U.S. patent application number 12/800701 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for waterproof, handheld electronic device enclosure.
Invention is credited to Roy Archambault.
Application Number | 20100310194 12/800701 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43300812 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100310194 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Archambault; Roy |
December 9, 2010 |
Waterproof, handheld electronic device enclosure
Abstract
A waterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic
device is described. The enclosure includes a flexible bag having
an interior cavity for enclosing the handheld electronic device and
an opening for insertion of the device into the bag cavity, a
closure for releasibly sealing the bag opening, and a sealable
exhaust tube extending from the bag cavity to the exterior of the
bag for use in evacuating air from the bag cavity when the opening
is sealed. The tube preferably includes a one-way valve allowing
air to flow from the bag cavity, but not into the bag cavity. A
detachable means, such as a rubber bulb, may be included to
withdraw air from the cavity through the tube. The case may also
include an electronic jack extending from the bag cavity to the
exterior of the bag.
Inventors: |
Archambault; Roy;
(Wilimington, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM J. MASON;MACCORD MASON PLLC
POST OFFICE BOX 1489
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
NC
28480
US
|
Family ID: |
43300812 |
Appl. No.: |
12/800701 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61268040 |
Jun 8, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/42 ; 383/100;
383/106; 383/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2013/028 20130101;
A45C 11/22 20130101; A45C 13/002 20130101; A45C 2200/10 20130101;
A45C 13/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/42 ; 383/100;
383/106; 383/108 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/01 20060101
B65D033/01; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16; B65D 33/04 20060101
B65D033/04 |
Claims
1. A waterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic
device comprising: a) a flexible bag having an interior cavity for
enclosing a handheld electronic device and an opening for insertion
of said device into said cavity; b) a closure for releasibly
sealing said opening; and c) a sealable exhaust tube extending from
said bag cavity to the exterior of said bag for use in evacuating
air from said bag cavity.
2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said exhaust tube includes a
one-way check valve allowing air to flow only from the bag cavity
to the bag exterior.
3. The enclosure of claim 1, further including means to withdraw
air from said cavity through said tube.
4. The enclosure of claim 1, further including an electronic jack
extending from said bag cavity to the exterior of said bag.
5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said bag includes a
transparent front wall.
6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said bag includes front and
back walls with side edges and bottom edges, the side and bottom
edges of said walls being joined.
7. A waterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic
device comprising: a) a flexible bag having an interior cavity for
enclosing a handheld electronic device and an opening for insertion
of said device into said cavity; b) a closure for releasibly
sealing said opening; and c) a sealable exhaust tube with a one-way
check valve extending from said bag cavity to the exterior of said
bag for use in evacuating air from said bag cavity.
8. The enclosure of claim 7, further including a compressible bulb
to withdraw air from said cavity through said tube.
9. The enclosure of claim 7, further including an electronic jack
extending from said bag cavity to the exterior of said bag.
10. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said bag includes a
transparent front wall.
11. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said bag includes front and
back walls with side edges and bottom edges, the side and bottom
edges of said walls being joined.
12. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said closure is comprised of
two attachable sections joined to opposed sides of the opening,
with a latch releasibly securing the sections together to close the
opening.
13. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said flexible bag is
transparent.
14. The enclosure of claim 7, further including an arm band for
attachment of said enclosure to a user's arm.
15. A waterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic
device comprising: a) a flexible bag having an interior cavity for
enclosing a handheld electronic device and an opening for insertion
of said device into said cavity; b) a closure for releasibly
sealing said opening; c) a sealable exhaust tube with a one-way
check valve extending from said bag cavity to the exterior of said
bag for use in evacuating air from said bag cavity; d) an
electronic jack extending from said bag cavity to the exterior of
said bag; and e) a compressible means to withdraw air from said
cavity through said tube.
16. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said electronic jack
extending include a first connector within said bag cavity to
attach to a handheld electronic device, and an exterior
connector.
17. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said bag includes front and
back walls with side edges and bottom edges, the side and bottom
edges of said walls being joined.
18. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said closure is comprised of
two attachable sections joined to opposed sides of the opening,
with a latch releasibly securing the sections together to close the
opening.
19. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said flexible bag is
transparent.
20. The enclosure of claim 15, further including an arm band for
attachment of said enclosure to a user's arm.
Description
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/268,040, entitled "Waterproof, Handheld
Electronic Device Enclosure", filed Jun. 8, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a waterproof
enclosure or case for housing a cellular telephone or other
handheld electronic device to prevent exposure of the device to
water, while still permitting operation and use of the device, and
in particular to a waterproof enclosure for housing a handheld
device that includes an air evacuation means to create a vacuum
within the interior of the enclosure so that the enclosure interior
and device remains watertight during use, and viewing and use of
the device is enhanced.
[0004] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Handheld electronic devices, e.g., cellular telephones,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers including
the IPad, and eBook readers such as the Kindle, are now used by
most individuals. Due to their portability and their ability to
communicate via a wireless connection to the telephone system and
the Internet, these devices are carried everywhere by their users,
including to locations where the devices could be damaged due to
the surrounding conditions.
