MODULAR ACCESSORY FOR PROTECTIVE CASE ENCLOSING TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE

• US 20070297149A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Jamie, Kempel, Douglas, Richardson, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/731
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/811 Waterproof

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an electronic device that has a protective shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the touch screen device in a substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant manner. Modular units can be releasably connected in a rigid manner to the protective enclosure to form an integrated unitary device that is substantially crush-resistant and watertight unit. The modular units can be interchangeable and connect to the protective case using the same format.

Claims

1. A method of interchangeably attaching a plurality of different modular units to a protective case for an electronic device comprising:

providing said plurality of different modular units that are capable of performing different functions when connected to said electronic device;

covering said modular units with a modular unit protective housing that is substantially waterproof and substantially crush proof;

providing a modular unit connector on said modular unit protective housing that is the same for said plurality of different modular units;

providing an electronic device protective case connector on said protective case that interconnects with said modular unit connector and provides a sturdy, rigid connection;

connecting a first modular unit, that performs a first function when connected to said electronic device, to said electronic device protective case using a latch so that said first modular unit and said protective case form a single, integrated, rigid unit;

separating said first modular unit from said electronic device protective case by unlatching said latch; and

connecting a second modular unit, that performs a second function when connected to said electronic device, to said protective case using said latch so that said first modular unit and said electronic device protective case form a single, integrated rigid unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a modular unit connector comprises:

providing a modular unit connector that includes a compressible gasket that compresses and forms a watertight seal between said modular unit protective housing and said protective case.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

connecting a communication link between said modular unit and said electronic device

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of connecting a communication link further comprises:

connecting a wire connection from said modular unit to said electronic device using a connector plug.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

securing said latch using a latch holder.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of connecting a communication link further comprises:

connecting a wireless link between said modular unit and said electronic device.

7. A two piece integrated protective housing comprising:

a plurality of modular unit protective cases that house a plurality of modular units that perform different functions, said modular unit protective cases being substantially waterproof and substantially crushproof;

a modular unit protective case connector disposed on said plurality of modular unit protective cases that is substantially the same for all of said plurality of modular unit protective cases;

an electronic device protective case that houses an electronic device and that is substantially waterproof and substantially crushproof; and

an electronic device protective case connector disposed in said electronic device protective case that latches to said modular unit connector to provide a rigid, sturdy connection between said modular unit protective case.

8. The two piece protective housing of claim 7 further comprising:

a compressible gasket disposed between said modular unit protective cases and said electronic device protective case that compresses and forms a watertight seal between said modular unit protective case and said electronic device protective case when said modular unit protective case connector is connected to said electronic device protective case connector.

9. The two piece protective housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a communication link that connects said modular units to said electronic device.

10. The two piece protective housing of claim 9 wherein said communication link comprises:

a wire connected to said modular units;

a connector plug that plugs into said electronic device.

11. The two piece housing of claim 9 wherein said communication link comprises a wireless connection.