Removable screen protector
View Patent ↗A protective case can include a removable screen protector that is reusable and easily interchangeable by hand. In one example, the protective case can be part of a kit that includes a plurality of removable screen protectors, and the removable screen protectors can each have special attributes that allow a user to quickly and easily modify the attributes of the protective case by simply exchanging a first removable screen protector with a second removable screen protector. In this way, the user can quickly and easily modify the attributes of the protective case to better align with practical considerations of the user's environment.
1. A protective case for an electronic device, the case comprising:
a rigid shell configured to cover at least a portion of the electronic device, the rigid shell comprising a first hard shell component and a second hard shell component, the first hard shell component having a plurality of perimeter tabs to engage respective tab engagement features on the second hard shell component to removably attach the first hard shell component to the second hard shell component, the rigid shell including a first engagement portion and one or more detents;
a cushion layer configured to fit over at least a portion of an outer surface of the rigid shell, the cushion layer including one or more retention features for keeping the cushion layer affixed to the rigid shell;
a rigid frame defining an opening that is configured to align with a display screen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, the rigid frame having a second engagement portion integrally formed with the frame to slidably engage the first engagement portion of the rigid shell for attachment of the rigid frame to the rigid shell, the rigid frame including one or more retaining features for engaging the one or more detents of the rigid shell, respectively, for removably retaining the rigid frame in the rigid shell; and
a membrane substantially permanently attached at least at a perimeter of the membrane to the rigid frame and covering the opening in the frame, wherein
the rigid frame together with the attached membrane is slidably attachable at the second engagement portion to the first engagement portion of the rigid shell at a front side of the protective case, the rigid frame with attached membrane further being slidably detachable from the front side of the protective case, and the membrane is configured to be substantially parallel to the display screen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case and while the rigid frame is slidably attached.
2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion includes
a first rail receiver and a second rail receiver, and the second engagement portion includes a first rail and a second rail, wherein the first rail receiver is configured to receive the first rail, and wherein the second rail receiver is configured to receive the second rail when the rigid frame is slidably attached to the protective case.
3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion includes
a first rail and a second rail, and the second engagement portion includes a first rail receiver and a second rail receiver, wherein the first rail is configured to receive the first rail receiver, and wherein the second rail is configured to receive the second rail receiver when the rigid frame is slidably attached to the protective case.
4. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the rigid shell is configured to receive and house the electronic device.
5. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first hard shell component is configured to contact at least a portion of a front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, and wherein the second hard shell component is configured to contact at least a portion of a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
6. The protective case of claim 3 , wherein the first rail and the second rail are integrated into the first hard shell component.
7. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the membrane has an infrared radiation transmittance below a threshold in order to be compatible with night vision equipment.
8. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the membrane has a transmittance of less than 5% for wavelengths between about 665-930 nm and a transmittance of greater than about 75% for wavelengths between about 425-630 nm.
9. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a privacy filter.
10. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the cushion layer comprises a front opening and a lip protruding from an inner surface of the cushion layer near a perimeter of the front opening, wherein the lip protrudes inward toward an inner volume of the cushion layer, and wherein the first hard shell component comprises a trough configured to receive the lip to permit attachment of the cushion layer to the first hard shell component.
11. The protective case of claim 10 , further comprising one or more flexible fingers located along a lower edge of the cushion layer, wherein the flexible fingers are configured to prevent the electronic device from falling out of the protective case when the rigid frame is not installed.
12. A removable screen protector for a protective case configured to receive an electronic device, the removable screen protector comprising:
a rigid frame configured to slidably attach to the protective case by way of a rail system in part formed in the rigid frame, the rigid frame having one or more retaining features, each retaining feature for engaging and snapping into a respective detent of the protective case to removably retain the rigid frame to the protective case; and
a membrane substantially permanently attached at least at a perimeter of the membrane to the rigid frame and covering an opening in the rigid frame,
wherein the membrane is configured to be substantially parallel to a display screen of the electronic device while the removable screen protector is slidably attached to the protective case by way of the rail system and when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
13. The removable screen protector of claim 12 , wherein the rail system comprises:
a first rail receiver disposed of the rigid frame and a second rail receiver disposed of the rigid frame, wherein the first rail receiver is configured to engage a first rail of the protective case, and wherein the second rail receiver is configured to engage a second rail of the protective case when the removable screen protector is slidably attached to the protective case.
14. The removable screen protector of claim 12 , wherein the rail system comprises:
a first rail of the rigid frame and a second rail of the rigid frame, wherein the first rail is configured to engage a first rail receiver of the protective case for the electronic device, and wherein the second rail is configured to engage a second rail receiver of the protective case when the removable screen protector is slidably attached to the protective case.
15. The removable screen protector of claim 12 , wherein the membrane is night vision compatible, being formed of material having a transmittance of less than 5% for wavelengths between about 665-930 nm and a transmittance of greater than about 75% for wavelengths between about 425-630 nm.
16. The protective case of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more detents of the rigid shell comprises a semi-spherical protrusion and each of the one or more retaining features of the rigid frame comprises a recess configured to receive one of the semi-spherical protrusions.
17. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the rigid frame includes at least two stops each positioned to seat against respective portions of the cushion layer when the rigid frame is attached to the hard shell component in order to provide visual feedback to a user indicating completion of the attachment.
18. The removable screen protector of claim 12 wherein each of the one or more retaining features of the rigid frame comprises a recess configured to receive a semi-spherical protrusion of the protective case.
19. The removable screen protector of claim 12 wherein the rigid frame includes at least two stops each positioned to seat against respective portions of the protective case when the rigid frame is attached to the protective case in order to provide visual feedback to a user indicating completion of the attachment of the rigid frame to the protective case.