with a slot formed in said collar to ensure proper orientation of said collar on said pod shaft.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said pod shaft and said collar are made from a soft plastic that provides a friction fit between said pod shaft and said collar.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

forming said first flange and said second flange to create a surface that mates with said housing.