Protective enclosure for an electronic device

• US 9,173,314 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis R., Morine, Alan V., Thomas, Brian P., Johnson, Jamie L., Thompson, Jason M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US13/710,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• 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 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: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/023 Handles; Grips
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Disclosed is a three-layer protective enclosure that provides resistance to water, dust, dirt, and bump protection for sensitive computers. In one embodiment, an inner membrane layer is provided, which is a thin, flexible layer that protects portions of a computer and allows the user to interact with keyboards, push buttons and other interactive features of the computer. A protective hard shell fits tightly over the membrane and provides additional sealing and rigidity to the protective enclosure. A stretchable cushion layer is placed over the hard shell which conforms to the hard shell and seals moisture, dust and dirt from entering the hard shell. The stretchable cushion layer provides cushioning and also allows access to certain controls on the computer. In another embodiment, a touch screen cover may be used with, or without, a membrane over other portions of the computer.

Claims

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

a hard shell cover that fits over the electronic device;

a membrane attached to the hard shell cover, the membrane configured to cover a front portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, wherein the membrane allows interactive access to a touchscreen on a front portion of the installed electronic device, the membrane further configured to extend beyond an edge of the touchscreen of the installed electronic device and around a sound feature of the installed electronic device, the membrane having an opening proximate the sound feature of the installed electronic device; and

an acoustic screen attached to the membrane and configured to fit over the opening of the membrane to cover the sound feature of the installed electronic device, wherein the acoustic screen allows transmission of acoustical waves through the opening of the membrane while the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the hard shell cover includes one or more openings that allow access to controls of the installed electronic device.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein one or openings of the hard shell cover allow access to a camera feature of the electronic device.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the sound feature of the electronic device is a speaker.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the sound feature of the electronic device is a microphone.

6. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:

a hard shell cover that fits over the electronic device; and

a flexible membrane that is configured to cover at least a front portion of the electronic device, the flexible membrane allowing for interactive access to a touchscreen on the front portion of the electronic device through the flexible membrane when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, the flexible membrane including an acoustic screen attached to an opening in the flexible membrane, the acoustic screen configured to allow transmission of acoustical waves through the opening in the flexible membrane while the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 6, the acoustic screen comprising a water-resistant material.

8. The protective enclosure of claim 6, wherein the acoustic screen is located proximate a speaker of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 6, wherein the acoustic screen is located proximate a microphone of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.

10. The protective enclosure of claim 6, wherein the hard shell cover comprises a front shell formed to correspond with a front portion of the electronic device and a back shell formed to correspond with the back portion of the electronic device.

11. The protective enclosure of claim 10, the front shell comprising a raised portion surrounding a perimeter of the touchscreen of the installed electronic device.

12. The protective enclosure of claim 11, further comprising a stretchable cushion layer that is disposed over the hard shell cover, the stretchable cushion layer having sufficient elasticity to substantially conform to the hard shell cover and provide cushioning to the protective enclosure, the stretchable cushion layer exposing at least a portion of the hard shell cover.

13. The protective enclosure of claim 6, wherein the flexible membrane is optically transparent.