Abstract:
The embodiments relate to a protective cover case for hermetically sealing an article having a body section and a contoured section. The protective cover case includes a body portion defining an internal chamber for receiving the article and an access opening allowing the article to pass therethrough. The body portion is formed of an elastic material and capable of snuggly fitting onto at least a portion of the body section of the article. The protective cover case also includes a contoured portion fixedly joined to the body portion. The contoured portion is configured to receive and accommodate the contoured section of the article. The protective cover case is capable of hermetically sealing the enclosed article after the access opening on the body portion is sealed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/224,906 filed Jul. 12, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a cover case that hermetically seals an article enclosed in the cover case and protects the enclosed article. In particular, the invention relates to a cover case that hermetically seals the enclosed article, such as an electronic or optical device, and allows operation of the sealed device as intended. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Portable electronic or optical devices have been become popular in the recent years allowing users to carry the electronic or optical devices to various locations and/or use the same under various conditions. For example, mobile phones are commonly used by construction personnel at various outdoor worksites. Due to the outdoor working conditions, such mobile phones are exposed to raining or snowing weather conditions, which can adversely affect the service life of such electronic devices. 
         [0004]    Various cover cases have been used to protect various portable electronic or optical devices. For example, cover cases are provided as storage cases for electronic or optical devices. However these storage cases are designed and intended to use with electronic or optical devices when such device are not in use. Users typically have to retrieve the electronic or optical devices from the storage cases before using such electronic or optical devices. 
         [0005]    Other cover cases are provided allowing the user to access the electronic or optical devices enclosed in the cover cases. For example, the cover case can have an access opening allowing the user to reach inside the cover case and manipulate the electronic or optical device enclosed therein. In such a case, the user operates the electronic or optical device from inside of the cover case. In order to facilitate the user&#39;s operation of the enclosed electronic or optical device, the cover case is typically designed to leave sufficient room to accommodate the user&#39;s hand(s) during the operation of the enclosed electronic or optical device. 
         [0006]    It is therefore desirable to provide an improved protective cover case that is capable of hermetically sealing an article enclosed in the cover case. Additionally or alternatively, it is desirable to provide an improved protective cover case that simplifies user&#39;s operation of an electronic or optical device enclosed in the cover case. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention relates generally to a protective cover case that hermetically seals an article enclosed in the cover case and protects the enclosed article. The protective cover case includes a body portion defining an internal chamber for receiving the article and an access opening allowing the article to pass therethrough. The body portion is formed of an elastic material and capable of snuggly fitting onto at least a portion of the body section of the article. 
         [0008]    The protective cover case also includes a contoured portion fixedly joined to the body portion. The contoured portion is configured to receive and accommodate the contoured section of the article. The protective cover case is capable of hermetically sealing the enclosed article after the access opening on the body portion is sealed. 
         [0009]    The invention also relates to a method of hermetically sealing an article having a body section and a contoured section. The method comprises providing a protective cover case, such as that described above, wherein the elongated sleeve portion of the protective cover case is in a collapsed position. The method also comprises the following: passing the contoured section of the article through the access opening on the collapsed elongated sleeve portion to be received in the contoured portion; extending the collapsed elongated sleeve portion over the body section of the article so that the protective cover case is in its extended position; and closing the accessing opening on the elongated sleeve portion to hermetically seal the article inside the protective cover case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The following description is set forth in connection with the attached drawing figures, which are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawing figures: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a cover case formed according to a first embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a second perspective view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an opposite end view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the contoured portion of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the cover case shown in  FIG. 1A  together with an enclosed article; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a cover case according to a second embodiment together with an enclosed article; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a cover case according to a third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Various embodiments of the cover case  1  are described below in connection with the drawing figures. In the following description of different embodiments, similar components are designated with the same numeral references and redundant description is omitted. 
         [0023]    The cover case  1  described herein is formed to enclose an article  2 , such as various portable electronic and optical devices, and prevent the enclosed article  2  from being in contact with dust, moisture, gas, chemicals, germs, or other impurities or contamination. In particular, the cover case  1  can hermetically seal the enclosed article  2 , such as an electronic or optical device  2 , while allowing the sealed article  2  to carry out its intended operation. The cover case  1  has a body portion  10  joined to one or more contoured portions  20  to seal an article  2  therein. 
