Protective enclosure for electronic device

• US 8,767,385 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• 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): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/092,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.3
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• 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 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/36 Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
• 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 2200/10 Transparent walls
• 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 81/02 specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10
• 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: B65D 81/05 maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents B65D81/022, B65D81/025, B65D81/03 take precedence
• 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 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 : Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 : Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 : Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 : Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 : Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 : Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/02 : Details casings, cabinets or mounting therein for transducers covered by H04R1/02 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 : sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/068 : having a pressure compensation device, e.g. membrane venting means H05K5/0213
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 : Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24413 : Metal or metal compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24909 : Free metal or mineral containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 : Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31605 : Next to free metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31696 : Including polyene monomers [e.g., butadiene, etc.]

Abstract

A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case. An aperture defined by the protective shell aligns with the interactive control panel. A protective membrane for an electronic device includes a sheet of engineered thermoplastic having dimensions corresponding to features of a surface of the electronic device, and has a combination of sufficient thinness and a dielectric constant that together permit capacitive inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be transmitted to the capacitance sensing interactive control panel. The protective cover and/or the protective membrane include a metalized coating or metallic additive.

Claims

1. A protective cover for an electronic device having an interactive control panel, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell that is crush resistant and has an inner surface and an outer surface, the protective shell formed to at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the shell, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective enclosure;

an aperture defined by the protective shell, the aperture being aligned to expose at least the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell; and

a metallized coating provided to at least part of the protective shell.

2. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metallized coating includes metal flakes.

3. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metallized coating is provided to at least the outer surface of the protective shell.

4. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metallized coating includes an additive.

5. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the protective shell is formed of a rigid plastic.

20. The protective cover in accordance with claim 4, wherein the additive includes metal flakes.

6. A protective cover for an electronic device having an interactive control panel, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the protective shell formed to at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the shell, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective enclosure;

an aperture defined by the protective shell, the aperture being aligned to expose at least the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell; and

a metallic additive provided to at least part of the protective cover.

7. The protective cover in accordance with claim 6, wherein the metallic additive includes metal flakes.

8. The protective cover in accordance with claim 6, wherein the metallic additive is a metal coil provided to the protective shell.

9. The protective cover in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the protective shell is formed of a rigid plastic.

10. A protective membrane to be disposed over a capacitance-sensing panel of an electronic device, the protective membrane comprising:

a sheet of engineered thermoplastic selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof, the sheet formed in a shape corresponding with features of a front surface of the electronic device including the capacitance sending interactive control panel, the sheet of engineered thermoplastic having a combination of sufficient thinness and a dielectric constant that together allow capacitive inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be transmitted to the capacitance-sensing interactive control panel through the protective membrane;

wherein the protective membrane is configured for use with a protective cover for the electronic device, the protective cover comprising;

a protective shell that is crush resistant and has an inner surface and an outer surface, the protective shell formed to at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the shell, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective enclosure; and

an aperture defined by the protective shell, the aperture being aligned to expose at least the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell.

11. The protective membrane according to claim 10, wherein the protective membrane has a dielectric constant in the range of 2.2 to 3.8.

12. The protective membrane according to claim 10, wherein the protective membrane has a thickness in the range of 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches.

13. The protective membrane according to claim 10, wherein the 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.

14. The protective membrane in accordance with claim 10, further including a chemically resistant additive provided to at least part of the membrane enclosure to impart chemical resistance to the protective membrane.

15. The protective membrane in accordance with claim 14, wherein the chemically resistant additive includes metal flakes.

16. The protective membrane in accordance with claim 14, wherein the chemically resistant additive includes a metallized coating.

17. A protective membrane for placement on an electronic device having an interactive control panel, the protective membrane comprising:

a sheet of engineered thermoplastic having perimeter dimensions corresponding to features of at least one surface of the electronic device, and configured to be disposed over and adjacent to at least the interactive control panel of the electronic device, the protective membrane being sufficiently thin to allow inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be received by the interactive control panel; and

a metallized coating provided to at least part of the sheet;

wherein the protective membrane is configured for use with a protective cover for the electronic device, the protective cover comprising;

a protective shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the protective shell formed to at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the shell, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective enclosure; and

an aperture defined by the protective shell, the aperture being aligned to expose at least the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell.

18. The protective membrane in accordance with claim 17, wherein the metallized coating includes metal flakes.

19. The protective membrane in accordance with claim 17, wherein the metallized coating includes a metal-based additive.