Protective enclosure for a portable electronic device

• US 9,888,753 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• 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:
  US15/437,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• 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 use with a portable electronic device includes a rigid shell and a cushion layer. The rigid shell is configured to removably cover at least a portion of the portable electronic device. The rigid shell includes openings and one of a tab and a groove on an external surface of the rigid shell. The cushion layer is removably disposable over the rigid shell and conforms to the external surface of the rigid shell to cushion the rigid shell. The cushion layer includes one of a groove and a tab that corresponds to and interfaces with the one of a tab and a groove of the rigid shell to retain the cushion layer to the rigid shell when the cushion layer is disposed over the rigid shell. The cushion layer further includes an opening that aligns with at least one of the openings of the rigid shell.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for use with a portable electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:

a rigid shell configured to removably cover at least a portion of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the rigid shell, the rigid shell including one or more openings, the rigid shell further including one of a tab and a groove on an external surface of the rigid shell; and

a stretchable cushion layer removably disposable over the rigid shell, the stretchable cushion layer configured to conform to the external surface of the rigid shell and cushion the rigid shell when the stretchable cushion layer is disposed over the rigid shell, the stretchable cushion layer including one of a groove and a tab that corresponds to and interfaces with the one of a tab and a groove of the rigid shell to retain the stretchable cushion layer to the rigid shell when the stretchable cushion layer is disposed over the rigid shell, the stretchable cushion layer further including an opening that aligns with at least one of the one or more openings of the rigid shell when the stretchable cushion layer is disposed over the rigid shell.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the rigid shell includes at least a first shell member and a second shell member, the first shell member including one or more clasping mechanisms configured to engage one or more corresponding clasping mechanisms of the second shell member to removably attach the first shell member to the second shell member.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein one of the one or more openings of the rigid shell is proximate a touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, the one of the one or more openings configured to facilitate access to the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the rigid shell.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 3 further comprising a membrane configured to be adjacent to the touchscreen interface of the installed portable electronic device, the membrane being sufficiently thin to facilitate operation of the touchscreen interface of the installed portable electronic device through the membrane.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 4 wherein the membrane comprises optically transparent glass.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 4 wherein the membrane adheres to the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the stretchable cushion layer includes a plug formed in the stretchable cushion layer, the plug configured to provide access to one of the one or more openings of the rigid shell.

8. A protective enclosure for use with a portable electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:

a hard shell having at least a first shell member and a second shell member, the second shell member configured to removably clasp to the first shell member to at least partially enclose the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the hard shell, the hard shell having one or more openings, the hard shell further having one of a tab and a groove at an external surface of the hard shell; and

a cushion layer removably disposable over the hard shell, the cushion layer configured to at least partially conform to the external surface of the hard shell to cushion the hard shell and the installed portable electronic device when the cushion layer is disposed over the hard shell, the cushion layer having one of a groove and a tab that corresponds to and mates with the one of a tab and a groove of the hard shell to retain the cushion layer to the hard shell when the cushion layer is disposed over the hard shell, the cushion layer further having an opening that exposes at least one portion of the hard shell when the cushion layer is disposed over the hard shell.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 8 wherein one of the one or more openings of the hard shell is configured to be proximate a touchscreen of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, the one of the one or more openings configured to facilitate access to the touchscreen of the installed portable electronic device.

10. The protective enclosure of claim 9 further comprising an optically transparent membrane configured to be proximate the touchscreen of the installed portable electronic device.

11. The protective enclosure of claim 10 wherein the optically transparent membrane comprises glass.

12. The protective enclosure of claim 10 wherein the optically transparent membrane includes an adhesive.

13. The protective enclosure of claim 9 wherein the optically transparent membrane includes an acoustic screen that is proximate an audio feature of the installed portable electronic device.

14. A protective apparatus for use with a portable electronic device, the protective apparatus comprising:

a shell configured to receive and at least partially enclose the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the shell, the shell having one or more openings for accessing at least a portion of the installed portable electronic device, the shell further having one of a tab and a groove; and

a cushion layer that removably fits over the shell, the cushion layer being configured to at least partially conform to the shell to cushion the shell and the installed portable electronic device when the cushion layer is installed over the shell, the cushion layer having one of a groove and a tab configured to interface with the one of a tab and a groove of the shell to removably attach the cushion layer to the shell when the cushion layer is installed over the shell, the cushion layer including an opening that aligns with at least one of the one or more openings of the shell when the cushion layer is installed over the shell.

15. The protective apparatus of claim 14 wherein the one of the tab and the groove of the shell is a tab and the one of the groove and the tab of the cushion layer is a groove.

16. The protective apparatus of claim 14 wherein the one of the tab and the groove of the shell is a groove and the one of the groove and the tab of the cushion layer is a tab.

17. The protective apparatus of claim 14 wherein the shell includes at least a first shell member and a second shell member, the first shell member including one or more clasping mechanisms configured to engage one or more corresponding clasping mechanisms of the second shell member to removably attach the first shell member to the second shell member.

18. The protective apparatus of claim 14 wherein the interface of the one of a groove and a tab of the cushion layer to the one of a tab and a groove of the shell forms a water resistant interface.

19. The protective apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cushion layer includes a movable flap over the opening in the cushion layer.

20. The protective apparatus of claim 19 wherein the movable flap provides a water resistant seal.