Granted Patent B2

US 8,917,496 · App. 14/056,564 · Granted Dec 23, 2014

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A protective cover for an electronic device having an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts for receiving electrical communication, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell having a first member and a second member configured to surround the electronic device, the shell having a substantially rigid portion providing crush-resistance;

the first member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, opposing side portions, and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving the electronic device;

the second member having a proximal portion, a distal portion and opposing side portions, and being configured to join with the first member wherein the first member and the second member together at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell;

an aperture defined by an inner perimeter of the protective shell, the aperture being aligned with a top surface of the electronic device to provide access to at least the interactive control panel of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the first member and the second member of the protective shell;

a securing mechanism configured to secure the first member with the second member when the electronic device is surrounded by the shell; and

an electrical connector internal to the protective shell, the electrical connector connecting an electrical communication source to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts of the electronic device to selectively convey electrical communication and electrical power between the electrical communication source and the electronic device after the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member.

2. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is attached to the first member of the protective shell.

3. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is attached to the second member of the protective shell.

4. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a first clasp coupled with the first member and a second clasp coupled with the second member, the first clasp and second clasp being configured to clasp together to secure the first member with the second member to form the protective shell to at least partially cover the electronic device.

5. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a membrane configured to be disposed over and adjacent to the interactive control panel of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell, the membrane and the protective shell forming the protective cover for the electronic device having the interactive control panel, the membrane being sufficiently thin to allow inputs on a front side of the membrane to be received by the interactive control panel.

6. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes one or more light transmissive features configured to transmit light from an indicator light.

7. The protective cover in accordance with claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more light transmissive features is configured to convey light associated with the electrical communication source.

8. The protective cover in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector includes one or more of an electrical contact and an electrical cable.

9. A protective cover for an electronic device having an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell having a first member and a second member providing a perimeter for at least partially surrounding the electronic device, the shell providing protection to the electronic device when dropped;

the first member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, opposing side portions, and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving the electronic device;

the second member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, as well as opposing side portions and being configured to join with the first member such that the first member and the second member at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell;

an aperture defined by the protective shell, the aperture being at least partially aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the first member and the second member of the protective shell; and

an electrical connector that is an internal component of the protective shell, the electrical connector providing communication selectively of at least one of electrical communication signals and electrical power between an electrical source and the electrical contacts of the electronic device when the electronic device is received by the inner surface of the first member.

10. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the electronic device is chargeable by connection of at least one of the one or more electrical contacts of the electronic device to the electrical source via the electrical connector when the electrical source provides electricity to charge a battery of the electronic device.

11. The protective cover in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the protective shell is sized to mate with a cradle having an electrical source, and the electrical connector is configured to connect the at least one of the one or more electrical contacts to the electrical source provided by the cradle when the protective shell is mated with the cradle.

12. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising:

a securing mechanism configured for securing the first member to the second member.

13. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the electrical source provides electrical communication signals to the electronic device or receives electrical communication signals from the electronic device.

14. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising a membrane configured to be disposed over and adjacent to the interactive control panel of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective shell, the membrane and the protective shell forming the protective cover for the electronic device having the interactive control panel, the membrane being sufficiently thin to allow inputs on a front side of the membrane to be received by the interactive control panel.

15. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes one or more light transmissive features configured to transmit light from an indicator light.

16. The protective cover in accordance with claim 15 , wherein at least one of one or more light transmissive features is configured to transmit light associated with a battery condition.

17. The protective cover in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the electrical connector includes one or more electrical cables coupled to at least one of the first member and the second member.

Assignments (8)