HOUSING FOR ENCASING AN OBJECT HAVING A THIN PROFILE

• US 20140152890A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Rayner, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 9,469,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/376
• 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 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: B65D 85/30 for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1656 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: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

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 front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. 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. 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 housing for encasing and sealing an electronic device having a camera and a flash, the housing comprising:

a bottom member comprising a front and a back surface and having a camera lens for being positioned over the camera and a flash lens for being positioned over the flash, the bottom member being surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the front surface of the bottom member having a gasket provided at least at a periphery of the front surface, the bottom member further comprising a plurality of clasping mechanism extending up from the periphery of the front surface; and

a top member having a rigid frame that defines an inner wall that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, and defines an outer wall that corresponds with the perimeter portion of the bottom member, the outer wall of the rigid the rigid having a plurality of indents, each indent to receive one of the plurality of clasping mechanism of the bottom member to mate the top member with the bottom member, the rigid frame extending to a ridge that is adapted abut the gasket to seal the housing when the bottom member is mated with the top member.

2. The housing as in claim 1, wherein the top member further includes a plurality of sealed buttons and a plurality of sealable apertures, and a membrane that overlays the rigid frame opposite the ridge, the membrane having a transparent area.

3. The housing as in claim 1, further comprising an optical skirt surrounding the camera lens and/or the flash lens and for being positioned between the housing member and the electronic device, the optical skirt for allowing transmission of light from the flash through the flash lens and inhibiting reflection of the light from the flash to the camera lens.

4. The housing as in claim 3, wherein the optical skirt surrounds the camera lens.

5. The housing as in claim 3, wherein the optical skirt surrounds the flash lens.

6. The housing as in claim 3, wherein the optical skirt surrounds the camera lens and the flash lens.

7. A protective case for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front surface that includes a display, the protective case comprising:

a bottom member having an inner surface defined by a back wall and a side wall to receive the electronic device, the side wall having a top surface defined by an outer periphery and an inner periphery;

a frame member that frames at least a portion of the front surface of the electronic device to enable operation by a user of the display, the frame member having an outer peripheral edge that corresponds to the outer periphery of the top surface of the side wall of the bottom member;

one or more coupling members that couple the frame member with the bottom member; and

a releasable adhesive interposed between the top surface of the side wall of the bottom member and an underside of the frame member, to seal an interface between the top surface of the side wall of the bottom member and the frame member when the frame member is coupled with the bottom member.

8. The protective case in accordance with claim 7, wherein the releasable adhesive seals a second interface between the frame member and the electronic device when the frame member is coupled with the bottom member.

9. The protective case in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more coupling members include a latch extending from the underside of the frame member, the latch for latching with the inner surface of the side wall of the bottom member.

10. The protective case in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more coupling members include a plurality of latches spaced-apart along the underside of the frame member, each latch having an outwardly-facing protrusion to engage an inward depression formed in the inner surface of the side wall of the bottom member.

11. The protective case in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more coupling members are selected from a group of coupling members consisting of:

snaps, screws, bolts, fasteners, clasps, locks, or catches.

12. The protective case in accordance with claim 8, wherein the releasable adhesive member is a low compression sealant.

13. The protective case in accordance with claim 12, wherein the low compression sealant comprises a poloxamer.

14. The protective case in accordance with claim 8, wherein the frame member is formed of a rigid material.

15. A system for providing at least one water-resistant seal to a portable electronic device that provides a fixed dimensional structure, the system comprising:

a rigid housing formed to be disposed on at least a portion of the portable electronic device;

a releasable and reusable adhesive member having an inner surface to cover a perimeter region of the fixed dimensional structure provided by the portable electronic device to form the at least one water-resistant seal at the perimeter region between the inner surface of the releasable and reusable adhesive member and the fixed dimensional structure of the portable electronic device; and

a compression member coupled to the rigid housing and disposed on an outer surface of the releasable and reusable adhesive member.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the compression member provides an opposing compressive force against the fixed dimensional structure proximate to and substantially opposite the inner surface of the releasable and reusable adhesive member.

17. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the opposing compressive force is to mechanically retain the releasable and reusable adhesive member to inhibit shearing and pealing of the releasable and reusable adhesive member.

18. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the releasable and reusable adhesive member is further interdisposed between the rigid housing and the compression member, and wherein the compression member further provides the opposing compressive force against the rigid housing to form a second water-resistant seal between the releasable and reusable adhesive member and the rigid frame.

19. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the system includes two or more releasable and reusable adhesive members.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the system further comprises a second releasable and reusable adhesive member interdisposed between the rigid housing and the compression member, and wherein the compression member further provides the opposing compressive force against the rigid housing to form a second water-resistant seal between the second releasable and reusable adhesive member and the rigid frame.

21. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the releasable and reusable adhesive member is flexible.

22. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the releasable and reusable adhesive member is a low compression sealant.

23. The system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the releasable and low compression sealant comprises a poloxamer.

24. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the releasable and reusable adhesive member is bonded to the compression member.

25. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the releasable and reusable adhesive member is bonded to the rigid frame.

26. A method of forming at least one water resistant seal, the method comprising

providing a portable electronic device having a fixed dimensional structure;

covering at least a portion of the portable electronic device with an elastic cover, the elastic cover having at least one aperture;

disposing a rigid housing on at least a portion of the elastic cover, the rigid housing providing an opposing compressive force on an outer surface of the elastic cover proximate to and substantially opposite an inner surface of the elastic cover when the elastic cover covers at least a portion of the fixed dimensional structure of the portable electronic device; and

forming the at least one water-resistant seal between the inner surface of the elastic cover and the fixed dimensional structure of the portable electronic device by the opposing compressive force.

27. The method in accordance with claim 26, further comprising:

providing one or more water resistant seals, each water resistant seal configured to seal an opening to the portable electronic device within the underlying region of the fixed dimensional structure; and

sealing the opening to the portable electronic device within the underlying region of the fixed dimensional structure with the corresponding one or more water resistant seals.

28. A protective case for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front surface that includes a display, the protective case comprising:

a bottom member having an inner surface defined by a back wall and a side wall to receive the electronic device, the side wall having a top surface defined by an outer periphery and an inner periphery;

a frame member that frames at least a portion of the front surface of the electronic device to enable operation by a user of the display, the frame member having an outer peripheral edge that corresponds to the outer periphery of the top surface of the side wall of the bottom member;

one or more tapered posts that couple the frame member with the bottom member by interacting with a deformable opening; and

a releasable adhesive interposed between the top surface of the side wall of the bottom member and an underside of the frame member, to seal an interface between the top surface of the side wall of the bottom member and the frame member when the frame member is coupled with the bottom member.

29. The protective case in accordance with claim 28, wherein the one or more tapered posts are spaced-apart along the underside of the frame member, each tapered post having a post head to engage a deformable opening on the periphery of the bottom member.

30. The protective case in accordance with claim 28, wherein the releasable adhesive member is a low compression sealant.

31. The protective case in accordance with claim 30, wherein the low compression sealant comprises a poloxamer.

32. The protective case in accordance with claim 28, wherein the frame member is formed of a rigid material.