Abstract:
A skin ( 11 ) for use with a handheld electronic device is disclosed. The skin ( 11 ) includes a decorative layer, an anti-slip layer adhered over the decorative layer, and an adhesive layer disposed between the decorative layer and the anti-slip layer. The anti-slip layer has a surface finish ( 19 ) having a high coefficient of friction. The skin ( 11 ) is attached to the handheld electronic device by a layer of adhesive ( 16 ) on the back of the decorative layer. The skin ( 11 ) is selectively shapped to conform to the contours, shape, and components of the handheld electronic device. The skin ( 11 ) provides anti-slip and shock absorption fucntionalities to the handheld electronic device, but does not prevent or impede the handheld electronic device from mating with or connecting to corresponding accessory components.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to handheld electronic devices. In particular, the present invention relates to thin, anti-slip protective skins or grips for handheld electronic devices to aid in handling.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     Most handheld electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, camcorders, cameras, CD and MP3 players, PDA&#39;s, remote controls, notebook computers, tablet PC&#39;s, video games, video game controllers, hair trimmers and shears, and a wide variety of other handheld electronic devices, have housings that are made of hard, smooth materials, such as plastic and metal. Although some of these devices include hand grips and/or small rubberized components, they typically do not include any anti-slip material over a large portion of their housings. This is a problem, because when a user handles one of these devices, the slightest amount of perspiration, oil, or other moisture can allow the device to slip out of the user&#39;s hand, which can lead to the device being dropped and damaged. In addition, when these devices are placed on a table or other surface, they are vulnerable to sliding or being knocked off onto the floor or ground, which can also lead to breakage or permanent damage.  
         [0003]     Most of handheld electronic devices have housings that are made of hard, smooth plastic or metal. The front faces of these housings usually include ornamental shapes and designs, but the rear faces are typically plain and smooth. Often, the rear, side, and bottom surfaces include switches, buttons, and access ports for receiving interchangeable components or batteries. These switches, buttons, and access ports leave exposed joints, seams, and grooves. Flip-type and swivel telephones also include integral plastic and metal hinges and swivels. In addition, many of these handheld electronic devices are configured to fit into accessory components, such as caddies, cradles, chargers, docking stations, carrying cases, and clips. When coupled together, there is usually very little clearance between the device and the accessory component. As a result, it is not possible to place a thick, anti-slip, shock absorbing material directly onto the device, as doing so would prevent or impede the device from properly mating with its accessory component.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     There is a need for skins or grips for handheld electronic devices that provide anti-slip functionality.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide thin, anti-slip skins or grips for handheld electronic devices that are custom shaped to conform to the shapes of the housings of particular models of handheld electronic devices.  
         [0006]     The skins or grips are custom shaped to cover large portions of the device, while accommodating joints, seams, and grooves in the housings. The skins are sufficiently thin to allow the handheld electronic devices to be connected to accessory components, such as caddies, cradles, chargers, docking stations, carrying cases, and clips without affecting the mating or connection between the devices and the accessory components. In addition to anti-slip functionality, the skins or grips may also provide some shock absorption functionality.  
         [0007]     The skins or grips according to the present invention can be applied to existing handheld electronic devices, or can be manufactured as integral portions of handheld electronic devices of original manufacture. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the preferred embodiment of a skin or grip according the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the skin or grip according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the skin or grip according to the present invention carried by a sheet or roll of protective peel-away paper.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the skin or grip according to the present invention applied to the housing of a flip-type cellular telephone.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustrating the preferred embodiment of manufacturing a graphics version of the skins or grips according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     The present invention is a thin, anti-slip, shock absorbing, protective skin or grip that is custom cut and shaped to fit a particular model of a particular handheld electronic device. These handheld electronic devices include cellular telephones, camcorders, cameras, CD and MP3 players, PDA&#39;s, remote controls, notebook computers, tablet PC&#39;s, video games, video game controllers, hair trimmers and shears, and a wide variety of other devices with housings that are made of relatively hard materials, such as plastics and metals. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be used on any device in which anti-slip functionality is desired, regardless of whether the device is a handheld electronic device. The skins and grips of the present invention will be referred to herein as “skins.” 
