US 9,439,314 B2Granted

Housing for encasing an electronic device

AssigneeTreefog Developments, Inc.

InventorsGary A. Rayner, Alfred Blochlinger, Andrew C. Crawford

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An apparatus and system for housing a device include a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter may be defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A protective housing for housing an electronic device having a touch screen display, a headphone connector, and a control button, the protective housing for protecting the electronic device from a liquid at an outer surface of the protective housing, the protective housing comprising:

a perimeter sealing member having a back surface, side portions, and a front surface that includes a first opening corresponding to a perimeter of the touch screen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the protective housing, wherein the back surface, the front surface, and the side portions of the perimeter sealing member extend around at least a portion of the housed electronic device;
a top member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a first frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the first frame adapted to receive at least a first portion of the perimeter sealing member, the top member having a first clasping mechanism;
a bottom member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a second frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the second frame adapted to receive at least a second portion of the perimeter sealing member, the second frame having a second clasping mechanism to engage the first clasping mechanism of the top member to couple the bottom member to the top member and to compress the perimeter sealing member to provide a liquid resistant seal to protect the housed electronic device from the liquid;
a button feature in the protective housing, the button feature enabling user interaction with the control button of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;
an access port in the protective housing to provide direct physical access to the headphone connector of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;
and
a port sealing member sized to plug the access port and to provide a second liquid resistant seal at the access port.

4 more elements

A protective housing for housing an electronic device having a touch screen display, a headphone connector, an audio feature, and a control button, the protective housing for protecting the electronic device from a liquid at an outer surface of the protective housing, the protective housing comprising:

a perimeter sealing member corresponding to a perimeter of the electronic device, the perimeter sealing member comprising a compressible material;
a top member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a first frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the first frame adapted to receive at least a first portion of the perimeter sealing member, the top member having a first clasping mechanism;
a bottom member having an inner surface and an outer surface surrounded by a second frame having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions of the second frame adapted to receive at least a second portion of the perimeter sealing member, the second frame having a second clasping mechanism to engage with the first clasping mechanism of the top member to couple the bottom member to the top member and to compress the perimeter sealing member to provide a liquid resistant seal to protect the housed electronic device from the liquid;
a button feature in the protective housing, the button feature permitting actuation of the control button of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;
a sound aperture in the protective housing, the sound aperture corresponding with the audio feature of the housed electronic device and including a water impermeable membrane;
an access port in the protective housing to provide access to the headphone connector of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;
and
a port sealing member sized to close the access port and to provide a second liquid resistant seal at the access port.

5 more elements

A protective housing for an electronic device having a touch screen display, a headphone connector, a speaker, and a control button, the protective housing for protecting the electronic device from a liquid at an outer surface of the protective housing, the protective housing comprising:

a sealing member corresponding to a perimeter of the protective housing, the sealing member comprising a compressible material;
a first housing member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions adapted to receive at least a first portion of the electronic device and interface with at least a first portion of the sealing member, the first housing member having a first clasping mechanism;
a second housing member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the opposing side portions adapted to receive at least a second portion of the electronic device and interface with at least a second portion of the sealing member, the second housing member having a second clasping mechanism to engage with the first clasping mechanism of the first housing member to couple the second housing member to the first housing member and to compress the sealing member to provide a liquid resistant seal between the first housing member and the second housing member to protect the housed electronic device from the liquid;
a button feature in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member, the button feature permitting actuation of the control button of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;
a sound aperture in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member, the sound aperture corresponding with the speaker of the housed electronic device;
an access port in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member to provide access to the headphone connector of the housed electronic device from outside the protective housing;
and
a bung sized to plug the access port and to provide a second liquid resistant seal at the access port.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/938,036Filed 11 Nov 2015 · continuation
Priority: 12 Oct 2010
Published: US 2016/0057879 A13 Mar 2016
Granted: 6 Sep 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification28 codes

G06F 1/1626
For portable computers: with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
A45C 11/00
Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups a45c1/00-a45c9/00
A45C 13/002
Details; Accessories: protective covers
B65D 85/00
Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials

Family

Application61/392,361Us provisional application · filed 12 Oct 2010
Application61/444,085Us provisional application · filed 17 Feb 2011
Application61/471,058Us provisional application · filed 1 Apr 2011
Application13/272,156Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Oct 2011
Application13/355,447Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jan 2012
Application13/656,658Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Oct 2012
US 8,342,325 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Jan 2013
US 8,393,466 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Mar 2013
Application14/040,351Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Sep 2013
US 8,708,142 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Apr 2014
Application14/337,124Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Jul 2014
US 8,973,753 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Mar 2015
Application14/929,153Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Oct 2015
Application14/933,928Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Nov 2015
US 2016/0066459 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Mar 2016
US 9,247,661 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2012/0118773 A1Published application
US 2012/0211382 A1Published application
US 2013/0043777 A1Published application
US 2014/0027317 A1Published application
US 2015/0090748 A1Published application
US 2016/0057879 A1Published application
US 2016/0066460 A1Published application
US 8,783,457 B2Related patent
US 9,380,723 B2Related patent
US 9,549,598 B2Related patent
US 9,439,314 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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