Patent Publication Number: US-2017356768-A1

Title: Device Cover

Description:
Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to systems for covering a lawn tool or metal detector. More specifically, the present invention is related to a water resistant device adapted to cover a lawn tool or metal detector while allowing operation of the lawn tool or metal detector. 
     Background 
     Detection devices may be used in outdoor environments to detect objects placed in, on, or near the ground. Detection devices may be operated in contact with moisture or sharp objects such as rocks, roots, sticks, sprinkler heads, or the like, which may be located in or near the ground in an outdoor environment. These detection devices may be sensitive to moisture and abrasion, and may also provide a visual indication of the location of detected items. 
     U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0097831 to Whaley provides a system and method of shielding the head of a metal detector while reducing the effects of capacitance variation between the coils and their surroundings. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,048 to Wollny provides a detection device that is configured to detect metallic and non-metallic items. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,341 to Clowes et al. discloses a metal detector, which includes a light bulb to indicate the detection of metallic items. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,100,652 to Bauer et al. discloses a ceiling fan cover configure to protect the ceiling fans during periods of non-use. 
     None of the above references disclose structure to protect a detection device from the elements while allowing an operator to view a visual indicator on the detection device. Therefore, a need exists for a device which provides rugged, water resistant protection for a detection device while allowing an operator to view a visual indication provided by the detection device. 
     This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to a device cover that advantageously allows an operator to view a visual indication provided by the detection device. The present invention also advantageously provides a device cover that is rugged, water resistant protection for a detection device. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are provided by a device cover that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a fastener. The upper portion may include a top surface, upper sidewalls extending downwardly from a perimeter of the top surface along an entirety of an upper connecting portion, and a transparent section carried by the top surface. The lower portion may include a lower surface and lower sidewalls extending upwardly from a perimeter of the lower surface along an entirety of a lower connecting portion. 
     The fastener may have a first side connected to the upper portion and a second side connected to the lower portion. The fastener may include an attachment portion positioned on an end portion thereof and connected to a portion of the upper portion and a portion of the lower portion. The first side of the fastener and the second side of the fastener may be cooperatively configured to secure to one another. The upper portion and the lower portion may be cooperatively adapted to form a void and to operably carry a device within the void. 
     The lower surface may include vinyl. The top surface may be arcuate and lower surface may be arcuate. The top surface may have a top diameter equal to a lower diameter of the lower surface. The first side of the fastener may include a first zipper half and the second side of the fastener may include a second zipper half. 
     The upper connecting portion may have a first length. The lower connection portion may have a second length equal to the first length. The first length may be greater than half the perimeter of the top surface. The first length may be greater than three-quarters of the perimeter of the top surface. 
     An upper opening may be formed along a portion of the perimeter of the top surface. The upper opening may be defined by the absence of an upper side wall. A lower opening may be formed along a portion of the perimeter of the lower surface. The lower opening may be defined by the absence of a lower side wall. The upper opening may have a length aligning with the lower opening along the entirety of the length. 
     The device cover may have a device cover height equal to a height of the upper sidewall plus a height of the lower sidewall. The device cover height may be less than one fourth the top diameter. The entirety of the top surface may be transparent. The entirety of the upper portion may be constructed from water resistant material. The entirety of the lower portion may be constructed from water resistant material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a device cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the device cover of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the device cover of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the device cover of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is an environmental view of the device cover of  FIG. 1  positioned on a detection device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. 
     In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified. 
     An embodiment of the invention, as shown and described by the various figures and accompanying text, provides a device cover  100  with an upper portion  101  and a lower portion  102 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the device cover  100  may be adapted to enclose a detector head  200  of a detection device. The detection device may include, but is not limited to a metal detector, a metal pest control detector, or the like. The detection device may have a detector head  200 , which may be located near or in contact with the ground when in an operable position. The detection device may also have a handle secured to the detector head  200 , which may be held by an operator when in the operable position. A visual indicator may be located on the upper surface of the detector head  200 . The visual indicator may change its visual appearance to indicate the presence of an object below or near the detector. 
