Waterproof protective case for an electronic device

• US 9,220,328 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Magness, Cameron D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US14/280,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 590 Days
• Field of Search: 206/370, 206/320, 206/521, 206/37, 220 421- 424, 220/315, 220/324, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.04, 361/679.29, 361/679.43, 361/679.58
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2011/001 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: A45C 2200/10 Transparent walls

Abstract

A waterproof protective case can include a front portion with a cavity configured to receive a personal electronic device and a back portion configured to attach to the front portion to form the protective case. The back portion can include an overmolded gasket or a form-in-place gasket extending around a perimeter of the back portion. The front portion can include a mating surface extending around a perimeter of the cavity. The mating surface of the front portion can be configured to seal against a flexible sealing surface of the gasket when the back portion is attached to the front portion to provide a liquid-tight seal.

Claims

1. A waterproof protective case for a personal electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front portion comprising

a front side surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface,

a cavity configured to receive the personal electronic device, the cavity defined by an inner front side surface, an inner left side surface, an inner right side surface, an inner top side surface, and an inner bottom side surface,

a mating surface extending around a perimeter of the cavity,

a top side clasping feature extending from the top side surface, the top side clasping feature oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a first plane that is coplanar with the top side surface, and

a bottom side clasping feature extending from the bottom side surface, the bottom side clasping feature oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a second plane that is coplanar with bottom side surface; and

a back portion configured to attach to the front portion to encapsulate the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the protective case, the back portion comprising

an inner back surface and an outer back surface, wherein the inner back surface comprises an overmolded gasket extending around the perimeter of the inner back surface, the overmolded gasket comprising a flexible sealing surface configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the mating surface of the front portion and the flexible sealing surface when the back portion is attached to the front portion,

a top side clasping surface configured to engage the top side clasping feature on the front portion, the top side clasping surface being oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to the first plane when the front portion is attached to the back portion,

a bottom side clasping surface configured to engage the bottom side clasping feature on the front portion, the bottom side clasping surface being oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to the second plane when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the overmolded gasket further comprises a groove between the flexible sealing surface and an inner gasket portion, wherein the groove is configured to permit flexing of the flexible sealing surface to provide a water-resistant seal.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the front portion further comprises:

a right side clasping feature extending from the right side surface, wherein the right side clasping feature is configured to engage a right side clasping surface on the back portion, the right side clasping surface of the back portion being positioned proximate the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion; and

a left side clasping feature extending from the left side surface, wherein the left side clasping feature is configured to engage a left side clasping surface on the back portion, the left side clasping surface of the back portion being positioned proximate the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein the right side clasping surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a third plane that is coplanar with the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and

wherein the left side clasping surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a fourth plane that is coplanar with the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the back portion further comprises:

a right side retention feature extending from a right side edge of the back portion, wherein the right side retention feature is oriented at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to a fifth plane that is coplanar with the outer back surface of the back portion, wherein the right side retention feature comprises an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the right side retention feature comprises a first detent extending from the inner surface toward the cavity when the front portion is attached to the back portion, the right side retention feature being positioned proximate the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion; and

a left side retention feature extending from a left side edge of the back portion, wherein the left side retention feature is oriented at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the fifth plane, wherein the left side retention feature comprises an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the left side retention feature comprises a second detent extending from the inner surface toward the cavity when the front portion is attached to the back portion, the left side retention feature being positioned proximate the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

6. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the front portion comprises a first recess on the right side surface, and wherein the first recess is configured to receive the first detent when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and wherein the front portion comprises a second recess on the left side surface, and wherein the second recess is configured to receive the second detent when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

7. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising a foam layer adhered to the inner back surface of the back portion, wherein the foam layer is configured to contact a back side surface of the personal electronic device when installed in the protective case.

8. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the inner left side surface, the inner right side surface, the inner bottom surface, and the inner top surface of the cavity in the front portion each comprise a plurality of overmolded protrusions configured to contact a surface of the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the cavity.

9. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the front portion further comprises a speaker opening covered with an acoustic membrane and a sound isolator extending around the speaker opening, wherein the sound isolator is adhered to an inner surface of the acoustic membrane and is configured to surround and isolate a speaker on a front surface of the personal electronic device.