         [0024]    The body portion  10  of the cover case  1  is formed by a flexible wall  12 . In its extended position as is shown in  FIG. 1A , the flexible wall  12  defines an internal chamber  14  for receiving an article  2  to be sealed in the cover case  1 . The extended flexible wall  12  allows the body portion  10  to accommodate and fit around the sealed article  2 . One end of the body portion  10  has an access opening  16   a  allowing the article  2  to enter or exit the internal chamber  14  formed by the flexible wall  12 . A connecting area  16   b  is provided at an opposite end of the body portion  10  from the access opening  16   a.  The connecting area  16   b  can be either a closed end or an open end sealed by a contoured portion  20  as will be described below. 
         [0025]    The flexible wall  12  of the body portion  10  can deform or otherwise be manipulated during packaging, storage, and normal operation of the cover case  1 . For example, the flexible wall  12  can be collapsed into a compact or flattened state. In one example, the two ends of the flexible wall  12  can be bought toward each other so that the flexible wall  12  changes into a collapsed position before fitting onto the article  2 . In another example, the flexible wall  12  shown in  FIG. 1A  can be rolled up from the access opening  16   a  toward the opposite end of the flexible wall  12  where the connecting area  16   b  is located. Such a collapsed state of the flexible wall  12  can reduce storage spaces and/or facilitate the sealing operation of the underlying article  2  as will be described in detail below. 
         [0026]    In one example, a rim edge  18  is formed at the access opening  16   a  of the body portion  10  to facilitating in changing the flexible wall  12  between an extended position as shown in  FIG. 1A  and a collapsed position and in handling the cover case  1  during the packaging and normal sealing operation of the cover case  1 . For example, the rim edge  18  can be formed to have a circular shape and used as a guide to roll up the flexible wall  12  from the access opening  16   a  toward and to the opposite end on the flexible wall  12 . The rim edge  18  can also assist in unrolling the flexible wall  12  during the sealing operation as is described below. 
         [0027]    Various materials can be used to form the flexible wall  12  of the body portion  10 . In one example, the flexible wall  12  can be made of an elastic or stretchable material to allow the body portion  10  to be manipulated to accommodate the configuration of the enclosed article  2  and snuggly fit around the enclosed article  2 . For example, the flexible wall  12  can be made of one or more of rubber, latex, and silicone materials. The flexible wall  12  of the body portion  10  can be stretched to cover the article  2  to be sealed during the sealing operation. After the stretched body portion  10  fits onto the enclosed article  2 , the flexible wall  12  can return to its unstretched state and snuggly fit around the sealed article  2  to conform to its contour. Additional materials can also be used for the same purpose. 
         [0028]    Additionally or alternatively, the flexible wall  12  of the body portion  10  is formed of a material that is airtight, waterproof, or contamination proof, so as to block dirt, moisture, gas, chemicals, germs, or other impurities or contamination from passing therethrough. In another example, the flexible wall  12  is made of a material that can endure various medical sterilizing processes, such as those employ alcohol, autoclave, and other sterilizing chemicals. In a still further example, the flexible wall  12  is made of an inexpensive material for manufacturing disposable type cover cases  1 . 
         [0029]    In an example where the cover case  1  is formed to seal an electronic or optical device  2 , the flexible wall  12  is formed of a material that does not interfere the operation of the enclosed electronic or optical device  2 . For example, the flexible wall  12  of the cover case  1  allows the passage of one or more of light, voice, sound, and electronic, radio, and/or other wireless signals. In one example, the flexible wall  12  is made of a material that allows a touch screen type of electronic device  2  to remain operable after being sealed in the cover case  1 . 
         [0030]    Exemplary materials for the flexible wall  12  can include, but are not limited to, silicone, latex, rubber, and plastic materials. Additional materials can also be used for the same purpose. 
         [0031]    The contoured portion  20  of the cover case  1  is joined to the body portion  10  at a predetermined location on the body portion  10 . According to a first variant, the contoured portion  20   a  can connect to the connecting area  16   b  of the body portion  10 , either from outside of the body portion  10  as is shown in  FIG. 2  or from inside the internal chamber  14 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the interior  22  of the contoured portion  20   a  sealingly connects to an open connecting area  16   b  of the body portion  10  and closes at the connecting area  16   b  of the body portion  10 . In such an example, the interior  22  of the contoured portion  20   a  communicates with the internal chamber  14  of the body portion  10  for enclosing a part of the article  2  to be sealed. 
         [0032]    The contoured portion  20   a  can be configured to have a predetermined shape. In one embodiment, the interior  22  of the contoured portion  20   a  is configured to have a predetermined shape that is complementary to a portion of the article  2  to be sealed. The contoured portion  20   a  so formed can snuggly fit onto such portion of the article  2  during the sealing operation and after the article  2  is sealed in the cover case  1 . In one example, the predetermined shape of the interior  22  can be formed by a molding process. Additionally or alternatively, the contoured portion  20   a  can be formed of a material that can retain a predetermined shape. Exemplary materials for the contoured portion  20   a  can include various rigid non-deformable materials (e.g., ABS plastics and polycarbonates) and deformable and elastic materials (e.g., TPU, PET, and PVC). Additional materials can also be used for the same purpose. 
