Protective cover for electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9906259-B2
Application number	US-201715642437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2017
Priority date	Nov 19, 2001
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A protective cover for an electronic devices includes a protective shell base having an inner surface, an outer surface, and side members. The protective cover also includes a cushioning member configured for cushioning the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base. The protective cover also includes a first opening configured to align with and expose at least a portion of a capacitance-sensing interactive touch screen display when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base. The protective cover also includes a second opening configured to align with a camera feature of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base. The protective cover further includes an access port positioned to be proximate an electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective cover for an electronic device having a capacitance-sensing interactive touch screen display, at least one control button, a camera feature, and an electrical interface, the protective cover comprising:
a protective shell base having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective shell base, the perimeter at least partially covering a side of the electronic device and having one or more compliant portions configured to flexibly engage a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;
a cushioning member coupled with at least the inner surface of the protective shell base, the cushioning member configured for cushioning the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;
a first opening in the protective shell base, the first opening configured to align with and expose at least a portion of the capacitance-sensing interactive touch screen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;
a second opening in the protective shell base, the second opening configured to align with the camera feature of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base; and
an access port in at least one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base, the access port positioned to be proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.

2. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the cushioning member is molded with the inner surface of the protective shell base.

3. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising a movable door that covers the access port.

4. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising an access hole in one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base, the access hole for accessing the at least one control button of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.

5. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising a sealing member, the sealing member configured to seal at least one of the first opening and the second opening to a surface of the installed electronic device.

6. The protective cover of claim 5 wherein the cushioning member comprises the sealing member.

7. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective shell base includes four corners and the cushioning member is positioned in at least the four corners of the protective shell base.

8. A protective cover for an electronic device having a front surface including a touch screen display, a camera feature, a back surface, and a plurality of sides, at least one of the plurality of sides of the electronic device having one or more control buttons, the protective cover comprising:
a protective shell base having an inner surface and an outer surface bounded by a plurality of side members that define a perimeter of the protective shell base, the perimeter adapted to at least partially cover the sides of the electronic device, the protective shell base adapted to flexibly engage and retain the electronic device, the protective shell base further adapted to at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;
a cushioning member affixed to the inner surface of the protective shell base, the cushioning member adapted to receive at least a portion of the back surface of the electronic device;
a first opening in protective shell base, the first opening adapted to expose at least a portion of the touch screen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;
a second opening passing through the protective shell base, the second opening adapted to provide optical access to the camera feature of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base; and
an access hole in one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base, the access hole adapted to provide access to at least one of the one or more control buttons of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.

9. The protective cover of claim 8 further comprising an optically clear insert affixed to the protective shell base and overlaying at least a portion of the second opening.

10. The protective cover of claim 9 wherein the optically clear insert comprises an optical lens.

11. The protective cover of claim 10 wherein the optically clear insert is overmolded with the protective shell base.

12. The protective cover of claim 8 further comprising an access port in at least one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base, the access port positioned proximate an electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.

13. The protective cover of claim 8 further comprising a sealing member, the sealing member adapted to seal the access hole and adapted to engage the at least one control button of the electronic device.

14. A protective cover for use with an electronic device, the electronic device having a housing, an interactive touch screen display, a control button, a camera feature, and an electrical interface, the protective cover comprising:
a protective shell having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective shell, the protective shell configured to receive at least a portion of the electronic device and cover at least a portion of the housing of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective shell, the protective shell having a cushioning member for cushioning at least a portion of the installed electronic device in the protective shell, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell;
a first opening in the protective shell, the first opening configured to align with and provide access to at least a portion of the interactive touch screen display of the installed electronic device;
a second opening in the protective shell, the second opening configured to align with the camera feature of the installed electronic device and provide optical access between the camera feature of the installed electronic device and an area outside of the protective shell; and
an access port in at least one of the plurality of the side members, the access port positioned to be proximate the electrical interface of the installed electronic device and configured to provide access to the electrical interface of the installed electronic device from the area outside the protective shell.

15. The protective cover of claim 14 further comprising a door for covering the access port, the door movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the electrical interface of the installed electronic device from the area outside of the protective shell.

16. The protective cover of claim 15 wherein the door forms a watertight seal to the protective shell when the door is in the closed position.

17. The protective cover of claim 14 further comprising an access hole in one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell, the access hole configured to permit actuation of the control button of t

Assignees

• Otter Products Llc

Inventors

• Richardson Curtis R
• Kempel Douglas A

Classifications

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · CPC title

• Y10T428/24413

  Metal or metal compound · CPC title

• G06F2200/1632

  Pen holder integrated in the computer · CPC title