Housing for encasing an electronic device

• US 9,955,762 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US15/374,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 206320
• 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 for housing an electronic device includes a top member, a bottom member, and a compressible gasket seated in a channel in either the top member or the bottom member. The top member includes a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions. The top member further including a first clasping mechanism. The bottom member includes an inner surface, a back surface, and a perimeter portion surrounding the inner surface and the back surface. The perimeter includes a wall including a second clasping mechanism.

Claims

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

a top member including a perimeter portion to bound an outer perimeter of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the apparatus, the perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the top member further including a first clasping mechanism;

a bottom member including an inner surface and a back surface, the bottom member further including a perimeter portion surrounding the inner surface and the back surface, the perimeter portion having a wall including a second clasping mechanism, wherein the second clasping mechanism including a receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the first clasping mechanism of the top member within a portion of the receptacle to maintain the top member and the bottom member removably coupled together; and

a compressible gasket seated in a channel in either the top member or the bottom member, the compressible gasket to seal between the top member and the bottom member when the bottom member is coupled to the top member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first clasping mechanism includes a tooth clasping mechanism configured to be received by the second clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member removably coupled together.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tooth clasping mechanism includes an intersecting surface configured to be received by the second clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a membrane coupled with a top surface of the perimeter portion of the top member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sealed buttons formed in the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, or the opposing side portions of the top member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one lens formed in the back surface of the bottom member.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, 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 the at least one of the sealable apertures; and

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

11. 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is in the bottom member and the channel is at least partially defined by the wall of the bottom member.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the bottom member includes one or more standoffs configured to create an air gap between the inner surface of the bottom member and a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed by the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top member further comprises an acoustic vent adapted for transmitting or directing sound therethrough, the acoustic vent including an acoustic membrane formed from a sound-passing, water-impermeable material.

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

a top member including a perimeter portion to bound an outer perimeter of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the apparatus, the perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the top member further including a catch region;

a membrane coupled with a top surface of the perimeter portion of the top member;

a bottom member including an inner surface and a back surface, the bottom member further including a perimeter portion surrounding the inner surface and the back surface, the perimeter having a wall including a receptacle configured to receive the catch region of the top member to maintain the top member and the bottom member removably coupled together; and

a compressible gasket seated in a channel in either the top member or the bottom member, the compressible gasket to seal between the top member and the bottom member when the bottom member is coupled to the top member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the catch region of the top member includes an intersecting surface configured to be received by the receptacle of the bottom member to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the channel is in the bottom member and the channel is at least partially defined by the wall of the bottom member.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inner surface of the bottom member includes one or more standoffs configured to create an air gap between the inner surface of the bottom member and a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed by the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, 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 the closed configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

one or more sealable apertures; and

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