Protective enclosure for electronic device

• US 8,917,496 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Kempel, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US14/056,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20140043740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• 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 and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.

Claims

1. A protective cover for an electronic device having an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts for receiving electrical communication, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell having a first member and a second member configured to surround the electronic device, the shell having a substantially rigid portion providing crush-resistance;

the first member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, opposing side portions, and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving the electronic device;

the second member having a proximal portion, a distal portion and opposing side portions, and being configured to join with the first member wherein the first member and the second member together at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell;

an aperture defined by an inner perimeter of the protective shell, the aperture being aligned with a top surface of the electronic device to provide access to at least the interactive control panel of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the first member and the second member of the protective shell;

a securing mechanism configured to secure the first member with the second member when the electronic device is surrounded by the shell; and

an electrical connector internal to the protective shell, the electrical connector connecting an electrical communication source to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts of the electronic device to selectively convey electrical communication and electrical power between the electrical communication source and the electronic device after the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member.

2. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is attached to the first member of the protective shell.

3. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is attached to the second member of the protective shell.

4. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a first clasp coupled with the first member and a second clasp coupled with the second member, the first clasp and second clasp being configured to clasp together to secure the first member with the second member to form the protective shell to at least partially cover the electronic device.

5. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a membrane configured to be disposed over and adjacent to the interactive control panel of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell, the membrane and the protective shell forming the protective cover for the electronic device having the interactive control panel, the membrane being sufficiently thin to allow inputs on a front side of the membrane to be received by the interactive control panel.

6. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes one or more light transmissive features configured to transmit light from an indicator light.

7. The protective cover in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more light transmissive features is configured to convey light associated with the electrical communication source.

8. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical connector includes one or more of an electrical contact and an electrical cable.

9. A protective cover for an electronic device having an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell having a first member and a second member providing a perimeter for at least partially surrounding the electronic device, the shell providing protection to the electronic device when dropped;

the first member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, opposing side portions, and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving the electronic device;

the second member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, as well as opposing side portions and being configured to join with the first member such that the first member and the second member at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell;

an aperture defined by the protective shell, the aperture being at least partially aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the first member and the second member of the protective shell; and

an electrical connector that is an internal component of the protective shell, the electrical connector providing communication selectively of at least one of electrical communication signals and electrical power between an electrical source and the electrical contacts of the electronic device when the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member.

10. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9, wherein the electronic device is chargeable by connection of at least one of the one or more electrical contacts of the electronic device to the electrical source via the electrical connector when the electrical source provides electricity to charge a battery of the electronic device.

11. The protective cover in accordance with claim 10, wherein the protective shell is sized to mate with a cradle having an electrical source, and the electrical connector is configured to connect the at least one of the one or more electrical contacts to the electrical source provided by the cradle when the protective shell is mated with the cradle.

12. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

a securing mechanism configured for securing the first member to the second member.

13. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9, wherein the electrical source provides electrical communication signals to the electronic device or receives electrical communication signals from the electronic device.

14. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a membrane configured to be disposed over and adjacent to the interactive control panel of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell, the membrane and the protective shell forming the protective cover for the electronic device having the interactive control panel, the membrane being sufficiently thin to allow inputs on a front side of the membrane to be received by the interactive control panel.

15. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes one or more light transmissive features configured to transmit light from an indicator light.

16. The protective cover in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least one of one or more light transmissive features is configured to transmit light associated with a battery condition.

17. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9, wherein the electrical connector includes one or more electrical cables coupled to at least one of the first member and the second member.