IP Library Granted Patent US 9,172,134
Granted Patent B2
US 9,172,134 · App. 13/659,595 · Granted Oct 27, 2015

Protective cover for a wireless device

Inventors: Ryan Gerard McCaughey (Leesburg, VA); Karl Richard Shields (Leesburg, VA); Nikhil Nilakantan (Leesburg, VA)
Assignee: Antenna79, Inc.
H01Q1/243H01Q1/245H01Q7/00H01Q17/00H01Q19/005H01Q19/28H04B1/3888H04M1/0283H04M1/185
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,172,134
App. No.
13/659,595
Granted
Oct 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a protective cover configured to attach to a wireless device having a surface including a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion. The second portion of the surface is associated with a proximity sensor of the wireless device. The protective cover is configured to cover the first portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device. The protective cover is configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that the proximity sensor is not triggered by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational.

Claims (39)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective cover configured to attach to a wireless device having a surface including a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the surface being associated with a proximity sensor of the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to cover the first portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that the proximity sensor is not triggered by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is transparent such that the first portion of the surface is visible to a user of the wireless device when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the surface includes at least one of a screen of the wireless device or a touchscreen of the wireless device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is disposed between the first portion of the surface of the wireless device and a user of the wireless device when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is used by the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is substantially planar, the wireless device is a tablet computer device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the protective cover is configured to not cover a third portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that a user can operate the wireless device by touching the third portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational,

the third portion of the surface being mutually exclusive from the first portion and the second portion of the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is configured to be removably attached to the wireless device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is configured to attach to the wireless device such that a total radiated power (TRP) of the wireless device is not reduced when the proximity sensor is not triggered and the TRP of the wireless device is reduced when the proximity sensor is triggered.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the second portion of the surface is associated with a camera of the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that a direct access to the camera is not blocked by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective cover configured to be disposed with a wireless device having a proximity sensor such that the protective cover is disposed between the wireless device and a user of the wireless device during use without triggering the proximity sensor or reducing a total radiated power (TRP) of the wireless device during use,

the protective cover having a size and a shape that substantially correspond to a size and a shape of a portion of the wireless device that includes at least a screen of the wireless device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

the wireless device has an outer surface with a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the outer surface of the wireless device including an aperture for the proximity sensor,

the protective cover has an outer boundary that substantially corresponds to an outer boundary of the first portion of the outer surface of the wireless device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

the wireless device has an outer surface with a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the outer surface of the wireless device including an aperture for the proximity sensor,

the protective cover configured to cover the first portion of the outer surface of the wireless device when the protective cover is disposed with the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to not cover the second portion of the outer surface of the wireless device when the protective cover is disposed with the wireless device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

the wireless device has an outer surface that is substantially planar,

the protective cover is substantially planar.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

the wireless device has a camera,

the protective cover is configured to be disposed with the wireless device without blocking a direct access to the camera.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the protective cover is configured to removably attach to the portion of the wireless device when the protective cover is disposed with the wireless device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a planar sheet of material having a first surface and a second surface, the planar sheet configured to be disposed with a wireless device having a screen and a proximity sensor such that the second surface of the planar sheet is disposed between the first surface of the planar sheet and the wireless device, the planar sheet of material defining an outer boundary that surrounds the screen of the wireless device and excludes the proximity sensor of the wireless device when the planar sheet is disposed with the wireless device.

17. The apparatus of 16 , wherein the screen of the wireless device is a touchscreen.

18. The apparatus of 16 , wherein the wireless device is a tablet computer device.

19. The apparatus of 16 , wherein the planar sheet is configured to be disposed with the wireless device such that the planar sheet is disposed between the wireless device and a user of the wireless device during use.

20. The apparatus of 16 , wherein the planar sheet is configured to be disposed with the wireless device such that the second surface of the planar sheet is removably attached to the screen of the wireless device when the planar sheet is disposed with the wireless device.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
To: PENUMBRA BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 046794/0965 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 13, 2018
From: PENUMBRA BRANDS, INC.
To: PENUMBRA BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 046773/0815 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2018
From: PENUMBRA BRANDS, LLC
To: COMPASS BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046511/0498 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: ANTENNA79, INC.
To: PENUMBRA BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045491/0258 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2017
From: ANTENNA79, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 042394/0027 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2016
From: ANTENNA79, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 039753/0059 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: PONG RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: ANTENNA79, INC.
Reel/Frame 035039/0204 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2012
From: MCCAUGHEY, RYAN GERARD; SHIELDS, KARL RICHARD; NILAKANTAN, NIKHIL
To: PONG RESEARCH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029184/0453 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 13287680 · Nov 2, 2011
Related Publication 20130109435A1 · May 2, 2013