     The upper portion  101  of the device cover  100  may be adapted to cover an upper surface of a detector head  200  of a detection device. The upper portion  101  may have a transparent section  103  adapted to cover the visual indicator, while allowing the detection device operator to view the visual indicator. 
     The upper portion  101  may be adapted to secure to a lower portion  102 . The lower portion  102  may cover a lower surface of the detector head  200  of the detection device. The upper portion  101  and the lower portion  102  may be cooperatively adapted to form a void and operably carry the detector head  200  of the detection device within the void. The upper portion  101  may be constructed from water resistant material. The lower portion  102  may be constructed from water resistant material. The entirety of the lower portion  102  or upper portion  101  may be constructed from water resistant material. A fastener  108  may be utilized to join the upper portion  101  to the lower portion  102 . The fastener  108  may form a water resistant connection when the device cover  100  is in a closed configuration. The device cover  100  may be configured to be water resistant when the upper portion  101  is joined to the lower portion  102  in a closed configuration. 
     The upper portion  101  may include a top surface  104 . The top surface  104  may be configured to extend along or cover an entirety of the detector head&#39;s  200  upper surface. The top surface  104  may carry a transparent section  103 . In one embodiment, the entirety of the top surface  104  may be constructed from a transparent material. In such an embodiment, the top surface  104  may be coextensive with the transparent section  103  and the top surface  104  may be said to carry a transparent section  103 . The top surface  104  may be essentially arcuate. Essentially arcuate may be defined as a perimeter that is entirely arcuate or partially arcuate, i.e., arcuate except for a portion which is linear. The linear portion of the essentially arcuate perimeter may be adapted to align with a portion of the detection device where a handle is secured to a detector head  200 . The top surface  104  may have a top diameter. The top diameter may extend in a straight line from one portion of an arcuate perimeter of the top surface  104 , through a center of the top surface  104  and to an opposing portion of the arcuate perimeter. 
     The upper portion  101  may include upper sidewalls  105 . The upper sidewalls  105  may be secured to a perimeter of the top surface  104 . The upper sidewalls  105  may extend downwardly from the top surface  104  at a 90° angle. The upper sidewalls  105  may be secured to the top surface  104  along an entirety of an upper connection portion. The upper connecting portion may be defined as the portion of the top surface  104  to which the upper sidewall  105  is attached. The upper connecting portion may be defined as the portion of the upper portion  101  which is adapted to be secured to a lower portion  102  of the device cover  100 . The upper connecting portion may be defined as the portion of the top surface  104  perimeter which is circular and not include a linear portion of the top surface  104  essentially arcuate perimeter. 
     The upper portion  101  may include an upper opening. The upper opening may be formed along a portion of the perimeter of the top surface  104  to which no upper sidewall  105  is secured. The upper opening may be defined by the absence of an upper sidewall  105 . The upper opening may be located adjacent the linear portion of the essentially arcuate perimeter of the upper portion  101 , along a perimeter of the top surface  104 , and between the upper sidewalls  105 . 
     The lower portion  102  may include a lower surface  106 . The lower surface  106  may extend along or cover an entirety of the detector head&#39;s  200  bottom surface. The lower surface  106  may be ruggedized to resist wear or tear as it may contact the ground or sharp, abrasive objects. The lower surface  106  may include vinyl. In one embodiment, the lower surface  106  may be heat sealed vinyl. The vinyl may be PVC vinyl. In one embodiment, the entirety of the lower surface  106  may be constructed from vinyl. The lower surface  106  may be essentially arcuate. Essentially arcuate may be defined as a perimeter that is arcuate or mostly arcuate except for a portion which is linear. The linear portion of the essentially arcuate perimeter may be adapted to align with a portion of the detection device where a handle is secured to a detector head  200 . The lower surface  106  may have a lower diameter. The lower diameter may be a straight line extending from one arcuate edge of the lower surface  106 , through a center of the lower surface  106 , and to an opposing arcuate edge of the lower surface  106 . The lower diameter may be equal in length to the top diameter. The length and shape of the perimeter of the lower surface  106  may mirror the length and shape of the perimeter of the top surface  104 . 