         [0014]     In the preferred embodiment, the skin of the present invention is an adhesive backed skin that is adhered to the housing of the handheld electronic device. The material and surface finish or texture of the skin provide a high coefficient of friction when held in a user&#39;s hand or placed on most surfaces. This high coefficient of friction aids in gripping and handling the handheld electronic device. The skins are configured to fit over a large area of the device, usually on the rear surface of the device and on or around the sides and edges of the device. The skins are custom cut and shaped to fit particular surfaces of handheld electronic devices, i.e., front, back, top, bottom, sides, and edges. In addition, treating a handheld electronic device with skins according to the present invention allows the device to be placed on most surfaces, even on inclined surfaces at angles to the horizontal of up to 80°, with a reduced risk that the device will slide off and break or be damaged. As such, the skin accommodates exposed joints, seams, grooves, and hinges on the device.  
         [0015]     In addition to providing anti-slip functionality, the material and surface finish or texture of the skin may also provide a moderate amount of shock absorption, due to the compliance of the material and surface finish or texture. For each skin, the thickness of the material, the type of material used, the surface finish and texture of the material, the shape of the material, and the placement of skin on the handheld electronic device all combine to provide the shock absorption functionality of the present invention.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1  in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of an adhesive backed skin for a handheld electronic device according to the present invention is illustrated. A skin  11  includes a front surface  13 , an opposing rear surface  15 , and a periphery  17  having a selected shape and dimensions. It is preferred that skin  11  be made of a thin, flexible material about 0.5 millimeters or less in thickness. However, it will be appreciated that in some applications, the clearance between the handheld electronic device and its accessory components may allow for a skin  11  having a thickness of greater than 0.5 millimeters. Front surface  13  includes a surface finish or texture  19  that provides a high coefficient of friction. Surface finish  19  and the type of material chosen for skin  11  provides the anti-slip functionality of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, surface finish  19  is smooth, but provides a high coefficient of friction, even in the presence of moisture. As such, surface finish  19  is homogenous or continuous in nature, such as a suede finish, a matte finish, or a gloss finish. The type, thickness, surface finish, texture, and shape of skin  11 , and the placement of skin  11  on the handheld electronic device, all combine to provide the shock absorption functionality of the present invention. Liquid silicone resin and thermoplastic rubber are particularly well suited as materials for skin  11 .  
         [0017]     Rear surface  15  includes a thin layer or coating of adhesive  16  so that skin  11  may be adhered to the surface of the handheld electronic device. Adhesive layer  16  may be a thin sheet of double stick tape or pressure sensitive adhesive, and is preferably protected prior to installation of skin  11  onto a handheld electronic device by a sheet or roll of protective peel-away paper, plastic, or other suitable material, such as sheet  47  (see  FIG. 2 ). Adhesive layer  16  may be permanent or removable. It is preferred that, in applications where skin  11  is removable from the handheld electronic device, adhesive layer  16  not leave any adhesive or residue on the surface of the handheld electronic device when skin  11  is removed.  
         [0018]     It is preferred that periphery  17  be edge treated at edge  21  by stamping, laser cutting, or other suitable means to prevent splitting, cracking, peeling, or shredding of skin  11  after installation onto the surface of a handheld electronic device. It will be appreciated that skin  11  may be manufactured in a wide variety of color schemes and designs, including solid, transparent, opaque, translucent, graphic, or any combination thereof, as explained in more detail below.  
