Protective enclosure for an electronic device
View Patent ↗A protective enclosure for an electronic device can include a structural layer having a plurality of openings. The structural layer can provide rigidity to the protective enclosure. The protective enclosure can include a flexible cushion layer disposed over an outer surface of the structural layer. The flexible cushion layer can provide cushioning to the protective enclosure and can include a plurality of protrusions extending through the plurality of openings in the structural layer inward toward an interior of the protective enclosure. The plurality of protrusions can be configured to make contact with an electronic device when installed in the protective enclosure.
1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:
a structural layer comprised of a first material, the structural layer having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the structural layer, the structural layer further comprising a plurality of openings extending from the outer surface of the structural layer through to the inner surface of the structural layer, wherein the structural layer provides rigidity to the protective enclosure; and
a first flexible cushion layer comprised of a second material disposed over the outer surface of the structural layer and protruding through and beyond the plurality of openings in the structural layer to produce a plurality of raised protrusions, the raised protrusions extending above the inner surface of the structural layer to form a second flexible cushion layer, wherein the first flexible cushion layer provides cushioning to the outer surface of the structural layer of the protective enclosure, and the second flexible cushion layer makes contact with the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure to provide cushioning to the electronic device.
2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are configured to suspend the electronic device above the inner surface of the structural layer so that an air gap exists between the structural layer and the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.
3. The protective enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extend beyond the inner surface of the structural layer by a distance of at least 0.005 in. to provide the air gap between the structural layer and the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.
4. The protective enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extend beyond the inner surface of the structural layer by a distance of about 0.010 in. to 0.030 in. to provide the air gap between the structural layer and the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure.
5. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions comprise at least four protrusions.
6. The protective enclosure of claim 5 , wherein each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions has a width of at least 0.25 in. and a length of at least 0.50 in.
7. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of protrusions comprises a raised outer portion and a sunken inner portion configured to provide an air pocket between the sunken inner portion and the electronic device.
8. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the structural layer comprises a first surface that is proximate a rear surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective enclosure; one of the side members comprises a second surface proximate a left side surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective enclosure; and another of the side members comprises a third surface proximate a right side surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective enclosure.
9. The protective enclosure of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of openings in the structural layer extends from the first surface to the second surface of the structural layer, and wherein at least one of the plurality of protrusions extends from the first surface to the second surface of the structural layer.
10. The protective enclosure of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of openings in the structural layer extends from the first surface to the third surface of the structural layer, and wherein at least one of the plurality of protrusions extends from the first surface to the third surface of the structural layer.
11. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible cushion layers have a hardness of about 30 to 50 Shore A.
12. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible cushion layers have a thickness ranging from about 0.010 in. to 0.055 in.
13. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the structural layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.010 in. to 0.055 in.
14. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the structural layer comprises polycarbonate or glass filled nylon.
15. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible cushion layers comprise a silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
16. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:
a structural layer comprised of a first material, the structural layer having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the structural layer, the structural layer further comprising a plurality of openings extending from the outer surface of the structural layer through to the inner surface of the structural layer, wherein the structural layer provides rigidity to the protective enclosure; and
a flexible cushion layer comprised of a second material disposed over the outer surface of the structural layer to form an exterior cushioning layer, the second material further protruding through and beyond the plurality of openings in the structural layer to produce a plurality of raised protrusions having one or more air-pockets formed therein, the raised protrusions extending above the inner surface of the structural layer to form an interior flexible cushion layer, wherein the exterior flexible cushion layer provides cushioning to the outer surface of the, and the interior flexible cushion layer makes contact with the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure to provide cushioning to the electronic device.
17. The protective enclosure of claim 16 , wherein the first material comprises polycarbonate or glass filled nylon.
18. The protective enclosure of claim 16 , wherein the flexible cushion layer comprises a silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.