10. A waterproof protective case for a personal electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front portion comprising

a front side surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface,

a cavity configured to receive the personal electronic device, the cavity defined by an inner front side surface, an inner left side surface, an inner right side surface, an inner top side surface, and an inner bottom side surface, and

a mating surface extending around a perimeter of the cavity,

a top side clasping feature extending from the top side surface, the top side clasping feature oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a first plane that is coplanar with the top side surface, and

a bottom side clasping feature extending from the bottom side surface, the bottom side clasping feature oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a second plane that is coplanar with bottom side surface; and

a back portion configured to attach to the front portion to encapsulate the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the protective case, the back portion comprising

an inner back surface and an outer back surface, the inner back surface comprising a form-in-place gasket extending around the perimeter of the inner back surface, and wherein the form-in-place gasket comprises a flexible sealing surface that is configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the mating surface of the front portion and the flexible sealing surface when the back portion is attached to the front portion,

a top side clasping surface configured to engage the top side clasping feature on the front portion, the top side clasping surface being oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to the first plane when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and

a bottom side clasping surface configured to engage the bottom side clasping feature on the front portion, the bottom side clasping surface being oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to the second plane when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

11. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the front portion further comprises:

a right side clasping feature extending from the right side surface, wherein the right side clasping feature is configured to engage a right side clasping surface on the back portion, the right side clasping surface of the back portion being positioned proximate the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion; and

a left side clasping feature extending from the left side surface, wherein the left side clasping feature is configured to engage a left side clasping surface on the back portion, the left side clasping surface of the back portion being positioned proximate the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

12. The protective case of claim 11, wherein the right side clasping surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a third plane that is coplanar with the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and

wherein the left side clasping surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a fourth plane that is coplanar with the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

13. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the back portion further comprises:

a right side retention feature extending from a right side edge of the back portion, wherein the right side retention feature is oriented at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to a fifth plane that is coplanar with the outer back surface of the back portion, wherein the right side retention feature comprises an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the right side retention feature comprises a first detent extending from the inner surface toward the cavity when the front portion is attached to the back portion, the right side retention feature being positioned proximate the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion; and

a left side retention feature extending from a left side edge of the back portion, wherein the left side retention feature is oriented at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the fifth plane, wherein the left side retention feature comprises an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the left side retention feature comprises a second detent extending from the inner surface toward the cavity when the front portion is attached to the back portion, the left side retention feature being positioned proximate the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

14. The protective case of claim 13, wherein the front portion comprises a first recess on the right side surface, and wherein the first recess is configured to receive the first detent when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and wherein the front portion comprises a second recess on the left side surface, and wherein the second recess is configured to receive the second detent when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

15. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the inner left side surface, the inner right side surface, the inner bottom surface, and the inner top surface of the cavity in the front portion each comprise a plurality of overmolded protrusions configured to contact a surface of the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the cavity.

16. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the front portion further comprises a speaker opening covered with an acoustic membrane and a sound isolator extending around the speaker opening, wherein the sound isolator is adhered to an inner surface of the acoustic membrane and is configured to surround and isolate a speaker on a front surface of the personal electronic device.

17. A waterproof protective case for a personal electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front portion comprising

a front side surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface,

a cavity configured to receive the personal electronic device, the cavity defined by an inner front side surface, an inner left side surface, an inner right side surface, an inner top side surface, and an inner bottom side surface,

a mating surface extending around a perimeter of the cavity,

a right side clasping feature extending from the top side surface, the right side clasping feature oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a first plane that is coplanar with the right side surface, and

a left side clasping feature extending from the left side surface, the left side clasping feature oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a second plane that is coplanar with left side surface; and

a back portion configured to attach to the front portion to encapsulate the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the protective case, the back portion comprising

an inner back surface and an outer back surface, wherein the inner back surface comprises a gasket extending around the perimeter of the inner back surface, the gasket having a flexible sealing surface configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the mating surface of the front portion and the flexible sealing surface when the back portion is attached to the front portion,

a right side clasping surface configured to engage the right side clasping feature on the back portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion, the right side clasping surface of the back portion being positioned proximate the right side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and

a left side clasping surface configured to engage the left side clasping feature on the back portion, the left side clasping surface of the back portion being positioned proximate the left side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.

18. The protective case of claim 17, wherein the gasket further comprises a groove between the flexible sealing surface and an inner gasket portion, wherein the groove is configured to permit flexing of the flexible sealing surface to provide a water-resistant seal.

19. The protective case of claim 17, wherein the front portion further comprises:

a top side clasping feature extending from the front side surface, wherein the top side clasping feature is configured to engage a top side clasping surface on the front portion; and

a bottom side clasping feature extending from the bottom side surface, wherein the bottom side clasping feature is configured to engage a bottom side clasping surface on the front portion.

20. The protective case of claim 19, wherein the top side clasping surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a third plane that is coplanar with the top side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion, and

wherein the bottom side clasping surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inward with respect to a fourth plane that is coplanar with the bottom side surface of the front portion when the front portion is attached to the back portion.