         [0019]     It is important that skin  11  be thin, so that after installation onto the housing of a handheld electronic device, the operation of the device is not impeded, i.e., the handheld electronic device remains able to properly connect to, mate with, and interface with any of its accessory components, such as caddies, cradles, chargers, docking stations, carrying cases, and clips. It is also important that the shape and configuration of skin  11  be custom cut for particular models of handheld electronic devices, so that access ports, joints, seams, grooves, and hinges are accommodated.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 2  in the drawings, an alternate embodiment of the skin according to the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, a skin  29  includes a front surface  31 , an opposing rear surface  33 , and a periphery  35  having a selected shape and dimensions. It is preferred that skin  31  be made of a thin, flexible material about 0.5 millimeters or less in thickness. However, it will be appreciated that in some applications, the clearance between the handheld electronic device and its accessory components may allow for a skin  11  having a thickness of greater than 0.5 millimeters. This embodiment is similar to the preferred embodiment described above, with the exception that smooth surface finish  19  is replaced with a non-smooth surface finish  37 . In this example, non-smooth surface finish  37  includes a plurality of upraised circular members or bumps  39  placed in a generally random pattern with larger upraised bumps  39  in the center and smaller upraised members or bumps  39  near periphery  35 .  
         [0021]     It will be appreciated that non-smooth surface finish  37  may include any combination of upraised bumps  39 , inwardly protruding dimples or depressions, upraised or inwardly protruding ridges, or any of a wide variety of conventional texturing shapes and configurations. Non-smooth surface finish  37  may have a repeating pattern, or may be random in nature. It will be appreciated that non-smooth surface finish  37  may include a combination of texturing shapes and sizes, such as smooth portions and small and large upraised bumps combined with curved inwardly protruding ridges. As with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 , periphery  35  is edge treated at edge  40  by stamping, laser cutting, or other suitable means to prevent splitting, cracking, peeling, or shredding of skin  29  after installation onto the surface of a handheld electronic device.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 3  in the drawings, another alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, a skin  41  is a multi-piece skin having a first portion  43  and a second portion  45 . It should be understood that first portion  43  and second portion  45  may be completely separate pieces, or may be partially attached to each other, such as by perforation. First portion  43  includes a front surface  47  and a rear surface (not shown). Second portion  45  includes a front surface  49  and a rear surface  51 . Rear surface  51  includes a layer or coating of adhesive  52  for attaching skin  41  to a handheld electronic device as described above. As is shown, skin  41  is still attached to a protective sheet of peel-away paper  53  that protects the layer of adhesive  52  that is disposed on rear surface  51 . It will be appreciated that paper  53  may be a continuous roll accommodating many separate skins  41 .  
         [0023]     Both first portion  43  and second portion  45  include a surface finish  54 . As is shown, surface finish  54  may include upraised bumps, wavy ribs, or a wide variety of textured patterns and combinations. In addition, first portion  43  and second portion  45  include peripheries  55  and  57 , respectively, that are edge treated by stamping, laser cutting, or other suitable means to prevent splitting, cracking, peeling, or shredding of skin  41  after installation onto the surface of a handheld electronic device.  
         [0024]     In this embodiment, first portion  43  includes a cut-away portion  59  and second portion  45  tapers inwardly to provide a custom fit for a particular handheld electronic device. Such a multi-piece design is particularly well suited for application to a flip-type cellular telephone. As is shown, second portion  45  includes a void space  61  that is located and shaped to accommodate an access port on the handheld electronic device, such as a battery port, communication jack, or other conventional access port.  
         [0025]     In operation, skin  41  is peeled away from protective sheet  53  and adhered onto the surface of the handheld electronic device. It should be understood that skin  41  may be further shaped or cut by the user to create a desired effect or functionality. Once applied, skin  41  provides anti-slip functionality and a moderate amount of shock absorption. As such, the user will have more handling control of the device, even in the presence of perspiration or other moisture, and skin  41  allows the handheld electronic device to be placed on a smooth table, even on an inclined surface, with a reduced risk that the device will slide off and break or be damaged.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 3  in the drawings, a skin  71  is shown attached to the rear surface  73  of a cellular telephone  75 . Although telephone  75  is shown as a flip-type cellular telephone, it will be appreciated that telephone  75  represents all of the handheld electronic devices described herein, such as telephones, camcorders, cameras, CD and MP3 players, PDA&#39;s, remote controls, notebook computers, tablet PC&#39;s, video games, video game controllers, hair trimmers and shears, and any other handheld devices having a housing that lacks adequate anti-slip functionality. As is shown, a second skin  77  is attached to rear surface  73  of telephone  75  and wraps around an edge surface  79  of telephone  75 .  
