Method, apparatus, and kit for protecting an electronic device

• US 9,120,954 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLU Products LLC (NLU LLC)
• Original Assignee: NLU Products LLC (NLU LLC)
• Inventors: Feller, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Sing P
• Application Number:
  US13/787,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20130199950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 156/230, 156/234, 156/237, 156/247, 156/289
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/20 characterised by their carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and kit for protecting an electronic device is disclosed and described. The apparatus can include a protective film with an adhesive disposed on one side thereof and a backing covering the adhesive. The adhesive can be configured to bond to a surface of the device and can be configured to allow an optional gel to temporarily deactivate bonding of the protective film to the surface of the device. The backing can comprise a tab in order for a portion of the backing to be removed from the protective film. Additionally, the protective film can have anti-microbial properties on an exposed surface.

Claims

1. A method for applying protective film to a device, the method comprising:

obtaining a protective film having an adhesive disposed thereon and a backing covering the adhesive;

removing the backing to expose the adhesive;

applying a gel to the adhesive to temporarily deactivate bonding of the protective film;

aligning the protective film on the device; and

applying the protective film to the device after the protective film is properly aligned.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gel comprises water, an alcohol, and a heterocyclic compound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective film comprises urethane, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, optically clear chlorinated polymer, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective film is optically clear prior to application to the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises acrylic based polymers, acrylic emulsion polymers, natural elastomeric polymers, synthetic elastomeric polymers, elastomeric copolymer microspheres, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective film further comprises a cap sheet and the method further comprises removing the cap sheet from the protective film.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective film has anti-microbial properties on an exposed surface of the protective film.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a cell phone or a tablet.