IP Library Granted Patent US 11,186,031
Granted Patent B2
US 11,186,031 · App. 16/985,933 · Granted Nov 30, 2021

Apparatus for installing a screen protector on an electronic device

Inventors: Richard W. Vinson (Fort Collins, CO); Zachariah J. Pickett (Fort Collins, CO); John P. Fitzgerald (Fort Collins, CO); Douglas A. Kempel (Fort Collins, CO); Jamie L. Johnson (Fort Collins, CO); Ross V. Bulkley (Loveland, CO); Adam J. Havens (Fort Collins, CO); Grady E. Barfoot (Denver, CO)
Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
B29C63/0004G02B1/14B29C2063/0008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,186,031
App. No.
16/985,933
Granted
Nov 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for assisting in affixing a screen protector to a display of an electronic device. The apparatus includes a base having a platform for supporting the electronic device, a lid attached to the base, and a positioning mechanism for aligning the electronic device on the platform. The positioning mechanism includes a first positioning jaw movable between a first and a second position. The positioning jaw includes a first surface configured to contact the first corner of the electronic device and a second surface configured to contact the second corner of the electronic device when the first positioning jaw moves from the first position to the second position. Moving the lid from a first position to a second position at least partially covering the electronic device moves the first positioning jaw from the first position to the second position.

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for assisting in affixing a screen protector to a display of an electronic device, the electronic device including a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner, the apparatus comprising:

a base including a platform configured to support the electronic device;

a lid attached to the base and movable from a first position to a second position, the lid configured to at least partially cover the base and supported electronic device when in the second position; and

a positioning mechanism configured to align the supported electronic device on the platform, the positioning mechanism comprising:

a first positioning jaw movable from a first position to a second position, the first positioning jaw including a first surface configured to contact the first corner of the supported electronic device at a first angle and a second surface configured to contact the second corner of the supported electronic device at a second angle that is different than the first angle when the first positioning jaw moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the first positioning jaw is configured to position the supported electronic device on the platform in the second position, wherein the first positioning jaw is operably connected to the lid such that a movement of the lid from the first position to the second position transfers the movement of the lid to the first positioning jaw to move the first positioning jaw from the first position to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism further comprises a second positioning jaw movable from a first position to a second position, the second positioning jaw including a first surface configured to contact the third corner of the supported electronic device and a second surface configured to contact the fourth corner of the supported electronic device to position the supported electronic device on the platform in a supported position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second positioning jaw is operably connected to the lid such that moving the lid from the first position to the second position moves the second positioning jaw from the first position to the second position to position the supported electronic device on the platform in the supported position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a latch for securing the lid in the second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element for biasing the lid in the first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drive shaft operably connecting a lower edge of the lid to the first positioning jaw for transferring the movement of the lid to the first positioning jaw, the drive shaft being positioned below the platform of the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein moving the lid from the first position to the second position results in a lateral movement of the drive shaft, the lateral movement of the drive shaft being at least partially transferred to the first positioning jaw.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the drive shaft comprises a spring configured to absorb a portion of the lateral movement of the drive shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the drive shaft comprises a tube, at least a portion of the spring being positioned inside the tube.

Assignments (4)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 20, 2026
From: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 075611/0291 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AT REEL/FRAME NO. 59554/0930 Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 075613/0276 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 31, 2022
From: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059554/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2020
From: VINSON, RICHARD W.; PICKETT, ZACHARIAH J.; JOHNSON, JAMIE L.; KEMPEL, DOUGLAS E.; BULKLEY, ROSS V.; HAVENS, ADAM J.; BARFOOT, GRADY E.; FITZGERALD, JOHN P.
To: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053509/0218 →
Cited By (1)
US 1,138,594