Protective case including lens attachment feature

• US 9,548,785 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Rayner, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/148,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20160254837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/108, 320/112
• 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: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2057 for tilting and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 : Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 : Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3855 : carried in a belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 : for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 : Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• 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 5/061 : sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

A protective case includes a top member, a compressible gasket, and a bottom member. The bottom member has a clasping mechanism that engages a clasping mechanism of the top member to compress the compressible gasket between the bottom member and the top member to form a waterproof cavity for receiving the electronic device. The bottom member further includes an optically clear area that aligns with the camera of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof cavity of the protective case and an attachment feature on an external surface of the bottom member for detachably connecting a camera lens to the bottom member. The attachment feature is configured to align the camera lens with the camera of the electronic device when the camera lens is attached to the bottom member and when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof cavity.

Claims

1. A protective cover system for an electronic device having a camera, the protective cover system comprising:

an optical camera lens; and

a protective cover comprising;

a top member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the top member having a perimeter and a first clasping mechanism proximate the perimeter;

a compressible gasket; and

a bottom member having a perimeter and a second clasping mechanism proximate the perimeter of the bottom member, the second clasping mechanism to engage the first clasping mechanism of the top member to compress the compressible gasket between the bottom member and the top member to removably couple the bottom member to the top member to form a waterproof cavity for receiving the electronic device, the bottom member further including an optically clear region that aligns with the camera of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof cavity of the protective cover, the bottom member further including an attachment feature on an external surface of the bottom member for detachably connecting the optical camera lens to the bottom member, the attachment feature being proximate the optically clear region of the bottom member and configured to align the connected optical camera lens with the camera of the electronic device when the optical camera lens is connected to the bottom member and when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof cavity.

2. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature is configured to create a waterproof seal between the bottom member and the connected optical camera lens.

3. The protective cover system of claim 2 further comprising a second compressible gasket configured for creating the waterproof seal between the bottom member and the optical camera lens.

4. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature includes threads for detachably connecting the optical camera lens to the bottom member.

5. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature includes a flange connector for detachably connecting the optical camera lens to the bottom member.

6. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature includes one or more magnets for detachably connecting the optical camera lens to the bottom member.

7. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature includes a metallic element to which a magnet of the optical camera lens is magnetically attracted for detachably connecting the optical camera lens to the bottom member.

8. The protective cover system of claim 1 further comprising a second optical camera lens also detachably connectable to the bottom member.

9. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature includes an alignment feature for aligning the optical camera lens with the attachment feature of the protective cover.

10. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the optical camera lens is one or more of a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, a zoom lens, a macro lens, and a fish-eye lens.

11. The protective cover system of claim 1 wherein the optical camera lens includes an attachment feature for attaching an optical filter to the optical camera lens.

12. A protective case system for an electronic device having a camera, the protective case system comprising:

a camera lens; and

a protective case comprising;

a first member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the first member having a perimeter and a first clasping mechanism proximate the perimeter; and

a second member having a perimeter and a second clasping mechanism proximate the perimeter of the second member, the second clasping mechanism to engage the first clasping mechanism of the first member to removably couple the second member to the first member and to form a seal between the second member and the first member making a waterproof cavity for receiving the electronic device, the second member having an optically clear region that aligns with the camera of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, the second member further including an attachment feature on an external surface of the second member for detachably connecting the camera lens to the second member, the attachment feature being proximate the optically clear region of the second member and configured to align the connected camera lens with the camera of the electronic device when the camera lens is connected to the second member and when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.

13. The protective case system of claim 12 wherein the attachment feature provides a waterproof seal between the second member and the camera lens.

14. The protective case system of claim 13 further comprising a compressible seal for creating the waterproof seal between the second member and the camera lens.

15. The protective case system of claim 12 wherein the attachment feature of the second member and the camera each having corresponding threads for detachably connecting the camera lens to the second member.

16. The protective case system of claim 12 wherein the attachment feature includes a snap feature for detachably connecting the camera lens to the second member.

17. The protective case system of claim 12 wherein the first clasping mechanism of the first member includes a channel having a gasket and the second clasping mechanism of the second member engages the gasket in the channel to form the seal between the first member and the second member.

18. The protective case system of claim 12 wherein the second clasping mechanism of the second member includes a channel having a gasket and the first clasping mechanism of the first member engages the gasket in the channel to form the seal between the first member and the second member.

19. A protective cover for an electronic device having a camera, the protective cover comprising:

a top member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the top member having a perimeter and a first clasping mechanism proximate the perimeter;

a compressible gasket; and

a bottom member having a perimeter and a second clasping mechanism proximate the perimeter of the bottom member, the second clasping mechanism to engage the first clasping mechanism of the top member to compress the compressible gasket between the bottom member and the top member to removably couple the bottom member to the top member to form a waterproof cavity for receiving the electronic device, the bottom member further including an optically clear area that aligns with the camera of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof cavity of the protective cover, the bottom member further including an attachment feature on an external surface of the bottom member for detachably connecting an external optical camera lens to the bottom member, the attachment feature being proximate the optically clear area of the bottom member and configured to align the optical camera lens with the camera of the electronic device when the optical camera lens is attached to the bottom member and when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof cavity.

20. The protective cover of claim 19 wherein the attachment feature provides a waterproof seal between the bottom member and the optical camera lens.

21. The protective cover of claim 19 wherein the attachment feature includes one or more magnets for detachably connecting the optical camera lens to the bottom member.

22. The protective cover of claim 19 wherein the attachment feature includes an alignment feature for aligning the optical camera lens with the attachment feature.

23. The protective cover of claim 19 wherein the first clasping mechanism of the top member includes a channel containing the compressible gasket and the second clasping mechanism of the bottom member engages the compressible gasket in the channel to form a seal between the top member and the bottom member.

24. The protective cover of claim 19 wherein the second clasping mechanism of the bottom member includes a channel containing the compressible gasket and the first clasping mechanism of the top member engages the compressible gasket in the channel to form a seal between the top member and the bottom member.

25. A protective case for an electronic device having a camera, the protective case comprising a first member and a second member, the second member having a clasping mechanism proximate a perimeter of the second member, the clasping mechanism of the second member configured to engage a clasping mechanism of the first member to removably couple the second member to the first member to seal the second member to the first member to form a protective waterproof enclosure around electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, wherein the first member includes an opening that aligns with the camera of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, the first member further including an attachment mechanism on an external surface of the first member for detachably attaching a camera lens to the first member, the attachment mechanism being proximate the opening of the first member and configured to align the attached camera lens with the camera of the electronic device when the camera lens is attached to the protective case and when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.

26. The protective case of claim 25 wherein the attachment mechanism includes a snap feature for detachably snapping the camera lens to the protective case.

27. The protective case of claim 25 wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to provide a waterproof seal between the protective case and the attached camera lens.

28. The protective case of claim 27 wherein a compressible gasket forms the waterproof seal between the protective case and the attached camera lens.

29. The protective case of claim 25 wherein the opening in the first member is covered with an optically transparent membrane.

30. The protective case of claim 25 further including a removable plug for plugging the opening of the first member when the camera lens is not attached to the protective case.

31. The protective case of claim 30 wherein the plug and the opening have mating threads.