         [0033]    When a cover case  1  so formed is used to seal an article  2 , the interior  22  of the contoured portion  20   a  can be fit onto at least a part of the article  2 . In one example, the flexible wall  12  is collapsed before fitting the contoured portion  20   a  onto the article, such as by bringing the access opening  16   a  toward the opposite end of the body portion  10  and past the contoured portion  20   a  to expose its interior  22 . After the contoured portion  20   a  is fit over the article  2 , the flexible wall  12  can then be extended over the entire article  2  to thereby enclose the same. For example, the rolled up flexible wall  12  can be unrolled onto the article  2  so as to cover the entire article  2 . As the flexible wall  12  is changed from the collapsed position to the extended position, the contoured portion  20   a  remains in place on the part of the article  2  to act as an anchor for the flexible wall  12 . 
         [0034]    When the flexible wall  12  is extended to fully cover the article  2 , as is shown in  FIG. 8 , the remaining portion  12   a  of the flexible wall  12  at its open end can be forced to gather, thereby closing the access opening  16   a  of the body portion  10  and sealing the article  2  inside the closed body portion  10 . In one example, the remaining portion  12   a  of the flexible wall  12  hermetically seals the access opening  16   a  of the body portion  10 . Additional fastening devices can be used to secure the closure of the gathered flexible wall  12  at its open end. For example, one or more of the following fastening devices can be used for this purpose: cable tie, rubber band, roll-wire, clip, knot, and/or adhesive material. In one example, a self-adhesive material is applied to the remaining portion  12   a  of the flexible wall  12  for sealing the body portion  10 . 
         [0035]    According to a second variant, the contoured portion  20   b  can be formed to fit into and/or around an optical port  4  of an optical device  2  to protect an optical component  6 , such as an optical lens, inside the optical port  4 . As is shown in  FIG. 9 , such an optical device  2  (e.g., an optical scanner  2 ′) typically has an optical component  6  formed to sink into the optical port  4  to protect the optical component  6  from scratches or other damages during normal operation of the optical device  2 . In such a case, the optical component  6  is indented from the remaining surface in which the optical port  4  is formed. 
         [0036]    In one example, the contoured portion  20   b  can include an optical shield  24  to seal the optical component  6  of the optical device  2 . The optical shield  24  can be formed to be transparent to the optical signal transmitted to or from the optical device  2  without deflection. In one example, the optical shield  24  can be formed by a part of the contoured portion  20   b.  For example, a part of the contoured portion  20   b  can be subjected to a polishing process to form smooth surfaces of the optical shield  24 , thereby avoiding reflecting the optical signals. In another example, the optical shield  24  can be formed of a material, such as an optical glass material. Various other materials can also be used to form the optical shield  24 . 
         [0037]    The optical shield  24  can be formed in various shapes and sizes, such as to have substantially the same shape and size as those of the optical component  6 . For example, the optical shield  24  can be in a substantially rectangular shape, as is shown in the various drawing figures, to fit over a rectangular optical component  6  in a scanning head  4  of an optical scanner  2 ′, as is shown in  FIG. 9 . In an alternative example, the optical shield  24  can be formed in a substantially round shape to overlap with a camera lens similarly formed. 
         [0038]    The optical shield  24  can be formed in various forms. In the examples shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9 , a portion of the contoured portion  20   b  is recessed into the interior  22  to form the optical shield  24 . The optical shield  24  so formed can be adapted to fit inside the optical port  4  on the optical device  2 , when the cover case  1  is in the normal sealing position. In an alternative example, the optical shield  24  can be raised from the surrounding contoured portion  20   b.  Such an optical shield  24  can be adapted to fit outside and around the optical port  4  of the optical device  2 , when the cover case  1  is in the normal sealing position. The optical shield  24  can be connected to the remaining contoured portion  20   b  by sidewalls  26 . 
         [0039]    The optical shield  24  is formed to be in close contact with the optical component  6  after the cover case  1  fits onto and seals the optical device  2 . Such close contact can eliminate any gaps or additional materials left between the optical shield  24  and the optical component  6 , which create reflection surfaces to interfere with or block the transmission of optical signals as exist in conventional optical device covers. 
