Protective material applicator device
View Patent ↗Devices, methods and systems disclosed herein relate to the application of a protective film on a surface of an electronic device that instantly reduces air bubbles and eliminates the waiting time usually required when using a wet fluid solution. In one embodiment, a roller device may include a carriage or housing and one or more rollers coupled or integrated with the housing, configured to apply a protective material to a surface of the electronic device in a first orientation, and configured to function as a device stand in a second orientation. In addition or alternatively, a roller guide apparatus and/or a wedge may be utilized to assist the roller device in applying the protective material to the surface of the electronic device.
1. A film application system for aiding a process of applying a protective film to a device, the system comprising:
a roller guide apparatus sized to be larger than the device, the roller guide apparatus including:
an inner wall defining a cavity for receiving the device,
a roller supporting surface defining an upper boundary of the inner wall and being positioned outside of the cavity, and
a pair of roller guiding rails raised above the roller supporting surface, the pair of roller guiding rails separated from one another by the cavity defined by the inner wall;
a protective film having a backing portion and an application portion, the protective film removably attached to the roller supporting surface of the roller guide apparatus;
a roller configured to fit between and roll between the pair of roller guiding rails to press the application portion of the protective film to the device to apply the application portion to the device when the device is received within the cavity; and
a wedge attached to the protective film and configured to separate the backing portion from the application portion upon the roller being pushed towards the wedge to apply the application portion to the device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the roller guiding rails is set to be equal to a length of the roller.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each roller guiding rail includes a pressing portion located on top of the roller guiding rail and protruding away from the cavity.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the roller guiding rails are substantially parallel.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the device is inserted into the cavity, the surface of the device is substantially flush with the roller supporting surface.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wedge is configured to fit between the pair of roller guiding rails for supporting the protective film during the process of applying the protective film to the device.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the wedge is substantially triangular in shape, the wedge further including a first surface, a second surface and a third surface joined together.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first surface of the wedge is adhered to the backing portion of the protective film.