Protective enclosure for an electronic device

• US 9,498,033 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• 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:
  US14/712,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20150250062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 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

A protective enclosure for an electronic device includes a hard shell cover and a stretchable cushion shaped to conform to an outer surface of the hard shell cover. The hard shell cover includes a back shell to correspond with the back and sides of the electronic device. The hard shell cover includes an opening that provides access to controls of the electronic device, and provides rigidity to the protective enclosure. The stretchable cushion provides cushioning to the hard shell cover and the enclosed electronic device. The stretchable cushion includes one or more gaps that expose at least a portion of the hard shell cover. The stretchable cushion also has an opening that corresponds to the opening of the hard shell cover. A retention structure of stretchable cushion is disposed to engage a corresponding retention structure of the hard shell cover.

Claims

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

a hard shell cover, including a back shell rigidly formed to correspond with a shape of at least rear and side portions of the electronic device, the hard shell cover including one or more openings that provide access to respective interactive controls of the electronic device when the protective enclosure is disposed over the electronic device, the hard shell cover providing rigidity to the protective enclosure; and

a stretchable cushion layer shaped, and having sufficient elasticity, to conform to an outer surface of at least the hard shell cover and to provide cushioning to the hard shell cover and the electronic device when the stretchable cushion layer is disposed over the hard shell cover and the protective enclosure is disposed over the electronic device, the stretchable cushion layer having one or more gaps that expose at least a portion of the hard shell cover, the stretchable cushion layer further including one or more openings that correspond to respective said openings of the hard shell cover, and having a retention structure disposed to engage a corresponding retention structure of the hard shell cover.

2. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible membrane that is molded to fit over at least a front portion of the electronic device and that provides access to at least a portion of the interactive controls that is disposed on the front portion of the electronic device.

3. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the interactive controls include a display screen of the electronic device, and further comprising:

a front shell of the hard shell cover, the front shell rigidly formed to correspond with a shape of a front portion of the electronic device and to include a display screen opening, as one of the one or more openings of the hard shell cover, to provide access to the display screen of the electronic device.

4. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the one or more openings of the hard shell cover include a camera opening in the back shell of the hard shell cover, and the one or more openings of the stretchable cushion layer include a respective camera opening of the stretchable cushion layer, the camera opening of the back shell corresponding in location to the camera opening of the stretchable cushion layer, and each of the camera openings disposed to correspond in location with at least a camera of the electronic device when the protective enclosure is disposed over the electronic device.

5. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable cushion layer enhances sliding friction for grip of the protective enclosure.

6. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable cushion layer includes one or more control pads disposed to correspond to respective one or more of the openings of the hard shell cover, each control pad having a raised portion to engage a corresponding one of the interactive controls of the electronic device on a side of the electronic device when the protective enclosure is disposed over the electronic device.

7. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the interactive controls include a display screen of the electronic device, and the protective enclosure further comprises a raised portion around the display screen of the electronic device, the raised portion of the protective enclosure extending beyond a plane of the display screen of the electronic device when the protective enclosure is disposed over the electronic device.

8. The protective enclosure according to claim 3, further comprising a raised portion integrally formed in the front shell at a perimeter of the display screen opening.

9. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, further comprising a plug formed in the stretchable cushion layer, the plug providing a water-resistant seal in at least one of the openings of the stretchable cushion layer, the plug being at least partially removable to expose a feature of the electronic device that corresponds in location to the corresponding at least one opening of the stretchable cushion layer when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective enclosure.

10. The protective enclosure according to claim 1, further comprising a ridge extending from at least a portion of a perimeter of one of the one or more openings of the hard shell, the ridge extending through a respective one of the gaps in the stretchable cushion layer.

11. An apparatus for housing an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a hard shell having at least a first shell member and a second shell member, the first and second shell members together covering at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the hard shell,

a perimeter of the first shell member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, front and back surfaces of the first shell member spanning from the proximal end portion of the first shell member to the distal end portion of the first shell member and across the opposing side portions of the first shell member, the perimeter of the first shell member having a first clasping mechanism,

one or more openings formed in the second shell member, at least one of the one or more openings formed to substantially align with at least one respective control area of the electronic device and to provide access to the at least one control area when the apparatus is installed on the electronic device, and

a second clasping mechanism formed on the second shell member, the second clasping mechanism have a structure complementarily corresponding to the first clasping mechanism of the first shell member, the first and second clasping mechanisms, when engaged, separably joining the first shell member to the second shell member; and

a stretchable cushion layer disposable over at least a portion of the first shell member, the stretchable cushion layer having sufficient elasticity to substantially conform to the portion of the first shell member and to provide cushioning to the apparatus, the stretchable cushion layer having one or more openings that expose at least a portion of the hard shell cover.

12. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a membrane that is formed to fit at least a front portion of the electronic device, the membrane formed of a material that is transparent and resistant to scratching, the membrane providing a capacitive coupling interface to one or more of the at least one control areas of the electronic device.

13. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the second shell member of the hard shell is rigidly formed to correspond with a shape of a front portion of the electronic device, and wherein the at least one control area of the electronic device includes a touch screen accessible via the at least one of the one or more openings formed in the second shell member.

14. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the stretchable cushion layer and at least one of the first shell member and the second shell member each includes a respective camera opening, the camera opening of the stretchable cushion layer corresponding to the camera opening of the at least one of the first shell member and the second shell member, each of the camera openings disposed in correspondence with at least a camera of the electronic device when the apparatus is installed on the electronic device.

15. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the stretchable cushion layer enhances sliding friction for grip of the apparatus for housing the electronic device.

16. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the stretchable cushion layer includes one or more control pads disposed to correspond to respective one or more of the openings of the hard shell cover, each control pad having a raised portion to engage a corresponding one of the at least one control areas of the electronic device on a side of the electronic device when the apparatus for housing an electronic device is disposed over the electronic device.

17. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising a raised portion around the touch screen of the electronic device, the raised portion extending beyond a plane of the touch screen of the electronic device when the apparatus for housing an electronic device is disposed over the electronic device.

18. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the raised portion constitutes a perimeter of the at least one of the one or more openings formed in the second shell member.

19. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a plug formed in the stretchable cushion layer, the plug providing a water-resistant seal in at least one of the openings of the stretchable cushion layer, the plug being at least partially removable to expose a feature of the electronic device that corresponds in location to the respective at least one of the openings of the stretchable cushion layer.

20. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein at least one opening, of an opening in the first shell member and the one or more openings of the second shell member, includes a ridge extending from at least a portion of a perimeter of the at least one opening, the ridge extending through a corresponding one of the openings in the stretchable cushion layer.

21. The apparatus for housing an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the portion of the exterior surface of the first shell member exposed by the one or more openings in the stretchable cushion layer includes the first clasping mechanism.