Granted Patent B2

US 10,159,320 · App. 15/354,522 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front portion that includes an interactive screen and a back portion opposite the front portion, the protective enclosure comprising:

a top member adapted to receive the front portion of the electronic device, the top member extending lengthwise about a reference longitudinal axis and widthwise about a reference transverse axis, and wherein the reference longitudinal axis and the reference transverse axis define a reference plane, the top member having a front portion and a perimeter wall portion extending from the front portion, wherein a window is formed in the front portion and the window is defined by a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge adapted to correspond in shape to the interactive screen of the electronic device, and the perimeter edge including a top edge extending along a top edge axis, a bottom edge extending along a bottom edge axis, a first side edge extending along a first side edge axis, and a second side edge extending along a second side edge axis;

a bottom member adapted to receive the back portion of the electronic device, the bottom member having a back portion and a perimeter wall portion extending from the back portion, the bottom member removably coupled to the top member so as to form a shell around the electronic device;

a seal disposed along a bottom surface of the front portion adjacent to the perimeter edge defining the window, wherein the seal corresponds in shape to the perimeter edge, and when the electronic device is disposed in the shell, the seal is disposed between the bottom surface of the front portion and the interactive screen of the electronic device so as to form a fluid-tight seal between the bottom surface of the front portion and the interactive screen of the electronic device,

the seal including a top segment adjacent to the top edge of the perimeter edge, a bottom segment adjacent to the bottom edge of the perimeter edge, a first side segment adjacent to the first side edge of the perimeter edge, and a second side segment adjacent to the second side edge of the perimeter edge,

wherein the top segment includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a main portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the main portion of the top segment has an arcuate shape when viewed along the reference plane such that at least a midpoint of the top segment is adapted to be biased into contact with a portion of the interactive screen of the electronic device, and

wherein the bottom segment includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a main portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the main portion of the top segment has an arcuate shape when viewed along the reference plane such that at least a midpoint of the bottom segment is adapted to be biased into contact with a portion of the interactive screen of the electronic device.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first side segment includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a main portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the main portion of the first side segment has an arcuate shape when viewed along the reference plane such that at least a midpoint of the first side segment is adapted to be biased into contact with a portion of the interactive screen of the electronic device, and

wherein the second side segment includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a main portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the main portion of the second side segment has an arcuate shape when viewed along the reference plane such that at least a midpoint of the second segment is adapted to be biased into contact with a portion of the interactive screen of the electronic device.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the midpoint of the main portion of the first side segment is between the reference plane and an inner surface of the back portion, and

wherein the midpoint of the main portion of the second side segment is between the reference plane and the inner surface of the back portion.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the top segment extends along a linear first end portion top axis, and the first end portion top axis forms a first acute angle relative to the reference plane when viewed along the reference plane,

wherein the second end portion of the top segment extends along a linear second end portion top axis, and the second end portion top axis forms a second acute angle relative to the reference plane when viewed along the reference plane,

wherein the first end portion of the bottom segment extends along a linear first end portion bottom axis, and the first end portion bottom axis forms a third acute angle relative to the reference plane when viewed along the reference plane, and

wherein the second end portion of the top segment extends along a linear second end portion bottom axis, and the second end portion bottom axis forms a fourth acute angle relative to the reference plane when viewed along the reference plane.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 4 , wherein each of the first acute angle, the second acute angle, the third acute angle, and the fourth acute angle is between 1° and 20°.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 4 , wherein the first acute angle, the second acute angle, the third acute angle, and the fourth acute angle are identical.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a liquid elastomer applied to and cured to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the front portion.

8. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the top segment, the bottom segment, the first side segment, and the second side segment form a rectangular shape.

9. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the midpoint of the main portion of the top segment is between the reference plane and an inner surface of the back portion, and

wherein the midpoint of the main portion of the bottom segment is between the reference plane and the inner surface of the back portion.

Assignments (8)