[0006] For example, as it relates to the present invention, the
devices are frequently carried near, or even in, bodies of water,
such as swimming pools, lakes, the ocean, etc. Electronic devices
are easily damaged by exposure to even small amounts of water and
can be completely ruined if submerged. Nonetheless, users continue
to carry these devices when engaged in water-related recreational
activities, feeling that the convenience of ever-available
communications outweigh the risk.
[0007] The prior art has proposed to address this circumstance by
offering waterproof enclosures into which the devices may be
inserted when there is a risk of exposure to water. These
enclosures are generally comprised of an at least partially
transparent, flexible bag sized to receive the particular device,
or at least includes a transparent window, so that the graphical
display of the device can be seen. The bag, or a part thereof, is
sufficiently flexible to permit operation of the device controls.
An opening is included in the bag for insertion of the device, with
a waterproof closure means being provided to seal the opening after
the device is inserted. A waterproof jack may be provided in the
wall of the bag to connect earphones or other external accessories
to the device.
[0008] One advantage claimed by the sellers of these bags is that
air trapped inside the bag when the bag is sealed is often
sufficient to provide positive buoyancy to the bag even with the
enclosed device, thereby causing the bag to float if it is
inadvertently dropped into the water. This buoyancy is increased in
some products by providing a means for pumping air into the
device.
[0009] However, it has been observed that with prior art enclosures
air will try to escape under pressure when the enclosures are
brought underwater in exchange with the surrounding water. In
addition, the presence of air inside the bag negatively affects the
optimal use of the handheld device. In particular, the air
separates the bag wall from the device controls, reducing the
ability of the user to firmly contact the controls. This problem is
particularly apparent with touch screen controls. In addition, the
air cushion makes it difficult to communicate through the bag wall
where the device includes an internal microphone. Therefore, it is
an objective of the present invention to provide an enclosure for a
handheld electronic device that will remain watertight when
submerged, with improved usability of the enclosed device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Generally, the waterproof enclosure of the present invention
is comprised of a waterproof housing that includes a means to
exhaust air from the interior of the housing, thereby creating a
vacuum within the housing interior. This vacuum, or negative
pressure, created inside the enclosure, prevents a "gas-liquid
exchange" with the surrounding water since, by creating a vacuum,
there is nothing left to exchange with the water. The vacuumed
enclosure, therefore, provides a watertight seal.
[0011] The housing is in the form of a collapsible pouch or bag
made from a flexible waterproof material having an interior cavity
shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the handheld electronic
device being protected. The bag includes a closable opening sized
to facilitate insertion of the device into the cavity, with a
closure to seal the opening after the device is inserted. At least
a part of the bag is transparent to permit viewing of the display
and controls of the inserted device.
[0012] For example, the bag may be formed of two generally
rectangular sheets of transparent, waterproof plastic that are
sealed to each other at their edges except at the opening, which is
preferably in one end of the bag. The sheets may initially be
separate sheets, or a double size sheet folded onto itself. The
closure may be formed to two attachable sections joined to opposed
sides of the opening, having a latch to secure the sections
together to seal the opening. In this construction, the sheets form
the front and rear walls of the housing.
[0013] For most uses, the housing will have an electrical interface
jack extending through the wall of the housing to provide a means
for attaching head or ear phones, or other electronic accessories,
to the handheld device sealed inside the housing. The jack has an
internal connector, which may include a cable, for attachment to
the device, and an external connector for attachment to the
accessory, with the two connectors being in waterproof
communication.
[0014] The air evacuation means in its simplest form may be a tube
or port extending from the interior cavity of the bag to the
exterior of the bag, with means to seal the port after evacuating
air from the bag, e.g., by sucking on the port and then quickly
closing the port after the air has been evacuated from the bag.
Preferably, the air evacuation means includes a one-way valve
allowing air to flow from the interior of the bag, but not into the
interior of the bag.
[0015] The tube can be adapted for releasable attachment to an
evacuation pump designed to withdraw air from the cavity through
the one-way valve. For example, the pump may be in the form of a
hand-operated squeeze bulb having an intake opening to receive a
tubular valve projection and an exhaust opening having a one-way
exhaust valve in the opposite end of the bulb to exhaust air from
the bulb interior.
[0016] In operation, the bulb is attached to the valve and squeezed
to remove air from the bulb. When pressure on the bulb is removed,
the bulb material, e.g., molded rubber, resumes its extended
configuration, drawing air through the valve from the cavity and
into the interior of the bulb. The bulb is again squeezed to
exhaust air from the bulb interior through the one-way exhaust
valve. This procedure is repeated until most of the air in the
housing cavity interior has been removed and a vacuum created.
[0017] After removal of the air from the housing cavity interior,
the advantages of the present invention become evident. Instead of
the device being surrounded by an air pillow as in previous
waterproof enclosures, the flexible, transparent wall of the
current housing is firmly and uniformly held against the surface of
the handheld device by the cavity vacuum. As a result, controls of
the electronic device can be more easily operated.
