Abstract:
A protective cover assembly having a tray having a concave surface and a perimeter, the concave surface defining a volume sufficient to accommodate a portable electronic device; and an elastomeric collar having an internal rim that reversibly engages and wraps around the perimeter of the tray.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This utility application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/711449 filed on Oct. 9, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    This disclosure relates to protective covers for electronic devices. More specifically, the disclosure describes a cover that provides protection for a portable electronic device while allowing access to the interface of the electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Portable electronic devices often encounter rough handling that could damage the device. For example, the device may be subjected to jarring impact, dust, and liquid. It is well known in the art to protect a portable electronic device by enclosing the device within a protective shell or sleeve. 
         [0005]    Generally, users interact with a portable electronic device through a keyboard or touch screen interface. Ideally, protective covers would protect the device while allowing continued user access to the electronic device. 
         [0006]    In some instances, it is desirable to restrict user access to particular regions of the device interface. For example, a parent may want to restrict a child from accessing certain features of the device while allowing the child to still use the device. 
         [0007]    In light of the above, a need exists to provide an electronic device protective cover that enables restricted or unrestricted access to the device while protecting the device from damage. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In general, this disclosure describes a protective cover for an electronic device. In some embodiments, the cover protects the device while allowing user access to the device interface. In some embodiments, the cover includes a removable keyguard that can limit touch access to portions of the device. In some embodiments, the protective cover accommodates modules that interface with the enclosed electronic device. 
         [0009]    The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment of the protective cover. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment of the elastomeric collar. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a partial cutaway view of the elastomeric collar of  FIG. 2  with an electronic device enclosed therein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the protective tray. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the protective cover with an electronic device enclosed therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the protective cover with an optional module attached thereto. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an embodiment showing the plurality of bumpers which suspend the electronic device above the tray, and provide a cushioning effect upon impact. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific examples of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular examples illustrated. 
         [0018]    Referring to the figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a cutaway view of one embodiment of the inventive protective cover assembly  10 . In  FIG. 1 , protective cover assembly  10  encloses a portable electronic device  12 . The dimensions and design of protective cover assembly  10  are easily modified to accommodate a variety of portable electronic devices  12 . For example, protective cover assembly  10  may be constructed to encase various models of cell phones, smartphones, tablets, notebooks, MP3 players, and other such similar electronic devices. 
         [0019]    Protective cover assembly  10  includes a protective tray  30  and an elastomeric collar  20 . In some embodiments protective cover assembly  10  includes a keyguard  40  that covers at least a portion of the interface  14  of the enclosed portable electronic device  12 . The dimensions of elastomeric collar  20 , protective tray  30 , and keyguard  40  are selected to accommodate the dimensions of the portable electronic device  12  that is desired to be enclosed by protective cover assembly  10 . 
         [0020]    Elastomeric collar  20  is made of a distensible material and wraps around the perimeter  32  of protective tray  30 . In this way, elastomeric collar  20  secures the entire enclosure together by acting as a perimeter clamp. In some embodiments, perimeter  32  of protective tray  30  is “C”- or “U”-shaped, providing a groove-like feature  36  that mates with a flap  24  of elastomeric collar  20 . In another embodiment, perimeter  32  of protective tray  30  is “L”-shaped and mates with a slit (not shown) of elastomeric collar  20 . 
         [0021]    A rim portion  28  of elastomeric collar  20  overlays the perimeter  32  of protective tray  30 . Rim portion  28  and perimeter  32  of protective tray  30  serve as a bumper that protects portable electronic device  12  from impact. In some embodiments, the rim portion  28  of elastomeric collar  20  is thickened to enhance impact protection. 
         [0022]    The enclosed portable electronic device  12  has an edge  16  located intermediate and adjacent to a front aspect  13  and a rear aspect  15  of portable electronic device  12 . In some embodiments, elastomeric collar  20  comprises a sleeve  22  that engages at least a portion of edge  16  of portable electronic device  12 . In some embodiments, sleeve  22  overlays at least a portion of both front aspect  13  and rear aspect  15 . In this way, sleeve  22  captures and suspends portable electronic device  12 , providing impact protection by creating a gap between the rear aspect  15  of portable electronic device  12  and interior surface  38  of protective tray  30 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , some embodiments of the protective cover assembly  10  include a keyguard  40  that overlays at least a portion of the interface  14  of the portable electronic device  12 . In at least one embodiment, keyguard  40  is made of a transparent material that permits viewing of interface  14 . In at least one embodiment, keyguard  40  is a flat piece of clear plastic that is sufficiently thick to block a user from accessing the portion of interface  14  that is covered by keyguard  40 . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, keyguard  40  defines at least one hole  44  that permits access to a localized region of interface  14 . In at least one embodiment, keyguard  40  comprises a plurality of holes  44 . In some embodiments, the placement of holes  44  within keyguard  40  is selected so that hole  44  provides access to a specific and predictable region of interface  14  of the enclosed portable electronic device  12 . In such embodiments, placement of hole  44  within keyguard  40  depends on the anticipated enclosed portable electronic device  12 , or on the anticipated software application being run on the enclosed portable electronic device, or on a combination of these factors. 
