Protective material applicator device

• US 8,905,107 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superior Communications (Sinclair Broadcast Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Superior Communications (Sinclair Broadcast Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patel, Shraddha, LaColla, Charlie, Dinh, Thai
• Primary Examiner(s): Osele, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US13/053,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20120211170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 156/538, 156/574, 156/579, 156/580, 156/279, 156/577
• US Class Current: 156/538
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2063/0008 Registering, centering the lining material on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0004 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0047 Preventing air-inclusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0056 Provisional sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/02 using sheet or web-like material B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems disclosed herein relate to the application of a protective film on a surface of an electronic device instantly reducing air bubbles and eliminating the waiting time usually required when using a wet fluid solution. In one embodiment, a roller device may include a carriage or housing and one or more rollers coupled or integrated with the housing, configured to apply a protective material to a surface of the electronic device in a first orientation, and configured to function as a device stand in a second orientation.

Claims

1. A roller apparatus graspable by a user'"'"'s hand for applying a protective layer to a surface of an electronic device, the roller apparatus comprising:

a carriage having a first end and a second end and a mid bar extending between the first end and the second end, with a distance from an outermost edge of the first end to an outermost edge of the second end being between two to four inches, inclusive;

a first roller coupled to the carriage and extending between the first end and the second end and positioned such that a gap exists between the mid bar and the first roller, the first roller configured to press the protective layer against the surface of the electronic device;

a second roller coupled to the carriage and extending between the first end and the second end and positioned such that the mid bar is positioned between the first roller and the second roller and a gap exists between the mid bar and the second roller, the second roller configured to press the protective layer against the surface of the electronic device while the first roller presses the protective layer against the surface of the electronic device;

a pressing portion coupled to the carriage, the pressing portion configured to allow a user to contact the pressing portion to increase a pressure applied by the first roller and the second roller to the protective layer,

the mid bar being sized such that the mid bar extends between the first roller and the second roller in a direction towards the surface to a distance such that the mid bar does not contact the protective layer when the first roller and the second roller both press the protective layer against the surface when the surface is flat; and

a stand portion configured to assist the electronic device to remain in an upright position when the electronic device is inserted into the roller apparatus.

2. The roller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first roller comprises:

an inner core; and

an outer core substantially wrapping around the inner core.

3. The roller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inner core has a higher durometer rating than the outer core.

4. The roller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is integrated with the carriage.

5. The roller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communication device.

6. The roller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stand portion is integrated with the carriage.

7. The roller apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stand portion is a panel having a length substantially similar to a length of the first roller, the stand portion offset from the first roller and separated by a gap.

8. The roller apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stand portion includes a contact edge which when in contact with a flat surface creates the configuration for assisting the electronic device to remain in an upright position when the electronic device is inserted into the roller apparatus.

9. The roller apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stand portion is separated from the first roller by an opening.

10. The roller apparatus of claim 9, wherein the opening serves to receive the electronic device during an insertion process.

11. An applicator device for applying a film to a surface of an electronic device, the applicator device comprising:

a base component configured to be graspable by the hand of the user, and having a first end and a second end and a mid bar extending between the first end and the second end, with a distance from an outermost edge of the first end to an outermost edge of the second end being between two to four inches, inclusive;

a first rotating pressure component coupled to the base component and extending between the first end and the second end and positioned such that a gap exists between the mid bar and the first rotating pressure component, the first rotating pressure component configured to contact and press the film to the electronic device, the first rotating pressure component further configured to remove an air bubble between the film and the surface of the electronic device;

a second rotating pressure component coupled to the base component and extending between the first end and the second end and positioned such that a gap exists between the mid bar and the second rotating pressure component, the second rotating pressure component configured to contact and press the film to the electronic device while the first rotating pressure component presses the film to the electronic device, the second rotating pressure component further configured to remove an air bubble between the film and the surface of the electronic device;

a splitter configured to separate a non-adhesive backing from the film, wherein the splitter is coupled to the base component and extends outward from the base component, and wherein the splitter is further configured to provide a guide for applying the film to the surface of the electronic device;

a pressing portion coupled to the base component, the pressing portion configured to allow the user press on the pressing portion to increase a pressure applied by the first rotating pressure component and the second rotating pressure component to the film,

the mid bar being sized such that the mid bar extends between the first rotating pressure component and the second rotating pressure component in a direction towards the surface of the electronic device to a distance such that the mid bar does not contact the film when the first rotating pressure component and the second rotating pressure component both press the film against the surface when the surface is flat; and

a stand portion integrated with the base component, the stand portion having a contact edge which when in contact with a flat surface creates a configuration for assisting the electronic device to be held in an upright position when the electronic device is inserted into the applicator device.

12. The applicator device of claim 11, wherein the first rotating pressure component is a cylindrical roller having an outer layer and an inner layer.

13. The applicator device of claim 12, wherein the outer layer of the first pressure component has a lower durometer than the inner layer of the first pressure component.

14. The applicator device of claim 11, wherein the base component is configured to be pulled along the surface of the electronic device by the hand of the user thereby applying the film to the surface of the electronic device.

15. The applicator device of claim 11, wherein the splitter is positioned such that a gap exists between the first rotating pressure component and the splitter.