Protective cushion cover for an electronic device

• US 8,965,458 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Morine, Alan V., Smith, W. Travis, Loudenslager, John H., Johnson, Jamie L., Glanzer, Matthew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANOHARAN, MUTHUSWAMY GANAPATHY
• Application Number:
  US12/687,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20100147737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 206/701, 206/320, 379/433.11, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 361/681, 361/679
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 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 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• 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: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective case for an electronic device. The protective case has two layers, an inner cushion cover that surrounds a portion of the electronic device and an outer rigid shell. The outer rigid shell has curved flexible arms that engage and hold the cushion cover 104 on the electronic device. The cushion cover has reduced thickness portions so that the curved flexible arms are embedded in the cushion cover and provide a protective case having a substantially smooth exterior. The cushion cover is capable of absorbing shocks from impacts on the rigid outer shell. Coring on the inner portion of the cushion cover provides additional softness and the ability of the cushion cover to absorb shocks while using a higher density material, which is able to conform to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

an outer shell having;

a back portion, and

a plurality of curved arms connected to the back portion, the curved arms configured to engage a cushion cover on at least two surfaces and having pointed hooks that engage said cushion cover at edge portions of said electronic device, said outer shell formed of a plastic material that resiliently bends sufficiently during installation to engage said cushion cover without breaking, wherein each of said plurality of curved flexible arms is configured to generate a force on a different respective one of said at least two surfaces of said cushion cover; and

said cushion cover comprising;

elastomeric material that is form-fitted to cover a portion of said electronic device, said cushion cover having a density and elasticity that causes said cushion cover to conform to said electronic device,

reduced thickness portions disposed in predetermined areas of said cushion cover, said plurality of curved flexible arms disposed in, and engaged with, said reduced thickness portions such that said force generated by said plurality of curved flexible arms is coupled through said reduced thickness portions to said electronic device,

raised impact portions located adjacent to said reduced thickness portions, said raised impact portions having a predetermined thickness,

coring comprising ribs disposed between recesses formed in said raised impact portions, said ribs and recesses configured to allow said cushion cover to compress and absorb said impacts, and

a die cut plug formed in said cushion cover and comprising a nipple extending from an inner surface of said die cut plug, said nipple having a generally cylindrical shape, wherein said die cut plug can be opened to provide access to a headphone jack on said electronic device and said nipple is configured to be inserted into said headphone jack,

wherein said outer shell is configured to disperse an impact to said cushion cover across a contact surface of said cushion cover,

said pointed hooks engage said cushion cover at two edge portions located at longitudinal ends of said electronic device so that said outer shell extends along a back surface of said cushion cover in a longitudinal direction along said electronic device and said lateral edges of said cushion cover are not covered by said outer shell,

said outer shell is made from a material that is smooth so that said protective case easily slides into and out of confined areas, and

said elastomeric material of said cushion cover on said lateral edges forms a gripping surface for said protective case.

2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein said predetermined thickness of said raised impact portions is sufficient to absorb impacts and prevent shocks from said impacts from being transferred to said electronic device.

3. The protective case of claim 1 further comprising a fluorescing material disposed in said outer shell that fluoresces so that said protective case can be located in low light conditions.

4. The protective case of claim 1 wherein said die cut plug has cut edges that have been cut by a blade that does not substantially remove material from said cushion cover so that said die cut plug fits tightly in said cushion cover.

5. The protective case of claim 4 wherein said cut edges of said die cut plug adjoin strain relief openings that reduce ripping of said die cut plug from said cushion cover.

6. A method of protecting an electronic device from impacts, the method comprising:

providing an outer shell having;

a back portion, and

a plurality of curved arms connected to the back portion, the curved arms to engage a cushion cover on at least two surfaces and having pointed hooks that engage said cushion cover at edge portions of said electronic device, said outer shell formed of a plastic material that resiliently bends sufficiently during installation to engage said cushion cover without breaking, wherein each of said plurality of curved flexible arms is configured to generate a force on a respective one of said at least two surfaces of said cushion cover;

providing said cushion cover comprising;

elastomeric material that is form-fitted to cover a portion of said electronic device, said cushion cover having a density and elasticity that causes said cushion cover to conform to said electronic device,

reduced thickness portions disposed in predetermined areas of said cushion cover, said plurality of curved flexible arms disposed in, and engaged with, said reduced thickness portions such that said force generated by said plurality of curved flexible arms is coupled through said reduced thickness portions to said electronic device, and

raised impact portions located adjacent to said reduced thickness portions, said raised impact portions having a predetermined thickness; and

a die cut plug formed in said cushion cover, wherein said die cut plug can be opened to provide access to a headphone jack on said electronic device;

forming a nipple in the die cut plug in said cushion cover, said nipple engaging said headphone lack;

forming, in the cushion cover, coring comprising ribs disposed between recesses in said raised impact portions, said ribs and recesses allowing said cushion cover to compress and absorb said impacts; and

attaching said pointed hooks to said cushion cover along two edge portions located at longitudinal ends of said electronic device so that said outer shell extends along a back portion of said cushion cover in a longitudinal direction along said electronic device and said lateral edges of said cushion cover are not covered by said outer shell, said lateral edges of said cushion cover forming a gripping surface on said protective case, said back portion of said protective case configured to slide easily into and out of confined areas,

wherein said outer shell is configured to disperse an impact to said cushion cover across a contact surface of said cushion cover.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

placing a fluorescing material in said outer shell so that said outer shell can be located in low light conditions.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

forming the die cut plug in said cushion cover by cutting said cushion cover with a blade such that said die cut plug fits tightly in said cushion cover.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

cutting said cushion cover with a blade to form strain relief openings in said cushion cover.