Acoustic isolation mechanism with membrane

• US 9,165,550 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Loudenslager, John H., Johnson, Jamie L., Thompson, Jason M., Lucas, Jonathan D., Borra, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUKS, JEREMY AUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US14/289,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 181/198, 181/200, 181/205, 379/451, 379/454, 361/679.02, 361/679.09, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/002 Devices for damping, suppressing, obstructing or conducting sound in acoustic devices G10K1/06 - G10K1/10 take precedence; for electro-mechanical transducers for communication H04R3/002
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/18 Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound G10K11/02, G10K11/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/035 Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/20 Arrangements for preventing acoustic feed-back H04M1/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/068 having a pressure compensation device, e.g. membrane venting means H05K5/0213

Abstract

A removable case for an electronic device may have an acoustic isolation mechanism between the removable case and an acoustic component on the electronic device. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be a compressible component that may provide an acoustic seal between an inner surface of the removable case and an exterior surface of the electronic device, and may include a waterproof acoustic membrane. The waterproof membrane prevents the entry of water while reacting to sound pressure changes to acoustically couple the electronic device with sounds outside the case. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be constructed of several different materials and several different manufacturing processes.

Claims

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

a case for at least partially enclosing the electronic device, the case having a rigid frame with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a cavity in the rigid frame positioned proximate at least one sound aperture in the rigid frame, the sound aperture being proximate an acoustic opening of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the case; and

a sound transmission apparatus disposed at least partially in the cavity of the rigid frame, the sound transmission apparatus comprising

an acoustic isolation mechanism having an interior face oriented towards the interior of the case and an exterior face that contacts the inner surface of the case,

at least one acoustic channel extending from the interior face to the exterior face of the acoustic isolation mechanism, the acoustic channel acoustically coupling the acoustic opening of the electronic device with the sound aperture,

at least one acoustic membrane that extends from the external face of the acoustic isolation mechanism to an anchor knob, forming a truncated cone structure,

wherein the anchor knob of the sound transmission apparatus is coupled to the inner surface of the case.

2. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the sound transmission apparatus further includes a stability member extending from the anchor knob into the interior of the cone, the stability member forming a second truncated cone that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless the acoustic membrane is subjected to sufficient water pressure.

3. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the stability member forms a truncated pyramid having at least three sides that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless subjected to sufficient water pressure.

4. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are molded from a waterproof elastomer.

5. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the anchor knob is molded from a waterproof elastomer.

6. The protective cover according to claim 4, wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are co-molded.

7. The protective cover according to claim 4, wherein the acoustic membrane comprises one or more molded structures selected from the group consisting of an arch;

a dome;

a cone;

an accordion pleat;

a side pleat; and

a box pleat.

8. A protective cover for an electronic device, the protective cover comprising:

a case for at least partially enclosing the electronic device, the case having a rigid frame with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a cavity in the rigid frame positioned proximate at least one sound aperture in the rigid frame, the sound aperture being proximate an acoustic opening of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the case; and

a sound transmission apparatus disposed at least partially in the cavity of the rigid frame, the sound transmission apparatus comprising

an acoustic isolation mechanism having an interior face oriented towards the interior of the case and an exterior face that contacts the inner surface of the case,

at least one acoustic channel extending from the interior face to the exterior face of the acoustic isolation mechanism, the acoustic channel acoustically coupling the acoustic opening of the electronic device with the sound aperture,

at least one acoustic membrane that extends from the external face of the acoustic isolation mechanism to an anchor knob, forming a pyramid structure,

wherein the anchor knob of the sound transmission apparatus is coupled to the inner surface of the case.

9. The protective cover according to claim 8, wherein the sound transmission apparatus further includes a stability member extending from the anchor knob into the interior of the pyramid structure, the stability member forming a second pyramid structure that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless the acoustic membrane is subjected to sufficient water pressure.

10. The protective cover according to claim 8, wherein the sound transmission apparatus further includes a stability member extending from the anchor knob into the interior of the pyramid structure, the stability member forming a truncated cone structure that does not touch the acoustic membrane unless subjected to sufficient water pressure.

11. The protective cover according to claim 8, wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are molded from a waterproof elastomer.

12. The protective cover according to claim 8, wherein the anchor knob is molded from a waterproof elastomer.

13. The protective cover according to claim 11, wherein the acoustic isolation mechanism and the acoustic membrane are co-molded.

14. The protective cover according to claim 11, wherein the acoustic membrane comprises one or more molded structures selected from the group consisting of an arch;

a dome;

a cone;

an accordion pleat;

a side pleat; and

a box pleat.