Housing for encasing an electronic device

• US 9,439,314 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Rayner, Gary A., Blochlinger, Alfred, Crawford, Andrew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US14/938,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 361/679.02, 361/679.03, 361/679.26, 36167955-67959, 361/724, 361/727, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.8
• 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 2011/002 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: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• 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 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• 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 5/069 : Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft

Abstract

An apparatus and system for housing a device include a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter may be defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.

Claims

1. A protective housing for housing an electronic device having a touch screen display, a headphone connector, and a control button, the protective housing for protecting the electronic device from a liquid at an outer surface of the protective housing, the protective housing comprising:

a perimeter sealing member having a back surface, side portions, and a front surface that includes a first opening corresponding to a perimeter of the touch screen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the protective housing, wherein the back surface, the front surface, and the side portions of the perimeter sealing member extend around at least a portion of the housed electronic device;

a top member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a first frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the first frame adapted to receive at least a first portion of the perimeter sealing member, the top member having a first clasping mechanism;

a bottom member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a second frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the second frame adapted to receive at least a second portion of the perimeter sealing member, the second frame having a second clasping mechanism to engage the first clasping mechanism of the top member to couple the bottom member to the top member and to compress the perimeter sealing member to provide a liquid resistant seal to protect the housed electronic device from the liquid;

a button feature in the protective housing, the button feature enabling user interaction with the control button of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;

an access port in the protective housing to provide direct physical access to the headphone connector of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing; and

a port sealing member sized to plug the access port and to provide a second liquid resistant seal at the access port.

2. The protective housing of claim 1 further comprising a membrane that at least partially overlays the touch screen display of the housed electronic device and permits interaction with the touch screen display of the housed electronic device through the membrane.

3. The protective housing of claim 1, wherein one of the first clasping mechanism and the second clasping mechanism comprises a first clasping element selected from the group of clasping elements consisting of:

a tooth, a tooth receptacle, a ridge member, and a groove.

4. The protective housing of claim 3, wherein the other of the first clasping mechanism and the second clasping mechanism comprises a second clasping element selected from the group of clasping elements consisting of:

a tooth, a tooth receptacle, a ridge member, and a groove.

5. The protective housing of claim 1 further comprising a sound aperture in one of the top member and the bottom member, the sound aperture corresponding with an audio feature of the housed electronic device.

6. The protective housing of claim 5 further comprising a second sound aperture in one of the top member and the bottom member, the second sound aperture corresponding with a second audio feature of the housed electronic device.

7. The protective housing of claim 1 further comprising a lens feature permitting optical access to a camera of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing.

8. A protective housing for housing an electronic device having a touch screen display, a headphone connector, an audio feature, and a control button, the protective housing for protecting the electronic device from a liquid at an outer surface of the protective housing, the protective housing comprising:

a perimeter sealing member corresponding to a perimeter of the electronic device, the perimeter sealing member comprising a compressible material;

a top member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a first frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the first frame adapted to receive at least a first portion of the perimeter sealing member, the top member having a first clasping mechanism;

a bottom member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a second frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the second frame adapted to receive at least a second portion of the perimeter sealing member, the second frame having a second clasping mechanism to engage with the first clasping mechanism of the top member to couple the bottom member to the top member and to compress the perimeter sealing member to provide a liquid resistant seal to protect the housed electronic device from the liquid;

a button feature in the protective housing, the button feature permitting actuation of the control button of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;

a sound aperture in the protective housing, the sound aperture corresponding with the audio feature of the housed electronic device and including a water impermeable membrane;

an access port in the protective housing to provide access to the headphone connector of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing; and

a port sealing member sized to close the access port and to provide a second liquid resistant seal at the access port.

9. The protective housing of claim 8 further comprising a transparent membrane that at least partially overlays the touch screen display of the housed electronic device and permits interaction with the touch screen display of the housed electronic device through the transparent membrane.

10. The protective housing of claim 8, wherein one of the first clasping mechanism and the second clasping mechanism comprises a channel.

11. The protective housing of claim 10, wherein the other of the first clasping mechanism and the second clasping mechanism comprises a ridge that inserts into the channel.

12. The protective housing of claim 8 wherein the perimeter sealing member comprises a gasket that is compressed between perimeter portions of the top member and the bottom member when the top member is coupled to the bottom member.

13. The protective housing of claim 8 further comprising a second sound aperture in one of the top member and the bottom member, the second sound aperture corresponding with a second audio feature of the housed electronic device.

14. A protective housing for an electronic device having a touch screen display, a headphone connector, a speaker, and a control button, the protective housing for protecting the electronic device from a liquid at an outer surface of the protective housing, the protective housing comprising:

a sealing member corresponding to a perimeter of the protective housing, the sealing member comprising a compressible material;

a first housing member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions adapted to receive at least a first portion of the electronic device and interface with at least a first portion of the sealing member, the first housing member having a first clasping mechanism;

a second housing member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions adapted to receive at least a second portion of the electronic device and interface with at least a second portion of the sealing member, the second housing member having a second clasping mechanism to engage with the first clasping mechanism of the first housing member to couple the second housing member to the first housing member and to compress the sealing member to provide a liquid resistant seal between the first housing member and the second housing member to protect the housed electronic device from the liquid;

a button feature in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member, the button feature permitting actuation of the control button of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;

a sound aperture in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member, the sound aperture corresponding with the speaker of the housed electronic device;

an access port in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member to provide access to the headphone connector of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing; and

a bung sized to plug the access port and to provide a second liquid resistant seal at the access port.

15. The protective housing of claim 14 further comprising a membrane that at least partially covers the touch screen display of the housed electronic device and enables interaction with the touch screen display of the housed electronic device through the membrane.

16. The protective housing of claim 14, wherein one of the first clasping mechanism and the second clasping mechanism comprises a channel and the other of the first clasping mechanism and the second clasping mechanism comprises a ridge that inserts into the channel.

17. The protective housing of claim 16, wherein the channel includes a groove and the ridge includes a lip that engages the groove.

18. The protective housing of claim 16, wherein the sealing member is at least partially in the channel when the second housing member is coupled to the first housing member.

19. The protective housing of claim 14 wherein the sealing member comprises a gasket that is compressed between perimeter portions of the first housing member and the second housing member.

20. The protective housing of claim 14 wherein the sound aperture is covered with a water impermeable membrane.