         [0025]    At least a portion of the perimeter of keyguard  40  defines a lip region  42  that secures keyguard  40  to elastomeric collar  20 . In some embodiments, keyguard  40  is held in place by sliding lip region  42  between the elastomeric collar  20  and the front aspect  13  of portable electronic device  12 . Fixing keyguard  40  to elastomeric collar  20  is merely a design choice, and there are many ways by which keyguard  40  could be held in place. For example, some embodiments of elastomeric collar  20  have recesses (not shown) that accommodate coordinating tabs (not shown) on the lip region  42  of keyguard  40 . In this way, keyguard  42  is easily captured by elastomeric collar  20 . Similarly, keyguard  42  can be easily removed or changed. In some embodiments, inserting or removing keyguard  40  simply involves pushing elastomeric collar  20  slightly out of shape to lift out keyguard  40  and insert another keyguard  40  of a different design. 
         [0026]    Some embodiments of elastomeric collar  20  are constructed to provide access to an IO port  17  of portable electronic device  12 .  FIG. 2  depicts an example of one such embodiment of elastomeric collar  20 .  FIG. 3  depicts the same embodiment of elastomeric collar  20  as that shown in  FIG. 2  with a portable electronic device  12  engaged by elastomeric collar  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , at least one embodiment of elastomeric collar  20  comprises openings  26  that align with IO port  17  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of portable electronic device  12 . In this way, some embodiments of elastomeric collar  20  provide access to IO ports  17  while portable electronic device  12  is engaged by the elastomeric collar  20 . 
         [0027]    Some embodiments of elastomeric collar  20  include pads  25 . In at least one embodiment, pads  25  are integral with elastomeric collar  20  and located on sleeve  22 . In some embodiments, pads  25  provide an extra layer of cushioning by contacting protective tray  30  in advance of sleeve  22 . In this way, pads  25  provide additional protection to the enclosed electronic device  12 . 
         [0028]    In at least one embodiment, sleeve  22  of elastomeric collar  20  captures and suspends the portable electronic device  12 . In some embodiments, elastomeric collar  20  can be used independent of protective tray  30 . That is to say, a portable electronic device  12  can be captured, suspended, and protected by elastomeric collar  20  alone, without the need to attach protective tray  30  to elastomeric collar  20 . 
         [0029]    Similarly, some embodiments of protective tray  30  are constructed to provide access to an IO port  17  of portable electronic device  12 .  FIG. 4  depicts an example of one such embodiment of protective tray  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , some embodiments of protective tray  30  include apertures  34  that align with IO port  17  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) of portable electronic device  12 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment of protective tray  30  engaged by elastomeric collar  20  with a portable electronic device  12  enclosed therein. As shown in  FIG. 5 , aperture  34  of protective tray  30  aligns with IO port  17  of the portable electronic device  12  enclosed by protective cover assembly  10 . In some embodiments, protective tray  30  includes aperatures  34  that enable the attachment of a strap (not shown) to protective tray  30 . One embodiment of a strap attachment site is achieved by placing two apertures  34  in proximity to one another, with an intervening portion of protective tray  30  forming a bar between the two aperatures  34 . A loop-ended strap can then be attached to the intervening portion of protective tray  30  by passing the strap loop around the intervening portion of the protective tray  30  and threading the rest of the strap through the loop. The other end of the loop-ended straps can include clips that allow the loop-ended straps to be attached to an intervening belt that connects the loop-ended straps to one another. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, protective tray  30  includes padded feet  35 . Padded feet  35  provide an extra layer of cushioning to protective tray  30 . Padded feet  35  also provide a frictional surface that resists sliding of protective assembly cover  10 . In at least one embodiment, the exterior surface  39  of protective tray  30  includes a perimeter groove  37 . Perimeter groove  37  facilitates the attachment of optional modules  50  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). Perimeter groove  37  also helps to distribute any impact forces that are imparted to optional module  50 . In this way, perimeter groove  37  helps protect the enclosed portable electronic device  12  from impact forces imparted onto an attached optional module  50 . 
         [0032]    Protective tray  30  is modular and easily adapted to many applications. As shown in  FIG. 6 , some embodiments of protective tray  30  are constructed to accommodate an optional module  50  that interfaces with the enclosed portable electronic device  12 . A variety of optional modules  50  may be attached to protective tray  30 . For example, optional module  50  could be a speaker assembly or a switch interface to allow single switches to operate the device as an alternative or in addition to the touch screen interface  14  of the portable electronic device  12 . In another embodiment, optional module  50  is an infrared camera of use in environmental or industrial studies. In still another embodiment, optional module  50  is an additional battery or an extended life battery. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an embodiment showing the plurality of bumpers  52 , which suspend the electronic device above the tray, and provide a cushioning effect upon impact. Although two bumpers per side are shown, any desired number of bumpers could be molded into the sleeve  22 . 
         [0034]    The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. The description will suggest many variations and alternatives to those of ordinary skill in the art. All of these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the attached claims. Those familiar with the art many recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.