Housing for encasing an electronic device

• US 9,549,598 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• 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., Crawford, Andrew C., Blochlinger, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US14/933,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 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 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• 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: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

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

a top member comprising a wall defined by a frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the wall extending to a ridge, the top member having a channel, the channel including a compressible gasket positioned at least partially therein when the top member is coupled with a bottom member, and a membrane coupled to the frame, the membrane having a transparent area; and

a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein, the front surface and the back surface each being surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having an extended wall to mate with the wall of the top member, the extended wall to seal against the compressible gasket.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one opening on the top member or the bottom member, the at least one opening overlaid with a flexible member to form a sealed button.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the top member further comprising a first clasping mechanism, and wherein the bottom member further includes a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the first clasping mechanism includes one of a lip and a groove along a perimeter portion of the top member, and

wherein the second clasping mechanism includes the other of a lip and a groove along the wall of the bottom member, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and the bottom member are mated together.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a substantially waterproof sound transmission feature, a camera lens feature, and a proximity sensor feature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch mechanism for controlling a movement of a switch on the electronic device when the electronic device is housed by the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

one or more sealable apertures;

a door for attaching to the apparatus proximate at least one of the sealable apertures, the door having an open configuration, and a closed configuration to close at least one of the sealable apertures; and

a door gasket to seal at least one of sealable apertures when the door is in a closed configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sealable apertures; and

a bung sized to enter and close the one or more sealable apertures.

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

a top member comprising an extended wall defined by a frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the extended wall extending to a ridge, and a membrane coupled to the frame, the membrane having a transparent area; and

a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein, the front surface and the back surface each surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having a wall and a channel proximate the wall, the channel including a compressible gasket positioned at least partially therein when the top member is coupled with the bottom member, the wall to mate with the extended wall of the top member and to seal against the compressible gasket.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one opening on the top member or the bottom member, the at least one opening overlaid with a flexible member to form a sealed button.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, the top member further comprising a first clasping mechanism, and wherein the bottom member further includes a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the first clasping mechanism includes one of a lip and a groove along a perimeter portion of the top member, and

wherein the second clasping mechanism includes the other of a lip and a groove along the extended wall of the bottom member, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and the bottom member are mated together.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising one or more of a substantially waterproof sound transmission feature, a camera lens feature, and a proximity sensor feature.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a switch mechanism for controlling a movement of a switch on the electronic device when the electronic device is housed by the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more sealable apertures on the top member or the bottom member;

a cover for attaching to the apparatus proximate at least one of the sealable apertures, the cover having an open configuration, and a closed configuration to close at least one of the sealable apertures; and

a cover gasket to seal at least one of sealable apertures when the cover is in a closed configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more sealable apertures on the top member or the bottom member; and

a bung to enter and close the one or more sealable apertures.

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

a first member comprising a first bounding member defined by a frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, and a membrane coupled to the frame, the membrane having a transparent area; and

a second member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein, the front surface and the back surface each surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having a second bounding member and a channel proximate the second bounding member, the channel including a compressible gasket positioned at least partially therein when the first member is coupled with the second member, the second bounding member to mate with the first bounding member of the first member and to seal against the compressible gasket.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

the first bounding member includes a first clasping mechanism, and

wherein the second bounding member includes a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism within the channel of the bottom member and couple the top member and the bottom member together.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a button feature, the button feature including:

an opening on the first member or the second member;

an extended button engagement portion that is configured for engaging a button of the electronic device; and

a flexible member overlaying the opening to seal the button feature.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising one or more of a substantially waterproof sound transmission feature, a camera lens feature, and a proximity sensor feature.