         [0040]    Various mechanisms can be used to ensure such close contact between the optical shield  24  and the optical component  6 . For example, no part of the flexible wall  12  is left between the optical shield  24  and the optical component  6 . Instead, an adhesive layer can be employed to promote adhesion between the optical shield  24  and the optical component  6 . Additionally or alternatively, the sidewalls  26  supporting the optical shield  24  can be formed to have a reduced thickness. Such thinned sidewalls  26  can be deformed after being pressed into the optical port  4  to ensure the optical shield  24  to be in surface contact with the optical component  6 . 
         [0041]    The optical shield  24  on the contoured portion  20   b  can be either integrally formed with or separately formed from the remaining contoured portion  20   b.  In the example shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the optical shield  24  is integrally formed with the remaining contoured portion  20   b,  such as through a molding process. 
         [0042]    In another example, where the cover case  1  is formed to cover a mobile phone with a camera, the optical shied  24  can be separately formed from the remaining contoured portion  20   b  and connect thereto through a conventional thread design. For example, complementary threads can be formed respectively on the optical shield  24  and the optical port  4  of the contoured portion  20   b.  In one example, multiple interchangeable optical shields  24  can be selectively used to form the cover case  1 . For example, the multiple optical shields  24  can be formed as different optical components with different optical functions, one of which can be selected to provide additional optical effect of the sealed optical device  2 . 
         [0043]    The contoured portion  20   b  formed according to the second variant can be used independently from or in combination with that formed according to the first variant. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the contoured portions  20   a,    20   b  formed according to the first and second variants are integrally formed as a single piece. 
         [0044]    Alternatively, the contoured portions  20   a,    20   b  formed according to the first and second variants can be spaced apart from each other on the body portion  10  and connected by the flexible wall  12 . For example, in a cover case  1  used to seal a camera device, two separate contoured portions  20   a,    20   b  can be provided and formed to conform respectively to a sidewall of the camera and to the camera lens portion. In such a case, the flexible wall  12  connected between the separate contoured portions  20   a,    20   b  can be stretched to fit cameras of different sizes. 
         [0045]    In further examples shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , only one of the contoured portions  20   a,    20   b  of the different variants is formed in the cover case  1 . 
         [0046]    Various methods and materials can be used to form the contoured portion  20 . In one example, the contoured portion  20  can be formed thought a molding process, such as injection molding. For example, the contoured portion  20  can be molded using a plastic material, such as ABS, or PC. Where there is an optical shield  24 , a portion of the contoured portion  20  can be subjected to a polishing process to form the optical shield  24 . The contoured portion  20  can be formed by other materials including, but not limited to, metal, wood, glass, rubber, fabric, and silicone. In one example, the contoured portion  20  is made of a waterproof material. In another example, the contoured portion  20  is made of a material capable of protecting the enclosed article  2  from medical contamination. 
         [0047]    The cover case  1  can be formed by connecting the contoured portion  20  with the body portion  10  with the aid of an adhesive material. In an alternative embodiment, the cover case  1  can be formed by incorporating the contoured portion  20  in a molding process for forming the body portion  10 . For example, the body portion  10  can be molded onto a contoured portion  20  and thereby connected thereto. An injection molding process can be used for such a purpose. In addition, an adhesive material can be used to assist the connection between the contoured portion  20  and the body portion  10 . 
         [0048]    If desired, additional joining mechanism, such as one or more apertures  28   a  and/or cut-outs  28   b,  can be provided on the contoured portion  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , to promote the connection of the contoured portion  20  and the body portion  10  through either a molding process or an adhesive material. 
         [0049]    The cover case  1  described herein is capable of protecting the enclosed article  2  from environmental dust, moisture, gas, chemicals, germs, and/or other impurities or contamination. For example, the cover case  1  can hermetically seal an article  2 . The various devices or equipment sealed in such cover cases  1  can be used under all-weather condition and/or in medical hazardous environment. 
         [0050]    Although an optical scanner  2 ′ is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , as an example of an electronic or optical device or article  2 , the various embodiments are not limited to use with such optical scanner  2 ′. The cover cases  1  described herein can be configured to seal any of various handheld electronic or optical devices with or without operating systems (e.g., cell phones, radio, remote controller, data storage device, notebook, netbook, barcode scanner, medical deta collection device, personal data assistants (PDA), mobile computers, notebook computers, netbook computers, tablet computers, portable video games, MP3 players, digital cameras, video cameras, voice recorders, portable global positioning systems (GPS)) or other devices or equipment requiring isolation from dust, moisture, gas, chemicals, germs, and other impurities or contamination. 
         [0051]    Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.