         [0027]     It should be understood that the skins according to the present invention may be manufactured and sold separately from the handheld devices, or may be installed on the handheld devices during original manufacture. It should also be understood that the skins according to the present invention may be integral with the housing or a component of the handheld device. For example, a skin according to the present invention may be manufactured with, attached to, or integral with an aftermarket cellular telephone battery that clips onto the cellular telephone.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  in the drawings, a schematic of the preferred embodiment of manufacturing a graphics version of the skins or grips according to the present invention is illustrated. In this schematic, a skin  101  is represented by a plurality of separate layers  103 ,  105 , and  107 . Layers  103 ,  105 , and  107  are shown in  FIG. 5  with enlarged thicknesses for clarity. Layer  103  represents a label stock or film, layer  105  represents an adhesive material, and layer  107  represents a material or film having a high coefficient of friction.  
         [0029]     Layer  103  preferably includes a coating of adhesive  109  on an underneath surface  111 . In applications where skin  101  is removable from the handheld electronic device, adhesive  109  does not leave any adhesive or residue on the surface of the handheld electronic device when skin  101  is removed. In the preferred embodiment, a graphical image  113  has been printed or placed on an upper surface  115  of layer  103 ; however, it will be appreciated that layer  103  may be transparent or translucent label stock. Graphical image  113  may be any visual indicia, including text, pictures, portraits, patterns, designs, or any combination thereof, and may be presented in any of a wide variety of color schemes. In addition, layer  103  may include metallized, holographic, light activated, or photo luminescent materials or graphics that glow in the dark or are otherwise affected by environmental factors or surroundings.  
         [0030]     Layer  105  represents a coating, doping, or treatment of layer  103  with an adhesive. Adhesive layer  105  aids in adhering layer  107  to layer  103 .  
         [0031]     Layer  107  is preferably a cured elastomeric film. Layer  107  includes a surface finish or texture  117  on an upper surface  119 . Surface finish  117  is the same as surface finishes  19 ,  37 , and  54 . As such, surface finish  117  may be smooth or non-smooth. It will be appreciated that a softer material may be chosen for layer  107  to provide additional shock absorption capacity. It is preferred that adhesive layer  105  and elastomer layer  107  be transparent or translucent so that graphical image  113  may be visible through adhesive layer  105  and elastomer layer  107 . It will be appreciated that surface finish  117  may also include polarization features, so that graphical image  113  appears differently as it is viewed from different angles. As set forth above, liquid silicone resin and thermoplastic rubber are particularly well suited as materials for layer  107  and skin  101 .  
         [0032]     Layers  103 ,  105 , and  107  are combined together in a bonding process, such as a pressure bonding, laminating process, a heat treatment process, or a combination of similar processes. This allows the anti-slip and shock absorption functionalities of layer  107  to be combined with the decorative features layer  103 . It should be understood that the foregoing multi-layered manufacturing process is merely one of a wide variety of possible manufacturing techniques that will produce the anti-slip skins of the present invention.  
         [0033]     Many different versions of skin  101  may be created by combining the features of each of the layers  103 ,  105 , and  107 . For example, the following versions can be created: (1) a clear version created from a transparent label stock  103 , a transparent adhesive layer  105 , and a transparent anti-slip layer  107 ; (2) a decorative version created from a decorative label stock  103 , a clear adhesive layer  105 , and a decorative anti-slip layer  107 ; and (3) a highly graphical version created from a graphical label stock  103 , a clear adhesive layer  105 , and a polarized anti-slip layer  107 .  
         [0034]     Although the present invention is particularly well suited for an aftermarket application, it should be understood that the present invention may be used with handheld devices of original manufacture. The skins of the present invention may be manufactured and sold separately as an aftermarket product for application to handheld electronic devices, or the skins may be applied to products of original manufacture. In addition, it should be appreciated that the skins according to the present invention may be integral to the actual handheld electronic devices or their components, such as batteries, face plates, covers, and housings.  
         [0035]     It is apparent that an invention with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the present invention is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just those forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.