Cradle device, method of using the same, and overlay applicator machine

• US 9,902,111 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wadsworth, John F., Beaupre, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): GOFF II, JOHN L
• Application Number:
  US14/579,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 156247, 156249
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2063/0008 Registering, centering the lining material on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0004 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0047 Preventing air-inclusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/02 using sheet or web-like material B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7808 in the form of holes or slots B29C65/7814 takes precedence; holding or clamping means cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined B29C65/7844
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/342 Preventing air-inclusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3475 Displays, monitors, TV-sets, computer screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/268 Release layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/003 to avoid air inclusion
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0046 characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/10 characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/26 with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1833 Positioning, e.g. registration or centering
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1702 For plural parts or plural areas of single part

Abstract

An overlay applicator can include an overlay with a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side can include an adhesive agent configured to adhere to a screen of an electronic device. The overlay applicator can include an adhesive release liner. The adhesive release liner can include a top side and a bottom side. The top side of the adhesive release liner can be removably attached to the bottom side of the overlay. The adhesive release liner can be configured to protect the adhesive agent at the bottom side of the overlay from contaminants. The overlay applicator can include a protective film removably attached to the top side of the overlay. The overlay applicator can include an alignment tab. The alignment tab can include an alignment mechanism. The overlay applicator further can include a pull tab. The pull can include a wiper. Other embodiments are provided.

Claims

1. An overlay applicator machine, comprising:

a clamshell frame including;

a support base;

a lid; and

a hinge mechanism attaching the lid and the support base to allow the lid and support base to rotate with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and

a cradle including;

a bottom frame having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the lower side of the bottom frame is supported by the support base;

two or more perimeter frames extending from the upper side of the bottom frame, wherein perimeter frames include side frames, corner frames, or end frames, wherein the two or more perimeter frames and the bottom frame define a device slot, wherein the device slot is sized and shaped to hold an electronic device, wherein the two or more perimeter frames include two or more corner frames arranged opposite to one another with respect to the device slot, wherein the two or more corner frames include corner slots, and wherein corner slots correspond to recessed regions between a corner frame and the bottom frame; and

an alignment base positioned on the bottom frame, the alignment base for engaging with an alignment mechanism of an overlay applicator, wherein the alignment base is positioned between an end of the bottom frame and the device slot, and wherein, in the closed configuration, at least a portion of the device slot is positioned between the lid and the support base.

2. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the alignment base is configured to align the overlay applicator with a screen of the electronic device as the overlay applicator is applied to the screen.

3. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the two or more perimeter frames include two side frames arranged to hold the electronic device in the device slot.

4. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, where the two or more perimeter frames define an end slot, wherein the end slot corresponds to an opening between opposing sides of the two or more perimeter frames, and wherein the end slot is configured to receive a pull tab of the overlay applicator extending from the device slot, and wherein the pull tab is configured to be pulled through the end slot to remove an adhesive release liner of the overlay applicator from an overlay layer of the overlay applicator to expose an adhesive of the overlay layer to a screen of the electronic device.

5. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a support piece extending from the upper side of the bottom frame and located within the device slot, wherein the support piece is positioned to apply pressure between a screen of the electronic device and the overlay applicator when the electronic device is positioned in the device slot and the overlay applicator is positioned in the device slot between the support piece and the screen of the electronic device.

6. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the cradle is removably attached to the support base.

7. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the lid includes one or more catches, wherein the support base includes a corresponding one or more latching slots, and wherein the one or more catches and the corresponding one or more latching slots are arranged to place the one or more catches in the corresponding one or more latching slots when in the closed configuration.

8. The overlay applicator machine of claim 7, wherein the support base includes one or more latches positioned in the corresponding one or more latching slots, and wherein the support base includes one or more release buttons positioned to mechanically release the latches in the corresponding one or more latching slots when the one or more release buttons are pressed.

9. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the lid includes one or more pads positioned for applying pressure to the electronic device when in the closed configuration.

10. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a second cradle, separate and distinct from the cradle, the second cradle including a second bottom frame having a second upper side and a second lower side, two or more second perimeter frames extending from the second upper side, wherein the two or more second perimeter frames define a second device slot, and wherein the second device slot is sized and shaped to hold a second electronic device different from the electronic device.

11. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism includes one or more springs arranged to bias the lid and the support base in the open configuration.

12. The overlay applicator machine of claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism includes one or more axles arranged to provide a rotation axis for the support base and the lid between the open configuration and the closed configuration.