Cradle device and method of using the same

• US 9,701,062 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2016
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Beaupre, Eric, Wadsworth, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOFF II, JOHN L
• Application Number:
  US15/175,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 156247, 156249
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2063/0008 Registering, centering the lining material on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0004 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0047 Preventing air-inclusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/02 using sheet or web-like material B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7808 in the form of holes or slots B29C65/7814 takes precedence; holding or clamping means cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined B29C65/7844
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/342 Preventing air-inclusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3475 Displays, monitors, TV-sets, computer screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/268 Release layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/003 to avoid air inclusion
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0046 characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/10 characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/26 with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1833 Positioning, e.g. registration or centering
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1702 For plural parts or plural areas of single part

Abstract

A cradle device including a device slot configured to hold an electronic device. The device slot includes one or more frames. The one or more frames are configured to securely hold the electronic device in the device slot as an overlay applicator is applied to a screen of the electronic device. The cradle device also includes an alignment base. The alignment base is configured to engage with an alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator. The alignment base is configured to align the overlay applicator with the screen of the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen. Other embodiments are provided.

Claims

1. A cradle device, comprising:

a bottom frame, wherein the bottom frame has an upper surface;

a perimeter frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the perimeter frame and the bottom frame define an end slot, wherein the end slot corresponds to an opening in the perimeter frame, and wherein the opening is defined by an end bar of the perimeter frame and the bottom frame, wherein the opening is positioned between the end bar and the bottom frame;

wherein the perimeter frame further defines a device slot configured to hold an electronic device adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to hold the electronic device in the device slot as an overlay layer of an overlay applicator is applied to a screen of the electronic device, wherein the end slot is configured to receive a pull tab of the overlay applicator extending from the device slot, and wherein the pull tab is configured to be pulled through the end slot to remove an adhesive release liner of the overlay applicator and expose an adhesive of the overlay layer to the screen; and

wherein the bottom frame includes an alignment base, wherein the alignment base is configured to engage with an alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator, wherein the alignment base is configured to align the overlay applicator with the screen of the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen, and wherein the perimeter frame aligns the screen and the overlay layer as the pull tab is pulled through the end slot.

2. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein the alignment base includes one or more protrusions and wherein the alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator includes one or more alignment slots in the overlay applicator.

3. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein the perimeter frame includes a first side frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame and a second side frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, and wherein the end slot is positioned between the first side frame and the second side frame.

4. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to position an alignment tab of the overlay applicator to allow the alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator to engage with the alignment base when a screen portion of the overlay applicator is positioned in the device slot.

5. The cradle device of claim 1, further comprising:

a support piece attached to and extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the support piece is configured to apply pressure between the screen and the overlay applicator as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen and while the overlay applicator and the electronic device are positioned in the device slot.

6. The cradle device of claim 1, further comprising a support base including a cradle support having a shape for receiving the bottom frame, wherein the bottom frame is positioned in the cradle support, wherein the support base is connected to a lid using a hinge mechanism, and wherein the support base and the lid are configured to enclose the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen.

7. A method, comprising:

inserting an electronic device in a device slot of a cradle device, wherein the cradle device includes;

a bottom frame, wherein the bottom frame has an upper surface;

a perimeter frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the perimeter frame and the bottom frame define an end slot, wherein the end slot corresponds to an opening in the perimeter frame, and wherein the opening is defined by an end bar of the perimeter frame and the bottom frame, wherein the opening is positioned between the end bar and the bottom frame;

wherein the perimeter frame further defines the device slot configured to hold the electronic device adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to hold the electronic device in the device slot as an overlay layer of an overlay applicator is applied to a screen of the electronic device, wherein the end slot is configured to receive a pull tab of the overlay applicator extending from the device slot, and wherein the pull tab is configured to be pulled through the end slot to remove an adhesive release liner of the overlay applicator and expose an adhesive of the overlay layer to the screen; and

wherein the bottom frame includes an alignment base, wherein the alignment base is configured to engage with an alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator, wherein the alignment base is configured to align the overlay applicator with the screen of the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen, and wherein the perimeter frame aligns the screen and the overlay layer as the pull tab is pulled through the end slot; and

engaging the alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator with the alignment base of the cradle device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

placing the pull tab of the overlay applicator through the end slot; and

pulling the pull tab through the end slot to remove the adhesive release liner of the overlay applicator from a bottom side of the overlay layer of the overlay applicator to expose the adhesive of the overlay layer to the screen.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the perimeter frame includes a first side frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame and a second side frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, and wherein the end slot is positioned between the first side frame and the second side frame.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to position an alignment tab of the overlay applicator to allow the alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator to engage with the alignment base when a screen portion of the overlay applicator is positioned in the device slot.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the cradle device includes a support piece attached to and extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the support piece is configured to apply pressure between the screen and the overlay applicator as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen and while the overlay applicator and the electronic device are positioned in the device slot.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inserting the cradle device in a cradle support in a support base of a machine, wherein the machine includes the support base connected to a lid using a hinge mechanism, wherein the cradle support has a shape for receiving the bottom frame of the cradle device, and wherein the machine is configured to enclose the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen.

13. A cradle device, comprising:

a bottom frame, wherein the bottom frame has an upper surface;

a perimeter frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the perimeter frame and the bottom frame define an end slot, wherein the end slot corresponds to an opening in the perimeter frame between corner ends of the perimeter frame, wherein the opening is defined by the corner ends of the perimeter frame and the bottom frame, wherein the opening includes corner slots in the corner ends of the perimeter frame defined as recessed regions within the corner ends, and wherein each recessed region is located between a corner end of the perimeter frame and the bottom frame;

wherein the perimeter frame further defines a device slot configured to hold an electronic device above the upper surface of the bottom frame and within the perimeter frame, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to hold the electronic device in the device slot as an overlay applicator is applied to a screen of the electronic device, wherein the end slot is configured to receive a pull tab of the overlay applicator extending from the device slot, and wherein the pull tab is configured to be pulled through the end slot to remove an adhesive release liner of the overlay applicator from a bottom side of an overlay layer to expose an adhesive of the overlay layer to the screen; and

wherein the bottom frame includes an alignment base, wherein the alignment base is configured to engage with an alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator, wherein the alignment base is configured to align the overlay applicator with the screen of the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen, and wherein the perimeter frame aligns the screen and the overlay layer as the pull tab is pulled through the end slot.

14. The cradle device of claim 13, wherein the alignment base includes one or more protrusions and wherein the alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator includes one or more alignment slots in the overlay applicator.

15. The cradle device of claim 13, wherein the perimeter frame includes a first side frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame and a second side frame extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame.

16. The cradle device of claim 13, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to position an alignment tab of the overlay applicator to allow the alignment mechanism of the overlay applicator to engage with the alignment base when a screen portion of the overlay applicator is positioned in the device slot.

17. The cradle device of claim 13, further comprising:

a support piece attached to and extending from the upper surface of the bottom frame, wherein the support piece is configured to apply pressure between the screen and the overlay applicator as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen and while the overlay applicator and the electronic device are positioned in the device slot.

18. The cradle device of claim 13, further comprising a support base including a cradle support having a shape for receiving the bottom frame, wherein the bottom frame is positioned in the cradle support, wherein the support base is connected to a lid using a hinge mechanism, and wherein the support base and the lid are configured to enclose the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen.

19. The cradle device of claim 13, wherein the corner slots allow the overlay applicator to extend under and be secured by the corner ends.