     The lower portion  102  may include lower sidewalls  107 . The lower sidewalls  107  may be secured to a perimeter of the lower surface  106 . The lower sidewalls  107  may extend upwardly from the lower surface  106  at a 90° angle. The lower sidewalls  107  may be secured to the lower surface  106  along an entirety of a lower connection portion. The lower connecting portion may be defined as the portion of the lower surface  106  to which the lower sidewall  107  is attached. The lower connecting portion may be defined as the portion of the lower portion  102  which is adapted to be secured to an upper portion  101  of the device cover  100 . The lower connecting portion may be defined as the portion of the lower surface  106  perimeter which is arcuate and not include a linear portion of the lower surface  106  perimeter. 
     The lower portion  102  may include a lower opening. The lower opening may be formed along a portion of the perimeter of the lower surface  106  to which no lower sidewall  107  is secured. The lower opening may be defined by the absence of a lower sidewall  107 . The lower opening may be adjacent the linear portion of the perimeter of the lower portion  102 , along the lower surface  106  perimeter, and between the lower sidewalls  107 . The lower opening may be located adjacent the entirety of the upper opening. The upper opening may have a length equal to a length of the lower opening. The upper opening may align with the lower opening along an entirety of the length of the upper opening. The lower opening and the upper opening may be cooperatively formed to allow a handle of the detection device to extend therethrough. 
     As indicated above, the fastener  108  may secure the upper portion  101  to the lower portion  102 . The fastener  108  may have a first side  109  and a second side  110 . The first side  109  may be connected to the upper portion  101 . The second side  110  may be connected to the lower portion  102 . The first side  109  and the second side  110  may be cooperatively configured to secure to one another. An attachment portion  111  of the fastener  108  may connect to both the first side  109  and the second side  110 . The attachment portion  111  may be positioned on an end portion of the fastener  108 . The attachment portion  111  may connect to a portion of the upper portion  101  and a portion of the lower portion  102 . 
     In one embodiment, the fastener  108  may be a zipper. In such an embodiment, a first half of the zipper chain may be secured to a first half of the zipper tape. The first half of the zipper tape may be secured to the upper portion  101 . The first half of the zipper chain in combination with the first half of the zipper tape may be a first zipper half and may define the first side  109 . A second half of the zipper chain may be secured to a second half of the zipper tape. The second half of the zipper tape may be secured to the lower portion  102 . The second half of the zipper chain in combination with the second half of the zipper tape may be a second zipper half and may define the second side  110 . A slider may be positioned on the first and second halves of the zipper chain. The slider may be operable to connect and disconnect one half of the zipper chain to the opposing half of the zipper chain. The attachment portion  111  may be the bottom tape end of the zipper. The attachment portion  111  may include both the first and second halves of the zipper tape. 
     The fastener  108  may secure to the upper portion  101  along an entirety of a length of the upper connecting portion along the first half of the zipper tape. The fastener  108  may secure to the lower portion  102  along an entirety of a length of the lower connecting portion along the second half of the zipper tape. The upper connecting portion may extend along more than half the perimeter of the top surface  104 . In one embodiment, the upper connecting portion may extend along more than three-quarters of the perimeter of the top surface. The length of the upper connection portion may be equal to the length of the lower connecting portion. Although a zipper is shown as the fastener  108 , the skilled artisan will appreciate that the present invention contemplates the use of other fasteners such as, for example, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, or any other type of fastener that may be used to secure the upper portion to the lower portion. 
     The device cover  100  may have a device cover height. The device cover height may be equal to the height of the upper sidewall  105  extending orthogonal to the upper portion  101  plus the height of the lower sidewall  107  extending orthogonal to the lower surface  106 . The device cover height may be less than one fourth the diameter of the upper portion, which may be a top diameter. 
     Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan. 
     While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.