Housing for encasing a mobile device

• US 9,615,476 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Popa, III, George, Rayner, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Courtney
• Assistant Examiner(s): Augustin, Christopher L
• Application Number:
  US13/937,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20130294020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901, 36167902, 36167921, 36167926, 36167929, 3616793, 361747, 174 5 SB, 174 505, 174544
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• 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: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and/or system for housing a device. The apparatus includes 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 includes a perimeter portion. The perimeter is 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 and may be configured for engaging a third clasping mechanism, such as a locking comb or wedge feature. 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 waterproof apparatus for covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display, the waterproof apparatus comprising:

an encasement that covers at least part of the mobile computing device and permits operation of the touch screen display when the mobile computing device is installed in the encasement, the encasement having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a camera lens aperture for providing optical access to a camera of the installed mobile computing device, the encasement comprising a rigid material;

an optically transmissive lens disposed in the camera lens aperture in the encasement and positioned to overlay the camera of the installed mobile computing device;

two or more receptacles in the interior surface of the encasement, the receptacles adjacent to the camera lens aperture and the optically transmissive lens, the two or more receptacles each comprising a hole extending from the interior surface of the encasement to the exterior surface of the encasement; and

a flexible shock absorbing material disposed in each of the receptacles at the interior surface of the encasement, the flexible shock absorbing material holding the optically transmissive lens in place in the encasement, the flexible shock absorbing material extending through the holes at least to the exterior surface of the encasement to provide shock absorption.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible shock absorbing material includes an elastomer.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible shock absorbing material is overmolded into the receptacles.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each receptacle includes a groove on the interior surface of the encasement, the grooves disposed on opposite sides of the camera lens aperture.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each receptacle includes an array of receptacles equally spaced on the interior surface of the encasement proximate the lens aperture and the optically transmissive lens.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optically transmissive lens provides one or more of optical magnification and optical filtering for the camera of the installed mobile computing device.

7. An apparatus for covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and a camera having a lens, the apparatus comprising:

an encasement that covers at least part of the mobile computing device and permits operation of the touch screen display of the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is installed in the encasement, the encasement comprising a rigid material and including;

an interior surface;

an exterior surface;

a camera lens aperture providing optical access for the camera of the installed mobile computing device; and

at least one receptacle in the interior surface of the encasement, the at least one receptacle proximate the camera lens aperture, the receptacle comprising a hole extending from the interior surface of the encasement to the exterior surface of the encasement;

an optically transmissive camera lens disposed in the camera lens aperture in the encasement and positioned to overlay the camera lens of the installed mobile computing device; and

a shock absorbing material disposed in the at least one receptacle of the encasement at the interior surface of the encasement, the shock absorbing material holding the optically transmissive lens in place over the camera lens aperture of the encasement, the shock absorbing material extending through the hole to the exterior surface of the encasement to provide shock absorption at the exterior surface of the encasement.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the shock absorbing material comprises at least one of a flexible elastomer and silicone.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the receptacle includes two or more receptacles.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the receptacle includes four receptacles.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the shock absorbing material extends beyond the exterior surface of the rigid material of the encasement.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the encasement includes a top member that removably couples to a bottom member.