[0018] This is particularly true of touch-screen controls like
those found on the I-Phone and other devices which are activated
due to the capacitance or proximity of the user's finger, which is
reduced in prior devices due to the air cushion between the housing
and the controls. In addition, where the device is a cellular
telephone or other handheld device that includes an internal
microphone, the adjacency of the housing wall and microphone
enhances communication of the user, whereas in prior art devices,
the user's voice was muffled by the presence of the air
cushion.
[0019] The pump may be detached from the one-way valve after the
air is evacuated from the enclosure cavity. However, if desired,
the user may leave the pump attached to the valve. If so, the pump,
which may have a bright, easily noticed color, can also act as a
flotation device to prevent sinking of the enclosure and device if
it is dropped into the water. When the bulb is to be used for this
purpose, the bulb is sized to provide positive buoyancy to the
combined enclosure and device.
[0020] It will be appreciated that the enclosure or case, the terms
being used interchangeably, may include other features. For example
the enclosure may include an opening or other attachment means to
secure a strap, lanyard, carbineer, or other means to attach the
enclosure to the user's wrist, belt, etc. Alternatively, or in
addition, the enclosure may include an arm band, preferably
attached to the back wall of the enclosure. The band, which is
sized to fit around some part of the user's arm, may be elastic, or
may be secured around the arm with a latching means, such as a
buckle or hook and loop fastener. Other features may also be
incorporated into the enclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view of the enclosure housing a cellular
telephone.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the enclosure of FIG. 1, but with
the evacuation bulb removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In the following description, terms such as horizontal,
upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used
solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention,
and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are
for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended
to be to scale.
[0024] As illustrated, the enclosure, generally 10, is comprised of
a generally rectangular front wall 12 attached at its side and
bottom edges to a like-sized rear wall 14. While walls 12 and 14
are both fully transparent as illustrated, it will be apparent that
rear wall 14 can be wholly or partially transparent if visual
access to a part of the housed device is not required, and that
front wall 12 may include only a transparent window instead of
being entirely transparent.
[0025] Joined walls 12 and 14 form an open-topped bag having an
interior cavity and a top opening 16 sized to receive a handheld
electronic device, illustrated as cellular telephone 18. A closure
comprised of front and back sections 20 and 22, respectively, are
secured to the top edges of walls 12 and 14 and are connectable by
latches 24 to provide a waterproof seal of opening 16.
[0026] An interface jack 26 extends through a watertight seal in
the bag, in this case through the bottom of the bag between walls
12 and 14. Jack 26 includes an internal connector and cable 28 to
connect to phone 18, and an external connector to attach external
accessories, e.g., earphones. It will be understood that jack 26 is
optional and not necessary where attachment of external accessories
is not contemplated.
[0027] Enclosure 10 also includes a one-way air valve 30 extending
between the interior cavity of enclosure 10 and the exterior of
enclosure 10. Valve 30 includes an interior opening 32 to receive
air from the cavity of enclosure 10 and an exterior exhaust tube 34
to attach to evacuation pump, illustrated in the preferred
embodiment as compressible bulb 36. Tube 34 may be ribbed to
facilitate a secure attachment of pump 36.
[0028] Bulb 36 has an expanded state which it resumes when not
squeezed due to the memory of the bulb material, e.g., rubber, and
a compressed state when squeezed. Bulb 36 includes an intake
opening insertable over valve tube 34 and a discharge opening 38
including a one-way valve 40. The interior volume of bulb 36 is
sized to provide positive buoyancy to enclosure 10 and device 18
when bulb 36 is attached to evacuated enclosure 10. Valve 30 may
also include a cap 42 that can be fitted over connector tube 34
after bulb 36 is detached.
[0029] Enclosure 10 also includes an opening 44 in the closure for
a cord or other means to attach enclosure 10 to the user. In
addition, enclosure 10 includes arm strap 46 for attachment around
the user's arm.
[0030] In use, the device to be protected, e.g., phone 18 is
inserted into the cavity of enclosure 10 and enclosure opening 16
is sealed by sections 20 and 22 of the closure. Bulb 36 is attached
to valve 30 as many times as required to evacuate air from the
cavity. After removal of air from the cavity interior, wall 12 is
firmly held against the face of phone 36 and against touch-screen
tactile controls 48 due to the vacuum that is created inside
enclosure 10. As a result, controls 48 are much more reliably
operated by the user's fingers. In addition, the wall is firmly
against microphone 50 providing greater clarity of the user's voice
when using the device. Also, if ear phones are not attached, the
other party can be heard through internal phone speaker 52.
[0031] Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those
skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. For
example, the enclosure can be used for other purposes, such as to
provide waterproof protection for wallets and other items carried
by the user around water. In addition, the bulb can be positioned
inside the enclosure, with the attachment to the valve reversed so
that the bulb is squeezed until the cavity is evacuated and then
left inside the cavity during use. It should be understood that all
such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for
the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *