Waterproof protective case for an electronic device

• US 9,565,910 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• 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:
  US14/944,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20160073748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/370, 220 422- 424
• 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 and a back portion configured to attach to the front portion to form the protective case. The waterproof protective case may include a port cover for covering and sealing a port opening near a feature, such as an electrical port. The port cover may include a gasket to seal the port opening, as well as a flexible member with a thinned area that flexes to allow the port cover to open and close. The protective case may include an aperture covered by a membrane to allow sound transmission through the case, and the flexible member of the port cover may include at least one opening to allow sound transmission through the flexible member. The port cover may also include an aperture covered by a membrane to allow sound transmission through the port cover.

Claims

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

a front portion for enclosing at least a portion of the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the waterproof protective case;

a back portion attachable to the front portion to form a waterproof cavity for the installed personal electronic device;

a first port opening on the waterproof protective case configured to access an audio feature of the installed personal electronic device, the first port opening covered by a water impermeable membrane configured to allow sound transmission through the waterproof protective case; and

a flexible member attached to the waterproof protective case, a thinned portion of the flexible member defining a hinge, the hinge configured to allow the flexible member to flex away from the waterproof protective case in an open position, the flexible member including;

a port cover for covering and sealing a second port opening of the waterproof protective case when the flexible member is in a closed position, the second port opening proximate an electrical feature of the installed personal electronic device, in

a gasket that seals the second port opening with the port cover of the waterproof protective case when the flexible member is in the closed position, and

at least one aperture on the flexible member, the at least one aperture adjacent the port cover and configured to expose the first port opening of the waterproof protective case when the flexible member is in the closed position.

2. The waterproof protective case of claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes an attachment feature that slides into a slot in the waterproof protective case.

3. The waterproof protective case of claim 1, further comprising a second flexible member attached to the waterproof protective case, the second flexible member including a second port cover for covering and sealing a third port opening of the waterproof protective case, wherein the second flexible member includes a second aperture covered by an acoustic membrane to enable sound transmission from the installed personal electronic device through the second flexible member.

4. The waterproof protective case of claim 3, wherein the second flexible member seals a fourth port opening in addition to sealing the third port opening on the waterproof protective case.

5. The waterproof protective case of claim 1, further comprising at least one button feature for engaging a button on the surface of the personal electronic device.

6. The waterproof protective case of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two clasping features to attach the front and back portions to each other; and

a gasket to establish a liquid-tight seal between the front and back portions.

7. The waterproof protective case of claim 1, further comprising a transparent membrane attached to the front portion of the waterproof protective case.

8. A waterproof protective case for an electronic device, the waterproof protective case comprising:

a front portion for enclosing at least a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof protective case;

a back portion attachable to the front portion to form a waterproof cavity for the installed electronic device;

a first port cover attached to a first flexible member, the first port cover for covering and sealing a first port opening of the waterproof protective case when the first flexible member is in a closed position, the first port opening proximate a first feature of the installed electronic device, the first flexible member attached to the waterproof protective case and having a hinge from a thinned area of the first flexible member, the hinge to allow the first port cover to flex away from the first port opening when the first flexible member is in an opened position;

a second port cover attached to a second flexible member, the second port cover for covering and sealing a second port opening of the waterproof protective case when the second flexible member is in a closed position, the second port opening proximate a second feature of the installed electronic device, the second flexible member attached to the waterproof protective case and having a hinge from a thinned area of the second flexible member to allow the second port cover to flex away from the second port opening when the second flexible member is in an opened position; and

a third port opening covered by a water impermeable membrane proximate an audio feature of the installed electronic device, the third port opening adjacent the second port opening and covered by the second flexible member when the second flexible member is in the closed position and the second port cover is covering and sealing the second port opening.

9. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, wherein the first port cover and the second port cover each include a gasket that seals the first port opening and the second port opening, respectively, when the first flexible member and the second flexible member are in the closed positions.

10. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first or second flexible member includes an attachment feature that slides into a slot in the waterproof protective case.

11. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, wherein the second flexible member includes an aperture adjacent the second port cover, the aperture exposing the third port opening through the second flexible member when the second flexible member is in the closed position.

12. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, wherein the first flexible member has at least one opening to allow sound transmission through the first flexible member.

13. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, further comprising a transparent membrane attached to the front portion of the waterproof protective case.

14. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, further comprising at least one button feature for engaging a button on the surface of the electronic device.

15. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, further comprising:

at least two clasping features to attach the front and back portions to each other; and

a gasket to establish a liquid-tight seal between the front and back portions.

16. The waterproof protective case of claim 8, wherein the first flexible member seals a fourth port opening in addition to the first port opening on the waterproof protective case.

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

a first portion for enclosing at least a portion of the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is installed in the waterproof protective case;

a second portion attachable to the first portion to form a waterproof cavity for the installed personal electronic device;

a port cover for covering and sealing a first port opening of the waterproof protective case, the first port opening proximate an electrical port of the installed personal electronic device, the port cover attached to a flexible member, the flexible member attached to the waterproof protective case and including a hinge formed from a thinned area of the flexible member to allow the port cover to flex away from the first port opening when the flexible member is in an open position;

a gasket that seals the first port opening of the waterproof protective case when the flexible member is in a closed position and the port cover is covering and sealing the first port opening; and

a second port opening covered by a water impermeable membrane proximate an audio feature of the installed personal electronic device, the second port opening proximate the first port opening and covered by the flexible member when the flexible member is in the closed position, the flexible member including at least one aperture that exposes the water impermeable membrane covering the second port opening when the flexible member is in the closed position.

18. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, further comprising:

a second port cover for covering and sealing a third port opening of the waterproof protective case, the second port cover attached to a second flexible member, the second flexible member attached to the waterproof protective case, the second flexible member having a hinge formed from a thinned area of the second flexible member that allows the second port cover to flex away from the third port opening when the second flexible member is in an opened position.

19. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, wherein the flexible member includes an attachment feature that slides into a slot in the waterproof protective case.

20. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, further comprising a switch engager configured to engage a rocker switch of the personal electronic device.

21. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, wherein the second portion of the waterproof protective case comprises a camera flash isolator.

22. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, further comprising a transparent membrane attached to the first portion of the waterproof protective case.

23. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, further comprising at least one button feature for engaging a button on the surface of the personal electronic device.

24. The waterproof protective case of claim 17, further comprising:

at least two clasping features to attach the first and second portions to each other; and

a gasket to establish a liquid-tight seal between the first and second portions.